Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
9/11 Day of Service
Mason's 10th annual 9/11 Day of Service will take place on Friday, Sept. 9. A variety of service projects will be available for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. Register for a service project today!
In addition to community service projects, the day’s events include a service fair, mindfulness and reflection sessions, and a luncheon for volunteers, first responders, veterans, and service fair partners.
Mason faculty and staff are encouraged to join the 9/11 Day of Service. Full-time classified employees and administrative/professional faculty receive 16 hours of paid volunteer leave per calendar year (pro-rated for part-time) to provide volunteer services through eligible nonprofit organizations. The 9/11 Day of Service is approved for volunteer leave usage.
50th Anniversary Reception at the SciTech Campus
Celebrate George Mason University's 50th Anniversary at a special reception held at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the SciTech Campus. Join us as we honor our partners from the past, present, and future, with guests to include alumni and community business leaders. A special "Mason through the Decades" menu will be provided by BluSage Catering.
Reception Celebrating George Mason University's 50th Anniversary
Thursday, Sept. 15, from 5–7 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center
RSVP
This event is free to attend, but attendees should RSVP.
The Mason Club for Faculty and Staff Re-Opens for Fifth Year
The membership-driven Mason Club for faculty and staff has re-opened for the fall semester in its temporary location: the Blackstone Room at Southside dining hall.
The Mason Club, with floor-to-ceiling windows, padded chairs, and seating for 26, is designed for single diners to meet colleagues, as well as groups up to eight. Space is limited, and reservations are encouraged by using the widget on Yelp.
Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday–Friday, with a server on the premises. Membership is $25 each semester and can be paid online or in person during the first visit to the club. The buffet is $11; reduced prices are possible with the university’s Byte meal plan.
September Staff Senate Meeting
The September Staff Senate meeting will feature Andrew Lane, director of Performance Management and Employee Engagement, joined by members of his team, including Tamira Colbert, faculty/staff engagement assistant, and Stacey Ellis, faculty/staff engagement consultant, to discuss goals and initiatives following the results of the recent Gallup survey of Mason employees.
Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to noon
Hosted on Zoom
Questions are being collected in advance of the session. Submit your questions through the form by Aug. 31.
College Colors Day
College Colors Day is coming up on Friday, Sept. 2. We want to see everyone wearing green and gold to show their Patriot Pride!
Visit the We Are Mason tent from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wilkins Plaza for free swag. Bring a receipt for $25+ spent on branded merchandise from the bookstore to receive a free T-shirt.
Mason Student Services Center at Mason Square
The Division of Enrollment Management is excited to announce the in-person expansion of the Mason Student Services Center (MSSC) to Mason Square.
The MSSC is the first point of contact for general inquiries related to registration and enrollment, admissions, billing and payments, and financial aid. Visitors, both in-person and virtually, are assisted by a team of cross-trained generalists who can help resolve most student services issues. Under this consolidated model, students, family members, and the greater Mason community benefit from the convenience of having their needs addressed in one visit, to one centralized location.
At Mason Square, the MSSC is located on the first floor of Van Metre Hall. The MSSC is staffed Tuesday–Thursday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. For assistance outside of these in-person hours, students may visit mssc.gmu.edu to submit a virtual case.
Food Trucks at Mason Square Every Tuesday and Thursday
The fall semester has arrived, and with it comes the newest Mason Square initiative: food trucks on the plaza! A food truck will be parked in front of Van Metre Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The type of food truck will vary. Check out Goodfynd, a food truck tracker and ordering platform, to see the schedule or place an order in advance. You may also place your order on site at the food truck. Visit the Goodfynd website or download the app on your smartphone. Use coupon code FYND_2OFF for $2 off your first online order.
Mason Shuttles During Labor Day Weekend
There will be limited service on Mason Shuttles during Labor Day weekend. Visit shuttle.gmu.edu for details.
See an overview of Mason Shuttles fall service. Contact shuttle@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828 with questions.
Training and Professional Development
Save the Date: Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Conference
George Mason University’s Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Initiative is proud to host this first-ever conference featuring panels, workshops, and conversation groups with researchers and changemakers from across the country.
Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Conference
Monday, Oct. 24
8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Mason Square
Stay tuned for more details and registration information.
Changes to the IT Security Awareness Training Program
Information Technology Services (ITS) is making important changes to Mason’s IT Security Awareness Training Program. This year’s training opens Wednesday, Sept. 28, and will close Wednesday, Nov. 16. Notification will be sent when the training is assigned.
Employees who fail to take the training by the deadline will have their accounts disabled, and their supervisors or manager will be notified. If your account is disabled, you will need to contact the ITS Support Center to re-enable the account to take the training.
Employees who handle sensitive information will be required to take additional role-based training.
The training provides information about protecting Mason’s IT systems and employees’ information, which is a priority for ITS. Read more about the training.
Resilience Badge
The Resilience Badge program helps Mason students and employees strengthen resilience and earn a valuable digital credential in the process. Earn the badge at your own pace online anytime.
Mason’s Resilience Badge will allow you to build your resilience through content knowledge and practices, all of which are backed by the science of resilience. Deepening your own knowledge in these areas and honing your self-awareness will allow your thinking to become more flexible, more adaptable, and more creative. This will help you when it comes to solving problems, making decisions, and building the life you want.
Check out the video testimonials from Mason students who have earned the Resilience Badge. Learn more and register.
Resources for You
Well-Being and Mental Health Resources through Patriots Thriving Together
At Mason, we are committed to everyone Thriving Together. Find a range of resources designed to improve your well-being and mental health at thrivingtogether.gmu.edu.
The Patriots Thriving Together mental health and well-being resources are designed for all community members. Mason’s resources are organized under three categories: non-credited learning experiences, academic credit experiences, and general resources.
The best well-being practices and habits are the ones that work for you. Try some of these activities and discover which ones help you on your well-being journey.
Contact the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being with questions.
Patriot Perks—Relaunched!
We are excited to present our newly relaunched Patriot Perks website. The new website easily highlights the exclusive deals available to the Mason community and has more searchable features, making it easier than ever to find deals of interest. Check it out at patriotperks.gmu.edu.
Learning Services Helps Our Students Find Success
Learning Services provides a variety of free, experience-based learning opportunities for the Mason community through one-on-one academic coaching, academic success workshops, and online resources. We help students develop academic strategies and habits to succeed, no matter the academic field.
Students may contact Learning Services when they want to improve their academic skills and/or grades, improve time management, ask questions about learning differences or ADHD, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and more.
Find out more on the Learning Services website. Contact the office via email or call 703-993-2999. Learning Services is located in Student Union Building (SUB) I, Suite 3600.
Discover Mason: A Guide to Services and Resources for the Community
Does your office provide a service or resource to the external community? If so, submit the information for inclusion in Discover Mason: A Guide to Services and Resources for the Community.
Discover Mason showcases the variety of ways the external community (business, residential, and government) can engage with the university, even if they do not attend school here.
If your department would like to be included, submit the following information to Traci Kendall, Government and Community Relations, by Sept. 8:
- Title of service/resource
- Phone number
- Website link for more information
- One-sentence description of the service/resource available to the community
Environmental Justice and BIPOC Art Exhibitions this Fall
Mason Exhibitions in the School of Art is offering numerous events and exhibitions that align with social justice themes or highlight BIPOC artists. Visit masonexhibitions.org for detailed information, a list of events, and RSVP links. Follow @masonexhibitions for the latest information.
Current and upcoming exhibits include:
Pressure/Movement/Effect: New Arabic Calligraphy by Abdulrahman Naanseh
Art and Design Building, Gillespie Gallery
Aug. 22 to Oct. 15
Approaching Event Horizons: Projects on Climate Change by Atlantika Collective
Mason Exhibitions Arlington
Aug. 24 to Oct. 1
Fragments of Truth: a Shared History by Justyne Fisher
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery
Sept. 12 to Nov. 12
Zero and One by Bennie Herron
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Gallery
Sept. 6 to Nov. 6
The Visual Voices lecture series also resumes this fall. View the list of upcoming speakers.
Contact Yassmin Salem with questions.
Arts Alive!
Arts Alive! is a co-production of the Prince William County Arts Council and the Hylton Performing Arts Center. This annual family-friendly arts festival features community performers and fine artists. Enjoy hands-on activities for all ages, multiple stages of performances, and more on Sunday, Sept. 11, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Celebrate your local arts community. This event is free and open to the public. Visit the website for more details.
Working Moms Support Group
The Support Group for Working Mothers at Mason is one way faculty, staff, and students can come together, discuss the issues confronting working mothers, and perhaps spur changes on campus.
The group is celebrating its 20th year of group meetings, which will include a mix of in-person and virtual formats this fall.
The first meeting will be on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at noon via Zoom. If you are interested in sharing stories and being part of an informal organization of working mothers, join via Zoom. Those interested may also join the group channel in MS Teams.
Visit the website for more information, or contact Heather Aleknavage.
Try Going Car-Free
It’s always a great idea to have more than one way to get to Mason. Car Free Day on Sept. 22 is an opportunity to try a new way to commute.
Take the Car Free pledge and receive a Nift Gift with your confirmation email. You will also be entered into a raffle for some great prizes.
If you are a full-time Mason employee, remember that public transportation costs are subsidized up to the IRS limit of $280/month. Read more details on the Commuter Choice Program.
Rideshare Matching through MasonCommutes
Ride-matching is back at Mason! Help MasonCommutes become the go-to place for Mason ridesharing. The more people who create an account, the more robust the site will become. Create an account today at masoncommutes.com.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Mason School of Theater: The Originals!
Friday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, TheatreSpace
The Originals! offers talented student playwrights and creative artists the chance to share their work in a variety of forms. Whether it’s a musical, a one-person show, choreographed devised work, or the traditional ten-minute play structure, explore the brilliant imaginations of our talented students as they present this year’s Originals!
Veterans Virtual Guitar Workshops
Level I: Tuesdays, Sept. 6, to Nov. 8, from 7–7:50 p.m.
Level II: Tuesdays, Sept. 6, to Nov. 8, from 8–8:50 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom
Have you always wanted to try the guitar, or are you looking for tips to improve your technique? Musicians of all skill levels are invited to participate in a 10-week series of virtual lessons with Glen McCarthy, guitar instructor and GRAMMY Foundation Finalist. If you have played guitar before, see the requirements for Level II to determine which level is best for you. These virtual workshops will take place Tuesday evenings and are open and free to veterans, servicemembers, military family members, and military caregivers.