Category: June 2014

What brought you to Mason?

My journey to Mason is quite a unique one! I moved to Virginia from aouthern California where I was the Executive Assistant for the VP of Student Affairs at California Lutheran University.  Before that, I worked in the entertainment industry in video production, wedding dj, on air talent for Radio Disney as well as screenwriting! I am so excited to experience life on the east coast!

When did you begin your employment at Mason?

November 2011

What has been your most rewarding experience being on the senate?

I have the opportunity to share my deep gratitude for others who pour their hearts into Mason each and every day by being on the Senate. Through serving on committees as a staff representative as well as hosting multiple Staff Appreciation Days, I LOVE that my duty is to help say THANK YOU to others. Being able to address concerns of the campus community as well as working hand in hand with faculty, students, and 27 other senators has been rewarding.

What committee do you serve on?

As chair of the staff senate, I have been asked to serve on the strategic planning committee as well as the provost search committee, and other campus wide ad hoc committees. I also spent time with staff members individually who may have concerns or suggestions for campus improvement.

What are your outside interests?

While I spend May-August welcoming over 10,000 students and families to Mason, I find time to write spoken word poetry and watch films (pre-1960 are my favorite!)

It’s a busy month in Human Resources and Payroll!

National Employee Wellness Month (NEWM)

Mason is a proud supporter of National Employee Wellness Month.  This June we are saying “YES!” to healthier habits!  Visit the Wellness by Mason website for wellness opportunities.

Featured Opportunity: #1: Resolution Solution Fitness Challenge – Sprint

Join MasonRec for the Resolution Solution Fitness Challenge- Sprint in honor of National Employee Wellness Month. The 4-week department challenge will begin on June 1 and run through June 29. The program is designed to encourage friendly competition between departments while providing an incentive for regular exercise. Select a team representative to register your department to competeagainst other departments of George Mason University. The team representative must send your department name, total number of participants (no more than 30) and department representative/point of contact information to Ethan Carter at ecarter8@gmu.edu.

Featured Opportunity #2:  Who’s Walking Wednesday?

Wellness by Mason is delighted to share “Who’s Walking Wednesday?,” a wellness opportunity to lead a walk on the Fairfax campus each Wednesday at noon.  Signing up to lead a walk is easy.  Visit http://mysignup.com/walkingwednesdaygmu and select an open Wednesday.  Read what you’re agreeing to, click on the “I’ll be there” box, fill out the form and you will be a leader in contributing to Mason’s well-being!

If you would like to start a “Who’s Walking Wednesday?” (or Thursday or any day!) at your campus or educational site, please email us at worklife@gmu.edu and we’ll help you get started.

Faculty and Staff Professional Development Recognition Ceremony

The Faculty and Staff Professional Development Recognition Ceremony will take place on June 19 at 10:00 am in Harris Theater. Approximately 130 employees will be recognized by HR & Payroll and President Cabrera for completing various certificate programs including the Customer Service Certificate Program: General, Advanced, and Subject Matter Expert; Administrative Professionals Certificate Program; and New SUPERvisor Series. New programs being recognized this year include the HR Liaisons Certificate Program and the Mason Advisors Certificate Program, which was created throughout a partnership between the Mason Academic Advisor Network and HR’s Learning and Professional Development team

Financial Well Being: Individual Retirement Counseling Sessions

Healthy finances are a cornerstone of your own personal well-being.  It’s always important to be saving for your longer term goals – retiring student debt, buying a car or home, saving for the kid’s or grandkid’s college education, and the big one ….. retirement.  No matter your age, retirement is one of everyone’s long term financial goals.  To help you with your plans, take advantage of individual retirement counseling sessions offered by TIAA-CREF and Fidelity on campus.  For dates and times, please visit the Benefits website.

The New Fiscal Year is Almost Here: Some Reminders

Please remind your faculty and staff that if they have a dependent care or medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for plan year 2013-2014, they must incur eligible expenses by June 30, 2014 to be reimbursed. Additionally, the new fiscal year may impact net paychecks due to changes in optional life insurance premiums and increases in health insurance premiums including any open enrollment changes made.

Additional information is available on the Benefits homepage.

Reminder: Mason Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship

Are your faculty or classified staff pursuing a degree at Mason? Mason is again offering a competitive $250 book scholarship created with the $25,000 endowment received from TIAA-CREF’s 2010 Raise the Rate contest. The deadline is Monday, June 16 and applying is easy. For details, please visit the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship FAQ and the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship Application.

Contributions to the book scholarship foundation account are always welcome. Just head out to http://giving.gmu.edu, click on the “Give Now” tab, select “Other established fund” and fill in account #160013, Raise the Rate.

The Bistro, Southside, Pilot House, and SMSC will be closed (or only open for camps and conferences) for the summer, but there are still plenty of places to get a bite to eat if you know where to look. Summer Dining Hours of Operation can keep you well informed.

Congratulations to Tabitha Wells, office coordinator for the Center for International Student Access (CISA), the May employee of the Month!  Described as “uplifting,” “integral” and “a joy to work with,” it’s staff members like Tabitha who make Mason a great place to work. Read more about Tabitha in this Mason News Article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to spread the word about the services or programs your department offers Mason staff? Reserve a table at the Summer 2014 Staff Appreciation Coffee Klatch Info Fair! Departments are invited to set up shop to talk business at one or all of the events.  No fee to departments.

Please complete and submit this  Summer 2014 Info Fair Form as soon as possible to kbreittb@gmu.edu. Space is reserved on a first come, first served basis.  Direct questions to Kathrin Breitt Brown at 3.4141 or kbreittb@gmu.edu

 

The Office of Global and International Studies, with support from the Mason Staff Senate, is sponsoring the second annual Mason Global Professional Staff Exchange Program. The program is poised for its second year, with plans to send one staff member to Switzerland and another to South Korea in 2014-2015.  This program, which garnered unprecedented attention in its inaugural year, aims to open the global experience, a key element in the Mason strategic plan, to classified staff members who have at least two years’ experience at Mason.  The awardees are mentored through the Office of Global and International Strategies in preparation for a week of professional and social activities and events.  Travel, housing and meals are a part of the award package.

All application packets, available on the Office of Global & International Studies Website, must be received in the Staff Senate office by 5:00 pm, Friday, June 13, 2014.  Applications must be submitted electronically to staffsenate@gmu.edu.  Receipt of applications will be acknowledged; incomplete and late applications will not be considered in the selection process.

To learn more about the program, the application process, and the selection process, please visit http://masonglobal.gmu.edu/initiatives/staff-exchange-program/. For questions about the program, please contact Rita Rowand, Global Relations Specialist, Global & International Strategies, Provost’s Office, at 3-5146 or rrowand1@gmu.edu. For administrative questions, please contact the Staff Senate at 3.4141 or staffsenate@gmu.edu.