Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Update Your Hours of Operation
Help patrons find ways to reach your office or department by updating the hours on hours.gmu.edu.
Just click the "update" link near the top of the page to adjust your current listing, or add your office to the site. Contact Campus Information and Visitor Services at infodesk@gmu.edu with questions.
Glass Recycling Pilot Launches at the Fairfax Campus
Mason community members can recycle glass bottles and jars at new drop-off locations on the Fairfax Campus. The trailers are large, purple, and labeled with helpful glass recycling information.
Drop-off bins will be available on the following schedule:
- First and third weeks of the month: Southside Dining Hall and Lot R (near Potomac Heights)
- Second and fourth weeks of the month: Rogers Hall and the Student Townhouses
Recycling glass means less sand mining and less production of new glass. Review Mason’s waste disposal guidance to dispose of all waste correctly. For questions, contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525 or email gogreen@gmu.edu.
Mason Shuttles: Spring Service
Winter break shuttle service is underway through Friday, Jan. 12. Spring schedules will begin on routes with weekend service on Saturday, Jan. 13 (Fairfax/SciTech, Gunston Mason, Sandy Creek/Metro, and the On-Demand shuttle). Weekday spring service begins on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
Reminder: There is no shuttle service on Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, except the On-Demand shuttle (which will operate from noon to 11 p.m.).
There are some significant changes to shuttle service for the spring semester:
- Fairfax/SciTech: Departure times have changed. The scheduled time between Sandy Creek and Colgan Hall has been reduced from 80 minutes to 70 minutes. Weekend service departure times have changed, as well as service is being expanded.
- West Campus: There will be one bus on the West Campus route Monday–Friday, with service every 40 minutes between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
- Gunston Mason: A second bus has been added to the Gunston Mason route between 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m., Monday–Friday.
- Fairfax/Mason Square: The Commerce Building on University Drive has been added as a stop on this route.
View the Mason Shuttle schedules at shuttle.gmu.edu. Contact Parking and Transportation at 703-993-2828 or shuttle@gmu.edu.
Outstanding Achievement Award Nominations
Nominations are now accepted for Mason's annual Outstanding Achievement Awards. The awards honor Mason faculty and staff across 16 award categories and celebrate their hard work, dedication, and contributions to the university.
Human Resources will host the awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 16, on the Fairfax Campus. For more information and deadlines, visit the website.
Homecoming: Registration Now Open
Celebrate Mason during Homecoming from Jan. 19–28! Register today to show your school spirit as we invite you to reminisce and share the experiences with your friends and family. For more information or questions, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@gmu.edu or 703-993-8696.
Celebration of Distinction: Alumni Association Award Nominations
The George Mason University Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Celebration of Distinction.
For more than 30 years, the Alumni Association has recognized outstanding alumni, student, and faculty accomplishments with five unique annual awards, including Alumnus/a of the Year, Alumni Service Award, Faculty Member of the Year, Senior of the Year, and Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD). The deadline to nominate someone is Friday, March 8, at 5 p.m.
For questions regarding the nominations process, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@gmu.edu or 703-993-8696.
New Digital Advertising Available
Mason departments and Registered Student Organizations may post digital advertisements for display on TVs located in the Johnson Center, SUB I, and the Hub. Advertisements with specific event dates may be posted up to and including the event start date. Advertisements promoting products, services, or ongoing activities may be posted for up to 14 days.
Visit the Student Centers website to view all Digital Advertising Guidelines and to access the Digital Advertising Submission Form. For questions, contact Student Centers at 703-993-2921 or scenters@gmu.edu.
Swipe4Change Donation Update
During Mason Dining’s Swipe4Change donation drive, 225 guest meal swipes were donated by students to support those facing food insecurity. All swipes will be distributed by the Patriot Pantry, offering warm meals to students.
Recent data shows rising food insecurity at Mason, surpassing previous years. To tackle this, Swipes4Change gathers student donations to combat hunger on campus. Mason Dining supports this cause by donating an additional 2,000 swipes yearly, engaging in fundraising, and backing initiatives like #PatriotPantryChallenge.
Eligible students can access donated swipes in spring 2024. Additional aid, forms, and support services are available via the Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) website.
Training and Professional Development
Performance Evaluation Updates
The Performance Evaluation Resources page has been updated with new versions of Mason's performance evaluation materials. Faculty and staff are invited to review the materials.
The 2023–24 annual evaluation process is set to launch on Jan. 22. Human Resources is launching the process earlier this year to allow more time for the self-evaluation and supervisor review steps to be completed. Refer to the Annual Evaluation Guidance page for due dates and additional information.
Contact the Performance Management team at leaps@gmu.edu with any questions.
Koru Mindfulness Online Sessions
Mason students, staff, and faculty may participate in online Koru mindfulness sessions to strengthen well-being. This evidence-based curriculum teaches mindfulness, meditation, and stress management in ways you can integrate into your busy life. Studies suggest that Koru training leads to significant well-being benefits, such as better sleep, less perceived stress, and more self-compassion.
Register now for upcoming spring semester sessions. Contact the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being with questions.
Resources for You
Advertise on the Braddock Road Marquee
Looking for another way to promote your Mason event? If the event is open to the public, post it to the Braddock Road Marquee. Guidelines and a template are available on the website. Contact marquee@gmu.edu with questions.
Applications Now Accepted for 4-VA@Mason Collaborative Research Grants
Calls for proposals are open for Mason faculty interested in launching pilot research projects in conjunction with colleagues at one or more of the institutions within the 4-VA system. These Collaborative Research Grants (CRG) are designed to facilitate and support alliances which leverage the strengths of each partner university to improve efficiencies in research and higher education, reduce working in silos, and provide hands-on experiential opportunities for students.
Other 4-VA institutions include James Madison University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through Feb. 15. Further information can be found at 4va.gmu.edu/grants.
Build Connections at Mason through a ProjectConnect Group
Connect with others in the Mason community and strengthen your well-being through a spring 2024 ProjectConnect group. Register by Wednesday, Jan. 17.
ProjectConnect helps faculty and staff build a stronger community and enhance workplace well-being at Mason. Faculty and staff who participate in ProjectConnect will meet in groups of 4–6 participants over the course of five one-hour sessions and engage in a series of thought-provoking questions and fun activities. Learn more. ProjectConnect is also available for Mason students.
For questions, contact Zareena Khan, Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.
Love to Bike? Winter Bike to Mason Day is Friday, Feb. 9
Winter Bike to Work Day is the Friday before Valentine’s Day. Join Mason Parking and Transportation on Friday, Feb. 9, for a little bike love. Stop by the Merten Hall Lawn on the Fairfax Campus between 7:30–9:30 a.m. with your bike for a beverage and some biking-related giveaways.
Register for a Faculty/Staff Book Discussion Group about Friendship
Fostering a sense of belonging and deepening our social connections are integral to well-being. Mason students, faculty, and staff are invited to join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and ProjectConnect for a small-group book discussion on the topic of friendship.
Learn how to enjoy strong friendships in an era of distraction, burnout, and chaos—especially in a society that often prizes romantic love at the expense of other relationships. In Platonic, Marisa G. Franco explains that to make and keep friends you must understand your attachment style: secure, anxious, or avoidant. That is the key to unlocking what’s working (and what’s failing) in your friendships. Participants will receive a free copy of the book.
Register by Friday, Jan. 19, to join the discussions starting in February. For questions, contact Zareena Khan, Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.