Author: Rachel Spence

Categories
February 2023

TimelyCare provides 24/7 mental health support for students

We are spreading the news about Mason’s partnership with TimelyMD to deliver TimelyCare – a virtual mental health and well-being platform crafted specifically for college students.   

The TimelyCare platform augments the in-person and virtual mental health services that remain available to Mason students through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Student Health Services (SHS).  

With TimelyCare, Mason students will have access to many virtual mental health and well-being resources that are free and available 24/7. Students have access to TimelyCare services 365 days a year, including breaks, after hours, and any time they need support.

Find out more about TimelyCare resources online at Go.gmu.edu/TimelyCare7   

Categories
February 2023

RAMP: Conflict of Interest Module Implementation

As the next phase of the GMU Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP) system implementation, Mason is implementing a new electronic Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure management module.

The onboarding phase of the COI implementation kicked off October 17, with a Go-Live anticipated in May 2023. The RAMP COI module will replace the homegrown COI disclosure system Mason has used since 2017, and it will have improved functionality and usability over the current system for all Mason faculty and staff. The new COI module will support financial interest and outside activity disclosures, as well as automated workflows for disclosure review and pre-approval requests. The new system will reduce redundant data input and delays due to the current manual processes, and it will thereby remove hindrances to compliance and foster a culture of transparency.

Future RAMP modules include Safety, IACUC, IRB, and Export Controls, with phased implementations continuing through October 2024. The RAMP Team will continue to share information regarding the RAMP project with the Mason community through the RAMP website and other forums. To view the full RAMP program timeline, click here. 

Categories
December 2022

Announcements from Human Resources and Payroll

Nominations Now Open: Outstanding Achievement Awards

The Outstanding Achievement Awards honor Mason’s faculty and staff across 16 award categories and celebrate their hard work, dedication, and contributions to the university. You are invited to nominate a colleague for an award by the deadline of Feb. 25, 2023. (Note that departmental awards may have different deadlines.) 

The Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony is scheduled for April 25, 2023, from 10–11:30 a.m. in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall. 

For more information, visit the Outstanding Achievement Awards website or email awards@gmu.edu. 

Deadline Extended: Apply to the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series

The deadline to apply to the Emerging Leaders Supervisor Series (ELSS) has been extended to close of business on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. ELSS is a 15-month cohort program designed to provide support as you develop and practice new leadership skills with your team while deepening your understanding of Mason policies. The goals of ELSS are to support participants as they: 

  • Develop a leadership mindset 
  • Create and implement a vision for their own leadership and their team 
  • Lead a high-performing team 
  • Learn tools and strategies to grow their self-awareness, relationships, and communication skills, which will support the objectives above. 

In addition to the curriculum, participants work with assigned workplace coaches to set goals related to their growth as a leader. Each participant will complete a developmental project and will have the opportunity to work with peers across the university to learn more about the institution and to build a network of fellow supervisors. 

Applicants must be Mason faculty or classified staff and must supervise at least one employee who is faculty or classified staff. This cohort will run from February 2023 to May 2024. All sessions will be held in person; fully remote applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

To apply, visit Human Resources and Payroll’s Organizational Development and Learning page. 

Self-Evaluation Learning Labs

Did you know Human Resources and Payroll offers self-evaluation learning labs? Gain the tools and knowledge to strategize your career growth, advocate for your workplace wins, and foster a collaborative and constructive relationship with your supervisor. Sessions are available on Jan. 11 (SciTech Campus) and Feb. 1, 2023 (Fairfax Campus). Register in MasonLEAPS. 

Categories
December 2022

Announcements from Information Technology Services

ITS Support Center Winter Break Hours

In observance of Winter Break, the Information Technology Services (ITS) Support Center will close on Friday, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m. and will reopen and resume modified business hours on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at 8 a.m. If you have an emergency while the ITS Support Center is closed, please call 703-993-8870 and listen to the prompts to be connected to a representative. Up-to-date information regarding ITS alerts is posted on the ITS website.

Zoom Link Safety and Zoom Bombing Prevention

ITS has recently seen an increase in Zoom meeting links and event passcodes for Mason-hosted events posted to Twitter. Posting this information, even for a matter of minutes, opens the event up to vulnerabilities and unintended guests (aka Zoom bombing). Please always remember when using Twitter or other social media platforms to promote events hosted via web conferencing tools such as Zoom, do not share the meeting link or passcode.

To learn more about mitigating vulnerabilities and how to remove disruptive attendees, see Securing Zoom Meetings and Classes and Getting Started with Zoom Security and Privacy.    

If you experience inappropriate activity in a Zoom meeting, you can report the incident to Zoom’s Trust and Safety Team.    

For questions about securing web conference meetings, contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu or submit a ticket.    

New Telecommunications Vendor Update

In August, ITS announced the selection of Mason’s new telecommunications vendor, Vonage, Inc. Since the announcement, ITS has successfully rolled out the new system for all Mason Call Centers and is moving into the next phase of the project: faculty and staff phones.

ITS has met with Telecom Coordinators to coordinate a phased-approach implementation, which will kick off in early 2023. In the coming weeks, Telecom Coordinators will validate details with phone users (work location, phone numbers, etc.) in preparation for switching to the new system. ITS will provide additional updates and resources in January 2023. 

Mason’s current telephone system is end-of-life, and with a workforce increasingly dispersed, the new solution delivers advanced features (e.g., mobile applications, ring/accept calls on any device, presence awareness) and integrates into Mason’s tools (e.g., Office 365). 

Categories
December 2022

MyHub for Office 365 Reminder 

Information Technology Services (ITS) recently launched MyHub, a new tool within the Office 365 environment that serves as a convenient, one-stop shop for managing existing workspaces and creating new ones.   

In January 2023, MyHub will become the standard way to create new workspaces. To prepare and begin using MyHub, see Getting Started: Creating a Workspace with MyHub. To learn about the different workspaces you can create, see MyHub Team Types.  

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu. 

Categories
November 2022

Upcoming Performances at Mason

View the complete schedules for the Center for the Arts and the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

The United States Army Band Pershing’s Own Salute To Veterans 
Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. 
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center 
The U.S. Army Band presents a patriotic Salute to Veterans on the eve of Veterans Day. Enjoy the music of John Williams and other greats in this inspiring and reflective program. This performance is sponsored by the Veterans and the Arts Initiative at Hylton Performing Arts Center.

Fall: New Dances
Mason School of Dance
November 11 and 12 at 8 p.m.
Harris Theatre
Step out of this cool autumn weather and into the theater for a performance filled with diverse choreography and talented dancers from the School of Dance.

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra: Salute to the Military 
Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. 
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
Celebrate Veterans Day with Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra’s Salute to the Military. Vocalist Darden Purcell, Mason director of jazz studies and jazz voice, joins artistic director and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll and his Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra for an unforgettable evening of jazz standards celebrating our veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Founded by Carroll, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra comprises the finest jazz performers in the metro region and is always a treat for our audiences. This performance is appropriate for all ages. 

Virginia Opera: The Pirates of Penzance  
Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m.  
Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m.   
Center for the Arts  
The Pirates of Penzance has everything—whimsical melodies, hilariously memorable characters, and one of the most terrific earworms of all time, “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.” Frederic is ready to resign from his life of piracy, but fate is determined to alter his course. Add the affection of a girl, a long-winded but well-intentioned father, a band of merry pirates set on finding sweethearts, and the resulting confection is pitch-perfect pandemonium. This performance is appropriate for all ages.  

SUGAR SKULL! A Día de los Muertos Musical Adventure 
Presented by Mexico Beyond Mariachi 
Sunday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.  
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
Vita Flores thinks her family is loco to be planning a party for the dead. But things change suddenly when her abuelita’s candy skeleton jumps to life, launching her into a magical world. SUGAR SKULL! is a perfect family outing, whether you’re new to the Day of the Dead or have celebrated the holiday with your loved ones for years. Recommended for ages 4 and up. 

Mason Jazz Vocal Night 
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music 
Monday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 
Join Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice studio, and the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook. 

Jazz Workshop Concert 
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music 
Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. 
Harris Theatre 
Jazz faculty member John Kocur directs the Mason Jazz Workshop big band in their concert. The Jazz Workshop performs music by Thad Jones, Mike Tomaro, Alan Baylock, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Neal Hefti, and many others.  

Jazz4Justice™ Concert: Jazz and Blues in America 
Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music 
Friday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. 
Center for the Arts 
George Mason University’s Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music presents the 21st annual Jazz4Justice™ concert and fundraiser. The event raises funds to directly support vital legal services for low-income Northern Virginians, as well as financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies department, including scholarships, trips, recordings, and student projects. This year’s concert, Jazz & Blues in America, explores the roots and development of America’s greatest contribution to the arts—Jazz. Jazz4Justice™ is presented in partnership with Legal Services of Northern Virginia, a nonprofit legal aid organization that has served the region for more than 40 years.

Workshop: Exploring Innovative Collage Techniques through Botanical Imagery 
Veterans and the Arts Initiative  
Friday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m.  
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m.  
Off-campus: Haymarket Gainesville Library
Collage is a versatile art-making technique that combines various things together to create a work. This workshop starts with historical botanical imagery combined with 21st-century mediated imagery. Participants will learn how to incorporate a range of materials and methods to produce contemporary imagery that can be both a vehicle for storytelling and decorative innovation. Free and open to veterans, servicemembers, military family members, and military caregivers.

Mason School of Theater: Sutta 
Nov. 18–19, at 8 p.m.   
Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. 
TheaterSpace 
It’s 2017, and a young doctoral candidate is in the final throes of his dissertation on ancient religious traditions in the modern world. His research takes him to a Buddhist monastery where he grapples with identity, history, culture, and ultimately with who is entitled to enlightenment. Sutta combines movement, music, and text as theatrical language, and this production marks its world premiere.

American Roots Series: The Seldom Scene 
Saturday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. 
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
The Seldom Scene, Washington, D.C.’s favorite bluegrass band and pioneers of the “new-grass” movement, are back for an encore set of American Roots Series performances. Their time-tested sound stretches and blends seamlessly in the realm of country, rock, pop, and jazz and has led to a devoted local and international following. This performance is appropriate for all ages.

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Immortal Impromptus 
Sunday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.  
Center for the Arts 
Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel is for both music aficionados and those that aspire to be so. He will draw you into the composers’ lives by sharing details about their creative processes. In Immortal Impromptus, Siegel explores Romanticism with passion-filled, freestyling impromptus by Chopin, Schubert, and Fauré. Learn more about the artists and how they expressed the ideals of an era through their musical compositions. An interactive question and answer session will conclude this program. This performance is appropriate for all ages.

Symphonic Band Concert
Dewberry School of Music
Monday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
The Mason Symphonic Band presents an evening of historical and contemporary works for wind ensemble featuring Malcolm Arnold’s Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo and Fisher Tull’s Sketches on a Tudor Psalm. This concert opens with a unique juxtaposition of winds versus brass with Andrew Blair’s anti-FANFARE for winds and Katahj Copley’s Song for Ursa for Brass Choir. Washington, D.C. native Shelly Hanson’s Islas y Motanas, a musical rumination about Cuban composer, Alejandro Garcia Caturla, concludes this concert.

The 5 Browns: Christmas with The 5 Browns
Saturday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
The 5 Browns, a quintet of talented pianists and siblings—Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra, and Desirae—all simultaneously attended Juilliard. This “Fab Five” rose to acclaim in the early 2000s after being featured on Oprah and 60 Minutes. Indulge in a festive celebration of the piano that New York Post calls “the biggest classical music sensation in years.” This performance is appropriate for all ages.  

Family Series: The Queen’s Cartoonists – Holiday Hurrah!
Sunday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Welcome to The Queen’s Cartoonists holiday special! This festive performance is set to live projected clips in sync with the music, and it runs the gamut from traditional holiday vocal numbers such as “White Christmas,” “Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah,” paired with jazz arrangements and classic cartoon characters including Betty Boop, Bugs Bunny, Popeye the Sailor Man, Porky Pig, and more! Join us to experience your holiday favorites anew in Holiday Hurrah! Recommended for all ages.  

Chanticleer: A Chanticleer Christmas
Sunday, Nov. 27, at 4 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Join us in our tradition of ushering in the holiday season with peace, joy, and a cappella! Chanticleer’s 12 male voices, from soprano to bass, blend together perfectly in spellbinding harmony. Since forming four decades ago, Chanticleer has sold more than one million albums and won two GRAMMY Awards. This performance is appropriate for all ages.  

Steel Pan Ensemble and Braddock Road Brass Band Concert
Dewberry School of Music
Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Join the Steel Pan Ensemble (Director Victor Provost), Latin American Ensemble (Director Juan Megna) and Braddock Road Brass Band (Director Graham Breedlove) for an evening of music from the Caribbean, Latin America, and the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans! 

Jazz Combos Concert
Dewberry School of Music
Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Professor Wade Beach directs the Mason Jazz Combos in their fall 2022 performance.

Wind Symphony Concert: Music for Uncommon Times
Thursday, Dec. 1, at 8 p.m.
Dewberry School of Music
Center for the Arts
Over the past two years, society has experienced a collision of significant events and phenomena unimagined by previous generations. COVID-19 and social unrest are two experiences that have impacted how we live today and dream of tomorrow. In this concert, the Mason Wind Symphony presents works by living composers Valerie Coleman, Katahj Copley, and Joel Puckett that respond to these uncommon times with remembrance, reflection, and hope. There will be a 7:30 p.m. pre-concert discussion. 

Mason Opera presents Amahl and the Night Visitors
Dewberry School of Music
Dec. 2 and 3, at 3 and 8 p.m.
Gregory Family Theater
This celebrated operetta by Italian-American composer and librettist Gian Carlo Menotti tells the classic story of the Magi’s journey to Bethlehem.  

Fall: Dance Innovations
School of Dance
Dec. 2 and 3, at 8 p.m.
Harris Theatre
Step out of this cool weather and into the theater for a performance filled with diverse choreography and talented dancers from the School of Dance.

Soweto Gospel Choir: HOPE – It’s Been A Long Time Coming
Friday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Direct from South Africa, welcome the three-time GRAMMY Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir for an exuberant night of African Gospel, spirituals, reggae, contemporary pop, and holiday music. For more than 20 years, Soweto’s awe-inspiring 20-member ensemble has spread its earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, brilliant costumes, and infectious spirit around the globe. This performance is appropriate for all ages.  

Mason Symphony and Choirs Holiday Concert
Dewberry School of Music
Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. 
Center for the Arts
Join us for a joyous concert celebration by the Dewberry School of Music as we ring in the holiday season! Showcasing Mason’s Symphony Orchestra and Choirs, this evening will feature holiday favorites and festive new works performed by extraordinary student artists.