Events and campus updates curated for university faculty and staff.
Around Mason keeps you informed about the latest updates, opportunities around the campuses (and beyond), and resources for you. Bookmark this page, which is updated at the end of each week.
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Photo of the Week: A U.S. congressional delegation, including four members of the House of Representatives and officials from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, visited Mason Korea on July 27 to learn more about the university's global education model and explore opportunities to expand U.S.–Korea educational cooperation. Discover more about the visit.
Campus Operations
Campus Store Grand Opening events
Celebrate the grand opening of the new Campus Stores at the Fairfax Campus and Mason Square with exclusive promotions and giveaways from Rally House and eCampus. Get 20% off all purchases with a George Mason ID during the grand opening, watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and explore the newly-transformed Campus Store featuring George Mason apparel, gifts, supplies, and more.
Fairfax Campus Grand Opening: Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m.
The celebration continues at the Fairfax Campus Store on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the Hat Bar and tote bag customizations. On Friday, Aug. 28, receive an exclusive gift with purchase while supplies last.
Mason Square Campus Store Grand Opening: Thursday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m.
Preamble and Welcome2Mason volunteer sign up
Faculty and staff are invited to help welcome new and returning students to campus during Welcome2Mason programs happening throughout the first six weeks of the semester. Volunteering is a great way to build community and help foster a sense of belonging for George Mason students from day one. Sign up to be part of the energy and excitement that makes Welcome2Mason a success. Learn more at welcome2mason.gmu.edu.
Fall parking permit sales
George Mason University fall semester parking permits are available for purchase online at the Parking Portal. View parking permit fees and learn more.
Note: Faculty and staff enrolled in the payroll deduction parking permit program do not need to take any action.
Options include semester, monthly, weekly, and daily permits. George Mason uses virtual parking permits—your license plate is your permit. Make sure your license plate is assigned to your active permit, not just saved in your parking account. For help, visit the Virtual Permit Guide.
Town Hall at Potomac Science Center: Don Kelso Learning Pier
George Mason University will host a town hall meeting about the Don Kelso Learning Pier project at the Potomac Science Center on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 7–8:30 p.m. The university will construct a dock system that will host several research vessels in support of marine research and educational programs. The pier will provide faculty and students with access to the channel and is named for Don Kelso, George Mason's first marine and freshwater ecologist.
The town hall meeting will provide information on the design plans for the project, the construction timeline, and an opportunity to ask questions. All are invited to attend. Contact Ethan Gardner, associate director of community and local government relations, with questions. The Potomac Science Center is located at 650 Mason Ferry Avenue, Woodbridge, Virginia 22191.
Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center: Annual down week
The Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center at the Science and Technology Campus will close for a brief annual maintenance period from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7 to complete deep cleaning, maintenance, and facility improvements. This scheduled closure helps maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for members and guests. Members are offered the chance to use alternate facilities during the closure. Read more.
Host Your Fall Event at the Corner Pocket
Looking for the perfect space for your fall event? Host your meeting, celebration, or social at the Corner Pocket! Choose from the Game Room, Side Pocket, or Patio to enjoy games, flexible event spaces, and a fun atmosphere for your group. Submit your reservation request and start planning today.
Professional Development and Training
Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference: Relevant Teaching
Instructors are invited to attend the 18th annual Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference on Sept. 24 (online) and Sept. 25 (in-person on the Fairfax Campus). This year's theme is "Relevant Teaching," exploring how we articulate classroom value amid AI, Gen Z learners, and evolving educational landscapes. Innovations in Teaching and Learning provides a key opportunity for instructors to come together in community with others from different disciplines and appointment types. Register by Sept. 18.
Upcoming opportunities from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning
View more professional development opportunities from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning.
Planning for a Productive Academic Year: Faculty Success Workshop
Register for this interactive workshop to help you align your time with your career goals for this academic year. This workshop is on Friday, Sept. 11, from 1:30–3 p.m. on Zoom.
Mentorship training for faculty
Join the Graduate Division for its biannual faculty mentorship professional development training on Monday, Sept. 21, and Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 12-4 p.m. The Entering Mentoring training was developed by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) and is led by CIMER-trained George Mason faculty and staff.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) faculty cohort
Turn your teaching questions into meaningful scholarship with the year-long Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) faculty cohort. Designed for faculty new to classroom-based inquiry, the program offers mentorship, peer feedback, and structured support. Priority deadline is Sept. 1. Participants may apply for exclusive Stearns Center funding opportunities.
Join Mason 101 to know more
Mason 101 is an information session that helps George Mason faculty and staff learn about the university's history, organizational structure, campuses, and future plans. New and continuing employees are encouraged to attend. Register on MasonLeaps for an upcoming date. All sessions are from 10 a.m. to noon:
In-person Mason 101:
Monday, Aug. 17
Friday, Aug. 28
Friday, Oct. 16
Monday, Nov. 23
Friday, Dec. 11
Virtual Mason 101 (via Zoom):
Friday, Sept. 18
Friday, Nov. 13
Contact Philip Stamper, Office of University Branding, with questions.
Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop
The Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop helps new and returning adjunct faculty transition into their role at George Mason with professional development support, resources, and the chance to meet some friendly faces on campus.
Adjunct faculty are invited to attend this virtual session on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Departments should send the registration link to adjunct faculty as they are hired. Contact Faculty Affairs with questions.
Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series
Human Resources is accepting applications for cohort 10 of the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series. The series supports participants as they develop a leadership mindset, implement a vision for their own leadership and their team, and learn tools and strategies to grow their self-awareness, relationships, and communication skills.
The in-person series begins in Oct. 2026 and continues until Dec. 2027. Consideration will be made for those who work 100% remotely on a case-by-case basis. Applications are due on Friday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. Learn more and apply.
Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day: Call for proposals
Faculty and staff are invited to submit workshop proposals for Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day, which will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21. This in-person event is designed to foster personal and professional growth, collaboration, innovation, and learning across the university community. The theme "Future Ready, People First" reflects George Mason's commitment to building a workforce equipped with the skills, mindsets, and adaptability needed to thrive in a changing environment. Learn more and submit a program proposal by Friday, Aug. 14.
Last Call for Proposals: Workforce-Ready Minor Programs
George Mason is expanding work-based learning opportunities that prepare students for success in Virginia’s high-demand industries—and you can be a part of it. Faculty are invited to develop workforce-ready programs that align with Virginia’s high demand occupations and include internship-based classes and career-relevant assignments. To date, we have designated 34 minors as workforce-ready.
The Workforce Ready Patriots grant team seeks proposals in three categories: program modification, course enhancement, and internship course creation. Stipends of $1,000 are available to support this work and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Proposals are due on Friday, Sept. 11. Learn more.
Game Mason: Call for session proposals
Game Mason, the university's annual gaming convention, is happening on Sept. 18–19 at the Fairfax Campus. The event is organized by Student Involvement and the Center for the Arts and open to students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Game Mason is now accepting proposals for presentations, workshops, discussions, demonstrations, and activities related to gaming, fandom, creativity, storytelling, accessibility, inclusion, identity, and community. No previous presentation experience is required. Submit a proposal.
Thriving Together
Discount: George Washington's Mount Vernon
George Mason faculty, staff, students, and alumni can use a special discount code to visit George Washington's Mount Vernon from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31. Get 20% off up to six tickets per transaction with promo code MASON. The promo code can be used online, or it can be mentioned at the gate for in-person purchases.
Mason Dining’s Sip Sip Club 2026-27
The 2026 Sip Sip Mug is officially here—and this year’s edition unlocks unlimited brewed coffee and tea refills throughout the academic year. For $115 + tax, you will get:
- Unlimited brewed coffee and tea refills
- 10¢ off handcrafted beverages at participating locations
- A reusable mug designed for life on the go
Important: Only the new 2026 Sip Sip Mug qualifies for this year’s refill program. Previous editions are not eligible. Learn more.
Well-Being Book Discussion Groups
Faculty and staff are invited to join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being for virtual, one-hour book discussions designed to foster conversation and connection around well-being topics. Registrants will receive a free copy of the book. Register for upcoming groups to discuss Dacher Keltner's Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life:
- Monday, Sept. 28, at noon via Zoom (register by Aug. 26 on Mason 360)
- Wednesday, Oct. 28, at noon via Zoom (register by Aug. 26 on Mason 360)
Family Weekend: Call for programs
Family Weekend (Oct. 16–18) is the annual weekend of events for George Mason families. Every year, about 1,500–2,000 families and supporters reunite with their students and engage in a wide range of events and programs designed to welcome them (or welcome them back) to the George Mason community.
If your office or department would like to host an event or submit a program for the Family Weekend calendar of events, fill out the form. Because check-in will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday this year, New Student and Family Programs recommends hosting your event on Saturday or Sunday.
Dwayne Hamilton Jr., assistant director for Basic Needs Services, Student Support and Advocacy Center
Elizabeth Foy, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Photo by Emily Ross
Martelli is training as an amateur boxer and will compete in a boxing match to raise money in support of cancer research and awareness.
This Week in AI
Navigating AI 2.0
Join the Costello College of Business for the Navigating AI 2.0: Practical Skills, Real Use Cases, and Workforce Readiness on Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 5–8 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus. Visit the website for more details and to register.
Collaborative Research on Education + Artificial Intelligence (CORE+AI)
This cross-institutional scholarship of teaching and learning project investigates GenAI in teaching and learning in higher education. Faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students are invited to join multi-institutional research teams to study GenAI in teaching and learning. Come to an information session on Sept. 2 or 3.
AI Bootcamp for Graduate Students with University Libraries
George Mason University Libraries’ AI Boot Camp for Graduate Students introduces graduate learners to essential AI literacy, responsible AI use in research and publishing, ethical considerations, data best practices, and hands-on experimentation. Sessions are flexible and standalone but include recommended sequencing for students who want a more structured progression. The boot camp will be hosted Aug. 18–19 in person and online. Learn more and register.
AI Day Research Showcase and video playlist
At George Mason’s AI Day research showcase, faculty shared how they use artificial intelligence to advance responsible innovation across disciplines. Watch the video. Check out the full playlist of AI Day presentations.
Event Highlights
Small Business Summit at Mason Square
The Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at the Costello College of Business and the Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum are pleased to co-host the annual Small Business Summit at Mason Square on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event bridges government and industry for an engaging morning of insights, discussion, and networking focused on small business government contracting. Learn more and register.
Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit
The 11th annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit will take place at Mason Square on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 8–10 a.m. This regional event, hosted by local Chambers of Commerce, is an opportunity to hear the region’s elected leaders discuss the changing economic climate, key policy topics, and their efforts to collaborate as a region to move Northern Virginia forward. NBC4's Drew Wilder will serve as moderator. Learn more and register.
Upcoming performances and arts events at George Mason
Exhibit: 'Pulp Fictions'
Open through Sept. 30
Fairfax Campus, Fenwick Library, Special Collections Research Center
Pulp Fictions explores the many stories paper can tell about history, creativity, and everyday lives. Featuring manuscripts, letters, rare books, artists’ books, and archival materials from the Special Collections Research Center, the exhibit highlights paper as more than just a writing surface. It shows how paper has preserved knowledge, inspired art, shaped societies, and reflected human experiences.
George Mason School of Theater: 'The Originals!'
Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, de Laski Performing Arts Building, TheaterSpace
Tune in for an evening of original new works featuring George Mason's talented student playwrights and students. The Originals! offers creative artists the chance to share their work in a variety of forms. Whether it’s a musical or the traditional ten-minute play structure, explore the brilliant imaginations of George Mason students.
Arts Alive! Festival: Creativity, Culture, and Flavor
Saturday, Sep. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center
This family-friendly event, sponsored by the Hylton Center and Prince William County, showcases community performers and fine artists from across the region. Enjoy activities for kids and adults, multiple stages of performances, hands-on workshops, a story time nook with special guest readers, food trucks, a vendor village, and more. This event is free and open to the public. No tickets required.
Hylton Presents: 'An Evening with Bernadette Peters'
Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m.
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Broadway icon Bernadette Peters launches the Hylton Presents 2026–27 season with an intimate and unforgettable evening of music, stories, and her signature charm. Celebrated for her legendary career on stage and screen, Peters performs Broadway favorites and American standards. She is joined onstage by musicians from the American Festival Pops Orchestra.
Access to Excellence Podcast: 'AI is a clinician’s newest diagnostic partner.' Professor of health informatics Farrokh Alemi joins President Gregory Washington to discuss the unique juncture of health care, industrial engineering, and now, artificial intelligence; specifically, what AI can do for educators and clinicians.
Today @ Mason is George Mason's official university calendar. Whether looking for a specific event or browsing for something to do, it's all there.
Community Calendars
Human Resources News
Reminder: Updating your disability self-identification status
George Mason employees may update their disability self-identification status at any time through the employee self-service system. To do so, log into PatriotWeb and navigate to My Account > General Self-Service > Personal Information > Personal Profile.
Keeping this information current helps ensure that George Mason meets its obligations as a federal contractor, as well as supports equal employment opportunity efforts. As part of these obligations, employees are periodically invited to voluntarily review and update their disability self-identification status. Providing this information is completely voluntary, and the decision to respond, or not respond, will not negatively affect employment. Any information provided will be kept confidential and used only in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Contact Human Resources at jobs@gmu.edu with questions.
ITS Bits and Bytes
Report phishing attempts
George Mason University community members who receive phishing emails should report them to phish@gmu.edu. Reporting phishing emails allows Information Technology Services (ITS) to issue alerts and notify recipients. If you receive a phishing email and respond by clicking on a link, replying, or downloading attachments, contact ITS Support by phone: 703-993-8870 or Live Chat for assistance. Information about reported phishing emails is available at the ITS website.
Adobe Licensing Update
This summer, changes to Adobe licensing will take effect following a new enterprise agreement and recent updates to Adobe’s higher education licensing model. As a result, existing Creative Cloud licenses will transition to Adobe Acrobat Studio, George Mason’s new standard Adobe platform for faculty and staff, emphasizing creativity, accessibility, efficiency, and automation. Impacted users have been contacted directly, with more information to come for the larger community this fall. For more details, visit the New Adobe Products page.
Policy Updates
New university policies and recent updates
New policies on University Surveys and Non-Retaliation were approved in July. The Distance Education policy was updated to distinguish processes for online degree programs and online degree pathways, as well as to define online courses.
Revisions were also made to the following policies:
- Flexible Work
- Recruitment and Hiring of University Employees
- Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance
- Name, Image, and Likeness
- Art Collection Management
- and more.
To see all policy updates, visit universitypolicy.gmu.edu.
Policy update: Expanding visibility of student wage job opportunities
University Policy 2224 - Recruitment and Hiring of University Employees has been revised to support equal access and increase visibility of student employment opportunities across the university.
What has changed: Procedures for Policy 2224 include a new requirement for student wage positions. All student wage positions are now required to be posted in Handshake, the university’s student job and internship platform, for a minimum of 10 business days.
This update is an important step toward creating a more transparent, accessible, and student-centered hiring process, ensuring that all students can discover and apply for campus employment experiences. Departments may continue to advertise student wage positions through additional channels alongside Handshake. Need support? Unclear how to use Handshake? Visit the Hire a Student page for guidance, or reach out to the Handshake team at recruit@gmu.edu for support.
New Food and Beverage Event Policy now in effect
Planning an event with food or beverages on campus? A new university-wide Food and Beverage Event Policy (Policy 1135) is now in effect and outlines updated requirements for catering, approved vendors, and event planning. All faculty, staff, and student organizations hosting events are encouraged to review the policy to ensure compliance.
For a list of all university policies including recent updates, visit universitypolicy.gmu.edu.
Coming to a Student Near You
Welcome2Mason
To kick off the new academic year, Welcome2Mason events span the first several weeks of the fall semester and provide countless opportunities for students to get involved, meet new people, and learn more about campus. For a complete list of events, visit welcome2mason.gmu.edu. Signature events include IVth Night, Transfer Nation, academic department receptions, Involvement Fair, job fairs, “Ask Me” tents across campus, and other welcome activities. Contact welcome@gmu.edu with questions.
Part-time Job Fair
Students are invited to the Part-Time Job Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. Connect with off-campus employers hiring for the upcoming semester. Dress is casual, but don’t forget your resume, if you have one. Explore the list of participating employers in Handshake. Don’t miss this opportunity to find a part-time job that fits your schedule and interests!
Interested in working on campus? Find out who’s hiring at the On-Campus Job Showcase in the Cinema on Tuesday, Aug. 25. There will be two information sessions starting at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is a great opportunity to learn about what it is like to work on campus, how to find available positions, and connect with potential employers.
Career Plans Survey now open for August 2026 grads
The Career Plans Survey is now open for all August 2026 grads (undergraduate and graduate). All students are encouraged to take the survey, even if their plans after graduation are not yet final. You can share what you know right now, and you will have the chance to update the information later. The information you provide on this survey helps add value to your degree—George Mason uses this information to highlight the overall outcomes of students to area employers, graduate programs, and future students.
From the Offices of...
Still a party animal: Pistachio the cat walked in the back door of his human's house when he was three months old. He needed a home, and he found one. Pistachio loves ear and belly rubs, but he does not like to be picked up. Pistachio just turned 20 years old--aged to perfection! His humans enjoyed the cake on his behalf.
Have something to share on this page? Review submission guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form.