Around Mason: Week of June 15, 2021

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Faculty/Staff Announcements

Have something to share? Review announcement guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form.

Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.


Campus Updates


Reminder: Mason Shuttles and Upcoming Holidays

A reminder that there is no Mason Shuttle service on Friday, June 18, in observance of Juneteenth, or on Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

Contact shuttle@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828 with questions.


People Finder: Adding Pronouns to Your Listing

People Finder, Mason’s online directory, can display pronouns for faculty, staff, and affiliates. Mason employees may choose to add this information to People Finder by using the online form to update their listing.

Adding pronouns to People Finder helps build an inclusive and welcoming community at Mason and supports university initiatives recognizing chosen names and pronouns.

For questions related to People Finder, contact masondir@gmu.edu.


Hours of Operation Website: Summer Updates

If your office has changed its hours of operation for the summer, make sure the information is posted on the university's Hours of Operation website at hours.gmu.edu.

Submit your department's hours using the online form. You can include in-person, virtual, and phone contact hours.

For questions, contact Lauren Reuscher, University Information, at lclarkg@gmu.edu.


Training and Professional Development


University Records Management Workshops

Online workshops are available for staff and faculty to complete Records Coordinator training as well as verse themselves on the new Infolinx Database for records warehouse processing.

University Records Management (URM) is a compliance unit governing public records at Mason. Improper handling can affect audits, accreditation, litigation, and more.

Registration is required to attend. Workshops are conducted via Zoom. Dates, times, and workshop descriptions are available on the URM website.

Questions or requests for personalized workshops may be directed to recmgt@gmu.edu.


Join the Staff Senate

Becoming a Staff Senator is a great way to get involved with the university community and have an impact on your workplace. The senate provides many opportunities to learn about how the university works and collaborate with administrators and staff members outside your unit.

The senate accepts nominations each June, and elections are held in July. Terms begin in August and last for two years.

2021 Staff Senate Election Important Dates:
Nomination Period: June 14–25
Election Period: July 12–23

Visit the election website for more information.

Questions about the responsibilities of being a senator? Contact Lauren Reuscher, Staff Senate chair, at lclarkg@gmu.edu.

For questions about the nomination/election process, contact Amanda Corrigan, Staff Senate administrative assistant, at acorrig2@gmu.edu.


Resources for You


New Resilience Toolkit

Sometimes, we all feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to deal with the stress in life. Building resilience can help us learn to handle the stress so we can bounce back and rediscover the energy needed to create positive solutions.

Press pause for a moment, and press play on the new Resilience Toolkit from Human Resources and Payroll. This toolkit is packed with resilience-building tools like a fun resilience music playlist, mental toughness webinars, asynchronous learning opportunities, short videos on stress, weekly wellness updates, and personalized programs at your fingertips.

Contact hr@gmu.edu for more information.


TIAA Financial Seminars

Looking to learn more about your finances?

TIAA is hosting several financial well-being seminars. Check out the flyer to learn more.


Summer Camps at Mason

Visit camps.gmu.edu for a listing of summer camps and youth programs offered at Mason. The website includes camps sponsored by Mason programs/departments, as well as external groups that host camps on a Mason campus. 

Summer camps at Mason cover a wide variety of topics and activities, including academics, the arts, recreation, and sports. Both in-person and virtual options are listed on the website.

Questions about individual camps should be directed to the camp organizers.

For questions about the summer camps website, contact gmutoday@gmu.edu.


Reminder: Vanpool Formation in Fredericksburg Area

Are you a full-time faculty/staff member who lives in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, area? Would you like your commuting costs reimbursed up to $270/month (tax-free)? Avoid doing all the driving, park free at Mason, and reduce carbon emissions?

If so, consider vanpooling. Parking and Transportation is starting with the Fredericksburg area and has developed a short vanpool match survey.

Review more detailed information about vanpooling at Mason. If you have any questions about vanpooling—whether you live in the Fredericksburg area or not—reach out to transpo@gmu.edu.


Is Ridesharing a Commuting Option for You?

Whether it’s a carpool or vanpool, see if ridesharing is a good commuting option for you by reviewing this infographic.

Sharing the ride reduces your commuting costs, the amount of time you have to be in the driver’s seat, and greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a win-win-win for everyone.

For more information on carpooling and vanpooling at Mason,visit transportation.gmu.edu/carpoolvanpool.

Questions? Contact transpo@gmu.edu.