Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Spring into Well-Being
Spring is a time of growth, renewal, and hope for new possibilities. It’s also the perfect time to renew our health and well-being.
Mason celebrates from April 24–28. This annual celebration offers a series of events to enhance and support the well-being of the Mason Nation..
May Staff Senate Meeting
The May Staff Senate meeting will feature Ken Walsh, executive vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, to discuss Mason's.
Wednesday, May 3
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – General Business Meeting
11 a.m. to noon – Guest Speaker
Constituents are invited to attend in person in Merten Hall, Room 1204, or via. Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu with questions.
Participate in the Mason Miles Walking Challenge
April 24 kicked off the Mason Miles Walking Challenge! From now until June 5, log your steps until you have completed 125 miles. Then, submit your results to be entered in a prize drawing. For more details, check out the full announcement on the Human Resources website.
Patriot Packout
(PPO), Mason's annual sustainable move-out initiative, starts on May 5. PPO volunteers collect like-new and gently used donations at the Fairfax Campus, SciTech Campus, and Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation during campus move-out.
Donations are redistributed to Mason Patriots and local community members in need, preventing useful items from ending up in the trash. This year's PPO donations support the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, Art Supply Sharing Closet, the First Gen+ Center, and Mason Parking and Transportation's bike and scooter programs, among others.
for a list of accepted donations, campus donation schedules, and volunteer opportunities.
Outstanding Achievement Awards Recipients
Human Resources is excited to announce the recipients of . In a year with a record number of nominations, the university acknowledges the outstanding contributions of our Mason community and encourages you to continue to focus on faculty and staff appreciation, recognition, and engagement as we “thrive together."
Join the awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 25, from 10–11:30 a.m. in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall (no RSVP is required). The ceremony will also be livestreamed by GMU-TV; the link to watch the ceremony is posted on the .
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week at Patriot Tech
During the week of May 1–5, select Apple Macbooks, iMacs, and iPads will be on sale at Patriot Tech—on top of the already discounted education pricing. Computers and iPad Pros are $70–$250 off the current education price, and iPad Airs and Minis are $18–$34 off the current education price.
Did you know that full-time Mason employees can make a purchase by payroll deduction? To reserve a device today, review and complete the . More information about the payroll deduction option is included on the form.
Payroll deduction purchases must be made in person. Credit card purchases can be made in person or online at . Be sure to use your Mason email address, or your order will be canceled.
Contact ptech@gmu.edu or 703-993-4100 with questions.
OSCAR Excellence Awards
The Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research (OSCAR) will host itson Tuesday, May 9, from 12:30to3:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts.The event will showcase OSCAR undergraduate research across disciplines and announce the OSCAR Excellence Awards.
ճwill take place between May 8–12. Email questions tooscar@gmu.edu.
The AV Innovation Awards Reception
The AV Innovation Awards Reception will be hosted on Tuesday, May 9, from 4–6 p.m. in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. This event recognizes some of the most innovative and entrepreneurial minds at Mason.
The event will feature welcome remarks from the Provost,followed by an exciting lineup of awards presentations. Awards include the Innovator of the Year Award, the Mason Start-up Award, and the Mason Licensed Technology Awards, recognizing current Mason researchers who have commercialized technologies. Additionally, the ICAP/ICORPS Recognition Awards and Disclosure and Patent Recognition Awards are also included.
Support your colleagues and learn about the exciting research at Mason. Network and connect with some of the most innovative minds at Mason. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to celebrate the innovators and entrepreneurs in our community.
Training and Professional Development
Lunch and Learn: Building a Culture of Belonging in the Workplace
Did you know that the American workforce ranks the need to belong at work second only to the need to belong at home? Join the Organizational Development and Learning team on Friday, April 28, for an in-person workshop on the fundamentals of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), sharing tools, tips, and anecdotes that foster feelings of belonging in the workplace. Make sure to bring a lunch (food is not provided).
Summer Professional Development Series: Enhance Your Online and Hybrid Courses
The is excited to host a series of professional development opportunities for faculty of all ranks and levels to enhance their online and hybrid courses. Join them this summer to explore a diverse set of projects, thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity, enhance engagement, and foster collaboration across disciplines. Seize this season and create lasting projects that support our growing digital landscape. .
Opioid Overdose Response and Naloxone Training
Mason’s Employee Health andWell-Being team, a division of Safety, Emergency, andEnterprise Risk Management (SEERM), is now offeringOpioid Overdose Response and Naloxone Training.This one-hour course, available for free to faculty, staff, and students, will cover how opioid overdoses happen, risk factors, and how to respond to an opioid overdose emergency with the administration of Narcan (naloxone).
Participants will receive a naloxone kit upon completion of the course.. For help with registration or for other questions, emailSEERM. Additional sessions will be added to the following:
- Monday, May 8, 1–2 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 7,1–2 p.m.
Faculty Writing Retreat in May
Register for the running May 15–17, offering both in-person and online attendance. This event offers an active approach to uninterrupted writing time, a chance to learn from guest speakers, and a supportive community of peers to boost writing productivity. .
University Life Student Success Symposium
Mason faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to for the . The pre-conference will be held Monday, June 5, and the symposium will be held Tuesday, June 6.
The 2023 UL Symposium invites attendees to engage with the “why” in our work as practitioners of student success. The symposium will provide attendees with interactive and engaging experiences to focus on the new and continued work of student affairs professionals in the ever-changing and evolutionary nature of higher education.
Resources for You
ProjectConnect Summer Groups for Faculty and Staff
ProjectConnect is a social well-being opportunity that helps Mason faculty and staff get to know each other and build a stronger campus community. Participants will meet in groups of 4–6 people over the course of six one-hour sessions and engage in a series of thought-provoking questions and fun activities.
ProjectConnect is open to all faculty and staff at Mason. The program is a great fit for those who are:
- Seeking a greater sense of belonging at Mason through connecting with others
- Committed to participating in deeper, more interesting conversations
- New to Mason and/or looking to expand their social circle
- Interested in getting to know others in a small-group setting
- Willing to commit to all session dates
Sign up by April 27 and don't wait—space is limited! Learn more on the. This program is sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.
Visiting Filmmakers Series with Boots Riley:I'm a Virgo
The Mason community is invited to the Visiting Filmmakers Series for a screening ofthe first four episodes of Boots Riley's new series, I'm A Virgo,a darkly-comedic, fantastical coming-of-age joyride about Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), a 13-foot-tall young Black man in Oakland, California.
Thursday, April 27
5 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center Cinema
Following the screening, Boots Riley will sit down with Doc Nix for a discussion, welcoming questions from the audience.. This event is sponsored by the Green Machine, Visiting Filmmakers Series, and Anti-Racist Collaborative Arts at Mason.
Virginia529 Seminar: Saving for Education
Thinking about saving for education? on Wednesday, May 17, at 11 a.m. via Zoom.
Saving for future education expenses for a child, a grandchild, or even yourself can seem overwhelming. In this seminar, you’ll learn how an Invest529 account can help you save for tuition and other costs, take advantage of tax-free earnings, and meet your savings goals.
As a bonus, Mason employees who attend this webinar will receive an exclusive offer: a $25 gift code to open a new Invest529 account. .
Mason Strings Camp and High School Summer Strings Institute
The Mason Community Arts Academy Summer and are now offering open enrollment.
The is a collaborative musical experience for violin, viola, cello, and bass players ages 9–13. The two-week program is designed to help students build technical proficiency on their instruments while exploring their individual creativity and self-expression through music performance. In addition to working with faculty from the Dewberry School of Music, participants will have the opportunity to interact with teaching artists from Opera Lafayette.
The is a week-long intensive for advanced high school violin, viola, cello, and bass players. Participants will have the opportunity to work with faculty from the Dewberry School of Music. Activities will focus on developing musicianship and communication skills that are necessary for small and large ensemble participation.
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Mason Discount for WWE Supershow at EagleBank Arena
EagleBank Arena is offering the Mason community discounted tickets to the on Sunday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. The Mason discounts include $10 off the $55/$45/$35 tickets, or $5 off the $20 tickets, and no fees.
The discount is only available in-person at the box office. Must present valid Mason ID; limit of four discounted tickets per Mason ID. The EagleBank Arena box office is open Tuesday–Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
Contacting Parking Services via Landline on Campus
The main phone number for Fairfax Campus Parking Services is now using a call center. To reach the main number from a landline on campus, you will need to dial the full 10-digit number: 703-993-2710.
Even though it is an on-campus phone number, you can no longer reach the main number for the office by dialing the five-digit extension, x3-2710. All other Parking and Transportation extensions remain unchanged.
Contact Parking Services at 703-993-2710 or email parking@gmu.edu.
Regional Bike to Work Day: Friday, May 19
Celebrate the Washington region’s Bike to Work Day! Start your day off cycling. Pit stops will be open all over the Virginia, D.C., and Marylandarea. For details and to register, visit . Contact transpo@gmu.edu with questions.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Dewberry School of Music
Saturday, April 29, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m.
Harris Theatre
Mason Opera presents Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II. Since it’s 1874 premiere at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria, this tale of comical antics and mistaken identities has delighted audiences all over the world, remaining a constant favorite across the decades. This semi-staged presentation will see the interior of Mason’s own Harris Theatre transformed to evoke the glorious style of Theater an der Wien, with the Mason Symphony Orchestra performing live with the talented young artists of Mason Opera with a special appearance by Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, serving as the production’s narrator.
Indigenous Liberation
Saturday, April 29, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Indigenous Enterprise is on a mission to share their heritage and culture through explosively authentic dance and song. Comprised of dancers from Native American and Canadian tribes and Nations, this group first stunned crowds at the Sydney Opera House in 2018. Indigenous Liberation invites its audience to revel in the pageantry, history, and kaleidoscope of colors in a celebration of what lies at the heart of these traditions. This performance is appropriate for all ages.
Saturday, April 29, at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
The all-female ensemble Wicked Sycamore brings their tight vocal harmonies, instrumental prowess, and mischievous edge for a contemporary folk concert grounded in traditional roots, Americana, and bluegrass. Let Wicked Sycamore charm you with their original music that spans the genres, ranging from the playful and lighthearted to the soulful and introspective.
Dewberry School of Music
Sunday, April 30, at 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Share the vibrancy and vitality of jazz music with Mason Jazz students and faculty. International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts on all continents to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future, and impact. Various Mason Jazz ensembles will perform in this celebratory and educational event.
Dewberry School of Music
Tuesday, May 2, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Under the direction of Lisa Billingham, the University Singers is a select choral ensemble at Mason dedicated to the performance of advanced vocal chamber music ranging from Renaissance to contemporary and commissioned works.
Dewberry School of Music
Wednesday, May 3, at 8 p.m.
de Laski Performing Arts Building, Room 3001 (Rehearsal Room)
The Steel Pan Ensemble (directed by Victor Provost), Braddock Road Brass Band (directed by Graham Breedlove), and Latin American Ensemble (directed by Juan Megna) perform their spring concert. These specialty groups within the Jazz Studies Department allow students to focus on genre-specific music from around the world. From traditional brass bands of New Orleans to musics of the Caribbean, including Calypso and Soka, to the Brazilian sounds of Bossa Nova and Samba, these ensembles showcase the beauty and breadth of global artistry.
School of Dance
May 5–6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Harris Theatre
Mason choreographers showcase new works performed by the Mason Dance Company.
School of Theater
May 5–7, multiple performances
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang explore life's great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship.
Dewberry School of Music
Sunday, May 7, at 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Join the Dewberry School of Music for their spring finale concert featuring the Mason Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Soo Han.
Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m.
de Laski Performing Arts Building, A301 (Dance Studio)
Studio Series is an intimate black-box experience showcasing new dances by AV's School of Dance.
Saturday, May 13, at 7 p.m.
Harris Theatre
Join the Dewberry School of Music for their spring finale concert featuring the Mason Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Soo Han.
Saturday, May 13, at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
CAMMO Voices joins with Mason’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative to present a concert that honors our servicemembers and families. The celebration includes music honoring Mother’s Day from the American Military Spouses Choir, made up of military spouses from all branches and from across the United States. Feel the healing power of music infused with a message of hope and community when CAMMO Voices takes to the stage. This performance is appropriate for all ages.