Mason Staff Senate

Author: Hannah King

Categories
June 2026

June Benefits Corner: Mason Recreation Membership Discount

Prioritize your wellness this summer with the Mason Recreation Faculty and Staff Promotional Membership. Whether you want to hit the pool, challenge a colleague to pickleball, or refresh your gym routine, we have everything you need to stay active right here on campus.

The cost is $75 for access from May 16 through August 15, 2026. Eligibility: must be a current George Mason faculty/staff member. Payroll deduction cannot be used to cover this membership. Enroll online or in-person.

Extra benefits include:

  • One free InBody Scan over the summer
  • 20% off an annual membership purchase after the summer, and a second free InBody Scan to track your progress
Categories
June 2026

Staff Recognition Form

The Staff Senate would like to recognize outstanding staff members across the university. If your unit has recently honored a staff member with an award, recognition, or other achievement, please share it with us via this form so we can highlight them in an upcoming newsletter and on our website.

Categories
May 2026

May Benefits Corner: Commonwealth of Virginia Discount Marketplace

Commonwealth of Virginia Discount Marketplace is your exclusive employee perks program. After signing in, you will have access to a wide variety of money saving offers, including discount tickets, cars, rentals, and hotels; as well as amazing product and service deals for your everyday needs. You can sign-in and learn more here. 

Categories
August 2026

Professional Development Series on Working in Uncertain Times

There’s still time to attend one of University Business Consulting’s (UBC) annual Summer Knowledge Share Series sessions! This summer’s series, Winning This Season: Building Your Personal Playbook for Stewardship, Strategy, and Leadership in Uncertain Times, wraps up with one final session on August 11: Coaching Your Team – Accountability, Well-Being, and Communication.

The session will take place at noon in Merten Hall and via Zoom. Recordings of earlier summer sessions are available on the UBC website. Learn more and register on the UBC Summer Knowledge Share Series website.

Categories
July 2026

Professional Development Series on Working in Uncertain Times

Registration for University Business Consulting’s (UBC) annual Summer Knowledge Share Series is now open! These professional development opportunities are free and open to all faculty and staff. This summer’s series – Winning this Season: Building Your Personal Playbook for Stewardship, Strategy, and Leadership in Uncertain Times – has two more sessions left this summer. Join UBC on July 8 for Offensive Moves – Adapting and Coordinating in a Complex Institution, and on August 11 for Coaching Your Team – Accountability, Well-Being, and Communication.

Sessions will be held at noon in Merten Hall and via Zoom. Find out more and register on the UBC website.

Categories
June 2026

Professional Development Series on Working in Uncertain Times

Registration for University Business Consulting’s (UBC) annual Summer Knowledge Share Series is now open! These professional development opportunities are free and open to all faculty and staff. This summer’s series – Winning this Season: Building Your Personal Playbook for Stewardship, Strategy, and Leadership in Uncertain Times – includes three sessions:

  1. Defensive Fundamentals – Operating with Clarity in Constrained Times (June 9)
  2. Offensive Moves – Adapting and Coordinating in a Complex Institution (July 8)
  3. Coaching Your Team – Accountability, Well-Being, and Communication (August 11).

Sessions will be held at noon in Merten Hall and via Zoom. Find out more and register on the UBC website.

Categories
May 2026

Summer Parking and Transportation Updates

Summer semester permits are now on sale on the Parking and Transportation Services website. Spring permits are valid through August and if you are enrolled in payroll deduction, your permit will auto renew in September.

Summer shuttle service begins on Monday, May 18 and will be running on reduced hours. See shuttle.gmu.edu for details and schedules.

Expect heavy traffic on and around campus each day, particularly around EagleBank Arena as multiple high school graduations are held each day from May 28 through June 17.

Beginning May 18 and through the summer, there will be no visitor parking in Mason Pond Deck as half the garage at a time will be closed for maintenance.

Categories
April 2026

SciTech Townhomes Offer Space and Affordability for Faculty and Staff

As the anchor for Northern Virginia’s first Innovation District, George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus is going through a major growth spurt. George Mason employees now have the option to live in the center of it all. George Mason is offering affordable, high-quality housing to faculty and staff at the SciTech Townhomes. Faculty and staff are eligible to rent spacious two- or three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom units with private garages. Read more. To learn more, contact the property manager.

Categories
April 2026

2026 University Life Student Success Symposium Proposal Submission

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Calling all faculty, staff, and graduate students – University Life (UL) wants you to present at the 2026 UL Student Success Symposium!

How? Submit a program proposal for the 2026 UL Student Success Symposium by April 13 at noon.

When? The UL Symposium Pre-Conference will take place on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and the UL Symposium will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Where? Join UL at the Johnson Center on the George Mason University Fairfax Campus for this dynamic in-person conference

Proposal Submission Overview

To learn more about the 2026 UL Student Success Symposium, please see the event program overview and learning outcomes on the UL homepage.

Program submission guidelines, criteria for different program types, relevant competencies, and supporting materials are detailed on the UL Symposium Call for Programs webpage.*

*Please review the information provided carefully, as the requirements are different than other professional organization-based conferences*

To submit a program proposal for either a Symposium educational session or a Pre-Conference workshop, access the submission form here.

Registration for the 2026 UL Student Success Symposium will be live later this month.

Categories
April 2026

Your Voice Matters: The Engagement Survey Is Now Open Through April 21

The 2026 Faculty and Staff Experience (FSE) Survey is officially open – and Human Resources wants to hear your voice. You play a vital role in shaping our community, our culture, and the student experience. The FSE Survey is more than a check‑the‑box activity; it is one of the most direct ways you can influence decisions, improvements, and initiatives that impact your daily work.

What the Survey Measures

The survey focuses on your workplace experience – what helps you do your best work and where barriers may exist. It asks about:

  • Whether you feel valued and supported
  • What resources and opportunities you have
  • How meaningful and purposeful your work feels
  • Your opportunities for growth and professional development

This data helps us understand not just how we’re doing, but how you’re doing.

Why Your Participation Matters

Your feedback drives meaningful change. Survey results guide leaders at every level in making improvements, revisiting priorities, and strengthening team culture. Your insights help highlight what’s working well – and where attention or support is needed.

It strengthens what we already do well. Positive feedback matters, too. When teams identify strengths, leaders can preserve and reinforce them, ensuring that the practices already benefiting you continue.

It sparks real conversations. Survey data opens the door for deeper dialogue within teams. Your responses help managers understand your experiences, invite discussion, and collaborate on solutions.

How Your Engagement Supports Student Success

When faculty and staff are engaged – supported, energized, and emotionally connected to their work – students benefit. Research shows that engaged employees create environments where students are more likely to thrive and feel confident recommending their programs to others. When you thrive, students thrive.

Help Shape George Mason’s Future

Your perspective is essential to building a workplace where everyone can grow, contribute, and succeed. The more voices represented, the clearer the picture we gain of our community’s needs and strengths.

The FSE Survey is open now through April 21.

Take the survey. Share your truth. Shape your workplace.

For questions, contact [email protected].