Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Staff Senate Nomination Period
Becoming a Staff Senator is a great way to get involved with the university community and to have an impact on your workplace. The senate provides opportunities to learn about how the university works and to collaborate with administrators and staff members outside of your unit. Learn more.
The nomination period for the 2024 Staff Senate election is open from Monday, June 10, through Friday, June 21. Classified staff and non-student wage staff are eligible to serve as senators. Get more information about open seats and the nomination process. The election will take place in July.
Submit Content for the Student Involvement Planner
George Mason Student Involvement invites offices and departments to submit information to be included in the 2024–25 academic and events planner. The planner will include a week-by-week calendar of events from August 2024 to May 2025, keeping students informed about what’s happening on campus.
The planner includes events, advertising space, and resources for students. There are two ways to include your department in the planner: free event listings, and/or paid advertising space.
To request inclusion in the planner, complete the form. All ad copy and event submissions are due to Lauren Candland by Monday, July 1, at 9 a.m.
High School Graduations at EagleBank Arena
Heavy traffic is expected on and around George Mason's Fairfax Campus for regional high school graduation ceremonies at EagleBank Arena through June 18.
EagleBank Arena will host up to three ceremonies on many days, so traffic will be entering and exiting campus from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. Please allow extra travel time on and around campus. View the schedule.
George Mason faculty, staff, and students are advised to use the general permit area of the Rappahannock Parking Deck or the Field House parking lots to avoid delays. Shenandoah Parking Deck (levels 4 and 5) will be open for limited overflow student, employee, and event parking on weekdays when graduations occur.
No Mason Shuttles Service on Juneteenth
There will be no Mason Shuttles service on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Contact shuttle@gmu.edu or by phone at 703-993-2828.
Parking Lot Paving and Closures on the Fairfax Campus
This summer, parking areas on the Fairfax Campus will be milled, paved, and striped. The schedule is subject to change based on weather and existing conditions. Signage about closures will be posted at parking lot entrances. View the complete schedule.
MESA to M365 Migration Update
Information Technology Services (ITS) is migrating the current enterprise file storage system, MESA M: Drive, to Microsoft 365 (M365) by Sunday, June 30.
As a reminder, a survey has been sent to all shared drive administrators that will inform their department’s migration experience. If the survey is not completed by Friday, June 14, ITS will automatically migrate the department’s data to M365.
To provide additional support, ITS is holding weekly office hours and training via the Collaboration Collective MS Team—MESA Migration Project channel. Join the space for dates and times of the next session. For project details, visit the MESA to M365 Roadmap.
Training and Professional Development
CommonHealth: Better Nights Ahead
Sleep optimizes how the brain regulates emotions, mood, attention span, concentration, and executive function. Tune in to "Better Nights Ahead," a webinar from CommonHealth, Virginia’s employee wellness program, on Thursday, June 13, from noon to 1 p.m.
Learn about the benefits of sleep, suggestions for resetting your sleep cues, and tips for enhancing sleep quality. Register today.
University Business Consulting Summer Knowledge Share Series
Registration is now open for University Business Consulting’s (UBC) annual Summer Knowledge Share Series. Sessions are open to all faculty and staff. The sessions this summer include:
- UBC’s Approach to Projects: Successes and Lessons Learned (Wednesday, June 26)
- Strategic Planning and Implementation (Wednesday, July 17)
- Measuring Progress (Wednesday, August 14)
Sessions will be held at noon on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall and via Zoom. Find out more and register.
Resources for You
Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice
Do you live within a few miles of campus and think biking to work could be good for your well-being? All faculty and staff (non-student) are eligible to participate in the Bike Commuter Choice Program. The program has four tiers of support. The more you ride, the greater the financial incentive. The introductory tier is just five rides per quarter.
For details, visit bike.gmu.edu and select the Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice Program.
Need help finding a comfortable route to campus? Visit the biking resource page. Contact Mason Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu with questions.
Mason Square Market
Visit the Mason Square Market on Thursday, June 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the plaza. Find handmade items, sweet treats, art, and more. The market is sponsored by Mason Square and Mason Dining, in collaboration with Arlington Economic Development. Don’t miss out; there will be something for everyone. Learn more.
Intro to Mindfulness: Online Sessions
Strengthen your well-being by learning mindfulness, meditation, and stress management strategies to integrate into your busy life. Join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being for these online Intro to Mindfulness sessions this summer:
- Intro to Mindfulness Part 1 will meet on Wednesdays (July 10, 17, 24, and 31) from noon to 1:15 p.m. Register.
- Intro to Mindfulness Part 2 will meet on Fridays (August 2, 9, 16, and 23) from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Contact Katie Clare at kclare@gmu.edu to register.
Sophrology for Work Stress: Free Online Sessions
Sophrology is a dynamic relaxation method that can strengthen the well-being of both your body and your mind. Join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being for free online “Sophrology for Work Stress” sessions on Wednesdays in July (including July 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.). You can join any individual session, or all of them. Learn more and register.
Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group: Summer Sessions
The Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group will meet on Friday afternoons this summer. Kritikos engages in discussions on writing about the arts, critical studies, translation, the artist in society, and art as speech. Learn more.
Join them for the topic “Cowboy Carter: Love and Lessons Long Overdue” on Friday, June 14, from 1–2:30 p.m. via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public.
Cinema on the Plaza: Barbie
Visit the Mason Square Plaza for an evening of fun on Friday, June 21, for a free outdoor movie night featuring Barbie. Bring your chairs, blankets, and snacks. Old Blue BBQ will sell concessions and host a cash bar starting at 5 p.m. Enjoy Barbie-themed crafts and social hour starting at 6:30 p.m., and the movie will start at 8 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason
Mason Jazz Camp: Faculty Showcase
Monday, June 24, at 3:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Faculty perform a special showcase to open the week-long Mason Jazz Camp. Performances by Wade Beach (piano), Shawn Purcell (guitar), Ben Thomas (bass), Kevin McDonald (drums), Juan Megna (drums), Darden Purcell (voice), John Kocur (saxophone), Xavier Perez (saxophone), Jim Carroll (saxophone), Aaron Eckert (trombone), Graham Breedlove (trumpet), and more. This performance is free and open to the public. Find more Mason Jazz Camp performances.
Mason Jazz Camp: The United States Air Force Airmen of Note
Thursday, June 27, at 3:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., the Airmen of Note is one of six musical ensembles that form The U.S. Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Forces dance band, the current band consists of 18 active-duty musicians, including one vocalist. Through the years, the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United States, deployments around the world, and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C. This performance is free and open to the public. Find more Mason Jazz Camp performances.
ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical
Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 29, at 2 and 7 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater
ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre presents SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical, based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and is the hottest star on Broadway? Why, it’s SpongeBob SquarePants! Audiences will delight in this brilliant, bright, hilarious, and brand new musical.
Prince William Little Theatre: 110 in the Shade
July 12–21, multiple performances
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater
In the hot and drought-stricken American southwest small town of Three Point, traveling con man Bill Starbuck promises the local farmers he can conjure some much-needed rain. Lizzie Curry, whose advances are rebuffed by Sheriff Fife, blossoms as she pursues a romantic relationship with the charismatic stranger.
ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: Anastasia the Musical (Youth Edition)
Friday, July 26, at 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 27, at 2 and 7 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall
This dazzling production transports the audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s. Follow Anya, a brave young woman who sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.