Category: May 2023

Ever wondered what it is like to serve on the Staff Senate? Have a general interest in how the senate sets and achieves its goals? Want to learn about how the university functions from a new perspective, contribute to the well-being of your colleagues, and network across departments?

If so, the Staff Senate will hold an information session and discussion for Mason classified and non-student wage staff interested in learning about the nomination and election process, the work of the senate, and what senators do. During the presentation, you will learn about the structure of the senate, how its committees work, the time commitment expected of senators, and have a Q & A with current representatives.

Wednesday, June 7 
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Constituents are invited to attend in person in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or via Zoom.
Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Webinar ID: 975 1903 7430/ Passcode: 078091

 

Arboretum Tree Planting

In celebration of Earth Week, Mason’s Arboretum Board hosted a community tree planting event at Peterson Hall on April 20. Student volunteers came together to help plant flowering dogwood trees (Cornus florida), which are native to the region and aid local wildlife and pollinators.  

Read the full story here.

“The Shape of Water”: A Collaborative Sustainable Art Installation

Multiple waste audits and a campus cleanup conducted at George Mason University by Mason Facilities, Student Government, and University Sustainability contributed an estimated 1,555 single-use plastic items, weighing 58.4 pounds to Celia Ledón’s The Shape of Water installation, which was visible at the REACH Welcome Pavilion in the Kennedy Center from March 22 to April 23, 2023.

Read the full story here.

This month’s sustainability updates from the Staff Senate Environmental Justice and Sustainability ad hoc committee:

Greener Mason Community

The Greener Mason Community is now active! It aims to bring together people from across Mason to discuss, share, and act on environmental and sustainability issues, and provides space for discussion, resources, and general information about environmentally related topics and initiatives at Mason and further afield. Conversations range from plastic on campus to your favorite “cli-fi” books!

Join the Greener Mason Community on Microsoft Teams here.

Office Supply Swap and Green Office Initiative

Staff Senate’s Office Supply Swap is also now live in the Greener Mason Community. Use the dedicated channel to post items you no longer need or ask for items that others might be able to pass along to reduce unnecessary purchases and wasted resources.

The Office Supply Swap has been incorporated into University Sustainability’s Green Office Initiative (GOI), which is launching soon. The GOI engages university employees and helps them make their offices, and Mason, even more sustainable. To be first to receive information about the GOI on its launch, email Ben Auger at gogreen@gmu.edu to express interest.

Volunteering Spotlight: Patriot Packout

Volunteering opportunities are available this month at Patriot Packout (PPO) sites across the campuses. PPO is Mason’s annual end-of-the-year donation initiative, providing on-campus donation resources for all students, faculty, and staff affected by move-out. PPO diverts usable items from trash and redistributes them to Mason students, faculty/staff, and community members who can benefit from them.

Visit the Patriot Packout webpage for more information and to sign up as a volunteer. Don’t forget that eligible employees may use School Assistance and Volunteer Service Leave to participate.

The June general meeting will feature the Prospective Staff Senator Information Session and the Mason Staff Senate Recognition Ceremony, co-sponsored by the Staff Senate Executive Committee and Human Resources.

Wednesday, June 7
10 a.m. to noon
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – General Meeting and Prospective Staff Senator Information Session
11 a.m. to noon – Ceremony
Constituents are invited to attend in person in Merten Hall, Room 1201, or via Zoom.
Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Webinar ID: 975 1903 7430/ Passcode: 078091

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 more ways to engage with the senate before, during, and after our general meetings.

 

Standard Telework Renewal Process for Classified Staff

Human Resources would like to share an update to Policy 1.61: Teleworking, which includes a new provision for the annual renewal process for Standard Telework Agreements. Effective immediately, state-level approval of Standard Telework Agreements is required only for new or modified agreements requesting more than one day of remote work per week. Classified staff who wish to renew their current telework agreement on file without any modifications may now be approved by the university without needing additional approval from the state. 

The Standard Telework Agreement must still be submitted as George Mason University continues to report telework data to the state, but we anticipate that this new provision will greatly increase efficiency and reduce the turnaround time for renewal requests for the same amount of telework.    

For detailed guidance on the revised renewal process, please review the full announcement on the Human Resources website. 

Operations and Business Services, along with Parking and Transportation, is introducing a new Virtual License Plate program for parking permits, starting this fall. Instead of hang tags, the program will use license plate numbers to identify vehicles on campus. Students, faculty, and staff will need to update their vehicle information in their parking portal so they don’t receive a citation when parking on any of Mason’s three Virginia campuses. This change is aimed at promoting sustainability, innovation, and ease of use for parking on campus. Learn more. 

 

Applications are now open for the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship. This $250 annual award was created to encourage, support, and advance continuing education for Mason faculty and classified staff.

This scholarship is open to full-time or part-time Mason faculty and classified staff who:

• Are enrolled in a degree or graduate certificate program at Mason
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Have at least one year of service at Mason
• Earned an overall rating of Successful or Outstanding in their most recent performance evaluation

To apply, visit the Faculty/Staff Book Scholarship page. Applications are due Friday, June 9.

Mason faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to register for the 2023 University Life Student Success Symposium. The pre-conference will be held Monday, June 5, and the symposium will be held Tuesday, June 6.       

The 2023 UL Symposium invites attendees to engage with the “why” in our work as practitioners of student success. The symposium will provide attendees with interactive and engaging experiences to focus on the new and continued work of student affairs professionals in the ever-changing and evolutionary nature of higher education.  

Registration is open through May 30. Contact the planning team at ulprodev@gmu.edu with questions. 

The Staff Senate is pleased to announce the 2023 Outstanding Supervisor Award recipients. Chosen from a competitive pool of nearly 50 nominations, these two recipients exemplify outstanding leadership skills and embody the Mason spirit:

• Brian Gantt, Finance Director, Information Technology Services
• Holly Park, Director of Research, College of Public Health

Brian believes in the knowledge and skills of his staff to thrive independently. He is more coach and barrier remover than micromanager. Brian trusts his staff’s subject matter expertise, and they trust that Brian will champion their innovative recommendations in places where they can make a difference. Brian wants to foster an inclusive, civil, and respectful environment where his staff can lean on each other to succeed as a unit. Not only did his team nominate him as a great supervisor at Mason—they nominated him as “the greatest supervisor” at Mason.

Holly is a collaborative leader who values diverse opinions, teamwork, and creative thinking. She is flexible, adaptable, and resourceful in improving services to faculty and meeting shifting research needs as policies, systems, and best practices evolve. Holly supports innovation by modeling and encouraging a collaborative and creative approach to problem solving. She creates an atmosphere of trust, earning the reputation for being “the supervisor you want to work for” due to the support she shows her staff.

Brian Gantt and Holly Park were formally recognized at the Outstanding Achievement Awards on April 25 in Dewberry Hall. Jessica Adams, vice chair of the Staff Senate, presented the awards on behalf of the Staff Senate.

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The Staff Senate would like to recognize all who were nominated for their outstanding contributions supervising Mason staff:

Alauna Ailstock, Financial Aid

Farhang Alem, Institute for Biohealth Innovation

David Baylor, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Jaclyn Beasley, School of Business

Ty Bonds, School of Business

Said Bouiftilen, Facilities Management

Colette Brooks, Student Accounts

Kevin Connor, School of Business

John W. Crocker IV, Environmental Health and Safety

Sharon Cullen, Office of the President

Tommy Dang, Information Technology Services

Maria Emelianenko, Mathematical Sciences

Jenny Everett, Intercollegiate Athletics

Meggan Ford, School of Business

Cherie Galantis, Information Technology Services

Christopher Gay, Information Technology Services

Kathleen Gelona, School of Business

Adrienne Bryant Godwin, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Jessica Guzzo, College of Education and Human Development

Monson Hayes, Volgenau School of Engineering

Caitlin Horan, School of Business

Tony D. Houdek, Information Technology Services

Joseph Illig, Facilities Management

Beverley Jackson, Police and Public Safety

Richard Klimoski, School of Business

Quyen Le, Purchasing and Accounts Payable

Pamela (Pam) Lewis, Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations

Jenna McGwin, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Chris Nayeri, Information Technology Services

Lori Polnow, Information Technology Services

Carl Rowan, Police and Public Safety

Katherine Sirotin, Facilities

Zavin Smith, Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations

Heather Strange, Fiscal Services

Jancy Templeton, College of Education and Human Development

Brittany Terwilliger, College of Education and Human Development