Come out and join your fellow Mason staffers at this year’s Winter Staff Appreciation Events!
Prince William, Bull Run Hall Atrium, Wednesday, January 29, noon – 2:00 pm (Snow Date, Thursday, January 30)
Arlington, Founder’s Hall, Wednesday, February 5, 9:30 – 11:00 am (Snow Date, Thursday, February 6)
Fairfax, Patriot’s Lounge, Sub I, Wednesday, February 11, 9:30 – 11:30 am (Snow Date, Thursday, February 12)
We look forward to seeing you there!
Guest Speakers:
Mark Smith, Director, State Government Relations, Government and Community Relations
Kevin Jackson, Jr., Student Government – Secretary of Government and Community Relations, Mason Lobbies
Guest speakers begin at noon, followed by time to ask questions, express concerns, or offer accolades about issues concerning the Staff Senate. The Staff Senate business meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. All are welcome, and registration is not necessary.
Stephanie Zeher
Student Outreach and Advising Coordinator
College of Education and Human Development
I started at Mason fresh out of college (Radford University) in 2006. I had been a student worker while a Political Science undergrad at Radford for the Admissions Office, so it was my only real office experience. After I graduated, the Registrar’s Office hired me and I found a new calling…. Higher Education. I never looked back.
During my career at Mason, I naturally gravitated to the Staff Senate. It’s always been in my blood to be a part of something bigger than just myself. I was always on Student Government in high school or in a sorority in college. I like being connected and “in the know.” I’ve made some truly wonderful friends on the Staff Senate as well, which makes it even more enjoyable. I am a new member of the Events Committee. I guess they figured if I can pull off planning and executing two convocations ceremonies (GSE and RHT) for my full time job then I could contribute to this committee as well!
My personal goal is to ski the Alps in all eight European countries. So far I’ve skied the German, French, and Italian Alps. It might be awhile until I can hit the slopes again. I’ll have to get my 13 month old son Coen trained first. Yes, I will be that mom on the slopes with their little munchkin on a leash and skis!
How do you live the Mason values? Each week at @MasonFSED we will feature a different value – tell us what you’re doing to embody that value for a chance to win a weekly prize and to be entered into the Grand Prize drawing. Tweet us @MasonFSED for your chance to win!
And join us at Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day on December 2 in the Johnson Center, Fairfax Campus, to discover tools and resources so you can incorporate the Mason values into your job.
Speakers and other details will be available when registration opens November 3 at hr.gmu.edu/learning.
Last On-Site Flu Shot Clinic
For COVA Care, COVA HDHP, and COVA HealthAware participants, there is an on-site flu shot clinic in conjunction with Faculty-Staff Enrichment Day on Tuesday, December 2 from 9:00-2:00 in the Johnson Center Gold Room. To make an appointment, please call 877.728.6655, Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For details, please visit Flu Shot Information 2014. If you have any questions, please call the HR & Payroll Customer Service Center at 3.2600 and ask for the Life/Work Connections team.
November Classes
Financial education is just a click away! Please review the diverse learning opportunities available on-campus or on-line throughout this academic year. Programming runs across many different financial topics including budgeting, saving, individual planning, investing, and retirement. This month, on-site classes, held at noon (and video-conferenced to Arlington and Prince William*) include:
Classes this Month
November 12: Retirement Education for Those at Mid-Career with Steve Scott from ICMA-RC
November 13: Building a Better Budget with Sarah Lieu from Apple Federal Credit Union
November 20: Fabulous Finds for Less – Fashion, Furnishings and Power Tools at Thrift Stores and Yard Sales with Bobbie Merritt from HR & Payroll
November 24: Making the Most of Annuities with Jeff Jones from Fidelity Investments
To register for these classes, please visit http://hr.gmu.edu/learning/hr.php. To review the entire financial well-being program, visit Financial Well-Being at Mason (http://hr.gmu.edu/benefits/retire/online_resources.php).
National Outdoor Challenge
Mason is one of 10 schools vying to win the National Outdoor Challenge. At stake are bragging rights (of course), $50,000 worth of outdoor gear for the university, and a chance for you to win a prize too. Wow. Participating is easy. Check out the infographic at http://recreation.gmu.edu/2014/09/the-outdoor-campus-challenge-is-coming/. 1) register at http://www.oncampuschallenge.org/ 2) Participate in an outdoor activity for 30 minutes – hiking, biking, walking, running, picnicking, gardening, walking your dog, you name it, 3) Take a picture of yourself doing it, 4) Upload the photo to the challenge website 5) Repeat and spread the word. Faculty, staff, and students are eligible to participate but so are alumni, retirees, friends and family. When signing up, select George Mason University as the school you’re supporting. The Challenge is underway until November 22. Mason Recreation will be giving out weekly prizes as well.
Go Mason!! Let’s bring that prize back home to Northern Virginia!
Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign
The 2014 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) is under way. Contact Helga Yunker at [email protected] for pledge cards or additional information. Online giving is available for both payroll deduction as well as one-time credit card donations at eDirect (http://edirect.virgina.gov). A list of charities can be viewed at http://www.cvc.virginia.gov/directorylist.html.
The Staff Senate is pleased to announce this year’s Outstanding Supervisors. Chosen from a competitive pool of over a dozen nominees, the two winners, Brian Gantt, Director, ITU Finance & Procurement, and Betty Zimmerman, Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, exemplify the Mason spirit with their outstanding leadership. Read more about these outstanding supervisors in this Mason News article.
A third candidate receives honorable mention, David Gibbs, former Head of Collection Development and Preservation, University Libraries, for his past dedication to the Mason community.
A round of applause goes to all the nominees. Each a winner in the eyes of those they supervise.
Nominated for this year’s awards were:
A heartfelt congratulations to Lisa Bair, former office manager for the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, newly named human resources and administrative specialist in the Environmental Science and Policy Department, and Mason Staff Senator for being awarded the October 2014 Employee of the Month award.
Read more about Lisa in this Mason News article.
Do you know a superstar? Make sure her or she gets the deserved recognition and submit a nomination for Mason’s Employee of the Month. Additional information can be found on the HR awards page.
Contact Reward & Recognition at [email protected] with questions.
Have you been to the Prince William Campus? There is a wealth of opportunities for staff to enjoy at Prince William. From the Hylton Performing Arts Centert to the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center and everything in between, there is plenty for you and your family to enjoy on the Prince William campus. Check out a listing of events below:
Celebrate the opening of the Nature Visions Photo Expo at the Hylton Center with a free Gallery Reception from 6-8pm. Featuring light hors’doeuvres, wines by Cana Vineyard and Winery of Middleburg, and a talk with the artists. RSVP to [email protected]
Enjoy free admission all week for Prince William County and City of Manassas Residents, a Saturday Family Fun Day, Raffles, Giveaways, a movie in the pool, and special speakers! Click here for more information!
Check out Prince William Campus’s newest dining addition, in the retail space on the first floor of Beacon Hall. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
Find out even more about what is happening in Prince William by visiting today.gmu.edu.
Provost David Wu and Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance J.J. Davis will hold an open budget discussion on Wednesday, October 1, from 10:00 – 11:00 am. All members of the university community are invited to attend. The budget discussion will provide an opportunity for the Mason Community to learn more about the budget climate and will serve as a follow-up to the budget forum that was held in early September.
The Budget Forum will be accessible as follows and will also be archived for online viewing after the event:
The previous budget forum held on September 4 may be viewed online.
For further information, contact Laura Bell at [email protected] or Kathy Jayne at [email protected].
