Mason Staff Senate

Author: April Lopez

Categories
May 2025

Patriot Packout and Facilities Reminders

Three people carrying household items as they exit a large brightly-lit room. Other people are browsing stacks of items behind them.
Photo: Evan Cantwell, George Mason University
Patriot Packout continues

Patriot Packout’s spring move-out donation collection ends on May 14, but volunteer opportunities will continue throughout the summer! The dates for the Patriot Packout Free Store will be announced shortly.

Check Patriot Packout’s webpage for all of the latest updates and register for Patriot Packout volunteer opportunities here.

Facilities Reminders

Submit a Work Order if you notice something that is broken and needs to be fixed. You can also request via Work Order additional pick-ups for large volumes of trash and/or recycling.

You may submit a work order online or contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 703-993-2525 for repairs and pick-ups of large volumes of trash/recycling. If an additional pickup is needed, you will not be charged a fee for large volume trash and/or recycling pick-ups.

Don’t forget! If you have surplus office supplies, small furniture, or other unbarcoded items in good condition, you can offer them to other Mason employees through the Office Supply Swap in MS Teams.

Categories
May 2025

Upcoming Board of Visitors Meetings

Members of the public may attend meetings in person or watch live online.

Written comments are normally accepted until the full board meeting adjourns. See the BOV Meeting Postings page for specific links to submit comments to each meeting.

Annual Planning Conference
Thursday, July 31, 2025

Annual Meeting
Friday, August 1, 2025

Full details and meeting materials will be found on the Board of Visitors website nearer to the date of the meeting.

Recordings of previous meetings can be viewed at the BOV Video Recordings Archive.

Updates from the BOV meeting on May 1

Categories
April 2025

Patriot Packout 2025 is scheduled from April 21–May 14!

Three people carrying household items as they exit a large brightly-lit room. Other people are browsing stacks of items behind them.
Photo: Evan Cantwell, George Mason University

Patriot Packout is a community-based initiative collecting like-new and gently used donations at the Fairfax Campus, Science and Technology Campus, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. PPO decreases waste incineration and addresses basic needs insecurity.

Donations are redistributed to George Mason Patriots and local community members, preventing useful items from ending up in the trash. PPO 2025’s donations support the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, Art Supply Sharing Cabinet, First Gen+ Center, the MIX, Parking and Transportation’s bike programs, and Food For Others, among others.

Visit the PPO webpage for accepted donation items, campus donation locations, and volunteer opportunities: https://go.gmu.edu/PatriotPackout.

During PPO 2024, 94% (11,000+ pounds) of all freely redistributed donations went directly to individual George Mason Patriots and George Mason’s on-campus resources like the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, First Gen+ Center, etc.

Patriot Packout 2025 flyer

Categories
April 2025

Earth Month at George Mason University

2025 Earth Month. Images from left to right: A person hoes vegetables outdoors. A pair of hands wearing blue gloves are transplanting a small lettuce plug. A person is decorating a large cylindrical object with colored fish. Below images: logo for Facilities and Campus Operations.Join University Sustainability and Facilities and Campus Operations, along with many partners, for a month of fun, educational, and engaging activities and events!

  • Earth Month is celebrated every April at George Mason University in support of Earth Day observed on April 22. Learn about Zero Waste Mason, Patriot Packout, the Patriot Green Fund, sustainable agriculture on campus, the Greenhouse and Gardens Program, the Better Bins Preview, enhancements to recycling and composting, and much more!
  • Make a sustainable impact, celebrate success, and learn about ongoing initiatives and how you can get involved in Earth Month. Visit the official Earth Month webpage and join us all through April.
Categories
February 2025

Safe Zone+ Programming

Registration is now open for Safe Zone+ workshops during the spring semester. The Safe Zone+ program helps to create a safe and welcoming campus environment for all students, faculty, and staff. All are welcome to attend, and all workshops are offered virtually. Register here.

Categories
May 2024

Spring 2024 “How to Thrive at Mason” Boot Camp

A woman sitting under a tree in blossom, staring at a lake (Mason Pond). The George Mason University logo. Header reads: Spring 2024 How to thrive at Mason! Boot Camp.

As you may already be aware, the Spring 2024 “How to Thrive at Mason” Boot Camp is fast approaching! The agenda is now available on the Boot Camp page and registration is open until Friday, May 10! Click here to Register (requires login). This virtual learning opportunity will take place from May 14-16 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Zoom links for all sessions will be available prior to the start of the event.

This event is intended for all Mason employees – from newcomers to long-timers – and will provide a free professional development opportunity focused on skill attainment and refinement, while providing support across the university. The main purpose is to focus on connecting and collaborating across the university to help break down silos. The event will increase the awareness of interconnectedness on processes and procedures, as well as providing the “big picture.”

All sessions will be recorded and made available at a later date. Please send any questions to the Boot Camp Planning & Logistics Team.

Download the pdf flyer.

Categories
February 2024

Staff Senate Sustainability Update

A large recycling bin in the foreground. The inner containers are pulled out and a man and a woman are arranging liners inside. A Facilities van and a brick building with large windows are in the background.
Kevin Brim (left), Supervisor of Recycle/Waste Management, and Colleen Regan (right), Zero Waste Specialist, both of Mason Facilities, setting up one of the new Bigbelly Solar zero waste stations. Photo credit: Ben Auger, Engagement Coordinator, Mason Facilities

This month we’re excited about the new Glass Recycling Pilot, and the appearance of no fewer than 23 new Bigbelly Zero Waste stations across Fairfax and Mason Square (Arlington) campuses!

Following the successful pilot of the zero waste station at Northern Neck Starbucks, Facilities recently installed the 23 new stations, five of which also include industrial composting bins for food scraps and certified compostable items, in addition to the standard recycling and trash disposal options.

Three large bins with pedal opening, standing side by side against a brick wall. They display symbols indicating that they are for (from left to right) recycling, trash, and composting.
One of the new Bigbelly Solar zero waste stations, located outside Southside Dining, featuring recycling, trash, and industrial compost options. Photo credit: April Lopez

You can find more information about the new Bigbelly stations, including their locations, on the Facilities News website.

For more ways to divert your waste from incineration and to redistribute and dispose of unwanted items sustainably and creatively, see the University Sustainability’s Zero Waste Mason webpage.

Could your office or workspace make a waste reduction ‘pledge’ in time for Earth Month in April? Join the Greener Mason Community on Teams and share your ideas!

Categories
December 2023

Staff Senate Sustainability Tip

A green lightbulb with a seedling inside, on a darker green background. The logos of George Mason University and the Staff Senate. Heading reads Staff Senate Sustainability Tip.

For a greener holiday season, why not try to choose durable instead of disposable, and compostable instead of plastic? Or save those unusable food scraps from the landfill by dropping them off for composting! Most Northern Virginia areas have composting facilities—google “[your county or city] + food composting”—and some local farmers markets also have food waste collection stations.
See more ways you can reduce waste at Mason on the updated Zero Waste Mason webpage.
Season’s Greetings from the
Staff Senate’s Environmental Justice and Sustainability ad hoc committee
Categories
Sustainability at Work November 2023

Staff Senate Sustainability Update

Infographic showing a Terracycle Zero Waste box for chip and snack bags, candy and chocolate bar wrappers, gum wrappers and blister packs, and granola bags and wrappers.

Seasonal reminder that candy and snack wrappers don’t belong in the regular recycling bins – BUT if you’re on or around the Fairfax campus, you can collect your wrappers and bring them to the Honors College lounge, Buchanan Hall, D205, where there is a dedicated Zero Waste box for the following items:

  • chip and snack bags
  • candy and chocolate bar wrappers
  • gum wrappers and blister packs
  • granola bags and wrappers.

Thanks to our Honors College colleagues for their above and beyond recycling efforts!

Categories
September 2023

Staff Senate Sustainability Update, September 2023

A green lightbulb with a seedling inside, on a darker green background. The logos of George Mason University and the Staff Senate. Heading reads Sustainability at work.

The Environmental Justice and Sustainability ad hoc Committee is here to represent staff views and to pursue staff-relevant initiatives in environmental and sustainability issues (broadly defined). We’re in the process of reconnecting with our ongoing projects – here are a few of our successes from last year:

Let us know if you have ideas you’d like us take forward, either in Greener Mason or through [email protected]. Everyone’s contribution is important as we push for a sustainable future and a greener Mason!