Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Mason Shuttles Updates
Spring schedules for Mason Shuttles will go into effect on Monday, Jan. 23, for most routes. Routes with weekend service (Fairfax/SciTech, Gunston Mason, and the On-Demand shuttle) will resume on Saturday, Jan. 21. Spring schedules are posted at shuttle.gmu.edu.
Changes for the spring semester:
- Fairfax/Arlington Route: A second shuttle bus has been added to the route. Service will be hourly.
- Sandy Creek/Metro Route: A third shuttle bus has been added to the route from 4–11 p.m. Service remains every 30 minutes between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. From 4–11 p.m., service is every 20 minutes. Note: The last three departures from Sandy Creek (10, 10:20, and 10:40 p.m.) will travel to Vienna Metro as they always have, but will return to campus via a different route. They will stop at the CUE Bus stop by Fairfax Square on the return trip.
Contact 703-993-2828 or shuttle@gmu.edu with questions.
Mason's Digital Signage System Retires this Summer
OrcaTV, Mason’s digital signage system, will be retired at the end of the spring 2023 semester. Originally installed to communicate information in case of a campus emergency, that capability has been supplanted by Mason Alerts and Rave Guardian. With the system aging and requiring upgrades and component replacement, and with digital signage ad revenues failing to cover those costs, Operations and Business Services has decided to retire the system and devote its funding to more pressing needs.
OrcaTV will remain available until May 30. It will then be deactivated and the screens will be removed. Departments interested in obtaining these older flatscreen TVs, mounts, or other associated equipment are welcome to see what is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contact Buz Grover at 703-993-5784 for more information.
Updating People Finder
Is your contact information up to date in People Finder, Mason’s online directory? Take a look at peoplefinder.gmu.edu.
To update your directory listing or request a new listing, submit the information through the online form.
For department-wide updates, you may request a spreadsheet of all employees currently listed in a particular unit. Contact masondir@gmu.edu to request a master list to review and update.
Contact Lauren Reuscher, Strategic Communications, at masondir@gmu.edu with questions.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington Announces New Exhibit Featuring the Work of Bennie Herron
Origin Stories, featuring the work of Bennie Herron, is open at Mason Exhibitions Arlington through March 11. Herron’s paintings channel and concentrate the currents of his poetry. Using a consistent formal vocabulary, he depicts emotionally charged busts of figures in dramatic contours, filled with dynamic and often fractured interiors. He has characterized these larger-than-life figures as “mirrors.” Learn more.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington is located at 3601 Fairfax Drive, two blocks away from Mason Square.
Training and Professional Development
Register for Supervisor Boot Camp
Supervisor Boot Camp provides essential information in a supportive cohort learning environment, with opportunities for participants to reflect, learn from one another, and network. This program is presented virtually in five three-hour sessions over the course of 10 weeks.
Registration is now open for spring 2023. Spaces are limited. Participants must supervise at least one employee to be eligible for registration.
For session schedules and other information, visit the Supervisor Boot Camp website or contact hrlearn@gmu.edu.
Well-Being Leadership Webinar: Beating Burnout and Boosting Resilience as a People Leader
Learn three key, science-backed steps to address burnout and increase resilience in your people in a free webinar from Jacinta Jiménez, author of The Burnout Fix. Join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from noon to 1:15 p.m. for “Beating Burnout and Boosting Resilience as a People Leader,” part of Mason’s Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series.
Register today. Contact cwb@gmu.edu with questions.
Faculty Writing Sprints
Faculty Writing Sprints will officially resume on Friday, Jan. 27, from 9–11 a.m. All faculty, with any kind of writing project, are invited to participate. After a few minutes of check-ins and goal-setting, we will spend our time quietly working together.
Writing Sprints will occur every Friday. Add them to your calendar, tell your friends, and prepare to marvel at just how much you can accomplish in two-hour bursts alongside your fellow Mason writers. Visit the website to learn more and register. Contact Writing Across the Curriculum with questions.
Resources for You
Patriot Perks Basketball Watch Parties
Support the Mason Men’s Basketball team at the Patriot Perks Basketball Watch Parties this spring. Cheer on the Patriots from these Patriot Perks locations during the team’s away games:
- Jan. 25: Ornery Beer Company, 6:30 p.m. (Mason at VCU)
- Feb. 4: Dave & Buster’s Fairfax, 2 p.m. (Mason at Loyola)
- Feb. 25: Patriots Pub & Grill, 5:30 p.m. (Mason at Dayton)
- March 4: Velocity Wings Fairfax, noon (Mason at Richmond)
Bring a Mason ID or Alumni Association Member Card to receive exclusive discounts at each location. Plus, there will be free Mason spirit items and giveaways provided by the Patriot Perks program. Grab your friends, colleagues, or family to come celebrate and cheer on the Patriots! RSVP today.
Encore Learning Spring Course Preview
Encore Learning, a partner of George Mason University, is gearing up for its spring 2023 semester. Based in Arlington, Encore Learning meets the continuing educational and social interests of anyone over age 50, regardless of residence location, by offering a wide variety of college-level noncredit courses, specialty clubs, events, and more.
The spring schedule includes 21 in-person courses, 19 virtual courses, and three hybrid courses offered simultaneously in-person and virtually. View a list of courses. The annual membership fee is $65 per individual. Each course costs $55 and requires membership through the course end date. Learn more at the Course Preview hosted on Zoom on Feb. 2 at 9:30 a.m. Questions? Contact info@encorelearning.net.
Resiliency for Working Parents
Balancing work and family life is not always easy. Human Resources and Payroll is partnering with Anthem Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to offer an upcoming session for working parents:
Resiliency for Working Parents
Thursday, Jan. 26, at noon
Hosted on Zoom
Learn how to build resiliency as a working parent, prevent burnout, and maintain work-life balance. Contact engagehr@gmu.edu with questions.
Mason Summer Band Camp
Mason Community Arts Academy and the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music are thrilled to announce the inaugural Mason Summer Band Camp, held June 19-23 at the Fairfax Campus.
Wind, brass, and percussionists from grades 6–12 are invited to spend a week making music, with opportunities for private lessons with Mason faculty and a special Green Machine experience. Students have the option to enroll as a Day Camper or Overnight Residential Camper.
Registration opened Jan. 15. Visit the website for more information.
TIAA Financial Seminars
Check out these upcoming financial seminars from TIAA:
- Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.: Basic Social Security Strategies
- Jan. 19 at noon: Common Estate Planning Considerations
- Feb. 15 at noon: Mid-Career Retirement Check-in
- Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.: Hindsight is 2020
- Mar. 9 at noon: Save in a 529 College Savings Plan
- Mar. 15 at 2 p.m.: Help Protect You, Your Family, and Your Money
Veterans and the Arts Initiative: Virtual Guitar Workshops
The Veterans and the Arts Initiative at the Hylton Center offers free, hands-on workshops for local veterans, servicemembers, and military family members.
Have you always wanted to try the guitar, or are you looking for tips to improve your technique? Beginners are invited to participate in a 10-week series of virtual lessons with Glen McCarthy, guitar instructor for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative.
Sessions occur on Tuesdays, Jan. 24 to March 28, from 7–7:50 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more and register.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
The Acting Company: The Three Musketeers
Saturday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Escape into Alexandre Dumas’ swashbuckling epic, The Three Musketeers, performed by The Acting Company. Full of charm, wit, and swordplay, this world-premiere adaptation by Linda Alper and Penny Metropulos follows D’Artagnan, who joins up with a band of noble Musketeers on a mission to root out the corruption of Cardinal Richelieu’s spies and assassins. It’s a timeless tale with an inspirational reminder that courage, honesty, and passion can change the world.
Silkroad Ensemble: Uplifted Voices
Mason Artist-in-Residence
Sunday, Jan. 29, at 4 p.m.
Center for the Arts
The GRAMMY Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble debuts their newest program, Uplifted Voices, as part of their multi-year participation as a Mason Artist-in-Residence. Under the artistic direction of singer-songwriter Rhiannon Giddens, the Silkroad Ensemble leads social impact initiatives and educational programming alongside the creation of new music that celebrates the exchange of ideas, tradition, and innovation across borders. This performance is appropriate for all ages.