Faculty/Staff Announcements
Have something to share? Submit an announcement from your unit using the online form.
Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.
Staff Appreciation Winter Warm-Up
Enjoy donuts, warm beverages, enter the raffle for a variety of prizes, and receive some special giveaways at the Staff Appreciation Winter Warm-Up, presented by the Mason Staff Senate!
Save the date for the event at your campus:
- Arlington: Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 1 to 2 p.m., Van Metre Hall, Multipurpose Room
- Fairfax: Thursday, Feb. 27, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. A departmental information fair will be held at the Fairfax event only.
The Staff Appreciation Events are open to classified staff and non-student wage employees. The SciTech event took place on Feb. 20.
For questions, contact staffsenate@gmu.edu.
Participate in Telework Week: March 9–13
Have you wanted to try teleworking? Now is the time! From March 9–13, Mason will celebrate Telework Week.
To participate, fill out a Flexible Work Agreement at flexwork.gmu.edu and submit it to your supervisor for approval. When filling out the form:
- Choose your begin date (March 9, 2020) and end date (March 13, 2020)
- Check the box next to “Telework/Telework Week/Summer Telework”
- Fill out the day(s) you will be teleworking
- Indicate in the comments that you are submitting an agreement for Telework Week 2020
Those participating in Telework Week are doing so under the Flexible Work Policy 2202.
For questions, contact worklife@gmu.edu.
Spring Break Shuttle Schedule
Spring Break will bring some modifications to the Mason Shuttle schedules. Details are available on the Mason Shuttles website.
Parking and Transportation is also offering regional shuttles for Spring Break. View more information here.
Contact shuttle@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828 with questions.
Cultural Studies Presents: The Amazon Symposium
The Cultural Studies Program will host a one-day symposium on Amazon in the wake of the news that the company is bringing its HQ2 to our area.
The symposium is scheduled for April 10 at the Arlington Campus.
The program will feature a keynote lecture, and presentations will be structured under four intersecting rubrics—each of which will be treated in an interdisciplinary fashion:
- Amazon: Business in the 21st Century
- Amazon in the (Our) Community
- The Cultural Meaning of Amazon
- Amazon Tech
Visit the website for more information and to register.
Contact Paul Smith, Cultural Studies Program, at psmith5@gmu.edu or 703-993-2851 with questions.
Save the Date: Bike to Mason Day
Spring will be here before we know it! Save the date for Bike to Mason Day at your campus:
- Arlington: Tuesday, April 21, 3 to 7 p.m., Founders Plaza
- Fairfax: Wednesday, April 22, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Merten Hall Lawn
- SciTech: Thursday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Colgan Hall Front Patio
Additional details coming soon at bike.gmu.edu.
The UPS Store Now a University-Approved Printer
The UPS Store in Merten Hall is proud to announce that it is now an authorized printer for George Mason University!
Print anything from business cards to posters, postcards, banners, flyers, booklets, and much more. Email your print jobs to store6272@theupsstore.com or drop by with an original or flash drive.
The UPS Store strives to provide quick turnaround and friendly service. Free delivery is available anywhere on the Fairfax Campus.
Mention this post when you send your print job to receive 20 percent off your first printing project.
For any questions, call 703-865-5544.
Mental Health First Aid: Spring Break Session
Student Health Services is pleased to offer Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to members of the university community this March.
MHFA provides participants with basic skills to help someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. MHFA focuses on risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns. The session covers depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, and substance use disorders.
The next session will be offered on March 11–12, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Participants must attend both days.
Register here. Contact Katie Clare at kclare@gmu.edu with questions.
Crucial Conversations Skillshop Series for Faculty
Join Human Resources and Payroll for the third in a five-part series of “skillshops” that hone in on skills for holding difficult conversations featured in Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High.
Crucial Conversations Skillshop Series for Faculty: Skillshop Three
Friday, Feb. 28
10 a.m. noon
In this session, “Clearly Stating Your Message and Creating the Conditions for Others to State Theirs,” participants will learn tools for clearly communicating a difficult message and skillfully inviting others into the conversation.
To register for skillshop three, log in to MasonLEAPS and search “Crucial Conversations Skillshop.”
Participants may attend individual skillshops or register for the whole series.
For questions, contact Margaret Vu at mvu20@gmu.edu.
Learning Innovation and the Future of Higher Education
Join Michelle Marks, vice president for academic innovation and new ventures, as she leads Joshua Kim and Edward Maloney in a conversation on how to make and sustain real change in higher education.
Learning Innovation and the Future of Higher Education
Tuesday, Feb. 25
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Merten Hall, Room 1201
In their new book, Learning Innovation and the Future of Higher Education, Kim and Maloney discuss the difficulties of translating learning science advances into organizational change. How does it make its way into our classrooms and teaching practices? What steps should higher education leaders take to match how students learn with the research on how students learn best?
RSVP today. Contact Teresa Finn at 703-993-5114 or tfinn2@gmu.edu for more information.
Well-Being University Reading Group
The Well-Being University Reading Group is back for spring 2020! Join us for discussions on The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal.
The group will meet from noon to 12:45 p.m. for five consecutive Thursdays:
- March 19 and 26
- April 2, 9, and 16
Each session will begin with a short movement practice, and the final session will include a campus walk. The overall experience has the potential to benefit your well-being and even your productivity.
Register for the reading group at your campus location:
- Arlington
- Fairfax (still welcoming registrations, but all free copies of the book have been claimed)
- SciTech
Contact Katie Clare at kclare@gmu.edu or 703-993-1177 with questions.
People Finder Update: Adding Pronouns to Your Listing
People Finder, Mason’s online directory, can now display pronouns for faculty, staff, and affiliates. Mason employees may choose to add this information to People Finder by using the online form to update their listing.
Adding pronouns to People Finder helps build an inclusive and welcoming community at Mason and supports university initiatives recognizing chosen names and pronouns.
For questions related to People Finder, contact masondir@gmu.edu.
Staff Senate: Latest Announcements
The Staff Senate started the new year with discussions on lactation support and administrative faculty representation. Our three committees, Awards and Engagement, Communications, and Events, met to discuss upcoming initiatives.
Learn more about our recent announcements and the work we have been doing to serve our constituency.
Staff Senators are ambassadors for George Mason University classified and non-student wage staff, providing service through advocacy, education, and appreciation.
We value the importance of and encourage dialogue with our constituents, the administration, Faculty Senate, and student government. Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu with questions or ideas.
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 Tuesday, March 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Merten Hall parking lot.
For a list of available services, visit the DMV2Go website. Check out the complete 2020 DMV2Go schedule for the Fairfax Campus.
Contact Parking and Transportation at 703-993-2828 or transpo@gmu.edu with questions.
Spring Mindfulness Sessions
Do you want to prioritize your well-being in 2020? Budget time to recharge each week? Connect with like-minded peers? If so, attend the Spring Mindfulness Sessions.
A variety of facilitators will share mindfulness practices each Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 12:45 p.m. These drop-in sessions do not require commitment to attend every week, but please arrive on time.
Sessions run through April 29. Tuesday sessions meet in the Johnson Center, Room G, and Wednesday sessions meet in the Johnson Center, Room 234.
Contact Katie Clare at kclare@gmu.edu with questions.
On-Campus Bike Maintenance from The Bike Lane
Get your bike ready for spring with The Bike Lane! They will be on the Fairfax Campus the first Wednesday of the month at the Recreation and Athletic Complex (the RAC).
You can set up an appointment for two different tiers of service. Keep in mind that appointments are required, and payment is made in advance of service.
For details, visit bike.gmu.edu.
Vanpooling Drop By: Transform 66 Incentives and Free Commuting Options
Are you commuting on I-66 outside the Beltway? Traveling from Winchester, Front Royal, Haymarket, or other western locations?
Traffic on this corridor has been greatly impacted by the Transform 66 project. With road construction increasing, Mason employees need solutions.
Consider vanpooling. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, stop by Kiosk F in the Johnson Center from noon to 2 p.m., or the Sandy Creek Transit Center from 4 to 6 p.m. Representatives from Parking and Transportation and the I-66 project will share information and help those interested sign up for a vanpool.
Financial incentives are available for full-time faculty and staff to vanpool through the Commuter Choice Program and Transform 66.
You might not be able to avoid heavy traffic, but you don’t always have to be driving!
Visit the Mason Transportation website for more information.
Off-Campus Housing Fair
Let your students know about the upcoming Off-Campus Housing Fair:
In search of off-campus housing? Need more space? Transferring to Mason and need a place to live?
Stop by the Off-Campus Housing Fair in the Johnson Center on Monday, March 2, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Several apartment communities will share off-campus housing information and giveaways.
Contact Anthony Berardo, Contemporary Student Services, at 703-993-6299 or aberardo@gmu.edu with questions.
Apple Federal Credit Union: Free Credit Report
Did you know that your credit score affects more than your ability to get a loan?
Visit Apple Federal Credit Union's branch in the Johnson Center through March 31 for free access to your credit report. Apple staff will go through the report with you and focus on ways to help improve your score or save you money!
Check out applefcu.org for more information.