Author: Amanda Corrigan

Nominate a colleague for the CommonHealth Wellness Champion Award! This award celebrates employees who have, in the past six months, made significant changes in health behavior, motivated others to make healthier choices, and helped create a culture of wellness for Virginia.

Up to five awardees will have their stories highlighted in CommonHealth publications and receive a framed certificate, signed by the governor of Virginia, and a gift bag from CommonHealth.

The deadline to nominate a colleague for the award is June 15, 2019. More information, including the full criteria, is available on the Wellness Champs webpage.

Escape Room Discount

Looking for a birthday party idea for your older kids? Or maybe a team building activity for your office? The Mason community receives a 15% discount on all private booking parties at both locations of Escape Room Live. Use the code GMU25 when booking.

Coyote Grille

Looking to go to lunch with your coworkers? Receive a 10% discount with your Mason ID at Coyote Grille for lunch only, Monday through Friday, until 4 p.m.

For more details on this discount and for all the discounts you receive as a Mason employee, visit the Human Resources and Payroll discount page.

The next Mason Administrative Professionals (MAP) meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1202, and will feature Cosi Catering.

MAP welcomes anyone working at George Mason who considers themselves to be in an administrative professional role.

For questions and to RSVP, contact [email protected].

If you missed the June Staff Senate meeting with President Cabrera, watch it here!

Are you thinking of joining the Staff Senate? Check out a recording of the Prospective Staff Senator Information Session held during the General Meeting on June 5.

Happy summer, Mason staff!

My name is Lauren Reuscher, and I was recently selected to serve as the new chair for Staff Senate. I am excited and honored to step into this role.

I work in the Office of Communications and Marketing, and I recently celebrated my 10-year work anniversary at Mason. I have worked at the Fairfax, Arlington, and SciTech Campuses. I’m also a Mason grad—I completed my master’s in history in 2012 (one of the great benefits of working at Mason!). I am a working mom to a two-year-old daughter, who keeps my husband and me on our toes.

I joined Staff Senate five years ago, and it has been a rewarding experience. Your Staff Senators are incredibly engaged, knowledgeable, and hard-working. They devote time and energy to advocate for and appreciate the work of staff across the university. They are motivated to serve the Mason community beyond the scope of their day-to-day jobs. I’m lucky to be part of such an inspiring group.

If you’re looking for a way to get more involved on campus, consider joining us. The Staff Senate nomination period is open from June 10-21. Check out more information here. You can nominate yourself or a colleague. The Staff Senate thrives by having a variety of perspectives and experiences represented at the table.

As I start this new chapter in my service to the senate, I want to thank our outgoing chair, Chris Maier, for his hard work, dedication, and contributions to the university.

I hope you all can take some time to relax and recharge during the summer months ahead. We know things will only ramp up from here!

Go Mason!

Lauren Clark Reuscher
Chair, Staff Senate

When is the last time you felt so relaxed that you could totally unwind? Life moves fast and those moments of quiet relaxation seem few and far between. The Re-learn to Relax: CommonHealth’s Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness for Busy Beginners program will:

• Guide participants through a five-minute daily meditation exercise
• Discuss the physical and mental benefits of meditation and mindfulness
• Explore ways to find moments of calm during busy days
• Discuss how to use technology to your advantage
• Address techniques to help you power down for a good night’s sleep

Session details and registration links:

Fairfax Campus
June 13, Merten Hall, Room 1202, 12 to 1 p.m.
Register on MasonLEAPS and select “Request”

SciTech Campus
June 18, Bull Run Hall, Room 247, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Register on MasonLEAPS and select “Request”

Arlington Campus
June 25, Founders Hall, Room 313, 12 to 1 p.m.
Register on MasonLEAPS and select “Request”

If you have questions, email [email protected].

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

The application deadline is Friday, June 14, 2019. For details, questions, and to apply, visit the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship page.

Becoming a Staff Senator is a great way to get involved with the university community and to have an impact on your workplace. The Senate provides many opportunities to learn how the university works and to network with administrators and staff members outside of your unit.

The Senate accepts nominations each June, and elections are held in July. Terms begin in August and are for two years. 2019 dates are below:

• Nominations accepted Monday, June 10, through Friday, June 21, at 5 p.m.
• Elections held Monday, July 8, through Friday, July 19, at 5 p.m.

Mason Shuttle Schedule and Independence Day

There will be no shuttle service on Thursday, July 4, or Friday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

For questions about Mason Shuttles, contact [email protected] or 703-993-2828.

Commuting on I-66? Consider Alternate Commuting Options During Construction

As the I-66 construction project continues, this may be a great opportunity to consider new commuting options. Incentives are available for public transit, vanpooling, carpooling, and more. For additional details, visit the Transform 66 website.

Mason also offers incentives for commuting by public transit (Commuter Choice) or via vanpool and carpool. More information is available at transportation.gmu.edu.

Questions? Contact Parking and Transportation at 703-993-2828 or [email protected].

Dine Around via the CUE Bus

Use the CUE bus to check out some dining options in the City of Fairfax. Check out the Discover CUE website for ideas.

The CUE Bus is free for students, faculty, and staff with a valid Mason ID.

Contact Parking and Transportation at 703-993-2828 or [email protected] with questions.

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 7 – Fall 2019 Semester (September 2019 to January 2020) and Cohort 8 – Spring 2020 Semester (February 2020 to June 2020). The program takes place in five modules over five months.

Mason alumni and classified employees receive a 10 percent discount on tuition. Learn more by reading these coaching alumni stories and more information. Questions? Contact [email protected] or 703-993-6090.

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 the Johnson Center Bistro on Mason’s Fairfax Campus.

Learn more and register.

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 new 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.