Faculty/Staff Announcements
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º£½ÇÉçÇø Updates
9/11 Day of Service
Mason's 10th annual will take place on Friday, Sept. 9. A variety of service projects will be available for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.
In addition to community service projects, include a service fair, mindfulness and reflection sessions, and a luncheon for volunteers, first responders, veterans, and service fair partners.
Mason faculty and staff are encouraged to join the 9/11 Day of Service. Full-time classified employees and administrative/professional faculty receive 16 hours of paid volunteer leave per calendar year (pro-rated for part-time) to provide volunteer services through eligible nonprofit organizations. The 9/11 Day of Service is approved for volunteer leave usage.
50th Anniversary Reception at the SciTech º£½ÇÉçÇø
Celebrate º£½ÇÉçÇø's 50th Anniversary at a special reception held at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the SciTech º£½ÇÉçÇø. Join us as we honor our partners from the past, present, and future, with guests to include alumni and community business leaders. A special "Mason through the Decades" menu will be provided by BluSage Catering.
Reception Celebrating º£½ÇÉçÇø's 50th Anniversary
Thursday, Sept. 15, from 5–7 p.m.
SciTech º£½ÇÉçÇø, Hylton Performing Arts Center
This event is free to attend, but attendees should .
The Mason Club for Faculty and Staff Re-Opens for Fifth Year
The membership-driven Mason Club for faculty and staff has re-opened for the fall semester in its temporary location: the Blackstone Room at Southside dining hall.
The Mason Club, with floor-to-ceiling windows, padded chairs, and seating for 26, is designed for single diners to meet colleagues, as well as groups up to eight. Space is limited, and reservations are encouraged by .
Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday–Friday, with a server on the premises. Membership is $25 each semester and can be or in person during the first visit to the club. The buffet is $11; reduced prices are possible with the university’s Byte meal plan.
September Staff Senate Meeting
The September Staff Senate meeting will feature Andrew Lane, director of Performance Management and Employee Engagement, joined by members of his team, including Tamira Colbert, faculty/staff engagement assistant, and Stacey Ellis, faculty/staff engagement consultant, to discuss goals and initiatives following the results of the recent Gallup survey of Mason employees.
Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to noon
Questions are being collected in advance of the session. by Aug. 31.
College Colors Day
College Colors Day is coming up on Friday, Sept. 2. We want to see everyone wearing green and gold to show their Patriot Pride!
Visit the We Are Mason tent from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wilkins Plaza for free swag. Bring a receipt for $25+ spent on branded merchandise from the bookstore to receive a free T-shirt.
Mason Student Services Center at Mason Square
The Division of Enrollment Management is excited to announce the in-person expansion of the (MSSC) to Mason Square.
The MSSC is the first point of contact for general inquiries related to registration and enrollment, admissions, billing and payments, and financial aid. Visitors, both in-person and virtually, are assisted by a team of cross-trained generalists who can help resolve most student services issues. Under this consolidated model, students, family members, and the greater Mason community benefit from the convenience of having their needs addressed in one visit, to one centralized location.
At Mason Square, the MSSC is located on the first floor of Van Metre Hall. The MSSC is staffed Tuesday–Thursday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. For assistance outside of these in-person hours, students may visit to submit a virtual case.
Food Trucks at Mason Square Every Tuesday and Thursday
The fall semester has arrived, and with it comes the newest Mason Square initiative: food trucks on the plaza! A food truck will be parked in front of Van Metre Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The type of food truck will vary. , a food truck tracker and ordering platform, to see the schedule or place an order in advance. You may also place your order on site at the food truck. or download the app on your smartphone. Use coupon code FYND_2OFF for $2 off your first online order.
Mason Shuttles During Labor Day Weekend
There will be limited service on Mason Shuttles during Labor Day weekend. Visit for details.
See an Contact shuttle@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828 with questions.
Training and Professional Development
Save the Date: Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Conference
º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Initiative is proud to host this first-ever conference featuring panels, workshops, and conversation groups with researchers and changemakers from across the country.
Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Conference
Monday, Oct. 24
8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Mason Square
Stay tuned for more details and registration information.
Changes to the IT Security Awareness Training Program
Information Technology Services (ITS) is making important changes to Mason’s IT Security Awareness Training Program. This year’s training opens Wednesday, Sept. 28, and will close Wednesday, Nov. 16. Notification will be sent when the training is assigned.
Employees who fail to take the training by the deadline will have their accounts disabled, and their supervisors or manager will be notified. If your account is disabled, you will need to contact the ITS Support Center to re-enable the account to take the training.
Employees who handle sensitive information will be required to take additional role-based training.
The training provides information about protecting Mason’s IT systems and employees’ information, which is a priority for ITS. .
Resilience Badge
The program helps Mason students and employees strengthen resilience and earn a valuable digital credential in the process. Earn the badge at your own pace online anytime.
Mason’s Resilience Badge will allow you to build your resilience through content knowledge and practices, all of which are backed by the science of resilience. Deepening your own knowledge in these areas and honing your self-awareness will allow your thinking to become more flexible, more adaptable, and more creative. This will help you when it comes to solving problems, making decisions, and building the life you want.
from Mason students who have earned the Resilience Badge. .
Resources for You
Well-Being and Mental Health Resources through Patriots Thriving Together
At Mason, we are committed to everyone Thriving Together. Find a range of resources designed to improve your well-being and mental health at
The Patriots Thriving Together mental health and well-being resources are designed for all community members. Mason’s resources are organized under three categories: non-credited learning experiences, academic credit experiences, and general resources.
The best well-being practices and habits are the ones that work for you. Try some of these activities and discover which ones help you on your well-being journey.
Contact the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being with questions.
Patriot Perks—Relaunched!
We are excited to present our newly relaunched Patriot Perks website. The new website easily highlights the exclusive deals available to the Mason community and has more searchable features, making it easier than ever to find deals of interest. Check it out at .
Learning Services Helps Our Students Find Success
provides a variety of free, experience-based learning opportunities for the Mason community through one-on-one academic coaching, academic success workshops, and online resources. We help students develop academic strategies and habits to succeed, no matter the academic field.
Students may contact Learning Services when they want to improve their academic skills and/or grades, improve time management, ask questions about learning differences or ADHD, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and more.
Find out more on the . Contact the office via email or call 703-993-2999. Learning Services is located in Student Union Building (SUB) I, Suite 3600.
Discover Mason: A Guide to Services and Resources for the Community
Does your office provide a service or resource to the external community? If so, submit the information for inclusion in .
Discover Mason showcases the variety of ways the external community (business, residential, and government) can engage with the university, even if they do not attend school here.
If your department would like to be included, submit the following information to Traci Kendall, Government and Community Relations, by Sept. 8:
- Title of service/resource
- Phone number
- Website link for more information
- One-sentence description of the service/resource available to the community
Environmental Justice and BIPOC Art Exhibitions this Fall
Mason Exhibitions in the School of Art is offering numerous events and exhibitions that align with social justice themes or highlight BIPOC artists. Visit for detailed information, a list of events, and RSVP links. Follow for the latest information.
Current and upcoming exhibits include:
by Abdulrahman Naanseh
Art and Design Building, Gillespie Gallery
Aug. 22 to Oct. 15
by Atlantika Collective
Mason Exhibitions Arlington
Aug. 24 to Oct. 1
by Justyne Fisher
Buchanan Hall Atrium Gallery
Sept. 12 to Nov. 12
by Bennie Herron
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Buchanan Partners Gallery
Sept. 6 to Nov. 6
The Visual Voices lecture series also resumes this fall. .
Contact Yassmin Salem with questions.
Arts Alive!
is a co-production of the Prince William County Arts Council and the Hylton Performing Arts Center. This annual family-friendly arts festival features community performers and fine artists. Enjoy hands-on activities for all ages, multiple stages of performances, and more on Sunday, Sept. 11, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Celebrate your local arts community. This event is free and open to the public. .
Working Moms Support Group
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 spur changes on campus.
The group is celebrating its 20th year of group meetings, which will include a mix of in-person and virtual formats this fall.
The first meeting will be on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at noon via Zoom. If you are interested in sharing stories and being part of an informal organization of working mothers, . Those interested may also join the group channel in .
for more information, or contact Heather Aleknavage.
Try Going Car-Free
It’s always a great idea to have more than one way to get to Mason. Car Free Day on Sept. 22 is an opportunity to try a new way to commute.
and receive a Nift Gift with your confirmation email. You will also be entered into a raffle for some great prizes.
If you are a full-time Mason employee, remember that public transportation costs are subsidized up to the IRS limit of $280/month. .
Rideshare Matching through MasonCommutes
Ride-matching is back at Mason! Help become the go-to place for Mason ridesharing. The more people who create an account, the more robust the site will become. Create an account today at .
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Mason School of Theater:
Friday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, TheatreSpace
The Originals! offers talented student playwrights and creative artists the chance to share their work in a variety of forms. Whether it’s a musical, a one-person show, choreographed devised work, or the traditional ten-minute play structure, explore the brilliant imaginations of our talented students as they present this year’s Originals!
Veterans Virtual Guitar Workshops
Location: Online via Zoom
Have you always wanted to try the guitar, or are you looking for tips to improve your technique? Musicians of all skill levels are invited to participate in a 10-week series of virtual lessons with Glen McCarthy, guitar instructor and GRAMMY Foundation Finalist. If you have played guitar before, see the requirements for Level II to determine which level is best for you. These virtual workshops will take place Tuesday evenings and are open and free to veterans, servicemembers, military family members, and military caregivers.