Categories
May 2015

Senator Highlight: Andrew Bunting

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Andrew Bunting, Assistant Director of Admissions, Office of Admissions. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University

Before coming to Mason, I was employed within the Office of Admissions at my alma mater, the University of Delaware. College admissions and recruitment have been my passion since I was an undergraduate, and my work allows me to help students make their college dreams a reality. Following my undergraduate career at Delaware, I came to Mason to begin working within college admissions and enrollment management as an Admissions Counselor. I’ve been here ever since, and I continue to learn new and interesting things about Mason and our community every day!

I joined the Staff Senate two years ago so that the voice of staff and non-student wage employees could be heard on campus. The most rewarding part of being on the Staff Senate has been the amazing connections I have been made with other staff members outside my office. We are all so busy here at Mason, so it is easy to forget that the university extends beyond our own offices.  There are so many amazingly talented people here, without whom the university could not function! Staff Senate helps you make those connections (and meet new friends).

Currently, I serve on the Awards Committee, which allows me to help recognize the outstanding achievements of staff and non-student wage employees on behalf of the Staff Senate.  This includes making short presentations to the Employee of the Month award recipients and helping select the annual Outstanding Supervisor Award recipients.

Outside of the university, I work closely with the YMCA to volunteer my time with various youth and civic engagement programs designed to enhance global awareness, political activity, and public speaking skills for high school students. Also, for most of my life I was a male gymnast – head over to the Aquatic and Fitness Center any day after work, and you’ll see me doing stretches as if I was still competing!

Categories
May 2015

Graduation Day Babysitting for Faculty and Staff

Mason is offering free babysitting for faculty and staff during this year’s spring Commencement ceremony. This is a pilot program, and space is limited. If you have young children (ages 3-8) and are working at graduation, you are encouraged to complete the registration form as soon as possible to reserve a spot. Forms are due by Monday, May 4.

Registration form and flyer can be found at hr.gmu.edu. Questions can be directed to Life/Work Connections at 703-993-2600 or worklife@gmu.edu.

Categories
May 2015

Capital Region Bike to Work Day: May 15

Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association invite you to join over 10,000 area commuters on Friday, May 15, for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work. Attend one of 79 pit stops throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to receive refreshments and be entered into a raffle for bicycle give-aways.

View more information at biketoworkmetrodc.org.

The Mason community gathers together on Bike to Mason Day. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University
The Mason community gathers together on Bike to Mason Day. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University
Categories
May 2015

From Our Friends in Human Resources and Payroll

Who’s Walking Wednesday?
Hopefully it’s you! Meet your walk leader at noon in the “Wellness Circle” in front of Merten Hall on:

  • May 6: Mason Academic Advisor Network
  • May 13: Dr. Cabrera
  • May 20: Bob Smith
  • May 27: College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Office
  • June 3: Caitlin Lundquist
  • June 10: Marilyn Smith
  • June 17: Lisa Kemp and Marc Fournier
  • June 24: Open – Sign up to lead a walk by visiting hr.gmu.edu/worklife/lunch, scroll to Who’s Walking Wednesday, and select the campus of your choice. Exercise your leadership and volunteer to lead a walk!
    "“Who’s Walking Wednesday?”  led by David Wu, Mason’s new provost and executive vice president, kicks off Making Mason Magic: Summer Smooth, a wellness and well-being initiative. photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University"
    ““Who’s Walking Wednesday?” led by David Wu, Mason’s new provost and executive vice president, kicks off Making Mason Magic: Summer Smooth, a wellness and well-being initiative. photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University”

Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship Applications
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 application deadline is Monday, June 15, and applying is easy. For details, 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 visit giving.gmu.edu, click on the “Give Now” tab, select “Other established fund,” and fill in account #160013, Raise the Rate.

Get Your Competition On: Square Up Your Savings
Sign up to play TIAA-CREF’s Square Up Your Savings through May 6. You don’t have to be a TIAA-CREF member to participate; all faculty and staff are eligible. Square Up Your Savings is an online game to build your financial knowledge with 10 missions that highlight savings education.  Did we mention that there is a little friendly competition between campuses and a chance to win a prize? Visit the financial well-being portal at hr.gmu.edu/benefits/retire/online_resources.php for details.

DMV2Go at Mason
Take care of your Department of Motor Vehicle needs at a convenient Mason location! DMV2Go will be on the Fairfax Campus on May 28 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Merten Hall parking lot. This is their last visit until August. For a full schedule, visit hr.gmu.edu/worklife/documents/DMV2Go2015Schedule.pdf

On-site Financial Well-Being Classes for May
May wraps up the on-site financial well-being classes until the fall semester. Visit the HR & Payroll financial portal for details and to register. The portal also features lots of online and on-demand webinars and sessions on a range of topics from some of Mason’s financial partners, including TIAA-CREF, Fidelity Investments, and the Virginia Retirement System.

On-site sessions are videoconferenced to the Arlington Campus and the Science and Technology Campus (Prince William).

May 5, 12 p.m.: Money at Work #2 – Sharpening Investment Skills with TIAA-CREF
May 12, 2 p.m.: Credit Report 101 – Understanding Your Credit Score and Report with Transunion (brought to Mason by Apple Federal Credit Union)

Categories
May 2015

University Day: Celebrating Employees’ Service to Mason!

University Day 45-year honorees (L to R) Catherine Hoover, Director, Prince William Center, Office of Continuing Professional Education, Marion Deshmukh, Robert T. Hawkes Professor of History, History and Art History, and Jane Flinn, Professor, Psychology are interviewed by Dan Walsch. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University
University Day 45-year honorees (L to R) Catherine Hoover, Director, Prince William Center, Office of Continuing Professional Education; Marion Deshmukh, Robert T. Hawkes Professor of History, History and Art History; and Jane Flinn, Professor, Psychology; are interviewed by Dan Walsch. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University

Each year, University Day celebrates employee service in the Commonwealth of Virginia, recognizing faculty and staff who have reached milestones in their years of service. This year’s celebration occurred on April 7-8. Employees were recognized for reaching 5, 10, 15, 20 years, etc., all the way up to 45 years of service to the Commonwealth.

For a list of employees with the biggest milestones, read more in this
Mason News article.

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
May 2015

Tapingo: Mason Dining’s Mobile Ordering App

Tapingo is the new mobile ordering app for Mason Dining. Order and pay on your smartphone, and you will receive a text message when your order is ready. Then, skip the line at the following dining locations on campus:

"Starbucks opens for business inside the Johnson Center at the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University"
Starbucks inside the Johnson Center at the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University
  • Starbucks (Johnson Center and Northern Neck)
  • Einstein Bros. Bagels at Fairfax and Arlington Campuses
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Subway
  • Red Mango/Auntie Anne’s
  • Taco Bell

Download Tapingo today. For questions, contact Caitlin Lundquist at caitlin.lundquist@sodexo.com.

Categories
May 2015

Visit Building Patriot Pride for Campus and Construction Updates

Construction of the Student Apartments, Mason's first on-campus residence.
Construction of the Student Apartments, Mason’s first on-campus residence.

Building Patriot Pride is your information source for all Mason construction updates and parking and traffic impacts on the campus. To get the latest information, visit building.gmu.edu.

For questions or comments, contact building@gmu.edu.

 

Categories
May 2015

Campus Drive Now Open

Campus Drive, a newly constructed road connecting the west side Athletics Complex with the Fairfax Campus, is set to open to traffic this weekend. Photo by Alexis Glenn
Photo by Alexis Glenn

On April 18, Mason’s West Campus Connector Advisory Group held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Campus Drive, a new roadway providing easy access to the Fairfax Campus from areas west via Braddock Road. The long-planned project will reduce traffic congestion at the Ox Road/Braddock Road intersection and connect both sides of the Fairfax Campus.

This new roadway takes drivers under Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) via an underpass and onto Patriot Circle, near the Recreation and Athletic Complex (RAC). A depiction of Campus Drive is visible on the Fairfax Campus map.

Staff commuting to the Fairfax Campus from areas west might consider using this new roadway option to improve their drive to campus. Moreover, the West Campus parking lot offers a less-expensive parking permit option.  Mason Shuttles provide regular service from West Campus to Patriot Circle.

Contact Parking and Transportation at 703-993-2828 with questions about Campus Drive.

Categories
May 2015

April 2015 Employee of the Month: Amanda Meiklejohn

Amanda Meiklejohn, Recreation Program Manager, Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University
Amanda Meiklejohn, Recreation Program Manager, Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center. Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University

A heartfelt congratulations to Amanda Meiklejohn, Recreation Program Manager with the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center, for being selected as the April 2015 Employee of the Month award winner.

Read more about Amanda 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 and Recognition at awards@gmu.edu with questions.

Categories
May 2015

May Staff Senate Meeting to Highlight Lifelong Learning at Mason

Students work on a project in a Potomac Arts Academy class at the Art and Design building. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University
A student works on a project in a Potomac Arts Academy class at the Art and Design building. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University

Wednesday, May 6
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:
Jennifer Disano, Executive Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Libby Curtis, Director, Potomac Arts Academy, will offer information about lifelong learning options available at Mason.

Guest speakers begin at noon, followed by time to ask questions, express concerns, or offer accolades about issues concerning the Staff Senate.

For questions, contact Staff Senate at staffsenate@gmu.edu.