The March Staff Senate newsletter is out!
Like many other staff members, I am a Mason alum. I completed both my bachelor’s and M.P.A. at Mason. Before returning to Mason to become a staff member in the Environmental Health and Safety Office, I worked in a similar capacity with the U.S. House of Representatives. I welcomed the opportunity to come back to the university and contribute to a growing emergency management program.
I joined the Staff Senate because I wanted to have a voice in high-level conversations at the university, and because I wanted to do good for my co-workers. I work across all three campuses, so I knew I would be in a position to reach out to a lot of staffers who might not otherwise speak up.
I value the opportunity to plant seeds in the minds of the guest speakers who present at our monthly Staff Senate meetings. This is a fantastic chance to share ideas and suggestions with university officials. I hope more Mason staff members come to these meetings in the future – your off-hand comment or well-framed question could make a big difference. Remember, those who speak up are heard.
I serve on the Education and Outreach Committee. One of our most noticeable responsibilities is the monthly Staff Senate Newsletter . . . which you might be reading at this very moment! We use the newsletter to recognize the Employee of the Month and to highlight available benefits, services, and upcoming special events.
Outside of my time at Mason, I’ve taught rock climbing on the side for several years. I also love reading about and tinkering with new technologies, and I’m a sucker for an adventure.
Do You Have Your Financial Fitness Wrapped Up?
Join Human Resources and Payroll, our financial partners, and others with related expertise as we explore many different aspects of financial well-being including saving, investing, budgeting, retirement, individual planning, and more. Visit Financial Well-Being resources to register for on-site and videoconferenced classes. There are also online webinars and classes to watch at your convenience as well as tools and calculators to help you plan ahead.
Walking Wednesdays: Exercise Your Leadership
You are invited to become a Mason leader by signing up to take the helm of a 30-minute campus walk in Arlington, Fairfax, or Prince William. Even if the weather isn’t terrific outdoors, there are one-mile walks marked out in many buildings across Mason. Just visit Mason Walk In’ for details.
Walking Wednesdays is a terrific way to take a break, interact with colleagues, and get some exercise. For details and to sign up, visit hr.gmu.edu/worklife/lunch, scroll to Walking Wednesdays, and select the campus of your choice.
Contact Janet Walker at jwalker8@gmu.edu or 703-993-2604 with questions.
Spring Telework Week at Mason: March 9-13
If you have ever contemplated teleworking or wondered how your office may benefit from it, now is the time to try it out! From March 9-13, Mason will celebrate its very own Telework Week, and an abbreviated telework agreement is available just for this special week. Questions about telework? Check out the FAQs at flexwork.gmu.edu.
Employees who participate in Telework Week are doing so under the terms of the Flexible Work Policy, #2202. Signing the abbreviated Telework Week agreement binds the employee/supervisor to the terms and conditions of the complete telework agreement.
Contact worklife@gmu.edu or check out flexwork.gmu.edu for more information.
DMV2Go on Campus
DMV2Go is coming to the Fairfax Campus on March 30. For a complete list of dates at all campuses, visit Mason’s DMV2Go schedule.
Summer Camp Resources
Summer will be here before we know it. If you have young ones, summer camp can be a great option. We have put together a summer camp resource list to help you get started.
March at Mason can be snowy, but with spring break, it is also a month of slowing down. For students, this is a time to recharge before the final half of the academic year. As a staff member, I always look forward to spring break as a time to take a breath and grab a Starbucks in less-than-normal wait times. It’s also a great time to remember that spring is just around the corner.
This month, I encourage you to take an hour for yourself during Spring into Well-Being. Many departments across campus are hosting workshops, events, and information tents to help you focus on your personal well-being. This is a great time to find out how Mason is working toward creating a healthy balance for you in the workplace and striving toward the university’s strategic plan.
Stephanie Payton
Chair, Mason Staff Senate
It’s not too late to apply to rent a community garden plot at Mason. Grow your own food, bond with your staff, learn useful new skills, and enjoy nutritious, sustainably-grown foods.
The raised bed plots are four feet by eight feet in size, six inches tall, and located in the Potomac Heights Garden. The use of one plot costs $10 per month. The season runs from March 1 to November 1. Funds benefit the George Mason University Garden Association.
Complete the application online. For questions, contact GMUcommunitygarden@gmail.com or rleblanc@gmu.edu.
Interested in completing the Mason Advisor Certificate (MAC) program? The MAC program is designed to provide a structured training process to enhance and develop the Mason academic advising experience. This six-module training series is intended for new and existing advisors. The program provides a cohesive curriculum centered on topics related to advising approaches, Mason policies and procedures, advising tools, university resources, developing your advising philosophy, and much more.
To register, visit the Human Resources and Payroll training website: hr.gmu.edu/learning/mac.php.
Contact Emily Kalinowski at ekalinow@gmu.edu with questions.
The second annual Spring into Well-Being, a celebration of well-being at Mason, will be held from March 19 – April 30. Spring into Well-Being is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Mason events that highlight a dimension of well-being (physical, career, social, community, psychological, and financial). Events are hosted by various Mason units, organizations, students, staff, faculty, and affiliates. Most events are free and open to the public. View the complete list of events and activities during this special celebration, and find something to promote your own well-being!
Wednesday, March 4
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Fairfax Campus: Innovation Hall, Room 334
Arlington Campus: Founders Hall, Room B119 (videoconferenced)
Prince William Campus: Bull Run Hall, Room 254 (videoconferenced)
Guest Speakers:
Connie Benson, Director of Recreation, Mason Recreation, and Amanda Meiklejohn, Recreation Program Manager and Camp Director, Freedom Center, will offer information about fitness and recreation options available to staff at Mason.
Guest speakers begin at noon, followed by time to ask questions, express concerns, or offer accolades about issues concerning Mason staff. The Staff Senate business meeting begins at 1 p.m. All are welcome, and registration is not necessary.
A heartfelt congratulations to Shams Bahabib, Education Support Specialist in the Volgenau School of Engineering, for being selected as the February 2015 Employee of the Month award winner.
Read more about Shams in this Mason News article.
Do you know a superstar? Make sure he or she receives the deserved recognition and submit a nomination for Mason’s Employee of the Month. Additional information can be found on the HR awards page.
Contact Reward & Recognition at awards@gmu.edu with questions.
The Staff Senate seeks your comments, concerns, and ideas about issues on campus that are important to you. We welcome all input. You may remain anonymous, but if you wish to receive a response, please include your contact information.