Month: February 2026

For the past forty-five years, Mason students from around the globe have come together to develop a program of activities that showcase their countries and cultures, providing us with opportunities to learn and engage with them.

This year’s International Week program includes activities designed to challenge and delight you. We hope you will attend as many as you can—not only those you fondly remember from previous years but also some that are new and unfamiliar. Let this experience serve as a metaphor for the change we hope to see on a global scale. Listen. Connect. Participate. And enjoy!

International Week Highlights:

• Working with International Students Workshop: Monday, March 30, 2026, JC Meeting Room A, 10 a.m. to noon
  • RSVP required by Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m.
• International Parade and Festival: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Wilkins Plaza
  • Parade and Flag Ceremony: 12 to 1 p.m.
  • Festival: 1 to 2 p.m.
• International Dance Competition: Thursday, April 2, 2026, Center for the Arts, 7 p.m.

Keep an eye on the official event schedule, as more events will be announced throughout the month!

 

George Mason students, faculty, and staff with active George Mason email accounts automatically receive a FREE Grubhub+ membership (Valued at $9.99/month).

Follow the steps below to activate your membership.

• Step 1: Download the Grubhub app and create a new account. If you already have an account, skip to the next step.
• Step 2: Go to “Account,” tap “Campus Dining,” then select “George Mason University” and your affiliation.
• Step 3: Verify your George Mason credential and add Mason Money or other credit/debit cards as a payment solution.

You can learn more about this on the Free Grubhub+ Membership webpage.

George Mason University President Gregory Washington will host two 90-minute town hall sessions to discuss the state of the university and to engage with faculty and staff.

The first town hall, for George Mason employees working in non-academic units, will take place on Thursday, March 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the HUB Ballroom.

The second town hall, for George Mason employees working in academic units, will take place on Thursday, March 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the HUB Ballroom.

For those unable to attend in-person, both sessions will be livestreamed on Zoom; these sessions will not be recorded. Please contact your respective unit leadership for Zoom links and passwords. While questions will be taken at the conclusion of each town hall, please note the Zoom chat function will not be enabled. Should virtual attendees have any questions, please provide them to your designated unit contact so they can be shared in-person during your respective town hall session.

Captioning will be available on the livestream. If you are in need of sign language interpreters for this event, please reach out directly to the Office of Disability Services. If United Language Group (ULG) services are needed, please reach out directly to the Office of Human Resources.

• You can view the George Mason Shuttles Spring Break Schedule Changes on the Parking and Transportation website.
• Semester parking permits are pro-rated and reduced in price beginning March 9. See the Parking and Transportation website for details.
• Join one of the upcoming Bike to Mason Days:
  • Fairfax: Merten Lawn, Tuesday, April 21, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Mason Square: Van Metre Plaza, Thursday, April 23, 3 to 7 p.m.

Your voice continues to shape the George Mason experience. The Faculty and Staff Experience Survey remains one of our most important tools for understanding how employees experience their workplace – what’s working, where challenges remain, and where we must grow together. The feedback you shared in the 2024 survey directly informed several major university-wide improvements, and we want to share the progress made because you spoke up.

In response to your input, George Mason launched a comprehensive staff classification and compensation study to modernize career paths, strengthen pay equity, and build a clear Career Architecture framework for the future. Your feedback also highlighted well‑being as essential, leading to expanded support such as TimelyCare, enhanced workplace coaching, and significantly increased supervisor and leadership development programs. Recognition and appreciation have also been strengthened through redesigned awards, updated tools, and more consistent unit‑level practices across the university. Additionally, performance engagement has evolved with updated rating categories, new feedback workshops, and improved tools designed to support both supervisors and employees.

As we prepare for the next Faculty and Staff Experience Survey launching in April 2026, we hope you’ll make your voice heard once again. Your feedback drives meaningful change – and helps shape a stronger, more supportive George Mason community. Visit the Human Resources website for more information.