The 2024 Mason Open Golf Tournament will take place on May 3, at Twin Lakes Golf Course. It is a great opportunity for golf enthusiasts to participate in a friendly competition for exciting prizes and provide pathways to student development while enjoying a day on the course. Register here.
Role: Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is a part of Risk, Safety, & Resilience (RSR). EHS collaborates with the university community to ensure a safe workplace and learning environment. EHS provides resources and programs relevant for Mason faculty, staff, and students. I work as an Industrial Hygiene Specialist where some of my duties include providing safety training and conducting assessments that pertain to workplace health and safety (i.e. indoor air quality, noise hazards, respiratory protection, etc.). More information about EHS and RSR can be found, here.
Mason journey: I joined EHS as an Industrial Hygiene Specialist in June 2022. Prior to working at George Mason University, I worked as an Environmental Health Specialist at various local agencies and inspected restaurants, public swimming pools, and tattoo parlors. In addition to working for EHS, I’m also pursuing a Master of Public Health here at George Mason University.
Best thing about working at Mason: I love the work-life balance here at Mason and the opportunities for personal and professional development. I also enjoy working with my colleagues, and I couldn’t ask for a better team!
Why serve on the Staff Senate: I want to support and advocate for my fellow Mason staff in any way I can and joining Staff Senate provides me that opportunity.
At the end of the day: I enjoy working at Mason, and I’m glad I can help fellow Mason staff by being a part of a group that maintains workplace health and safety.
The April Staff Senate meeting featured guest speaker Dr. Gregory Washington, president, George Mason University. The president responded to some questions following the session that can be reviewed here. The general business meeting featured a special sustainability presentation from Greg Farley, director, University Sustainability.
For those who missed the meeting, or would like to re-watch the session, the recordings are now available.
The May Staff Senate general meeting will feature guest speaker Trishana Bowden, vice president, Advancement and Alumni Relations and president, George Mason University Foundation.
Wednesday, May 1
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Guest Speaker
11 a.m. to noon – General Business Meeting
Location Change: Constituents are invited to join in person in Merten 3001 or join the meeting via Zoom*.
Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 946 9452 3314 / Passcode: 760740
*The Staff Senate is requiring that virtual attendees join our Staff Senate General Meetings with their Patriot Pass credentials. If you are already signed into Zoom using your Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your Mason-licensed Zoom account, you will be told authentication is required to join, and prompted to sign in. For more information, please access our helpful FAQ document.
The Staff Senate will collect questions in advance for consideration. Please use the form below to submit your comment, question, or concern. We will also be accepting live questions, time permitting.
The Staff Senate represents all classified and non-student wage employees at George Mason University. Working closely with university administration, we address concerns that have an impact on the quality of work-life for the Mason community. The work of the senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents. Find more ways to engage with the senate before, during, and after our general meetings.
Happy Earth Month, Patriots! Get involved in the many events happening around Mason this month and learn about how we can all be more sustainable. Check out the event calendar for more details.
Patriot Packout
Patriot Packout (PPO), Mason’s annual sustainable move-out initiative, is scheduled from April 15 – May 10. Like-new and gently used donations are collected at the Fairfax Campus, Science and Technology Campus, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.
Donations are redistributed to Mason Patriots and local community members, preventing useful items from ending up in the trash. PPO 2024’s donations support the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, Art Supply Sharing Closet, First Gen+ Center, Parking and Transportation’s bike programs, and Food For Others, among others. Visit the PPO webpage for a list of accepted donations, campus donation locations, and volunteer opportunities.
Capital Bikeshare at the Fairfax Campus
Capital Bikeshare is now at the Fairfax Campus. There are three stations on campus – Rappahannock River Lane, between Horizon Hall and Harris Theater, and at the corner of York River Road and Patriot Circle. They join the fourth Mason Capital Bikeshare station which is located on Fairfax Drive in front of the Mason Square Campus. All Mason students are eligible for a $25 annual Capital Bikeshare membership, a substantial discount. These bikeshare stations are part of a network that extends throughout the region. Find additional information, here.
Surveys, Surveys, Surveys! We Welcome Your Feedback
As part of the contractual agreement, Parking and Transportation has a short survey underway regarding SP+ , the parking contractor for Mason.
Parking and Transportation, in partnership with the Shuttle Advisory Committee, invites faculty, staff, and students to complete a short survey on the Fairfax/SciTech Shuttle. We are interested in hearing from both those who currently use the shuttle as well as those who live in Prince William County or points further west and do not currently use the shuttle. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete. This is purely informational, no changes to the route are currently in development. We will keep the survey open through April 2024. Complete the survey.
Help University Sustainability measure Mason’s greenhouse gas levels by taking a 3 to 5 minute commuting survey.
Registration Open: Celebrate Biking at Mason
Spring is here! We hope you will join Parking and Transportation at one (or more!) of these three upcoming events:
There will be food, resource information, and fun giveaways. For planning purposes, please let Parking and Transportation know that you’ll be coming! Please register, here.
Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice
Do you live within a few miles of campus and think biking to work could be good for your well-being? All faculty and staff are eligible to participate in the Bike Commuter Choice Program. The program has four tiers of support. The more you ride, the greater the financial incentive. The introductory tier is just 5 rides per quarter. More details can be found, here, and select the Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice Program. Questions? Email, [email protected].
Summer Mason Shuttles Schedules Coming Soon
Mason Shuttles summer service begins on Monday, May 13. Service will be Monday-Friday only. Schedules will be posted soon. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
Reminder: Bicycle Commuting 101
Bicycling to campus can be fun and great for your well-being. Join Delia Johnson, a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor, for Bicycle Commuting 101. During this session at noon on Monday, April 22, via Zoom, Delia will share information to help you feel more confident about getting to campus on two wheels. This session is open to faculty, staff and students. Register here.
Charter Buses on Campus
If you have an event where you will be having any number of charter buses on campus, please coordinate their visit with the Parking Services office. Even one charter bus needs to be accommodated for drop-off, pick-up, and parking. Please remember charter buses should not be advised to pick-up or drop-off at Rappahannock River Lane or the Sandy Creek Transit Center. Both locations are transit hubs and there is not sufficient space to allow charter bus access. Parking Services is happy to work with you to find a location and make arrangements; please include them in your event planning process. They can be reached at [email protected] or 703-993-2065.
The George Mason University Staff Senate and Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority hosted a blood drive on Monday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot near The Hub. Thank you to everyone who generously donated. INOVA successfully collected 19 blood products which also means 57 lives can now be potentially saved. The blood collected has been tested and is already on their hospital shelves.
The 27th Annual Health and Fitness Expo
March 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
JC Dewberry Hall (Fairfax Campus)
This traditional campus event is free, open to the public, and attended by more than 1,000+ participants each year! Our mission is to promote the importance of health, wellness, well-being, fitness, and disease prevention. Stop by to learn more about resources available on campus, and in our community, that can help you lead a happy, healthy life.
This event features a variety of interactive health education activities, hands-on demonstrations, fitness instruction/challenges, a blood drive, and more! Find more information, here.
