Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.
Celebrating Randolph Warner Church Jr.
Randolph Warner Church Jr. "Ranny," age 85, died March 24, 2020. He served on the Board of Visitors of George Mason University from 1982-1990 and as its Rector from 1983-86.
In 1999, he founded "Fall for the Book," a major Virginia book festival based at George Mason University, now in its 21st year. He was its first president and remained on the board until 2018.
Ranny is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Lucy Canary Church. Together they worked on many cultural activities, particularly in support of the arts and George Mason University where they endowed two scholarships.
Mail Services Update: Mail at Home and USPS Service Disruptions
Get Mason Mail at Home
Maintaining continuity of operations for the Mason community is challenging with so many working from home, but Canon Solutions America (CSA) can help.
CSA provides our Mail Services and can add one point of contact, per mail stop, to receive notifications of delivered packages and letter mail. Departments needing their campus mail sent to the home address of a departmental employee can request, at the department’s expense, CSA provide mail forwarding via USPS. This CSA service can be set up here.
Note, CSA has limited mail storage space and will reach out to departments that have more than a USPS delivery bin accumulating in the mail room to determine a delivery option. If your department receives a large volume of mail and you haven’t made arrangements with CSA for delivery or storage, please reach out to Kristin Masters at kmaster@gmu.edu.
USPS Service Disruptions
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the USPS has suspended mail service to a number of countries due to foreign postal operator service suspension or unavailability of transportation.
The USPS asks that customers refrain from mailing items addressed to those identified countries until further notice. A full list of impacted countries and additional service disruptions can be viewed here.
These service disruptions affect Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI), Priority Mail International® (PMI), First-Class Mail International® (FCMI), First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®), International Priority Airmail® (IPA®), International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®), and M-Bag® items.
Questions? Contact Kristin Masters at kmaster@gmu.edu.
Resilience Resources Weekly
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of being resilient in a variety of ways and in many settings.
To support the resilience of our George Mason University community, the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being has created Resilience Resources Weekly.
Each Monday, Resilience Resources Weekly highlights one strategy for developing resilience. Every week, you will learn something about the strategy and be encouraged to explore it in your life through additional resources. Check it out and maybe even consider sharing it with friends and family outside of the Mason community. Materials can be accessed here.
Questions? Contact Katie Clare at kclare@gmu.edu.
Virginia 529 Informational Webinar
HR Benefits has teamed up with Virginia529 to offer a webinar for Mason employees on May 8 from noon to 1 p.m. Join to learn a variety of ways to achieve your higher education savings goals and how Virginia529 can help.
You will learn how to:
• Save for tuition and other college costs
• Save for private or religious K-12 education
• Take advantage of tax-free earnings and the Virginia state tax deduction
• Meet your savings goals by contributing directly from your paycheck
Register here.
To read more about the Viriniga529 plan, visit their website. If you have questions, email benefits@gmu.edu.
Metro Orange Line Platform Work Expanded
WMATA has expanded the orange line platform reconstruction project slated to begin Saturday, May 23.
All nine orange and silver line stations west of Ballston-MU will be closed and silver line service will be temporarily suspended beginning May 23.
WMATA will provide free express and local shuttle service during the shutdown for essential workers. For more details, click here.
Reminder: DMV2Go Visits Postponed
In keeping with University protocols regarding COVID-19, Parking and Transportation has requested that DMV2Go visits to the Fairfax Campus be canceled until further notice.
Please see the Department of Motor Vehicle website for information about their COVID-19 response.
Contact Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu with questions.