Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.
Faculty and Staff Holiday Party: Wednesday, Dec. 18
You are invited to the annual George Mason University Faculty and Staff Holiday Party:
Wednesday, Dec. 18
1:30 to 4 p.m.
Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall
The Staff Senate will collect new and unwrapped book donations for INOVA Children's Hospital and non-perishable food, personal items, and school supplies for the Patriot Pantry in the Johnson Center Cinema lobby during the event. Click here for donation details and needed items.
University Winter Break Lockdown and Building Access
The university will be closed for winter break from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3. All academic and administrative buildings (with some exceptions) will be on "lockdown" during this period.
Buildings equipped with electronic access will be programmed to lock by the Card Access Security Office (CASO) in Business Services (formerly Auxiliary Enterprises). Buildings with mechanical entry only will be locked by Mason Police.
We recognize that many staff members and some students may require entry to locked buildings during winter break:
- Individuals needing access to buildings with electronic access should contact CASO no later than Tuesday, Dec. 17.
- Individuals needing access to buildings with mechanical locks only should submit a Winter Break Building Access Form to Mason Police by Thursday, Dec. 19. View the Winter Break Lockdown Memo for additional information.
Contact Beverley Jackson at 703-993-4466 or bjacks3@gmu.edu with questions.
Mason Support Ending for Windows 7: Required Upgrade for Mason-owned Computers
After January 14, 2020, Microsoft will no longer support the Windows 7 operating system.
All faculty and staff with a Mason-owned device running Windows 7 must have their operating systems upgraded to Windows 10 prior to the winter break to ensure completion before the Microsoft end of life (EOL) date. There is no charge for this upgrade.
Mason-owned devices that are not upgraded by the January deadline will be unable to connect to the Mason network. Unsupported systems pose a significant security threat to users and the university.
Detailed information on the EOL support for Windows 7 is available on the Microsoft website.
If you have a device that needs to be upgraded, please submit a request (login required).
Contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu with questions.
Graduate TargetX CRM Town Hall
TargetX Graduate CRM Town Hall
Wednesday, Dec. 4
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Merten Hall, Room 1201
Webex available (information below)
Last spring, Admissions and Enrollment Management hosted a Graduate Road Show for stakeholders from the colleges and schools. The goal was to identify, discuss, and prioritize any changes/updates users would like to see in TargetX, the current Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system, after using it for one recruitment cycle.
We have created a complete inventory of requested tweaks and changes, along with a Top 10 list based on feedback from the Graduate Admissions Liaisons. The Town Hall is an opportunity to report on progress and enhancements to the system for the 2019–20 cycle.
Submit comments and questions through the feedback form.
Webex Information:
Join by Webex
Meeting number: 647 568 433
Join by video system:
Dial 647568433@gmu.webex.com
Or dial 173.243.2.68 and enter the meeting number
Join by phone:
+1-415-655-0003 (U.S. Toll), or
+1-202-860-2110 (Washington, D.C.)
Access code: 647 568 433
Transportation Survey Underway
Parking and Transportation invites the Mason community to participate in the Bi-Annual Transportation Survey. It is one of the most significant ways that Mason collects feedback and information about transportation and access to campus—to make sure we are constantly improving.
The survey will be open until Dec. 6. Participation is voluntary. Your thoughts, suggestions, and experiences are incredibly valuable. We hope you will share them.
Mason Prepares for Reaffirmation of Accreditation
Every 10 years, Mason’s accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) must be reaffirmed. We are now gearing up for the next reaffirmation, which will be finalized in 2022.
Reaffirmation includes the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is an institution-wide self-study and preparation of a five-year initiative to enhance student learning and/or student success.
So how can you help? We are now accepting topic proposals for Mason’s next QEP, and we would love to hear your ideas. Topic proposal submissions are due Dec. 16.
Go to provost.gmu.edu/QEP for details and to submit a proposal.
For questions, contact Matthew Smith, director of accreditation, at msmit55@gmu.edu.
Food Drive: Parking and Transportation
Would you like to help someone in need? Parking Services is collecting food donations at the Parking Services Offices at the Arlington, Fairfax, and SciTech Campuses through Dec. 18 at noon.
Make a donation of food items or certain toiletries and reduce the cost of your parking ticket by up to $20 for one ticket and up to $60 for a maximum of three citations. Or, if you prefer, use the $20 credit toward a permit upgrade.
Donations benefit the Patriot Pantry. For important details, including the donation/credit framework, visit the website. Contact 703-993-2828 or transpo@gmu.edu with questions.
Holiday Donation Drives Sponsored by Staff Senate
This holiday season, the Staff Senate is sponsoring donation drives to help those in need. Donations will be collected until the date of each campus holiday party.
The Arlington and SciTech Campuses are collecting other items to benefit charities local to the campuses. For additional information, visit the Staff Senate website.
Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu with questions.
People Finder Scheduled Maintenance
People Finder, Mason’s online directory, will undergo scheduled maintenance during the week of Dec. 2–6. The directory will remain available at peoplefinder.gmu.edu during the maintenance period.
Faculty and staff may continue to submit updates/changes to directory listings using the People Finder update form. Any changes submitted during this time will be posted after the maintenance period.
For questions, contact masondir@gmu.edu.
Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day: Register Today
Registration is now open for Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day on Dec. 4. A keynote speaker, lunchtime speaker, and breakout sessions throughout the day will provide tools to help Mason’s faculty and staff grow their capacity to be more “Adaptable, Flexible, and Resilient.”
Through hands-on and reflective sessions, learn how to cope and grow in challenging situations, how your values and community can help you thrive, and how you can train your brain to be more resilient.
At the end of the day, participants are invited to enjoy coffee and connections with fellow faculty and staff as they choose from a selection of reflective and active opportunities to apply and synthesize the day’s learning.
For a list of the day’s sessions and their descriptions and to register, visit hr.gmu.edu/learning/fsed.
Follow us on Twitter @MasonFSED. For questions, contact hrlearn@gmu.edu.
University Life Student Success Symposium
Join us for the 2020 University Life Student Success Symposium: Connect. Innovate. Engage.
Jan. 9, 2020
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall
The symposium will offer in-depth presentations focused on innovative practices, national trends/research, best practices, and future directions in student service delivery. How do we flexibly respond to the changing needs of our students as enrollments increase and student demographics continue to shift?
Participants will engage in important, in-depth discussions focused on increasing and supporting student success.
Visit ulsymposium.gmu.edu for detailed information, including learning outcomes, Call for Programs, and registration.
Discount on Professional Development Courses
Make career advancement a top priority in 2020 by participating in professional development programs offered through Executive and Professional Education. Programs include:
- Project Management
- Facility Management
- Information Technology
- Human Resource Management
- And more!
Full-time Mason employees are eligible for a 50% discount.
Welcoming Winter Promotion now through Jan. 12 includes:
- 20% off for part-time Mason employees
- 20% off for spouses and children of full-time and part-time employees
Visit execed.gmu.edu to learn more and register. Contact execinfo@gmu.edu or 703-993-2109 with questions.
Last Mason 101 for Fall 2019!
Mason 101 is two-hour workshop for Mason staff and faculty to learn more about the history, organization, resources, and future of George Mason University.
We are offering a special Monday afternoon session on Dec. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Merten Hall, Room 2001.
Sign up is available at masonleaps.gmu.edu:
- Log in with your MasonID
- In the search bar, search for "Mason 101"
- On the screen that opens, click "Mason 101"
- Click on the available Mason 101 date
- Click the "Request" button next to your preferred training date
For more information or questions, contact Philip Stamper at pstamper@gmu.edu or 703-993-5308.
Office of Sponsored Programs Roundtable Discussion
An information session for unit administrators working with sponsored projects will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 10 a.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1204.
Topics will include updates on policies and procedures, as well as anything new related to sponsored projects.
Registration is recommended to ensure there is enough seating for all attendees.
Contact Pat Sperry at 703-993-8929 or psperry@gmu.edu with questions.
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week at the Bookstore/Patriot Tech
Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week is coming up at the Mason Bookstore and Patriot Tech from Dec. 9–14! Save 20% off any personal in-store purchase when you show your Mason ID.
Exclusions: Gift cards, textbooks, graduation regalia, special orders, hardware, and convenience items. Cannot be combined with other promotions.
Contact 703-993-2666 with questions.
DMV2Go on the Fairfax Campus
Take care of your Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles business at a convenient Mason location. DMV2Go will be on the Fairfax Campus on Monday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Merten Hall parking lot.
Check the DMV2Go website for a list of services.
The 2020 DMV2Go schedule is now available. For questions, contact Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828.
Winter Break Regional Transportation
Transportation will be available from Mason to New York City, Richmond, Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, and other cities for Winter Break.
For details on destinations, departures, pricing, and to book a seat, visit the Mason Transportation website.
The Winter Break Mason Shuttles schedule is coming soon. Contact shuttle@gmu.edu with questions.
Vogel Greeting Cards
Need a host/hostess gift, or something for that hard-to-shop-for person? Consider a set of Vogel greeting cards!
These greeting card sets were created to honor Hilde Vogel-Michalik and to support her art collection, which is housed at Mason's SciTech Campus.
Sets include six greeting cards, each depicting a different Vogel painting on the front. Cards are blank inside for a personal message.
Price: $10.60 (including tax)
All proceeds from greeting card sales go toward the care and maintenance of the collection. Visit the Vogel website to learn more about the collection or to purchase cards.
12 Days of Holiday Giveaways
Every day is a new chance to win. From December 1–12, shopMason is giving away an assortment of prizes through social media.
Follow @shopMason or @WeAreMason on Instagram for your chance to win!