Mason Staff Senate

Author: Amanda Corrigan

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December 2024

December General Meeting Recordings

The Staff Senate’s December General Meeting featured a presentation by Angela Chezem, MD, medical director for employee health & well-being, and Robyn Mehlenbeck, director of the Center for Community Mental Health, with a focus on physical and mental health resources available to staff at George Mason, and a brief presentation about Zoom AI by Mike Fuemmeler, Unified Communications Engineer, Enterprise Collaboration (ITS).

For those who missed the meeting, or would like to re-watch the sessions, the recordings are available below:

Employee Health and Well-Being Presentation Recording 

Zoom AI Companion Presentation Recording

 

Categories
December 2024

February General Meeting Announcement

Gregory Washington, President, Office of the President, George Mason University. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/ George Mason University

Dr. Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University, has been invited as our February Staff Senate meeting guest speaker. The Staff Senate has collected responses to questions that were not addressed during his previous visit with the Staff Senate in October 2024. A collection of his responses and a recording of his presentation are available to review.

Wednesday, February 5
10 to 11 a.m. – Guest Speaker
11 a.m. to noon – Business Meeting

Constituents are encouraged to attend in person in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or join the meeting via Zoom*.
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 931 0040 3860 / Passcode: 621190

The Staff Senate collected questions in advance for consideration. 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 George Mason community. The work of the senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents.

*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 George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your George 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.

 

Categories
November 2024

Patriot Packout Documentary Screening

Categories
November 2024

Announcements from the Center for Community Mental Health

The Stepped Mental Health Care Program

The Center for Community Mental Health has developed a 3-step program for obtaining evidence-based mental health care.

Free Community Workshop

“Holidays- Missing Your Loved One” will focus on how to deal with loss during the holidays and how to know when to reach out for help. The workshop will be on Zoom (link sent after registration) from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20. Questions? Email: [email protected].

3-Session skills based intervention for free

The 3-Session Skills-based Intervention is a treatment model for adults informed by cognitive behavioral principals that includes up to 3 sessions. Participants will build skills in areas such as problem solving, distress tolerance, present-focused thinking, and value-driven behavior. This evidence based intervention has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. If you have had difficulty tolerating uncertainty, managing negative emotions, or difficulty coping, then this treatment may be helpful for you.

 

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November 2024 December 2024

Feedback Requested: West Campus Town Hall Meeting

George Mason University will host an in-person town hall to present an update on West Campus Development. Your feedback is requested. Join for a community conversation regarding George Mason’s West Campus development.

Learn more about West Campus planning.

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Profile of a Senator November 2024

Meet Lisa Shapiro, Staff Senator and Assistant Director, Entrepreneurship programs, Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact

Lisa Shapiro, Staff Senator and Assistant Director, Entrepreneurship programs, Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact

Role: As Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship programs, I create and manage several programs geared towards student innovators, faculty researchers, founders, and early-stage startups assisting them with their business venture explorations. On any given day, I am at the Mason Innovation Exchange (The MIX) incubator working with a George Mason student who would like to start a business but doesn’t know how to get started. 

George Mason journey: As a two-time George Mason alum, BA Psychology ’03, M.Ed ’06, full-time employee, and now George Mason student mom, I am a proud member of the Mason Nation. While studying, I also served as a GRA for Dr. Nada Dabbagh, and from 2020 to 2023, I served as the Program Coordinator of the Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) which is the state-wide Commercialization program that assists Virginia-based technology and innovation-driven startups on their path to success. As an entrepreneur and through ICAP, I discovered my passion for working with entrepreneurs.  

Best thing about working at George Mason: Having the autonomy to create and do what I love. In Spring 2024, I created the MIX Student Innovator Mastermind, the first of its kind, to assist young George Mason entrepreneurs who seek to create and grow a business venture – but need additional support. Regardless of their major or year, this dynamic community of ten or more driven student innovators come together weekly to move the needle forward on growing their business. The Mastermind helps to supercharge their ideas through peer-to-peer collaboration and shared wisdom by being a part of a community of like-minded go-getters. They get valuable entrepreneurial advice by meeting and hearing from experts each week to teach them entrepreneurship fundamentals, grow their network, and to learn about helpful resources smoothing their path to success.  

 Why serve on the Staff Senate: I joined the Staff Senate to deepen my understanding of George Mason’s diverse units, foster collaboration, and advocate for staff needs. I want to expand my knowledge of our goals and initiatives of the different colleges, departments, and offices, to collaborate and network more with colleagues, and advocate for the needs of staff university wide. I have already met so many wonderful staff that I did not know and learned about their work.  

 At the end of the day: I am doing work that I love, and I feel valued for my contribution.  

 

Categories
November 2024

December General Meeting Announcement

The Staff Senate’s December General Meeting will feature Dr. Angela Chezem, MD, and Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck to focus on physical and mental health resources available to staff at George Mason. Dr. Chezem is the medical director for Employee Health & Well-Being in the Risk, Safety, and Resilience Department, and Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck is a clinical professor of Psychology and the director of the Center for Community Mental Health at George Mason University.

 

Wednesday, December 4
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Business Meeting
11 a.m. to noon – Guest Speaker
Constituents are invited to attend the meeting in-person in Merten 1203 or join the meeting via Zoom*.

The Staff Senate collected questions in advance for consideration.

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 George Mason community. The work of the senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents.

*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 George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your George 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.

Categories
November 2024

Mason MilSpouse and Partners

Are you the partner/spouse of a military member (active, reserve, or retired) and looking to connect with others at George Mason? The George Mason MilSpouse and Partners group meets monthly (via Zoom) and also plans face-to-face gatherings on the Fairfax campus. The group was designed to make meaningful connections and share resources available for service member families in the DMV area.

Our next Zoom meeting is schedule for Friday, November 22nd at 11:30 a.m. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] or [email protected] for details.

 

Categories
October 2024

Employee Health & Well-Being Announcements

Employee Health and Well-Being, Human Resources, and Student Health Services have partnered to provide Flu Shot clinics, October 10th at Fairfax and October 16th at Mason Square in Arlington. Find more information and sign-up here.

There will be a Covid Vaccine Clinic on October 30th on the Fairfax campus. Location and sign-ups are coming soon.

Employee Health and Well-Being will host a Fall Vaccine Clinic in November on the Fairfax Campus. The clinic will offer vaccines for respiratory illnesses (Flu, Covid, RSV, and Pneumonia vaccines) and will take place in mid-November.

Dr. Chezem, Medical Director, Risk, Safety, and Resilience, will be presenting at the Faculty/Staff Enrichment Day on October 15th at 2 p.m. Health in Your Hands: The Must Know Preventive Health Screenings for a Healthier You will cover preventive health screening recommendations.

Free, October Parent Workshop:Parents Skills Group:

 

Categories
October 2024

Supervision Collective: October Manager Meetup

Join the Supervision Collective for October’s virtual Manager Meetup: Exploring the 5 Languages of Workplace Appreciation on Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., EST. The session will be facilitated by Stacey Ellis, Human Resources Faculty and Staff Engagement Program Manager!

Register here.

October’s Manager Meeting Overview:

Based on the book, “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace”, George Mason faculty and staff, including both supervisors and non-supervisors, will discover strategies for assessment and practical application of authentic and genuine workplace appreciation.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in conversation surrounding the five languages of appreciation, reflect on personal preferences for receiving appreciation, and assess ways in which one shows appreciation, while determining meaningful and impactful means of appreciating George Mason colleagues. The session will be facilitated in collaboration with Stacey Ellis, Human Resources Faculty and Staff Engagement Program Manager, on Thursday, October 17th at 2 p.m.

Resources will be provided for participants to continue the conversation with their teams following the session.

If you have any questions, please contact Meeghan Milette.