Author: Amanda Corrigan

Mason welcomed its new president, Dr. Gregory Washington, on July 1. On his first day as president, Dr. Washington took time to meet with students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

In his discussion with Mason staff, Dr. Washington said, “In the end, what makes the wheels turn, what makes the institution operate, what makes the institution successful—that falls on the staff. Faculty do what they do. Students do what they do. But the entity that binds all of it together and ensures its successes is staff.”

The Staff Senate hosted a Human Resources and Finance Panel on June 25. Panelists included:

• Deb Dickenson, vice president for Finance
• Lester Arnold, vice president for Human Resources and Payroll
• René Stewart O’Neal, vice president for Strategic Planning and Budgeting

View the recording.

As you can imagine, we received more questions than we had time to cover during the session. We are working to address the additional questions received.

Updated campus maps are available at maps.gmu.edu. The most recent versions of the Fairfax, Arlington, and SciTech Campus maps have been posted.

For questions, contact Philip Stamper, University Information, at [email protected]. 

In addition, each month, the Mason Staff Senate:

• Presents the Employee of the Month with a gift
• Attends Human Resources and Payroll’s New Staff Orientations to welcome new employees and introduce them to the work of the Staff Senate
• Recognizes the service of Mason retirees with a letter of appreciation.
• The Communications Committee meets monthly to coordinate and publish a monthly newsletter distributed to classified staff and non-student wage employees

Reminder: Complimentary Permit Option Available Until Aug. 15

For those without parking permits, there is a daily, downloadable and free option available on all three campuses through Aug. 15. For details, visit transportation.gmu.edu/archive/daily-complimentary-parking.

Additionally, a reminder to faculty and staff who have payroll deducted permits: Deduction will not start again until Sept. 1. For those faculty, staff, and students who have spring permits, the expiration has been extended through Aug. 15.

If you have any questions, reach out to Parking and Transportation at [email protected].

Parking permit and fee update for those teleworking during fall 2020:

An official plan has not been finalized, but if employees do not want to be charged for parking or have a payroll deduction permit, they will need to return their permits, in-person or via mail.

If you need to visit campus occasionally, there are daily parking options as low as $3/day at the Field House (Fairfax), $9 for general lots, and hourly parking in the garages. There may be some other options as well for weekly and monthly permits for general lots. If staff have purchased a semester permit, there is a prorated refund schedule if they want to turn in their permit.

Learn Polarity Thinking to Overcome Complex and Critical Challenges

Discover how to apply well-being science to your leadership during this challenging time. Learn how to deal successfully with polarities (opposing forces that create tension in complex situations) in our Polarity Thinking certification program.

Polarity Thinking will show you how to use Polarity Thinking™ concepts, practices and tools (including the Polarity Map® and the Polarity Assessment™) to overcome your most complex and critical challenges. 

This fall, Polarity Thinking will take place with live virtual instruction. Individuals who register by Aug. 7 can enjoy a 15 percent COVID-19 discount on tuition. 

Deadline Extended for Book Scholarship

Are you enrolled in a degree or certificate program at Mason? Then apply for the competitive $250 book scholarship for faculty and staff!

The application deadline has been extended to Friday, July 10. For details and to apply, visit the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship webpage.

Save the Date: Take Your Junior Patriot to Work Day

While every day is Take Your Junior Patriot to Work Day right now, Mason is planning to launch our first ever virtual event for Mason faculty and staff and their junior patriots (grades Pre-K–12).

Save the date for Aug. 5. We will have some live, interactive sessions and a playlist of activities, worksheets, and videos to access and enjoy. More details coming soon!

Questions? Contact [email protected].

Support for Mason Families: Babysitting, Pet Care, and More       

Mason faculty, staff, and graduate students are eligible for a free membership to Bright Horizons, which provides access to sitters, virtual sitters, housekeepers, and pet care.

For more information and to activate your free membership, visit the membership website.

Questions? Contact [email protected].