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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A stroke of luck: Some people use halftime at George Mason basketball games to pause and stretch their legs. Sports marketing student and George Mason baseball pitcher Tyson Willis flexed his putting prowess and walked away with $15K. Watch the video.
Campus Operations
Reminder: Sign up for Mason Alert
Mason Alert is George Mason’s emergency notification system. All university email addresses for students and employees are automatically enrolled in Mason Alert. Students and employees are strongly advised to register cell phone numbers and additional email addresses to ensure emergency messages are received in a timely manner. Community members may also register for alerts. Find out more details.
Professional Development and Training
Threat and Evaluation Reporting Overview (TERO) Training
Join University Life for an introductory training, Threat Evaluation and Reporting Overview (TERO). This session will be facilitated by John Cicchetti, director of the Student Support and Advocacy Center. TERO is open to all university community members who play a role in identifying threats or observable behaviors that may concern others. This session will be hosted on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 1–3 p.m. in the Johnson Center on the Fairfax Campus.
TERO covers a variety of topics including targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment and management, and how to recognize the warning sings. TERO emphasizes the importance of community involvement and raises awareness about the behavioral approach to violence prevention. Register.
Nominations for David J. King Award
The David J. King Teaching Award is given annually to a faculty member who has made significant, long-term contributions (over the course of 20 years or more) to the overall educational excellence of the university. Learn more on the Stearns Center website. Nominate a colleague via email to stearns@gmu.edu by Feb. 11, 2026.
UNIV 100 teaching opportunity
Are you a staff member who is interested in teaching at George Mason? University Studies is accepting applications from George Mason staff to teach and serve as role models for first-year students in UNIV 100: Introduction to George Mason for fall 2026. UNIV 100 faculty play a vital role in supporting students as they navigate their academic and social transition to George Mason.
Learn more about the UNIV 100 instructor role, including expectations and benefits. The website also includes links to register for an upcoming information session and to submit your application. The application deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 18. Contact univ@gmu.edu with questions.
4-VA calls for proposals
George Mason University faculty interested in pursuing a novel research project in conjunction with colleagues at one of nine other 4-VA schools in Virginia are encouraged to respond to the annual 4-VA@Mason Collaborative Research Grants (CRG) calls for proposals. Visit the 4-VA@Mason grants page, which includes associated policies and procedures, as well as examples of successful proposals. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 13.
Canvas trainings
Learn more about Canvas and integrated tools like Honorlock, Turnitin, Poll Everywhere, Kaltura, and more by attending upcoming Canvas training events. Self-paced training and recordings are always available in Growing with Canvas.
Manager Meetup: Leveraging Strengths to Build Stronger Teams
Join the University Life Supervision Collective for a Manager Meetup on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 1–2 p.m. Unlock StrengthsFinder to support your team. This interactive, virtual session will help participants consider how strengths can inform complementary team dynamics, understand tools to support the use of strengths on a team, explore how strengths show up in the workplace, and more. Register.
Teaching with AI workshop series
The Stearns Center is offering a new "Teaching with AI" workshop series to help instructors navigate the choices around the use of AI in their courses. Faculty who complete the full series earn the Level One Certificate in Teaching with AI. The first workshop is on Friday, Feb. 13. Register.
Workshop: Preparing Your Course and Yourself for Difficult Classroom Discussions and Situations
Do you have strategies to prepare yourself and your students to handle difficult conversations? In this Stearns Center workshop, participants will discuss how to design (or redesign) courses and prepare to facilitate important or “hot topic” conversations in the classroom. Join on Friday, Feb. 6, from 9:30–10:30 a.m. on Zoom. This workshop is part one of a four-part series. Register.
Workshop: Fundamentals of Effective Teaching
Do you want to be an effective teacher? Do you want to know how to measure your teaching effectiveness? In this workshop from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, participants will learn about elements of effective teaching, including engagement, multiple modalities, inclusive teaching, and assignment design. Join on Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 10–11 a.m. on Zoom. This workshop is required for the Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential for the CPD Program. Register.
Workshop: Feel Better, Teach Better: Strategies for Supporting Faculty Mental Health
Teaching can be difficult and often an isolating experience. In this virtual workshop on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 1 p.m., participants will explore faculty mental health, strategies for improving the environment, and address barriers to addressing concerns. Join to create community and talk about one of the most prevalent, but under-discussed, issues in academia. Get more details and register. Contact Rachel Yoho with questions.
Thriving Together
February Staff Senate Meeting
The Staff Senate meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, will feature guest speaker Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Join the meeting from 10 a.m. to noon on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or via Zoom. Get more details and submit a question for the guest speaker.
Complimentary Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Glucose Screenings
Employee Health and Well-Being will offer complimentary blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings in observance of Healthy Heart Month. Note: Cholesterol and glucose tests are conducted via finger prick.
Disclaimer: These screenings are for informational purposes only and do not diagnose or treat medical conditions. Information is for personal use only; individual health information is not recorded or maintained by George Mason University. Screenings will be available on Tuesday, Feb. 10, and Thursday, Feb. 26, on the Fairfax Campus at the Population Health Center in Peterson Hall. RSVP.
Graduate Open House at Mason Square: Feb. 4
Interested in continuing your education at Mason Square? Check out a Graduate Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 5:30–7:15 p.m. in Van Metre Hall, multipurpose room. Explore master’s degrees and graduate certificates while connecting with faculty and program representatives from the Schar School of Policy and Government, the Costello College of Business, the Antonin Scalia Law School, and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Learn how these programs align with your career goals and what sets George Mason’s graduate experience apart. Free resume review and head shots will be available. Register.
Outstanding Achievement Awards: Call for nominations
Reflect on colleagues who have positively impacted your team or community and nominate them for an Outstanding Achievement Award! Visit the Outstanding Achievement Awards website to review categories and nominate in an individual or team. Nominations must be submitted via Dynamic Forms by Friday, Feb. 20, at 5 p.m. (including all final workflow signatures).
Save the date for the Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 from 10-11:30 a.m. on the Fairfax Campus in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. Winners will be announced by early April. Contact awards@gmu.edu with questions.
Citizen's Police Academy coming soon
Mason Police are proud to host the first Citizen's Police Academy this spring. Applications are now accepted. The Citizen's Police Academy will meet on the Fairfax Campus every Tuesday night from 6-9 p.m. for 10 weeks starting April 21. If you are interested in learning more about law enforcement and how Mason Police serve the George Mason University community, this opportunity is for you. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and pass a background check. Visit the website for details.
Free mental health support for faculty and staff
George Mason faculty and staff now have access to TimelyCare for free, confidential mental health support. Connect with licensed counselors and access support when you need it, at no cost.
Benefits include 24/7 emotional support with the TalkNow line, up to 12 free scheduled counseling sessions per academic year, health coaching, self-guided resources, mindfulness tools, and peer support. Learn more.
Working Moms Support Group
The Working Moms Support Group has been active at George Mason for more than 20 years, bringing faculty, staff, and students together to offer support and discuss the issues confronting working mothers. The in-person and virtual meeting schedule for the spring semester is now available. For meeting dates, or to join the virtual channel on Teams, visit the website.
Encore Learning Course Information Session
Encore Learning, a George Mason University partner, offers a wide variety of college-level noncredit courses, clubs, special events, and activities to help meet the continuing educational and social interests of people over age 50, regardless of residence location. This spring, Encore Learning has a robust lineup of 42 courses, including 25 courses held at Mason Square. George Mason faculty emeritus and graduate students are teaching some of the courses. View the course details. Learn more at a virtual information session on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Course registration begins Feb. 2.
Yoga: A Curriculum for Life
The Haven at Fuse, part of University Life Mason Square, is delighted to partner with Gregory Unruh from the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being to host "Yoga: A Curriculum for Life," an eight-session seminar. Attendees will be lead through a guided yoga session, participate in a lecture-discussion about yoga, and end with a guided meditation. Yoga mats are provided.
All sessions are free and open to the public. Space is limited, so reserve a spot for each session on Mason 360. The first session is on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 3–4 p.m. in Fuse at Mason Square, Room 2500.
Rachel Spence, Global Education Office, and chair of the Staff Senate
Oscar Ferrufino, Facilities and Campus Operations
Susan Kehoe unleashes the potential of service dogs in training
Event Highlights
Get ready for Homecoming 2026
Celebrate George Mason pride at Homecoming 2026 from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7! Enjoy a week of activities including basketball games, tailgating, lip sync battles, student performances, alumni meetups, comedy headliner Josh Johnson, and George Mason spirit in action. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the Mason Nation—past, present, and future. Find more information at homecoming.gmu.edu.
Homecoming Headliner: Josh Johnson Live at George Mason
Get ready to laugh! Emmy-nominated comedian and The Daily Show writer Josh Johnson is coming to George Mason for Homecoming 2026 on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Center for the Arts. Known for viral stand-up, sharp storytelling, and smart, relatable humor, Johnson delivers a night of nonstop laughs you won’t want to miss. Join the George Mason community for one of Homecoming Week’s biggest events, and secure your seats early. Tickets are limited. Get more details.
Homecoming Rally at the Court
Get ready to kick off Homecoming Week in style! Join a lunchtime rally on Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Johnson Center Atrium from noon to 2 p.m. The rally will feature live music from The Green Machine, cheer performances, appearances from the men's and women's basketball teams, and more.
Visiting Poet Gabrielle Calvocoressi
Join the Creative Writing program for an upcoming event with Visiting Poet Gabrielle Calvocoressi on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Calvocoressi is author of The Last Time I Saw Amelia Earhart, Apocalyptic Swing (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize), and Rocket Fantastic, winner of the Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry. Their most recent collection of poetry, The New Economy, was named a finalist for the National Book Award. The event will be hosted on the Fairfax Campus in Fenwick Library.
Calvocoressi is an editor-at-large at Los Angeles Review of Books and poetry editor at Southern Cultures. Calvocoressi teaches at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Learn more.
'Wealth of Nations' 250: The Long Arc of Smithian Economics
The Department of Economics invites the university community to an upcoming event, "Wealth of Nations 250: The Long Arc of Smithian Economics," on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 5 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall. Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations was published in March 1776. At this event, four speakers from the Economics Department will discuss how Smith’s most famous book continues to offer tools for thinking clearly about human flourishing while also motivating new economic research. A reception will follow. Find out more details.
Access to Excellence Podcast: Behind the scenes of 'A House of Dynamite.' President Gregory Washington talks to Larry Pfeiffer—director of Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security, and expert consultant for Netflix's A House of Dynamite—about his time in the Situation Room.
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
Performance management update: A simpler path to recognition
Effective immediately, George Mason is discontinuing the Acknowledgment of Extraordinary Contribution form for classified staff performance evaluations, following guidance from the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM). Supervisors can now assign an Outstanding overall performance rating without the extra form. Documentation is still required to show how exceptional performance advances unit or institutional goals. Learn more.
ITS Bits and Bytes
Wi-Fi update: Time to switch to eduroam
Information Technology Services (ITS) is simplifying George Mason's Wi-Fi network to help the community stay better connected across campus. All campus Wi-Fi users should switch to eduroam. To get started, visit its.gmu.edu/eduroam. MASON-SECURE was permanently shut down at the end of the semester. For details, review the FAQs.
Policy and Compliance Updates
Hazing Prevention Policy and Reporting Obligations
George Mason University has adopted an updated Hazing Prevention policy in compliance with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA). This policy builds on the work of Patriots Against Hazing and reinforces our commitment to a safe and respectful learning, living, and working environment for all members of the community. Non-confidential employees (i.e. employees who are not part of confidential offices, such as Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Support and Advocacy Center, and Student Health Services) are required to report hazing to the appropriate university authority. Read the policy.
Coming to a Student Near You
Education Careers Week
Recruitment season for educators, teachers, and administrators is coming up, and University Career Services has invited employers and alums to campus to share their unique insights and advice on jobs in the education sector. Education Careers Week, starting on Feb. 2, features a series of virtual and in-person events to learn more about applying your degree to this rewarding field.
Explore career paths in teaching in K-12 classrooms, education administration, EdTech, and more. A highlight of this week will be a site visit to the Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) Gatehouse Administration Center. Registration is required by Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. Space is limited. Get all the details.
December graduates should take the Career Plans Survey
The Career Plans Survey is now open to December graduates, both undergraduate and graduate. Whether they have locked in their next steps or are still figuring things out, please encourage your students to share what they know now. They can update their responses later as their plans become more certain.
Student input helps George Mason showcase the success of our alums to employers, grad schools, and future Patriots. Their participation in the survey contributes to the strength of the George Mason community, now and in the future.
From the Offices of...
Ouaf-ouaf (woof-woof): Iroh the dog is bilingual—his humans mostly speak to him in French. He loves adventure and is always ready to go hiking. He gets impatient when his humans stop along the way to take photos or sightsee. He wants to keep moving! In this photo, Iroh was visiting Canada. He is named after a character from the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Iroh loves sharing everything with his whippet sister, Mikazuki.
Have something to share on this page? Review submission guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form.