Faculty/Staff Announcements
Have something to share?听听and submit an announcement from your unit through the听online form.听听听
Campus Updates
Police Training Exercise on Fairfax Campus: Dec. 4鈥5
The Fairfax County Police helicopter division will conduct a training exercise near the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and Thursday, Dec. 5, around 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. The training will involve helicopter activity in the vicinity of West Campus. The helicopters are expected to fly over Campus Drive and lower athletic fields during the training exercise. For questions, contact the George Mason Police nonemergency number at 703-993-2810.
Commencement Volunteers听
University Events is seeking faculty and staff volunteers to assist with the听Winter 2024听Graduation ceremonies听on Wednesday, Dec. 18, and Thursday, Dec. 19.听听
听for locations, times, and a brief description of each volunteer opportunity. Volunteers will receive additional information about their specific duties prior to Dec. 17. Thank you for supporting our 2024 graduates!听听
Disability Services Seeking Volunteers to Proctor Final Exams
Disability Services is seeking volunteer proctors to assist during final exams. Rooms in Student Union Building I (SUB I) will be used to proctor exams for students registered with Disability Services. A proctor is needed for each room, as well as some 鈥渞unners鈥 to take students to their assigned seats.听Professional staff are needed to volunteer for two-hour shifts on Dec. 11, 12, 13, 16, and 17 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.听 听
The proctor role involves having students sign in and out of the testing space and ensuring concerns of academic integrity are addressed. Proctors are welcome to bring quiet work (such as a laptop or book).听The runner role involves walking students from the check-in room to their assigned seat and dropping off the test proctoring form to SUB I, Room听3313. Additional information on the role and duties will be provided to volunteers. . Contact Rachel Carter with questions.
West Campus Town Hall听
You鈥檙e invited to a community conversation regarding 亚洲AV鈥檚 development. Share your thoughts and ideas regarding concepts for the development, campus and community needs, and opportunities for collaboration. All are welcome. 听听听
West Campus Town Hall Meeting听听
Wednesday, Dec. 11听听
7鈥8:30 p.m.听听听
City of Fairfax City Hall, Council Chambers: 10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030听听听
INTO Mason Graduate Colloquium听
INTO Mason pathway students will present findings from their first authentic research efforts as graduate students. The INTO Mason Graduate Colloquium will showcase the work of multilingual and international students and their investigations in their disciplines. Stop by the 脕ngel Cabrera Global Center lobby on Friday, Dec. 6, between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Light refreshments will be served. 听听
December Staff Senate Meeting听
罢丑别听听will focus on physical and mental health resources available to staff at George Mason. Guest speakers include Angela Chezem, medical director for Employee Health and Well-Being,听and Robyn Mehlenbeck, director of the听Center for Community Mental Health.听听听
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon. Guest speakers will present at 11 a.m. Attend the meeting on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall, Room 1203, or join via Zoom.听. 听听听
University Winter Break Lockdown听
The university will be closed for winter break from Monday, Dec. 23, at 6 a.m. through Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at 6 a.m. However, some employees and students may require entry for special projects into buildings without electronic access. Therefore, pre-planned access for nonelectronic lock buildings can be coordinated in advance via the Winter Break Building Access Form found on the听. Failure to coordinate with Mason Police in advance may result in being denied access. For questions on building card access, email听caso@gmu.edu.听听听
Staff Senate Holiday Donation Drive听
Every holiday season, the Staff Senate supports a donation drive to benefit local organizations. For the 2024 holiday season, the Staff Senate is encouraging the Mason community to support four organizations:听听听
- Food and toiletry contributions to the听, which provides access to food and hygiene items to the George Mason community.听听
- Donations of toys and supplies to听Inova Children鈥檚 Hospital.听听听
- If you love the dogs and cats of our local community, support听Lucky Dog Animal Rescue听in Arlington, Virginia.听听听
- The SciTech Campus will collect items for the Northern Virginia Family Services听SERVE Campus through food donations brought to the SciTech holiday party.听听听
- Read donation guidelines and find out most-needed items on the听. 听听听
Toys for Tots Collection Underway through Dec. 12
There鈥檚 still time to make a difference this holiday season! The Office of Military Services and Contemporary Student Services are proud to serve as collection sites for the Toys for Tots campaign. Drop off new, unwrapped toys at a collection site through Thursday, Dec. 12:
- Office of Military Services:听Fairfax Campus, Student Union Building (SUB) I, Room听1510
- Office of Contemporary Student Services:听Fairfax Campus, The Hub, Room 1012
Your donations bring joy to children in need and help brighten their holidays. Questions? Contact 703-993-1316 or email听military@gmu.edu.
Parking Services Donation Drive: Receive Credit toward a Parking Citation
Make a donation of nonperishable food or personal hygiene items to benefit the Patriot Pantry at any Parking Services office and receive a $15, $20, or $30 credit toward an outstanding parking citation. Restrictions apply. The donation drive is underway through Wednesday, Dec. 18. 锘. Contact parking@gmu.edu with questions.
Training and Professional Development
Sign up for Mason 101
Whether you are new to the George Mason community, looking to update your George Mason knowledge, or curious about the resources available at George Mason, sign up for Mason 101.听This free, in-classroom session shares the history, organizational structure, and resources of 亚洲AV, including a virtual tour of all campuses/sites and updates on the future of George Mason.听听
To register for the next session on Friday, Dec. 6, or future sessions:听听
- Go to听听听
- Login with your George Mason credentials听听
- In the search bar in upper right corner of the page, search for 鈥淢ason 101鈥澨
- On the screen that opens, click 鈥淢ason 101鈥澨
- Available Mason 101 dates will appear听听
- Click on the 鈥淩equest鈥 button next to your preferred training date听听
For questions about Mason 101, contact听Philip Stamper听at 703-993-5308.听听
Call for Proposals:听Seed Translational Research Project听
With support from the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, George Mason鈥檚 Institute for a Sustainable Earth and the Virginia Climate Center are seeking proposals from George Mason faculty for the spring 2025 Seed Translational Research Project (STRP) program. Faculty participants will develop their own project听in alignment with George Mason鈥檚 ART initiatives and receive support to scale up the impact of their research through community-engaged, experiential curriculum.听听and join a webinar on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. for more information.听听
Resources for You听
Safety Tips for Online Holiday Shopping听
With online holiday shopping underway, Information Technology Services (ITS) is reminding the 亚洲AV community that cybercriminals want to take the 鈥渉appy鈥 out of their holidays. More than 72.3 million people are expected to spend about $13.2 billion shopping online on Cyber Monday. ITS is offering George Mason community members information about the precautions they can take to stay safe.
Tips include using Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), keeping software updated on all devices, and using strong passwords on all accounts.听. 听听
Annual Leave Rollover Reminder: January 9 Deadline听
As we approach the end of the leave year, faculty and staff are reminded that the annual leave carryover limit will be rolled over on听Jan. 9, 2025. Employees with leave balances exceeding the carryover limit must use their excess leave before Jan. 9, 2025, to avoid losing it. Plan ahead and coordinate time off with supervisors.听听听
For more information on carryover limits, visit the听.听Additionally, employees have the option to donate excess leave through the听. Contact听hr@gmu.edu听with questions.听听听
Faculty and Staff Networks听
亚洲AV has a variety of faculty- and staff-led networks to support the university's core values of 鈥淒iversity is Our Strength鈥 and 鈥淲e Thrive Together.鈥澨
Faculty and staff are encouraged to join networks that best support their engagement, well-being, or professional needs and interests. Opportunities include employee resource groups, communities of practice, and faculty affinity groups.听.听听
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George Mason听
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Dewberry School of Music听听听听
Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2 and 8 p.m.听听听听听
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater听听听听
The Dewberry School of Music鈥檚 Mason Opera presents its fall 2024 performance. Featuring George Mason鈥檚 talented vocal students in collaboration with an instrumental chamber ensemble, these live, in-person performances will showcase great vocal skill and dramatic ability and deeply immerse the audience in the action of the story.鈥
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Saturday, Dec. 7, at 8 p.m.听听听听听
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts听听听听听
Swing into the holiday season with platinum-selling jazz-rock band Squirrel Nut Zippers. Serving up a blend of Delta blues, big band, klezmer jazz, and calypso sound in their holiday program,听Christmas Caravan, Squirrel Nut Zippers is sure to get audiences dancing to songs from their albums and other holiday favorites.鈥
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Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m.听听听听听
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall听听听听听
鈥淪ilky beyond reason鈥 (New York Times), the Billboard-charting foursome, Sons of Serendip, combines warm and inviting vocals, harp, piano, and cello. Enjoy an afternoon of songs from their holiday-themed album,听Christmas: Beyond the Lights, showcasing velvety harmony and fresh interpretations of traditional holiday tunes.鈥
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Dewberry School of Music听听听听听
Sunday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m.听听听听
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts听
Join a joyous concert celebration by the Dewberry School of Music to ring in the winter season. Showcasing Mason鈥檚 Symphony Orchestra and Choirs, this evening will feature holiday favorites and festive new works performed by extraordinary student artists, conducted by Soo Han, Thomas Colohan, and Michael Stern.鈥
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George Mason School of Dance听听听听听
Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 6 and 8 p.m.听听听听
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, Room A301听
Enjoy an evening of student work in one of the School of Dance studios, transformed into an intimate theater.鈥
American Festival Pops Orchestra听
Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season听听听听听
Friday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. ()听听听听
Saturday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. ()听
The American Festival Pops Orchestra returns with its beloved听Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season. Led by Conductor Peter Wilson, enjoy seasonal favorites, including: 鈥淭he Night Before Christmas,鈥 narrated by Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and executive director of the Hylton Center, toe-tapping classics from the orchestra's embedded big band, and an appearance by the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Darden Purcell.听听听听听
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Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 and 5 p.m.听听听听听
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall听听听听听
Washington, D.C.-based, award-winning Celtic fiddler, Gaelic singer, and harpist Se谩n Heely returns for a winter tour through the Scottish Highlands and across the Irish coast. Featuring Highland and Irish dancing and the MacMillan Pipe Band, the performance includes Gaelic carols tucked in with lively Irish tunes and familiar Christmas melodies.鈥
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45th International Saxophone Symposium听听
Friday, Jan. 10, and Saturday, Jan. 11听听
Fairfax Campus Center for the Arts听听
The 45th International Saxophone Symposium, hosted by the U.S. Navy Band, features more than 150 performances, masterclasses and lectures designed for musicians of all ages.听The International Saxophone Symposium features world-renowned saxophonists, while highlighting the prominence of the saxophone in both classical and jazz literature. Friday night's concert presents the U.S. Navy Concert Band with a mixture of band pieces and classically oriented saxophone solos. Featured soloists will include听Makoto Hondo, ~Nois, and Musician First Class Harrison Clarke. This听event听is open to the听public, and no tickets are required.听听
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Saturday, Jan. 25, at 5 p.m.听听
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater听听
Called 鈥渙ne of the most exciting trumpet players on the planet鈥 (International Trumpet Guild Journal), Graham Breedlove brings his quintet for an exhilarating program of music. Just in time for Mardi Gras, Breedlove, a native of south Louisiana, is joined by fellow members of the Dewberry School of Music faculty to perform a mix of traditional New Orleans music, modern jazz, and original tunes.听听
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Saturday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m.听听
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts听听
Returning for a third year as a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Grammy Award-winning music collective Silkroad Ensemble presents this world premiere showcase of all-star percussionists and musical storytelling through the exchange of rhythm, pulse, and melody from different musical traditions around the world. Formed by Yo-Yo Ma and now led by Pulitzer Prize winning multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, Silkroad Ensemble will engage the community and students during its residency through a variety of events, classes, and discussions.听听听
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