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.
No Mason Shuttles Service on Juneteenth and Independence Day
There will be no Mason Shuttles service on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, or on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Contact shuttle@gmu.edu or by phone at 703-993-2828 with questions.
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.
Training and Professional Development
IT Security Awareness Training Begins July 9
All Mason employees, including contractors, affiliates, and student wage workers, will have Information Technology (IT) Security Awareness Training assigned to their MasonLEAPS accounts on Tuesday, July 9. Those with specialized functions will also receive mandatory role-based training.
This year, Information Technology Services (ITS) is changing how it tracks and enforces compliance. Users must complete the training before their semi-annual password reset. If the training is not completed by then, users will be allowed to change their passwords and have 14 days to complete the training. Failure to comply will result in the user’s account being disabled. Additional information about how compliance will be enforced is available on the ITS website. Contact support@gmu.edu or 703-993-8870 with questions.
Learn Mental Health First Aid this Summer
Complete Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to learn how to help someone suffering from a mental health crisis, increase your mental health literacy, and dismantle the stigma associated with mental health and substance use challenges. The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being will present MHFA training in these summer sessions:
- July 22 and 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- August 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The eight-hour training will be split into two four-hour sessions. Learn more and register.
Workplace Appreciation Workshops
In the Workplace Appreciation workshop, participants will discuss the five languages of workplace appreciation, reflect on personal preferences for receiving appreciation, and discuss impactful ways of appreciating colleagues. Check the schedule of upcoming workshops.
George Mason offices and departments may also request custom workshops to be delivered at team meetings and retreats. Contact Faculty and Staff Engagement for details.
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
Patriot Packout’s Free Store
Patriot Packout’s annual “free store” will be open from July 1–3 and July 8–10 on the Fairfax Campus in the Art and Design Building. Items in the store were donated during Patriot Packout, the university's sustainable moveout program.
Clothing, shoes, accessories, books, art supplies, small appliances, electronics, household items, and more are included. This event is open to George Mason students, staff, faculty, and alumni only. Registration is required.
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.
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 “Imagining Black Eco-Justice” on Friday, June 21, 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.