Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Virtual Budget Town Hall
The George Mason University community is invited to a virtual budget town hall on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 3-4:15 p.m. As you may know, the Board of Visitors met Thursday, Sept. 28, and approved an amended budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
This presentation is an expansion of the Faculty Senate’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting, and the entire Mason community is invited to attend on Zoom.
The town hall will consist of a 45-minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. Because this is also a Faculty Senate committee meeting, the first five questions will be reserved for members of the committee; subsequent questions will be taken from the Zoom chat, as time permits.
If you are unavailable to attend, a video recording of the town hall will be made available on the Faculty Senate website.
Staff Senate Meeting with President Gregory Washington
The October Staff Senate meeting will feature Mason President Gregory Washington as guest speaker.
October Staff Senate Meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 4
10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. – General Meeting
11 a.m. to noon – Guest Speaker
Constituents are invited to attend in person on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or join via Zoom. The Staff Senate represents all classified and non-student wage employees at Mason. Learn more.
President’s Town Hall Meetings Scheduled for the Fall Semester
George Mason University President Gregory Washington will host two 90-minute town halls to discuss the state of the university and to engage with faculty and staff.
The first town hall, for Mason employees working in nonacademic units, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 3–5 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Hub ballroom.
The second town hall, for employees working in academic units, will take place on Monday, Nov. 6, from 1–3 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall.
For those unable to attend in person, both town halls will be livestreamed on Zoom. Please contact your respective unit leadership for Zoom links and passwords.
$5 Friday for Faculty and Staff at Dining Halls: Oct. 6
On the first Friday of the month, Mason faculty and staff are eligible for a $5, all-you-care-to-eat lunch at all campus dining halls—Southside, Ike’s, The Globe, the new vegetarian dining hall (The Spot), and even The Commons in Front Royal. Valid Mason faculty/staff ID required. Check it out on Friday, Oct. 6.
For more information about dining on campus or how to sign up for a faculty/staff dining plan, visit Mason Dining’s website.
Fall Flu Shot Clinics
Stay healthy and protect your community this flu season with the convenience of our on-campus flu shot clinics. Let's keep our campus safe and thriving! Sign up today to receive your flu shot at one of our on-campus events.
Appointments for the COVA flu clinics are available at SciTech (Thursday, Oct. 5), Fairfax (Thursday, Oct. 12), and Mason Square (Thursday, Oct. 19).
Employees with Kaiser should register for the Kaiser clinic on Thursday, Oct. 19, at Fairfax, or visit kp.org/flu to find an in-network provider.
Flu shots are fully covered for those with COVA, Kaiser, or Student Health Insurance. Visit the Human Resources website for more information, including student flu shot information.
University Survey Application Vendor Demonstrations
The university’s contract with Qualtrics expires in early 2024. To ensure continued alignment of the survey application portfolio with the changing needs of Mason, Information Technology Services (ITS) recently launched an acquisition project, which included a Request for Proposal (RFP) to evaluate and award a new multiyear contract for a survey application that supports the university’s goals.
Join ITS for vendor demonstrations from finalists (Qualtrics and QuestionPro) to learn about each platform and provide valuable feedback.
Presentation schedule:
- QuestionPro: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to noon
- Qualtrics: Wednesday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to noon
Visit the ITS website for more details and Zoom links.
Mason's Revised Editorial Style Guide
Do you write about your department or unit for internal or external communications? Ever wondered whether to capitalize a job title or building name, or if you really should hyphenate that word?
Mason's Editorial Style Guide holds the answers to these questions and more. The guide is your comprehensive source on Mason's rules for keeping communications consistent, on brand, and grammatically correct. Check out the recently refreshed guide. (Note: Access requires Mason credentials.)
Brand Review and Guidelines for Marketing Materials
Creative Services provides brand reviews of materials produced by Mason colleagues across the university. Formalized in University Policy 1111, one of the core functions of Creative Services is to confirm that all university marketing materials, websites, and advertising follow Mason's visual and editorial style guidelines. This policy helps ensure consistency across materials and that all units are distributing materials that support Mason's brand.
Mason departments should proactively share their projects with Creative Services for review prior to release. Submit a request for Admin 1111 review for:
- Publications: Newsletters, annual reports, magazines, and other short- and long-format pieces
- Advertising: Print ads, billboards, posters, social media ads, commercials, and other media
- Websites: New websites and marketing landing pages
- Marketing: Program flyers, brochures, postcards, emails, and other recruitment or promotional materials
To request a review of your product, submit an email request to creative@gmu.edu and include "Admin 1111" in the subject line. Please allow a minimum of three business days for review and feedback for graphics, posters, and ads, and a week for publication and multi-part or multi-page projects. More information is available on the Creative Services website.
October is Campus Sustainability Month
Campus Sustainability Month is celebrated every October at Mason. Join University Sustainability and Mason Facilities, along with many partners, for a month of fun, educational, and engaging activities and events.
Participate in “Lights Out, Power Down!”, learn about Zero Waste Mason, food justice projects, sustainable agriculture on campus, enhancing recycling and composting, and much more.
Make a sustainable impact, celebrate success, and learn about ongoing initiatives and how you can get involved this Campus Sustainability Month.
Mason Nation 5K: Faculty/Staff Team Challenge
Join the Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K Faculty/Staff Team Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 14, on the Fairfax Campus. Gather your colleagues and create teams of four to participate.
The Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K is not just about wellness; it's about building camaraderie and enjoying time together.
The challenge will have two categories for team prizes: Fastest Overall Team and Most Spirited Team. Get ready to be active, have fun, and thrive together. Learn more.
Kindness Ambassador Nominations
Mason Chooses Kindness (MCK) is accepting nominations for the 2023–24 Kindness Ambassadorship through Tuesday, Oct. 10. Help identify at least 100 new Kindness Ambassadors at Mason!
Nominations are open to all Mason students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Submit a nomination to explain why your nominee should be recognized as a Kindness Ambassador. For questions, contact mck@gmu.edu.
On-Campus Internship Program Information Session
University Career Services has launched a new, on-campus internship program to create more experiential learning opportunities, particularly for international students and those limited to working on campus.
Could your office benefit from the support of a student to support functions such as data analysis, accounting, project management, or software development? Funding is available to help offset the cost to your department.
Learn more about the program for spring 2024 during a virtual information session on Friday, Oct. 13, from 10–10:30 a.m., followed by an open forum for questions. Contact Angelica Newham with questions.
James M. Buchanan Collection Opening at University Libraries
The University Libraries will celebrate the opening of the Nobel Prize-winning economist James M. Buchanan papers, closed since 2021 for a project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities to organize and describe material documenting his career and research from 1930 to 2014.
The Mason community is invited to attend the opening event on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 4–6 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in Fenwick Library, Room 2001. Peter Boettke, Buchanan scholar and Mason professor, will be the featured speaker. Rebecca Thayer, project archivist, will join virtually. RSVP by Oct. 10 to Holly Davis.
Shuttle Schedule During Fall Break
An abbreviated Mason Shuttles schedule will be in effect during Fall Break, Oct. 8–9. For details, visit shuttle.gmu.edu. Contact shuttle@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828 with questions.
Pitch-In on the Piedmont
Join the EDGE for Pitch-In on the Piedmont, an annual cleanup event at the SciTech Campus, on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a volunteer event to clean up the Piedmont Trail, a 1.2 mile trail through the woods of the EDGE challenge course.
Training and Professional Development
Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference
Mason faculty and staff are invited to the Innovations in Teaching & Learning conference on Friday, Oct. 6, on the Fairfax Campus. Join us for a day of workshops, panels, teaching-focused presentations, and networking with colleagues.
The conference will include a variety of in-person activities, live-streaming options, and on-demand content. Keynote speaker Flower Darby will address the topic, “Teaching in an AI World: Building Confidence and Finding our Way.” Visit the website for more information and registration details. This event is hosted by the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning.
Check out a pre-conference workshop:
"Can ChatGPT Pass Your Course? Assignment Redesign in a Generative AI Era," hosted on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 3–5 p.m. in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. Learn more and register.
Performance Management Training Opportunities
The Performance Management team is offering several performance management trainings this fall, including:
- Lunch and Learn: Performance Management Updates for 2023–24
- Performance Management for Supervisors and Non-Supervisors
- Setting Performance Goals and Objectives
Visit the Human Resources website for details and registration information. Contact the Performance Management team with questions.
George Mason Toastmasters 15th Anniversary and Open House
George Mason Toastmasters (GMUT) is celebrating 15 years and invites you to an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at noon on the Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 3300, or via Zoom. Attendees will learn more about Toastmasters by seeing a meeting in action, practicing impromptu speaking during Table Topics, and asking questions about the club.
To learn more about GMUT, see the meeting schedule, and get the zoom link for virtual attendance, visit the website. Contact Heather Aleknavage with questions.
Safe Zone+ Program Training
The LGBTQ+ Resources Center invites the Mason community to attend Safe Zone+ Program training this fall. The primary mission of Mason’s Safe Zone+ Program, like the LGBTQ+ Resources Center, is to create a safer, more welcoming and inclusive campus environment, and to strengthen community and encourage networking among faculty, staff, and students toward the goal of supporting the well-being of LGBTQ people. All are welcome to attend. Register.
Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series: Leading Multiple Generations
Mason's Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series presents Growing Leaders founder and CEO Tim Elmore, author of A New Kind of Diversity, in the next free webinar:
Leading Multiple Generations
Thursday, Oct. 12, from noon to 1:15 p.m.
Register
Today’s workplace has four to five generations working together. Far too often, we collide instead of collaborate. Elmore’s presentation will explore the characteristics of each generation working today and how to leverage them to your competitive advantage. This webinar will offer practical strategies to bring out the best in each generation.
Contact the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at cwb@gmu.edu with questions.
Resources for You
Advertise on the Braddock Road Marquee
Post your upcoming public event on the electronic Braddock Road Marquee. For more information, including guidelines and using our template on PowerPoint, visit the website. Contact marquee@gmu.edu with questions.
Collaborating with Government and Community Relations
Does your department want to connect with government officials, engage the business community, or share its expertise with the community? Contact the Government and Community Relations team for guidance as you advocate on Mason’s behalf and build relationships with community groups. Learn more at relations.gmu.edu.
Fall for the Book Festival Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The 25th annual Fall for the Book festival offers readers opportunities to connect with authors and literature in new and vibrant ways. Mason is an event host and one of the sponsors of the festival.
Events for all ages are hosted at the Fairfax Campus and at off-campus locations around Fairfax. Preview events are Oct. 4–10, with the festival happening from Oct. 11–14. Events are free and open to the public. Learn more.
Queer Parents and Caregivers Group Meetup
The LGBTQ+ Faculty/Staff Alliance is hosting a Queer Parents and Caregivers Group meetup on Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 9:15–10:30 a.m. This event is open to all faculty, staff, and GTAs/GRAs who are LGBTQ+ parents, caregivers, and/or queer individuals in the process of building a family.
The group will meet on the Fairfax Campus at the Johnson Center Starbucks and move outside (weather permitting). Bring your coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or other morning beverage, and enjoy some casual conversation with colleagues/friends. Contact Andrew Lane with questions.
Washington Commanders: Virginia State Employee Day and Discounted Tickets
The Washington Commanders will celebrate Virginia State Employee Day at FedExField on Sunday, Nov. 19, against the New York Giants. Bring friends, family, and colleagues to enjoy a fun-filled day at the stadium.
Discounted tickets are also available for games against the Chicago Bears (Oct. 5) and Philadelphia Eagles (Oct. 29). Learn more and purchase discounted tickets.
$5 of the proceeds from each ticket will be donated directly to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC), the Commonwealth's only annual workplace giving program.
Ticket Discount: Cirque du Soleil, Echo
Virginia state employees are eligible for discounted tickets to Cirque du Soleil's Echo at Under the Big Top in Tysons through Oct. 22. Learn more and purchase tickets.
Searching for Home in African Literature: Chika Unigwe and Leila Aboulela
The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center invites you to experience readings from authors Chika Unigwe and Leila Aboulela as they take readers on difficult and heartfelt journeys spanning time and continents. Ungiwe and Aboulela will be in conversation with Helon Habila, professor, creative writing and fiction.
Searching for Home in African Literature: Chika Unigwe and Leila Aboulela
Thursday, Oct.12, from 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center, third floor, Meeting Room D
Contact Lauren Hornbuckle for more information.
Veterans and the Arts Initiative: Upcoming Workshops
The Veterans and the Arts Initiative at the Hylton Performing Arts Center serves as an arts and community hub for military-connected people. The program offers free, hands-on workshops, art exhibitions featuring veterans’ artwork, and concerts for local veterans, servicemembers, and military family members.
The program is offering the following upcoming workshops, open and free to veterans, servicemembers, military family members, and military caregivers:
- Eco-Graphic Arts Workshops
- Veterans Virtual Guitar Workshops, Level I and Level II
- Improv for Military Kids
Participate in a Pre-diabetes Research Study
The Individualized Nutrition Therapy Study is conducted by researchers in Mason's Department of Nutrition and Food Studies and led by Raedeh Basiri. The study is a randomized, controlled trial that provides adults aged between 45–65 who are at risk of type 2 diabetes with either an individualized nutrition therapy intervention that contains dietary goal-setting components, or a standard-of-care generalized dietary recommendation.
The researchers aim to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular diseases. The study is recruiting participants with a BMI between 25 and 39.9 kg/m2 and HbA1c between 5.7 to 6.4. If you do not know your BMI or HbA1c, researchers can measure them for you.
The results of this study may support the role of individualized nutrition therapy as an effective way to improve glycemic control and reduce cardiovascular disease in individuals with prediabetes. For questions, email Raedeh Basiri or call 703-993-6575. IRB #1825534-7.
Upcoming Arts Events and Performances at Mason
Virginia Opera: Siegfried
Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Reenter the fantasy realm of gods, heroes, and an epic quest for true love in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (the “Ring” cycle) with Virginia Opera’s production of Siegfried. The most lighthearted of the four epic operas tells of Siegfried’s journey into adulthood. Infused with Wagner’s ingenious short musical themes (leitmotifs) to weave together the tale, this is a must-see event in Virginia Opera’s grand multi-year experience. Sung in German with English surtitles.
Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The Mason Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Soo Han, comprises outstanding string, wind, and percussion players from throughout the School of Music.
Visual Voices with Aimée Beaubien
School of Art
Thursday, Oct. 12, at 4:45 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom
Aimée Beaubien reorganizes photographic experience while exploring networks of meaning and association between the real and the ideal in collages, artists books and immersive installations. Her work has been exhibited widely. Beaubien is an associate professor of photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Coco in Concert
Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Disney and Pixar’s award-winning film, Coco, thrills the whole family when shown with a 20-piece Latin music ensemble performing the soundtrack live in Coco in Concert. The movie follows 12-year-old Miguel, an aspiring musician who wants to take the stage and astonish crowds like his musical idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. The music from the film includes the 2018 Oscar-winning Best Original Song “Remember Me” by songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and make new family memories this year with Coco in Concert.
JAZZ4JUSTICE: Celebrating the Legacy of Anthony Maiello
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Saturday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
The 22nd annual Jazz4Justice will include Distinguished Professor of Music Anthony Maiello as the special guest conductor. Established in 2001 by Fairfax attorney Edward L. Weiner and founder of Mason Jazz Studies Jim Carroll, Jazz4Justice is an award-winning annual concert presented by Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) and Mason Jazz Studies. Proceeds from the evening benefit LSNV to continue its mission of service to the community, and the Mason Jazz Studies department for scholarships, trips, recordings, and student projects.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE: King for a Day
Sunday, Oct. 15, at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The hugely popular Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE, based on the #1 PBS Kids series, has delighted live audiences on stages across the country. Now, in its fourth year of touring, your favorite characters are hopping back on board Trolley and coming to Fairfax. The beloved characters come alive on stage to captivate you with new songs to sing along to, magical moments, and surprise guests along the way.
Malpaso Dance Company
Friday, Oct. 20, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Since forming in 2012, this classically trained Cuban dance troupe has ascended to the top of contemporary dance with performances that are as technically brilliant as they are passionately expressive. Join Malpaso as they work to uplift and represent Cuban dance with “a blend of unfussy ballet technique and lushly earthy modern dance, spiked with now-soft, now-explosive capoeira” (Boston Globe).
School of Theater: 9 to 5, The Musical
Oct. 20–29, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
9 to 5, The Musical is based on the seminal hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with their lying, sexist boss; and, in a hilarious turn of events, they live out their wildest fantasy by giving him the boot.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington: Rebirth Garments
Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 2 p.m.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington (3601 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia)
How do you make/hack your wardrobe to make it fully celebrate the intersection of all of your identities? Explore the idea of radical visibility, a disabled queer dress reform movement based on highlighting the parts of us that society typically shuns. The founder of Rebirth Garments, Sky Cubacub, will host this interactive workshop. Participants will play Cubacab’s surrealist Garment Generator Game to brainstorm new designs through fun constraints. Bring your own clothes (nothing will be permanently altered).
Fall Choral Invitational: Songs of Unity
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Saturday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
The annual Fall Choral Invitational brings high school choirs to campus for the opportunity to take part in choral clinics and perform on stage with the Mason Choral Department. The repertoire selected for the concert includes selections from a wide variety of choral traditions.
Lightwire Theater – The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen
Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1 and 4 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Gather the whole family for this imaginative story cleverly told with cutting edge electroluminescent puppetry, live dancers, and a creative mix of classical, jazz, and pop music. This innovative company brings Aesop’s classic fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, into a brilliant new light when the next generation navigates a whole new kind of race filled with modern distractions. Treat the whole family to this breathtaking live production that will leave everyone in awe and filled with a sense of wonder. Recommended for ages 4–12.