Category: October 2014

George Mason University ranks among the top 150 national universities in the United States, according to the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Mason was listed as the 138th best university in America, according to the 2015 rankings that were officially released on Tuesday. That’s up from 141st in 2014.

Mason also placed in the top 10 “up and comers” among national universities, marking the seventh consecutive year that Mason has made that prestigious short list. Universities on that list are those making the “most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, camps, or facilities,” the magazine notes.

Read the article in its entirety at Mason News.

Each year, Mason participates in a national earthquake drill called The Great Shakeout.  It’s designed to promote familiarity with earthquake safety procedures and general preparedness.  This year, the drill is on October 16, at 10:16AM.  That’s right, 10/16 at 10:16AM!  The date is easy to remember and so is the basic safety procedure during an earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On.

Let’s break that down.  When you feel the ground beneath you begin to shake, drop to the ground so you don’t fall over.  Take cover under sturdy furniture, such as a desk, table, or chair.  Finally, hold on to furniture so it doesn’t shake away and leave you exposed to things that might be falling down from above, such as books or ceiling tiles.

Mason encourages you and your coworkersto participate.  If you have students or guests visiting your office, have them participate with you.  You can tweet pictures  to #MasonReady and join the Mason Ready culture.  For more information on earthquake preparedness, you can visit ready.gmu.edu or shakeout.org.

You’ll receive a Mason Alert notifying you of the drill a few minutes before it starts.  This alert serves both as a reminder for the drill and as an annual full-load test of the Mason Alert notification system.  If you want to receive alerts on your phone, visit alert.gmu.edu and enter your information.

Staff enrolled in COVA Care, COVA HDHP, COVA Health Aware, and Kaiser Permanente may receive seasonal flu shots as part of their wellness benefits.  Save the date for this season’s Winter Wellness Day on Thursday, October 9 at the Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William Campuses.  Health screenings and financial wellness information will also be available. Details will be posted as they become available on the Human Resources/Payroll homepage.  Contact [email protected] with questions.

The Mason Alert system was upgraded on Monday, August 18. All university employees, students, and affiliates issued a @gmu.edu or @masonlive.gmu.edu email are automatically enrolled in Mason Alert and provided with a Mason Alert account at alert.gmu.edu.

University students and employees are encouraged to log into their Mason Alert account to register their mobile phones to receive text messages. In order to ensure accurate data and user contact information, all students and employees are asked to re-register their mobile phone numbers even if they were previously registered with Mason Alert.

Community members, visitors, and guests who do not have a university email address can receive notification by registering their mobile phone and email at alert.gmu.edu.

For questions, contact [email protected]. For more information about emergency preparedness and public safety programs at Mason, visit ready.gmu.edu.

The Mason Star Newsletter is available online. Read all about the accomplishments of Mason colleagues in this yearly newsletter that highlights the various awards and recognition throughout Mason. Congratulations to all of our Mason stars!

Staff Senate General Meeting
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Fairfax, Research Hall 163. Video conferenced to Arlington, Founders Hall B119, Prince William, Bull Run 254, and Front Royal Academic 219

Guest Speakers:

J. J. Davis, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance will discuss the university’s current budget. (12:00 – 12:30)

Josh Cantor, Director, Parking and Transportation, will discuss the current status and the initiatives in Parking and Transportation. (12:30 – 1:00)

Following the speakers, constituents (you!!) have the opportunity to ask questions, express concerns, or offer accolades. The Staff Senate business meeting begins at 1 p.m. All are welcome, and registration is not necessary.

Congratulations to David! Known for his expertise in university policy and procedure and his outstanding attention to detail, David embodies what makes Mason a great place to work.

The Staff Senate commends David for his efforts and appreciates all he does to make the Mason Nation a better place!

Read more about David in this Mason News article.

Learn more about the Human Resources and Payroll awards programs by clicking here.