Category: May 2021

This week, Mason is celebrating its graduates both in-person and virtually. As we honor their accomplishments, remember that your work as a staff member is also reflected in our students’ success!  

This year was unlike any other. Mason staff have gone above and beyond to work under challenging circumstances, keep our campuses safe, and help our students succeed. You did it, and I hope you take a moment to reflect on everything you have accomplished this year. 

In June, the Staff Senate will start accepting nominations for the annual senator election in July. Last year, we had more nominees than any year in recent memory. This was remarkable, considering the challenges of 2020. I hope you will consider nominating yourself or a colleague. It’s a great way to get involved at the university and contribute to a positive work-life experience at Mason. 

Lauren Clark Reuscher
Chair, Staff Senate 

Pregnancy and Parenting Resources for Students

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities. Know your rights, and know where to get support.YOUR RIGHTS

• You must be provided with reasonable adjustments, such as a larger desk, elevator access, or allowance for frequent bathroom breaks, when necessary because of your pregnancy.
• You must be allowed to make up any work missed while on medical leave.
• You must not be required to submit a doctor’s note for absences related to your pregnancy or childbirth, unless ALL students are required to submit a doctor’s note for absences and hospitalizations related to physical or emotional conditions.
• You must be allowed to continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities while you are pregnant.
• Absences due to pregnancy or childbirth must be excused, for as long as your doctor deems necessary.
• Your instructor may not refuse to allow you to submit work after a deadline you missed because of pregnancy or childbirth. You should be allowed to make up any participation or attendance credits you did not have the chance to earn due to your pregnancy-related absence.

RESOURCES 

Student Health Services

Student Health Services offers both pregnancy testing (for a fee) and counseling regarding options, resources, and services available.

Office of Disability Services

Contact Disability Services to discuss possible accommodations (e.g., classroom furniture, location to retake exam) if you need assistance with a pregnancy-related condition.

New Student and Family Programs & Contemporary Student Services

Contemporary Student Services and New Student and Family Programs coordinate with faculty, staff, and outside organizations to provide information that meets the unique needs of Mason student-parents.

Child Care Services

The Child Development Center at the Fairfax Campus serves faculty, staff, and students at the university, with enrollment on a first-come, first-served basis. Regular child care is provided from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, for children 2-5 years old. Children attend 2, 3, or 5 days per week.

Additional resources are available across local counties, including: Fairfax County, Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County.

Lactation Spaces

The University supports working and learning mothers. As such, we offer private spaces on each campus to accommodate nursing mothers. Specific locations at the Fairfax Campus, Arlington Campus, and SciTech Campus can be found online.

Title IX Website

Student-Parents Website

Resources for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Office of Compliance Diversity & Ethics
373 Aquia Building
Fairfax Campus
703-993-8730
titleix@gmu.edu

Title IX Coordinator
Angela Nastase, JD

This past year has been incredibly challenging for everyone – our students, families, faculty, staff, and community. However, from challenges come innovation, persistence, courage, and creativity. From this, Family Programs looks toward the 2021-2022 academic year and how we can engage new and continuing families as well as all of you.

Please save the date for Family Weekend taking place October 15-17, 2021. Family Weekend is an annual, university-wide celebration that provides our community with the opportunity to connect, celebrate what it means to be a Patriot, and make new memories, which is why our program will include events for Mason students, adults, and children of all ages, as well as Mason faculty and staff. We are optimistic for the fall as we plan an in-person experience with virtual offerings that will feature the best of Mason.

Please mark this date on your calendar, help us spread the word, and/or contact the Family Programs team with any questions: Rebecca McCrory (rstauffa@gmu.edu), Daylen Orlick (dorlick@gmu.edu) and Samaria Moss (smoss6@gmu.edu).

Stay tuned to MasonFamily.gmu.edu/FamilyWeekend and follow New Student and Family Programs socials for the most up-to-date information (@MasonNSFP on Instagram and Facebook). We look forward to welcoming your Mason family to Family Weekend 2021!

 

The June Staff Senate Meeting will feature Leah Nichols, executive director, Institute for a Sustainable Earth, and Greg Farley, director, University Sustainability, to share, discuss, and receive feedback on the Mason Sustainability Council goals and guiding principles.

Wednesday, June 2
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Guest Speaker
General meeting will follow from 11 a.m. to noon (agenda)
Zoom Meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/97615034925?pwd=dHhrSy9OeUxxMW1Ic2liV0F0czlmdz09
Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Webinar ID: 976 1503 4925 / Passcode: 572793

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. Find ways to virtually engage with the senate before, during, and after general meetings.

 

Interested in joining the Mason Staff Senate?  The senate hosted an information session for interested candidates. If you missed the session, you may review the recording.  If you have further questions, please email staffsenate@gmu.edu or learn more at Join the Senate.

Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship
Are you enrolled in a degree or certificate program at Mason? Then apply for the competitive $250 book scholarship for faculty and staff enrolled in a degree or graduate certificate program at Mason.

The application deadline is June 11. For details and to apply, please visit the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship web page. 

Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony Recording
If you missed the Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony, you can watch a recording of the ceremony.

Congratulations again to all the award winners.

TIAA Financial Seminars
Looking to learn more about your finances?

TIAA is hosting several financial well-being seminars. Check out the flyer to learn more.   

Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer Search Page
George Mason University believes that diversity of opinions, cultures, and perspectives is what provides vibrancy to an academic community. George Mason is currently in the search process for the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer. 

To provide transparency and to keep the community involved, we created this search information page. Frequently visit this page to stay updated on: 

• The hiring timeline 
• Search process updates 

• Opportunities for the community to be involved 
• Search committee members 

We look forward to keeping the community informed and involved. If you have questions, please email hr@gmu.edu.  

Summer Camp Resources
Start planning for summer now! To help families with children, we compiled a list of summer camps and activities at Mason and in the surrounding community. 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. 

People Finder, Mason’s online directory, can display pronouns for faculty, staff, and affiliates. Mason employees may choose to add this information to People Finder by using the online form to update their listing.

Adding pronouns to People Finder helps build an inclusive and welcoming community at Mason and supports university initiatives recognizing chosen names and pronouns.

For questions related to People Finder, contact masondir@gmu.edu.