Category: August 2019

The September Staff Senate general meeting will feature guest speaker Anne Holton, interim president of George Mason University.

The meeting will also feature a brief presentation from Adrienne Bryant Godwin, programming manager, College of Visual and Performing Arts. Adrienne will discuss the upcoming performance season at Center for the Arts and the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019
10:30 a.m. to noon
Fairfax: Merten Hall, Room 1201
Arlington: Van Metre Hall, Room B119 (videoconferenced)
SciTech: Colgan Hall, Room 221 (videoconferenced)
WebEx:  gmu.webex.com / Meeting Number (access code): 648 314 965  / Meeting password: 2ktMam99 or join by phone: 1-240-454-0879

The Staff Senate represents all classified and non-student wage employees at George Mason University. Working closely with university administration, we address concerns that have an impact on the quality of work-life for the Mason community. The work of the Senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents.

All are welcome to attend the Staff Senate general meeting.

For questions, contact staffsenate@gmu.edu.

The Mason Club is George Mason University’s exclusive membership faculty and staff lounge. Enjoy a freshly prepared buffet with your peers between 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or rent the space for an after-hours event.

The Mason Club reopens for the fall semester on August 26. Visit the website for more information!

On July 26, the Board of Visitors announced the members of the search committee who will help select the next president of George Mason University. Lauren Reuscher, chair of Staff Senate, will serve as a staff representative on the committee.

The committee’s first order of business will be to develop a profile for the position and a timeline for the search.

To submit feedback to the committee, visit go.gmu.edu/pres-search.

Lauren also invites staff members to reach out to her directly to share ideas and feedback.

For more information about the search, and to view the complete list of committee members, visit the presidential search website.

Congratulations to July Employee of the Month Paul Didier and August Employee of the Month Crystal Hall Brett!

Do you know a superstar? Make sure they receive the deserved recognition and submit a nomination for Mason’s Employee of the Month. Additional information can be found on the Human Resources and Payroll website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outstanding Supervisor Award, sponsored by the Mason Staff Senate, seeks to recognize supervisors who routinely go above and beyond to provide unparalleled leadership, mentorship, and support within their departments or offices. Outstanding supervisors model and promote a positive work-life balance and strive to serve not only their departments or offices but also their personnel. Other activities that an outstanding supervisor demonstrates include:

• Acknowledging exemplary performance
• Supporting innovation and soliciting input from employees
• Being fair and flexible
• Encouraging and providing opportunities for professional growth
• Promoting diversity and inclusion

Does this sound like your supervisor? If the answer is yes, we want to know!

Consider submitting a nomination form for the Outstanding Supervisor Award. More details can be found on the Mason Staff Senate website. The nomination period ends on August 30, 2019. Email completed nomination forms to staffsenate@gmu.edu.

Questions? Contact Amanda Corrigan, Staff Senate (3.4141 or acorrig2@gmu.edu)

The winner(s) will be officially recognized during the Outstanding Achievement Award ceremony.

The Research Administration Certificate Program, developed in collaboration with a cross-campus advisory committee and coordinated through the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), is a professional development opportunity designed to educate staff about sponsored programs administration.  

The curriculum provides a deeper understanding of key concepts related to grant and contract administration. Participants attend 10 sessions, engage in problem-based learning exercises, and other hands-on activities to receive the Research Administration certificate.   

The kick-off session will be held on September 17 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1202, and will cover topics including the research and regulatory environment, sponsored projects policies, the life cycle of an award, and an overview of the Office of Sponsored Programs. The requirements of the certificate program will be reviewed, and there will be time for questions and answers. 

Click here to register for this session, or contact Pat Sperry, associate director, outreach and systems administration in OSP, for additional information. 

Have you heard about Virginia529 but want to learn more? Check out an information session on September 18 from noon to 1 p.m. in Merten Hall, Room 1204.

At the presentation, you will learn about saving for future higher education expenses for yourself or a loved one.

During this session learn how to:

• Save for tuition and other college expenses
• Save for private or religious K-12 education
• Take advantage of tax-free earnings and the Virginia state tax deduction
• Meet your savings goals

To register, visit the Virginia529 Presentation details page in MasonLEAPS and click “Request.”

If you are unable to attend, there will be a Webinar on October 9 for the VA529, MD529 and DC529 plans. Stay on the lookout for more details!

Students, alumni, staff, and faculty are invited to participate in the 9/11 Day of Service and Service Fair.

The 7^th Annual Day of Service will take place on Wednesday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service events will provide the opportunity to give back to the local George Mason community. To volunteer for one of the many service projects on campus, visit the registration page.

The Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL) Service Fair will take place on Thursday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SUB I Quad. This is a great way to connect with more than 30 different community partners and leaders and discover opportunities to use your School Assistance and Volunteer Leave!

General information about the 9/11 Day of Service and Service Fair can be found at 911day.gmu.edu.

Up to two hours of volunteer service can be considered work time with your supervisor’s permission. If you would like to volunteer more than two hours, eligible faculty and staff may use school assistance and volunteer hours.

Calling all bookworms! OnTheSquareVA is excited to announce the launch of a statewide Book Club! Books will be announced on the first of each month. You can find the book announcements and more details about the virtual and in-person discussions on the book club Facebook group.

If you have questions, contact OnTheSquareVa@virginia.gov for more information.

 

 

Looking for like-minded colleagues to share insight? Need group support for your family?

Mason offers many employee resource and support groups to help, including:

• Adult Caregiving and Support
• Educators and Employees of Color
• Mason Administrative Professionals
• Mason Military Spouses and Partners
• Mason Needleworks
• Toastmasters
• Working Moms and Working Dads

…and more! Visit the HR and Payroll employee resources and support group page for a list of groups and activities.