Category: April 2019

Student-parents can be an invisible population, often setting aside their parent status in order to be a student.

Students with children are less likely to complete a certificate or degree within six years of enrollment, and many withdraw before completion.

A group of champions for student-parents at Mason has come together to change our campus community for the better. The group has been considering strategies to support and connect with this important student population.

The launch of a new website is the first step in this urgent need to streamline services and resources: masonfamily.gmu.edu/student-parents

For additional information on how to support student-parents at Mason, contact Samantha Greenberg, associate director of Family Programs, New Student and Family Programs, at sgreenb6@gmu.edu.

Looking for a campus map? Go to maps.gmu.edu to view and print maps of Mason’s campuses and sites.

Mason departments are encouraged to share this new URL with those visiting our campuses. Maps.gmu.edu also includes local driving directions and public transportation options to Mason locations.

Campus maps are updated once a year. Current maps will be replaced with updated versions this summer.

For questions, contact Philip Stamper, University Information, at 703-993-5308 or pstamper@gmu.edu.

The next Mason Administrative Professionals (MAP) meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1204, and will feature guest Ben and Jerry’s.

MAP welcomes anyone working at George Mason who considers themselves to be in an administrative professional role.

For questions and to RSVP, contact mapmason@gmu.edu.

“What Sparks Poetry”

Fenwick Gallery is pleased to host “What Sparks Poetry,” an exhibition in celebration of Poetry Daily. The exhibition will be on view through April 18. 

Learn more about Poetry Daily and “What Sparks Poetry” on the exhibitions page. 

Media Collection Moved to Fenwick Library

The University Libraries boast a robust collection of audiovisual media, both at the library and streaming online. The bulk of the AV collection is housed at Gateway Library, Fairfax Campus, and contains media on VHS, laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-ray. The music collection is housed in Fenwick Library, Fairfax Campus, and contains music on LP, cassette, and CD. The Arlington Campus Library and Mercer Library, at the SciTech Campus, also hold some curriculum-related materials. 

Collection Highlights: 

• A large music collection spanning a diverse array of musical genres and decades 
• Rare, independent, and foreign films available only in DVD and VHS 
• Thousands of streaming videos and music recordings, accessible on campus or at home 

Check out the Film and Video Studies Infoguide for tips on accessing media or to contact the Multimedia Literacy Librarian. 

 

Parsons Dance

Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Fairfax Campus 

New York City-based Parsons Dance is internationally celebrated for creating and performing American modern dance that is positive, life-affirming, enriching, and accessible. Founded in 1985 by Artistic Director David Parsons and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, this ensemble has spread the joy of dance in over 447 cities, 30 countries, and five continents in some of the most notable theaters, festivals, and concert halls in the world. Stunning works, like the iconic Caught, exemplify this company’s innovation and huge audience appeal.

Tickets: $48, $41, $29 
50% off youth tickets (through grade 12) 

 

American Festival Pops Orchestra: Movie Music Magic

Friday, May 3, 2019 at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Science and Technology Campus

It’s difficult to imagine bigger-than-life film characters like Darth Vader and Indiana Jones without their iconic musical themes. Since the invention of cinema with sound, Hollywood’s film composers have worked their magic behind the scenes to help create memorable movie-going experiences! Join the American Festival Pops Orchestra in a performance of classic and treasured film scores where you will experience the music that helps create magic on the silver screen. Enjoy a variety of musical styles spanning years of celebrated films and film composers from Hans Zimmer to John Williams to nostalgic Disney classics.

Tickets: $50, $43, $30
50% off youth tickets (through grade 12) 

 

Information Technology Services (ITS) has a new website! As a result of this site launching, several ITS websites have been redirected for a better, more streamlined user experience.

Users will notice changes to the online logins for the following services: Employee email (office365.gmu.edu), Student email (masonlive.gmu.edu), and Two-Factor Authentication (2fa.gmu.edu).

• Employee and Student Email: Users who access their email online via office365.gmu.edu or masonlive.gmu.edu will be redirected to mail.gmu.edu. Users will notice a new look; however, nothing has changed to Office365/MasonLive account credentials. From mail.gmu.edu, users select employee or student email to go to the standard login screens.
• Two-Factor Authentication:  2fa.gmu.edu redirects to the new 2FA service page where users can easily access the 2FA Management site to enroll or manage their 2FA account.
• IT Services: A new service catalog via its.gmu.edu/services is available. All information about ITS resources has moved, therefore, itservices.gmu.edu redirects to its.gmu.edu. 

Website Highlights:

• Introduction of an ITS Knowledge Base: More than 600 how-tos, getting started guides, and frequently asked questions in a centrally located, organized index
• Improved Search: Improved search features to help users self-serve and easily find the information needed
• Increased Transparency: IT outages, upcoming maintenance, and bulletins easily located on the homepage
• One-stop Shop: Learn about services, get help, and access the most critical information that affects your ability to work and learn in one place  

If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, contact the ITS Support Center. 

Sibs & Kids Weekend is Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. Mason faculty, staff, and students are invited to register their kids and siblings ages 6–18 to experience the excitement of life as a Patriot!

All Sibs & Kids Weekend participants must register at masonfamilyevents.gmu.edu. The cost is $15 for Mason faculty/staff members, $25 for participants (ages 6–18), and free for Mason students.

All participants will receive giveaways, a Sibs & Kids Weekend t-shirt, entrance to all events on the schedule, meals, access to Mason Recreation facilities, and parking on the Fairfax Campus. 

Event Highlights:

• Craft for a Cause with Leadership Education and Development 
• Tie-Dye at Patriot Pride Palooza with Off-Campus Student Services 
• Pool Games and Play the Patriot Way with Mason Recreation 
• Academic Arcade with the College of Visual and Performing Arts 
• Greenhouse and Garden Tour with the Office of Sustainability 
• Rock Out with the College of Science 
• Movie Night featuring Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with Housing and Residence Life 

Online registration for Sibs & Kids Weekend is open now and closes on Sunday, April 14. For more information, visit masonfamilyevents.gmu.edu. 

Mason Kids Club Summer Camp

From North America to Japan and everything in between! Register your rising first- through fourth-graders for the Child Development Center’s (CDC) exciting Mason Kids Club summer camp!

The theme this summer is “Around the World.” Campers will learn about various traditions, holidays, customs, literature, art, music, and language as they take a trip around the world. For more information and to register, visit the Mason Kids Club Page. If you have questions, email cdc@gmu.edu.

Local Summer Camp List

Start planning your family’s summer now! To help employees with kids, Human Resources and Payroll has compiled a list of fun-filled summer camps and activities. The list is organized by area and links directly to the activity page.

If you have questions about a specific camp, please contact the camp directly.

Mason’s Summer Camps Website

Visit summercamps.gmu.edu for a listing of summer camps offered right here at Mason. The website includes camps sponsored by Mason programs/departments, as well as external groups that host camps on a Mason campus. The site is updated regularly as more information becomes available.

Summer camps at Mason cover a wide variety of topics and activities, including academics, the arts, recreation, and sports. Questions about specific camps should be directed to the camp organizers, whose contact information is available on the website.

Mason departments hosting a summer camp or youth program should click here for requirements and details.

Individual Financial Counseling Sessions

No matter where you are in life—from just getting started to planning for retirement—a session with a financial consultant can help you prepare for your future! Financial consultants from TIAA, Fidelity, ICMA-RC, and VRS visit Mason for free, on-campus, individual counseling appointments throughout the year.

Fidelity has added new appointments on the Arlington and SciTech campuses:

• Arlington: May 15, Founders Hall, Room 221, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• SciTech: June 24, Colgan Hall, Room 219, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To sign up for one of these sessions, visit the Mason Fidelity scheduling website. For a list of all available dates and to sign up for an individual consultation, visit Benefits website. For questions, contact benefits@gmu.edu or 703-993-2600.

New Patriot Tech Payroll Deduction

Looking to update your technology? Eligible full-time Mason employees can now purchase computer hardware and other accessories at Patriot Tech using payroll deduction.

For more details, including eligibility, check out the flyer or contact Patriot Tech at ptech@gmu.edu or 703-993-4100. To purchase and take advantage of the deduction, visit Patriot Tech in the Johnson Center.

Discount Highlight

Plan for the summer! Discounts are available through TicketsatWork for entertainment options around the region and the nation. Even when you are on vacation, the Mason discounts may be available!

The discount code for access to the website is GMUNIV.

For all Mason employee discounts, visit the discount site.

Make the most of your benefits and plan for important aspects of your life!

For Spring Into Well-Being, Human Resources and Payroll invites you to the Benefits Fair to chat with some of Mason’s financial, health, and discount vendors.

Join us on April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Johnson Center, Bistro.

No need to register!

If you have any questions, contact the Benefits team at benefits@gmu.edu or 703-993-2600.