Author: Amanda Corrigan

Have you heard about Virginia529 but want to learn more? Check out an information session on September 18 from noon to 1 p.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1204.

At the presentation, you will learn about saving for future higher education expenses for yourself or a loved one.

During this session learn how to:

• Save for tuition and other college expenses
• Save for private or religious K-12 education
• Take advantage of tax-free earnings and the Virginia state tax deduction
• Meet your savings goals

To register, visit the Virginia529 Presentation details page in MasonLEAPS and click “Request.”

If you are unable to attend, there will be a Webinar on October 9 for the VA529, MD529 and DC529 plans. Stay on the lookout for more details!

Students, alumni, staff, and faculty are invited to participate in the 9/11 Day of Service and Service Fair.

The 7^th Annual Day of Service will take place on Wednesday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service events will provide the opportunity to give back to the local George Mason community. To volunteer for one of the many service projects on campus, visit the registration page.

The Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL) Service Fair will take place on Thursday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SUB I Quad. This is a great way to connect with more than 30 different community partners and leaders and discover opportunities to use your School Assistance and Volunteer Leave!

General information about the 9/11 Day of Service and Service Fair can be found at 911day.gmu.edu.

Up to two hours of volunteer service can be considered work time with your supervisor’s permission. If you would like to volunteer more than two hours, eligible faculty and staff may use school assistance and volunteer hours.

Calling all bookworms! OnTheSquareVA is excited to announce the launch of a statewide Book Club! Books will be announced on the first of each month. You can find the book announcements and more details about the virtual and in-person discussions on the book club Facebook group.

If you have questions, contact OnTheSquareVa@virginia.gov for more information.

 

 

Looking for like-minded colleagues to share insight? Need group support for your family?

Mason offers many employee resource and support groups to help, including:

• Adult Caregiving and Support
• Educators and Employees of Color
• Mason Administrative Professionals
• Mason Military Spouses and Partners
• Mason Needleworks
• Toastmasters
• Working Moms and Working Dads

…and more! Visit the HR and Payroll employee resources and support group page for a list of groups and activities.

Free Financial Counseling

No matter where you are in life—from just getting started to planning retirement—a session with a financial consultant can help you prepare for your future.

Financial consultants from TIAA, Fidelity, ICMA-RC, and VRS visit Mason and offer free, on-campus, individual counseling appointments throughout the year. For a list of available dates and to sign up, please visit the Human Resources and Payroll Benefits site.

If you have questions, contact the Benefits team at benefits@gmu.edu or 703-993-2600.

WW (WeightWatchers Reimagined) Changes

The WW discounted pricing is changing! Commonwealth of Virginia employees enrolled in a state health plan are eligible for WW discounted pricing and a 50% subsidy. Employees not enrolled in a state health plan, as well as employee spouses and adult dependents, are eligible for discounted pricing only. You will notice the new pricing on your first billing cycle following the effective date and your plan will automatically renew monthly.

As a part of this new pricing, you will no longer need to submit for reimbursement.

Sign up at wellness.weightwatchers.com and enter the appropriate Employer ID listed on the WW flyer.

If you have questions about your WW account or membership, contact the WW Customer Care team at 866-204-2885.

Mason Bookstore Discount

Need to gear up for College Colors Day? Mason faculty and staff receive a 10% discount at the George Mason Bookstore on eligible merchandise!

The discount is only available in person. To see all of your discounts, visit the discount page.

It’s time to don your green and gold! The Friday before Labor Day across the United States is known as College Colors Day. It is a chance for students, parents, family, fans, and alumni to display their team spirit!

Join shopMason and We Are Mason! Spirit Fridays on Friday, August 30, on the Merten Hall Lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a celebration with music, food, games, and giveaways!

Don’t forget to use the hashtags #CollegeColorsDay and #WeAreMason on social media during this fun event!

Operating Golf Carts on the Fairfax Campus

In accordance with Mason’s Policy 1131, a number of rules and procedures apply to the operation of golf carts on campus. Due to construction and the resulting density of pedestrians on campus, Parking and Transportation will enforce the policy starting with the fall semester.

Golf carts:

• Must be driven on roads and bike lanes when available at all times
• Cannot be driven on sidewalks or ramps
• Must be parked in general, service/repair, admin, or designated golf cart parking spaces; they cannot be parked on sidewalks or in grassy areas

A summary of the rules is available here.

For questions, contact 703-993-2828 or transpo@gmu.edu.

Mason Shuttles: Fall Schedule Changes and Labor Day Hours

Fall Shuttle Schedules
The fall Mason shuttles schedules are posted at shuttle.gmu.edu.

View a summary of start dates and service changes. If you ride the Fairfax–SciTech shuttle, please review the changes. To address the increasing construction and traffic on I-66, the entire schedule was redone to increase the trip length during rush hour in each direction.

Labor Day Weekend
An abbreviated shuttle schedule will be in effect during Labor Day weekend.

For questions, contact us at shuttle@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828.

2nd Annual “As-Is” Bike Sale

Join Parking and Transportation and the Office of Sustainability for an “As Is” bike sale on Friday, September 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the visitor section of the Shenandoah Parking Garage (first level). See if one of the 60 or so abandoned bikes is the one for you!

More details are available at bike.gmu.edu.

Did You Know? 30 Minutes Free Parking in Mason Pond and Shenandoah

For short-term visits or errands, the visitor sections of the Shenandoah Parking Deck (ground level) and Mason Pond Deck offer 30 minutes free parking.

Questions? Call the Parking Office at 703-993-2710.

DMV2Go on the Fairfax Campus

Take care of your Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) business at a convenient Mason location.

DMV2Go will be on the Fairfax Campus on Tuesday, September 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Merten Hall parking lot.

For services available at DMV2Go, visit the website. View the complete 2019 DMV2Go schedule.

Questions? Contact Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828.

Learn well-being leadership skills for professional and personal success in these upcoming certificate programs from Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being:

Change Your Life for Greater Well-Being through Positive Leadership

Join leadership experts Dr. Steve Gladis and Dr. Beth Cabrera this fall for Mason’s Positive Leadership program! Learn skills and strategies for enhancing personal and professional well-being and boosting team performance.

The next cohort takes place November 18–19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, in Merten Hall, room 1204 on Mason’s Fairfax Campus. Register by November 4 (by October 4 for early bird rate).

Discounts are available:

• Mason alumni – 10%
• Group of 3+ from same company – 10% per student
• Mason employee (both classified and wage) – 10%
• Spouse or children of Mason employee – 10%

Learn more and register here.

Learn Well-Being Leadership Skills to Manage Complexity and Stress

Successfully manage the complex, stressful situations you face personally and professionally. Join Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being October 28–30 for the Leveraging the Power of Polarity Thinking certificate program!

The many different dimensions of effective leadership—from communication to change management—all include polarities: opposing forces that create tension in complex situations. You can learn one approach through this program and it can apply across the board to whatever decisions you face as a leader.

Learn more and register here.

Become a Certified Leadership and Well-Being Coach

Become a certified leadership and well-being coach! Join the Professional Certificate in Leadership Coaching for Organizational Well-Being program, designed for professionals working for positive change and accredited by the International Coach Federation.

Now accepting applications for Cohort 8 – Spring 2020 Semester (February 2020 to June 2020). The program takes place in five modules over five months. Apply by December 15, 2019.

Mason alumni and classified employees receive a 10% discount on tuition. Learn more by reading these coaching alumni stories and more information.

Questions? Contact coaching@gmu.edu or 703-993-6090.

Start the new semester off at the Working Moms and Working Dads Support Groups kick-off meeting!

Join other Patriot parents to network and discuss the upcoming year on Tuesday, September 10, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center, Room A.

The meeting will be led by the Working Moms and Work Dads Support Groups leaders, Heather Aleknavage and Sean Cox.

Questions? Contact worklife@gmu.edu.

Mason Libraries provides free, 24/7 access to thousands of online resources for Mason faculty, students, and staff—just use your Mason NetID and password to discover what’s in Mason Libraries’ collections for you. Highlights include:

• More than 750 databases for research, teaching, learning—and relaxing! Explore the Libraries A-Z Database List to find journals, newspapers, books, music, media, and more.
• Subject librarians who provide focused expertise through personalized research assistance.
• Subject guides to help jump-start your research.
• Workshops, Events, and Exhibits that provide learning, research and cultural opportunities at all Mason Libraries throughout the year.
• Special Collections Research Center, Digital Scholarship Center, Mason Publishing, Teaching and Learning Services, and more.

Visit library.gmu.edu to discover more of what’s in the Libraries to support and enhance learning, teaching, and research at Mason. We’re at your fingertips!