Around Mason: Week of Sept. 15, 2020

University Records Management is offering a number of virtual workshops for staff and faculty throughout the fall, including:

• Records Coordinator Training
• Building Internal Records Policies and Practices
• Quick Retention Review sessions focused on specific records types (such as Academic and Research Records, Human Resources and Fiscal Records, and Administrative and Miscellaneous Records)

University Records Management offers these workshop to assist the Mason community, as improper handling of university records can affect audits, accreditation, litigation, and more.

Each workshop is limited to 10 attendees. See dates, times, and register at gmu.libcal.com/calendar/events.

Contact recmgt@gmu.edu with questions.

Join us for the Innovations in Teaching & Learning (ITL) conference from Sept. 21–25. The Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning’s signature annual event brings together Mason instructors from across disciplines to share strategies for teaching through lively, virtual, and interactive workshops/panels.

The conference will feature keynote speaker Bryan Alexander, author of Academia Next: The Futures of Higher Education. Access the e-book for free, courtesy of University Libraries. Dr. Alexander will invite us to reflect on how the landscape of higher education is changing and how technology can transform education, improving student experience and learning outcomes.

Register and find out more at stearnscenter.gmu.edu/itl.

Interested in gaining supervision wisdom from senior leaders at a variety of large public institutions? Join the Supervision Collective, part of University Life Professional Development, for “Words of the Wise: Sage Supervision Strategies from Senior Leaders” on Thursday, Sept. 24, at noon. The session will be hosted on Zoom.

Senior leaders will discuss supervision strategies including best practices, lessons learned, and implementation approaches that have shaped their supervision philosophies.

The webinar will feature:

• Rose Pascarell, vice president of University Life, George Mason University
• Bobby Woodard, senior vice president for student affairs, Auburn University
• Kevin Bailey, vice chancellor for student affairs, University of North Carolina-Charlotte
• Julie Walters Steele, director of Reynolds Homestead, Virginia Tech
• Dave Barnes, director of university unions, James Madison University

Register today.

Senior leaders will answer questions in real time during the event. Submit a question here.

Mason's Resilience Badge is a fully online, asynchronous learning opportunity that will allow you to further develop your resilience through content knowledge and practices, all of which are backed by the science of resilience. Enroll today to learn about resilience and how to enhance your use of this key skill.

Check out the details and enrollment instructions. New content will be released every two weeks. Start today.

Content is geared toward students, but can be equally beneficial for faculty and staff. Regardless of your position, everyone can benefit from resilience training. If you complete this as a faculty or staff member, it may give you additional insight into the student experience and Mason resources available to them.

Contact Katie Clare at kclare@gmu.edu with questions.

The Support Group for Working Mothers at Mason is one way faculty, staff, and students can come together, discuss the issues confronting working mothers, and perhaps motivate changes on campus.

The 19th year of group meetings will look a bit different, as we plan to meet virtually for the fall semester. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m. We also adjusted the time, as the lunch hour is not ideal for working moms with young children at home!

If you are interested in sharing stories and being part of an informal organization of working mothers, join us here:

Zoom Meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/91081740443?pwd=SG5Kem5uSUlRMGNybGhCWmdkRStDUT09
Meeting ID: 910 8174 0443
Passcode: 058387

Visit our website for more information. Contact Heather Aleknavage at haleknav@gmu.edu with questions.

This fall, the Mason Community Arts Academy is offering 22 group classes in music, acting, and visual art for ages 18 months to adult.

All classes are held in a livestreamed, interactive format that connects students with Mason's teaching artists and experienced arts educators.

Some new additions include:

• "Expand Your Musical Theater Repertoire" and "Monologue Repertoire & Audition Technique" workshops (ages 12–18)
• New early childhood classes for toddlers and children (18 months to age 6)
• Digital art and technology classes (ages 11–18)
• Music and art classes (adults)

Programs are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Claim your spot today at masonacademy.gmu.edu/classes.

All Mason faculty, staff and their immediate family receive 10 percent tuition discount. To receive the discount, contact academy@gmu.edu.