Category: July 2024

IT Security Awareness Training Assigned to all Employees

Information Technology Services (ITS) has assigned the required annual IT Security Awareness Training to all Mason employees, including contractors, affiliates, and student wage workers. Additionally, mandatory role-based training is assigned to those in specialized roles.

The deadline to complete the training is Thursday, October 31.

This year, ITS is changing how it tracks and enforces compliance with meeting the training requirement.

Users who fail to complete the training by the deadline will not have their accounts disabled immediately. Users will be given an opportunity to complete their training during the semi-annual password reset process. When the password is reset, the user will have 14 days to complete the training. Failure to comply will result in the user’s account being disabled.

To get the account re-enabled, the user must then contact the IT Support Center. The user’s manager or supervisor will be asked to submit a written commitment to support@gmu.edu ensuring the user will complete the training. Persistent non-compliance will be escalated to the IT Risk and Compliance office and the user’s senior leadership.

If you have questions about the training or the new enforcement action, please contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu

Meet Jariatu Bah, Staff Senator & Office Manager

Jariatu Bah, Office Manger, Academic Affairs Office, CHSS

Role: I am responsible for overseeing the CHSS Academic Affairs Office as the Office Manager. My duties include managing the Academic Affairs reception area, handling student walk-ins for various Academic Affairs teams, scheduling meetings for the Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Affairs teams, as well as for the Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean of Graduate Academic Affairs. Additionally, I handle HR coordination tasks such as processing the hiring of instructors for unit courses and student workers. I am also responsible for submitting Graduate Assistants contracts and coordinating the CHSS Graduate Dean’s Challenge and Undergraduate Outstanding Student Process and coordinate awardee notification and payment with the CHSS Advancement team.

Mason journey: I initially became part of the Mason from 1999 to 2001 and then returned in 2010 as a part-time wage staff. I transitioned into a full-time role as a classified staff employee in 2011.

Best thing about working at Mason: The best part of working at Mason is its wonderful diversity of faculty, students, and staff.

Why serve on the Staff Senate: I feel like it’s time for me to give back by sharing the administrative skills and knowledge that I’ve gained over the years. Additionally, I plan to enhance my professional development growth by gaining a better understanding of working in a diverse institution and collaborating with other Mason staff members from different backgrounds.

Staff Senate Fall Meeting Schedule

The Staff Senate will be in recess during the month of July while we focus on our Staff Senate Election. During August, we will have a closed session to welcome newly elected senators and plan for the new academic year. Our meetings occur the first Wednesday of each month (excluding July and January) from 10 a.m. to noon. You can also place a hold on your calendar for our meetings. We will continue to provide constituents an opportunity to participate in-person and virtually. See below for Zoom access information. Room location will be announced month to month in our Staff Senate newsletter.

Staff Senate Monthly General Meetings
First Wednesday of Each Month (except July and January)
10:00 a.m. to noon – Guest Speaker and General Business Meeting
Join the meeting via Zoom*
Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Meeting ID: 931 0040 3860 / Passcode: 621190

*The Staff Senate is requiring that virtual attendees join our Staff Senate General Meetings with their Patriot Pass credentials. If you are already signed into Zoom using your Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your Mason-licensed Zoom account, you will be told authentication is required to join, and prompted to sign in. For more information, please access our helpful FAQ document.