Category: December 2019

The December edition of the Staff Senate newsletter is now available. Check it out!

Learn well-being leadership skills for success and become a certified coach in the Leadership Coaching for Organizational Well-Being certificate program from Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being!

This program is designed for professionals working for positive change and is accredited by the International Coach Federation. 

Now accepting applications for Cohort 8 – Spring 2020 Semester (Feb. to June 2020; apply by Dec. 15, 2019) and Cohort 9 – Fall 2020 Semester (Sept. 2020 to Jan. 2021; apply by July 15, 2020). The program takes place in five modules over five months. 

Mason alumni and classified employees receive a 10% discount on tuition. Learn more by reading these coaching alumni stories and more information. Questions? Contact coaching@gmu.edu or 703-993-6090. 

 

Food Drive: Parking and Transportation

Would you like to help someone in need? Parking Services is collecting food donations at the Parking Services Offices at the Arlington, Fairfax, and SciTech Campuses through December 18 at noon.

Make a donation of food items or certain toiletries and reduce the cost of your parking ticket by up to $20 for one ticket and up to $60 for a maximum of three citations. Or, if you prefer, use the $20 credit toward a permit upgrade.

Donations benefit the Patriot Pantry.

For important details, including the donation/credit framework, visit the website.

Mason Shuttles and Winter Break

Winter Break brings some major changes to the Mason Shuttle schedules. Details are posted here.

If you have any questions, contact 703-993-2828 or shuttle@gmu.edu.

Winter Break Regional Transportation

Transportation from Mason to New York City, Richmond, Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, and other cities is available for Winter Break.

For details on destinations, departures, pricing, and to book a seat, click here.

Shared Mobility Scooter Pilot Underway

Mason has begun a scooter pilot on the Fairfax Campus. The pilot will run concurrently with the pilot underway in the City of Fairfax through June 30, 2020.

The City’s pilot includes Bird, Lime, and Spin scooters. Currently, Mason has Bird scooters on campus, to be followed by Lime and Spin when they are ready.

Given the timing and the winter weather that will be coming soon, Spin and Lime could be joining as late as spring 2020.

Safety and accessibility for all Mason community members is paramount. Parking and Transportation has employed student Scooter Ambassadors to help people find the corrals and help ensure that scooters are not blocking sidewalks, doorways, etc.

Please also feel empowered to move a scooter to the nearest grassy area yourself if it is blocking access or is a trip hazard. You can also report hazards directly to the vendors (in this case, Bird). You can use the contact information below or download their app to report a scooter.

Bird:
866-205-2442
hello@bird.co

When scooting, be mindful of where you leave your scooter on-campus or off. Leave your scooter in a designated corral on campus and, no matter where you go, never leave a scooter on a sidewalk or anywhere where it can be a tripping hazard or mobility issue for others.

For additional important information, including where you can ride and the location of scooter corrals on campus, visit the shared mobility page.

If you have any questions, contact Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828.

The Alumni Association invites faculty and staff to participate in Homecoming 2020! Homecoming is a community-wide celebration. We have something for everyone.

Visit alumni.gmu.edu/homecoming2020 for more information.

Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign

It’s that time again! Time for this year’s Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC), the annual charity drive for Commonwealth employees. CVC participation is easy. Simply visit cvc.tfaforms.net/40 to make a pledge for the charity of your choice through payroll deductions or a one-time credit card donation.

Be sure to check out the CVC website for helpful tools and tips like the 2019 Giving Guide, where you can choose from over 900 charities. There is also the option to “Start a Fundraiser” for the charity of your choice. You could also create a fundraising event for your designated charity, such as a run/walk or a benefit dinner.

If you have any questions, contact Kimberly Shaw-Mack at kshawmac@gmu.edu.

Inclement Weather Resources

Winter weather is fast approaching! Utilize the resources below to prepare.

Staying Updated
Stay updated on university closings, late openings, or other weather-related changes to the university’s schedule through Mason’s switchboard at 703-993-1000, Mason Alert, the university’s homepage, as well as local media outlets.

Telework and Inclement Weather
Having telework agreements and technology in place in advance can come in handy if Mason experiences an extended weather event or other emergencies.

Teleworkers (if it is their scheduled telework day) and remote workers continue to work, even if:

• Classes are canceled and administrative offices are closed
• The university is on a modified schedule

Employees working from home during a university closing are expected to continue working unless it is not possible due to power outages or other conditions that prevent them from working. For more details, visit flexwork.gmu.edu.

Inclement Weather/Emergency Guidance
With winter fast approaching, review the Inclement Weather/Emergency Closing Policy.

Verizon Fios Discount

Verizon Fios is offering discounts for new customers, with Disney+ included for the first year! Check out the HR discounts page for more information on available Verizon Fios discounts for state employees. Email our Verizon Fios discount contact, Cricket Lenderking, at cricket.lenderking@verizon.com for questions and more information. For a list of all employee discounts, visit the Human Resources and Payroll discount page.

New WW (WeightWatchers Reimagined) Program

WW is now offering a customized program called myWW™.

On myWW™, there are three different plans for members: Green, Blue, and Purple. Here’s how it works:

• New members will take an assessment that matches them with the plan that best aligns with their lifestyle.
• Current members are experts on the WW program, so they have the option to stay on their current plan or switch to a new one. WW Coaches are trained in all three and can help members who have any questions.
• The science-backed SmartPoints® system will remain at the core of all three plans, but each plan has a different balance of SmartPoints® Budget and ZeroPoint™ foods list.
• If a member decides that they prefer a different plan, they have the option to switch at any time.

Interested? Check out the HR discounts page for details about the new program and how you, as a state employee, can receive a discount on WW. For questions, contact the WW Customer Care team at 866-204-2885.

Bookstore and Patriot Tech Faculty & Staff Appreciation Week

Don’t miss out on the Faculty & Staff Appreciation Week at the Mason Bookstore and Patriot Tech from Dec. 9–14. Save 20% when you show your Mason ID.

The next Mason Administrative Professionals (MAP) meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Merten Hall, Room 1200. The December guest will be Teriyaki Madness.

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. 

Celebrate the holidays together as a family with half-price tickets for youth through grade 12. Have a large extended family? Bring a group of 10 or more and receive 10% off holiday performances!

Call our Groups Hotline at 703-993-8600 for more information. 

American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops

Friday, Dec, 13, at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
SciTech Campus

Just hear those sleigh bells jinglin’ as the American Festival Pops Orchestra ushers in the season with its annual holiday concert. A beloved tradition at the Hylton Center, the uplifting evening includes treasured classics like Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” “A Christmas Festival,” a rousing carol sing-a-long, and special guest artists. Maestro Anthony Maiello leads Northern Virginia’s very own pops orchestra in this lively, family-friendly evening of musical merriment. Special guest artists include Angela Knight, Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Darden and Shawn Purcell, and more! 

Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna

Friday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Fairfax Campus 

There is no sound more celestial than the angelic voices of the Vienna Boys Choir, who return for their annual holiday concert to celebrate the magic of the season. The world’s foremost children’s choral group performs a delightful program of classical masterpieces, contemporary pop favorites, Austrian folk songs, and beloved Christmas carols with their signature old-world charm and youthful vocal purity. This ensemble of sopranos and altos, comprised of boys between the ages of 9 and 14 and representing 31 countries, is enormously popular across the globe. With more than six centuries of choral tradition, it is among the oldest of all musical organizations. Over the centuries, illustrious composers have written masterpieces for the choir, and many great musicians and composers got their musical start as members. These young cultural ambassadors are adored for their wide range of repertoire, purity of tone, and generosity of musical spirit. It is the perfect holiday gift for you and your family.