Around Mason: Week of July 12, 2022

Body

Faculty/Staff Announcements 

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


Campus Updates


Parking Lot Paving and Maintenance on Fairfax Campus

Parking lots around George Mason University's Fairfax Campus will undergo paving and repairs from July 11–30. The following schedule is subject to change, based on weather and conditions: 

  • July 11: Fenwick Library loading dock and Tallwood (on Roberts Road) will be closed. 
  • July 12: Buchanan Hall Lot and RAC Parking Lot will be closed. Disabled parking in front of the RAC will be closed, but patrons may use the Aquatic and Fitness Center. Alternate disabled parking will be located on Mason Pond Drive. 
  • July 13–14: Finley Lot and Thompson Hall loading dock will be closed. 
  • July 15: Peterson Hall Lot and Rogers Lot (in front of Subway) will be closed. 
  • July 18–26: West Campus Lot will be closed. 
  • July 22: Police and Safety Headquarters Lot will be closed. 
  • July 27–30: Lot L will be closed. 

View the Fairfax Campus parking map for locations. Information will be updated on the Mason Transportation website and @MasonParking on Twitter. 

Contact parking@gmu.edu with questions. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as repairs are made to support the campus. 


Request for Mason Vision Day Submissions

After the successful turnout of this year’s Mason Vision Day for the Green Machine, we are excited to announce that Mason Vision Day 2023 will take place on Thursday, April 6, 2023. 

The Office of Annual Giving is accepting ideas and suggestions for the 2023 initiative. If you have an idea, project, or initiative that you believe Mason Nation and beyond would support, we want to hear it!  

Anyone—faculty, staff, alumni, students, friends—may submit an idea. Send your suggestion through the form

Ideas must be submitted by Friday, September 9, at 11:59 p.m. All submissions will be reviewed in the fall, with the finalist announced in January 2023.

Contact Zavin Smith with questions.


Faculty and Staff Meal Plans

Faculty and staff can purchase meal plans, too! Faculty and staff Byte Plans are available with the following options for the fall semester:  

  • 50 Meal Swipes: $395 ($7.90 per meal)  
  • 25 Meal Swipes: $215 ($8.60 per meal)  
  • 10 Meal Swipes: $95 ($9.50 per meal)  

Door prices (without meal plan):   

  • Breakfast: $9.50  
  • Lunch: $11  
  • Dinner: $12  

Swipes can be used at Southside, The Globe, and Ike’s. Byte Plans can be purchased in person in the Mason Card Office located in SUB I, Room 1203 (bring your Mason ID), or online. Visit the Mason Dining website for more information.  


New Mason Shuttles Stops

New shuttle stops have been added to the Gunston Mason and the Fairfax/Mason Square routes:  

  • Gunston Mason: Two stops have been added on Fair Lakes Parkway  
  • Fairfax/Mason Square: New stop has been added at Fairfax Circle   

For details, read the full announcement. Questions? Reach out to Parking and Transportation at 703-993-2828 or shuttle@gmu.edu.  


Free and No ID: City of Fairfax CUE Bus

The City of Fairfax CUE Bus is free for all Mason students, faculty, and staff. Because CUE is operating fare-free until at least June 2025, you no longer need to show your Mason ID. 

CUE departs from Rappahannock River Lane on the Fairfax Campus, and all of its routes stop at the Vienna Metro station.   

Did you know you can track CUE Buses on the RideSystems app? Just select the menu button, choose “Change transit agency,” and select “CUE Bus – City of Fairfax.” You can also track CUE on the TransLoc app.  

For information on CUE schedules, CUE’s Zero-Fare Pilot, and CUE’s bus tracking, visit cuebus.org


Training and Professional Development


Register for Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day

Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day (FSED) has been rescheduled for Friday, July 22. FSED is an all-day, interactive virtual event featuring:   

  • A keynote speech by executive career coach Stacy Campesi   
  • Professional and personal development workshops   
  • A mix of collaborative and reflective activities   
  • A chance to network with other Mason employees  

Visit the FSED website for more information. Registration is now open. Contact hrlearn@gmu.edu with questions. 


Call for Coaching 

Mason’s Workplace Coaching Program is available to faculty and staff who are interested in partnering with a coach. The skills and insights learned through coaching help people address challenges, increase self-awareness, clarify goals, define success, and move into action to create desired change and achieve desired outcomes.   

Coaching starts with the premise that nothing is wrong or broken—nothing needs to be fixed. It is entirely self-initiated, developmentally-focused, and built on the belief that people are creative, resourceful, and whole. Coaching then looks to partner with people as they explore professional and personal changes, growth opportunities, and challenges.  

The program is made possible by dedicated internal coaches who are certified through the International Coach Federation (ICF) or have equivalent training/experience.   

To learn more about coaching and how the program works, visit the Workplace Coaching Program webpage. Contact Robyn Madar or the external program manager, Laura Phelps, with questions.


Apply for the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series

Applications are now accepted for the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series (ELSS). This program supports Mason supervisors as they: 

  • Develop a leadership mindset 
  • Create and implement a vision for their own leadership and their team 
  • Lead a high-performing team 
  • Learn tools and strategies to grow their self-awareness, relationships, and communication skills, which will support the above three objectives. 

In addition to the in-class curriculum, participants will complete a developmental project, work with peers across the university to build a network of fellow supervisors, and work with coaches/mentors to set goals related to their growth as a leader. 

The program begins in September and runs until December 2023. This will be an in-person cohort. Applicants who work fully remotely will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must be Mason faculty or classified staff and must supervise at least one faculty or classified staff employee. 

For more information, including registration details and the program schedule, visit the Organizational Development and Learning website


Resources for You


Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship: Apply by July 15

Applications are now accepted for the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship. This $250 annual award was created to encourage and advance continuing education for Mason faculty and classified staff. The application period closes July 15.   

For eligibility criteria, FAQs, and instructions for applying, visit the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship page.  


Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group 

The Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group will meet on Fridays this summer through August 5, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. All are welcome.  

Join them on July 15 for the topic, "Healing from Racial Trauma: Celebrating Blackness." This event is free and open to the public.   

Visit the reading group’s website for more information, including reading materials.  


Cinema at Mason Square 

Kick off the summer with George Mason University's Cinema at Mason Square outdoor movie series on the plaza. Bring your family and friends, a blanket, lawn chairs, and snacks for a fun evening event.  

These events are free and open to the public. Free popcorn will be provided. Follow the links below to RSVP for an upcoming date:  

Contact University Life with questions. 


Upcoming Performances at Mason

ARTfactory and Pied Piper Theatre: Disney’s Moana JR.    
Friday, July 15, 7 p.m.    
Saturday, July 16, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.    
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater 
   
See the line where the sky meets the sea? You’ll love this thrilling and heartwarming stage adaptation of the coming-of-age tale of Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. She and the demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as she learns to harness the power that lies within. Adapted for young performers, this musical includes favorite songs by Tony-, Grammy-, Emmy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning composers Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina including “How Far I’ll Go,” “Shiny,” and “You’re Welcome.” With its empowering message of bravery, Moana JR. is sure to awaken your inner hero.    

Prince William Little Theatre and Manassas Symphony Orchestra: The Sound of Music
Friday, July 15, at 7 p.m.    
Saturday, July 16, at 2 p.m.    
Sunday, July 17, at 2 p.m.    
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall   
 
Prince William Little Theatre and the Manassas Symphony Orchestra join forces to present this heartwarming musical about the Von Trapp Family singers, their governess Maria, family patriarch Captain von Trapp, and their adventures and trials in the pre-World War II era. This family-friendly production concludes with a sing-along for all ages.