Category: February 2025

Engaging in performance management as a supervisor comes with great responsibility and commitment to the growth and development of the staff members supervised. As George Mason University professional staff prepare for the launch of the self-evaluation in mid-February and the performance evaluation meetings with supervisors, it is critical for supervisors to begin to prepare the drafting and delivery of staff evaluations.

On Thursday, February 27, from 2:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m., Supervision Collective invites all current and aspiring supervisors to virtually attend February’s Manager Meetup, Forward Thinking as a Supervisor: Strategies for Success Managing Staff Evaluations. This interactive session will discuss strategies and actions to set you and your staff up for success throughout the performance evaluation process. We will be highlighting resources provided by George Mason Human Resources, tools to help organize your feedback, and space to share practices you have found helpful to use in this process.

Register for the session.

The Support Group for Working Mothers at George Mason is one way faculty, staff, and students can come together, discuss the issues confronting working mothers, and perhaps motivate changes on campus. The spring network meetings kicked off on January 22, so if you are interested in sharing stories and being part of an informal organization of working mothers, please join us!  You can visit our website for meeting dates and additional information.

We are featuring a couple of guest speakers this semester:

• Shira Kulok, Director of George Mason’s Child Development Center on February 20
• Emily McDermott, Podcast Host and Decluttering Coach on March 19
• We offer a variety of virtual, hybrid, and in-person formats to offer flexibility to George Mason moms who juggle working, learning, and parenting. You can also find the Support Group for Working Mothers at George Mason on Microsoft Teams.

Managed Windows Systems Upgrades Underway

Microsoft will end support of Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. ITS has begun gradually upgrading managed systems to Windows 11. As a reminder, users can self-upgrade their systems at any time through Software Center. If your system does not support Windows 11, please coordinate with your department to receive a new device. For more information, see the Windows 11 Roadmap.

 New Zoom Security Measures Coming May 2025

On Friday, May 16, 2025, ITS will implement a new security measure requiring all Zoom meetings to use a waiting room, passcode, or authentication for entry. If you currently have a Zoom meeting scheduled on or after the implementation date with no security measure in place, a waiting room will automatically be added to your meeting.

Records Retention Reminder

When using George Mason collaboration tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, it is important that all users adhere to university guidelines and retention policies. For more information, see the Collaboration Tools Retention Policy.

Microsoft Copilot for the Web Available

Microsoft Copilot for the Web, a free AI-powered web chat, is available for George Mason students and employees to access generative AI. See https://its.gmu.edu/service/copilot/ for full details.

The Staff Senate has received questions, comments, and concerns from constituents about changing circumstances with federal support for higher education.

As we continue to navigate this dynamic environment, more messages from University senior leadership will be coming in the days and weeks ahead to help our community navigate the emerging landscape. There is also a new web page called Federal Compliance Updates on our University News site where the latest university guidance and verified federal government instruction on compliance are being posted.

We encourage you to monitor this site for news and timely updates from University leadership.

 

In addition to constituent questions that were presented to the President, some of the pre-submitted questions for our February meeting were passed on to representatives from HR for their response.

Could the university expand the number of tuition exemption credits for staff to take courses at the university? 

We offer a robust and competitive tuition exemption program for employees. The program and the number of tuition exemption credits employees can take per semester are designed to consider various factors, including workload, departmental needs, and overall employee well-being. We understand that flexibility and support are key to fostering a positive work environment, and we strive to balance these elements. We are always committed to staying informed about current trends and best practices, and we appreciate your feedback and suggestions as we continue to enhance our offerings.

Could the university offer an hour lunch break for staff instead of 30 minutes?

Department of Human Resources Management Policy 1.25 (pdf) “Hours of Work,” states that a 30-minute unpaid lunch break shall be afforded for employees who work at least 6 consecutive hours.  Employees seeking to extend their lunch break are encouraged to talk to their supervisor about flexible work options, with the following key points in mind:

• • Discretionary breaks (two fifteen-minute breaks) may be granted to employees who work an eight-hour day or longer.
  • The lunch period is not counted as hours worked.
  • Discretionary breaks cannot be added to the 30-minute lunch break.

An example of how this could work, with supervisor approval, might be:

• • Begin work at 8:00 am
  • Break 10:15 am
  • Lunch 12-1 pm (30 minute unpaid + 30 minute flextime)
  • Break 2:15 pm
  • End day at 5:00 pm

A reminder that employees with flexible work agreements must have a flexible work agreement on file.

Will more vacant Classified positions be filled? Some employees are taking on the job responsibilities for employees who have left George Mason and doing the work on top of their current roles. This is not sustainable in the long run.

We understand this is an ongoing challenge across the university. We continue to encourage employees and supervisors to have conversations about workload, prioritization, and strategies for streamlining or making processes more efficient. Please check MasonLEAPS for learning opportunities related to holding 1:1 conversations, self-advocacy, and change management. For support in discussing workload with your supervisor, please reach out to Employee Relations at [email protected].

In lieu of larger pay increases than what we currently receive, is offering additional time off/holiday pay something the administration has considered?  

Each year, our senior leadership team works with HR to review the Commonwealth’s holiday calendar with the goal of providing a 2-week winter break where possible. In order to create the winter break we enjoy at the university, certain holidays (such as President’s Day) are shifted to be observed in December. There are times where administration supplements the holidays granted by the Commonwealth to extend winter break by granting additional holiday leave; this leave comes at an operating cost to the university, so this decision is made based on complex factors, but please know this suggestion is part of the decision-making process at George Mason.

Additional questions were raised about the tuition benefit and subsequent tax implications. These concerns will be passed on to Payroll and we hope to have feedback to share at either the March meeting or the next newsletter.

The Staff Senate’s February General Meeting featured Dr. Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University. Some pre-submitted questions were also submitted to Human Resources who have provided responses.

If you missed the session, you may review the recording.

Charles “Cully” Stimson, rector, George Mason University, has been invited as our March Staff Senate meeting guest speaker. During our general business meeting, there will be a brief presentation regarding the Budget Model Redesign.

Wednesday, March 5
10-11 a.m.: Rector Stimson Session
11a.m. to noon: Budget Redesign Presentation and General Meeting
Constituents are invited to attend in-person in Merten Hall, Room 1201 or 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 will collect questions in advance for consideration before February 25, 3 p.m. We will also be accepting live questions, time permitting.

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 George Mason community. The work of the senate is accomplished through open and continuous communication with its constituents.

*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 George Mason-licensed Zoom account, you should not see a difference. If you are not already signed into your George 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.

 

Byte Plans Still Available

Make mealtime effortless this spring with a Byte Meal Plan—designed for busy faculty and staff who want convenience, savings, and great food on campus! Enjoy all-you-care-to-eat dining halls or use one meal swipe equivalency per day at The Eaterie, George Mason’s brand-new food hall featuring diverse, grab-and-go options.

Cheer on Mason Basketball at Our Watch Parties!

Join your fellow Patriots for the final two Patriot Perks Basketball Watch Parties of the season! Catch Mason Men’s Basketball at Commonwealth Brewing on Saturday, February 22, as they take on rival VCU, and don’t miss history in the making at PJ Skidoos on Friday, February 23, for our first-ever Women’s Basketball Watch Party as George Mason faces St. Joe’s. Enjoy giveaways, great food, and exclusive discounts with your Mason ID. RSVP today.

Are you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? The 2025-2026 Leadership Legacy Program (LLP) is now accepting applications for passionate George Mason faculty and staff ready to make a lasting impact!

This transformative program is designed for those eager to build their leadership capacity – whether you’re stepping into a leadership role, preparing for future opportunities, or looking to grow as a leader in your current position. It’s all about strengthening George Mason’s leadership culture and fostering inclusive excellence.

Program Details:

• Nine in-person seminars (October – May), Fridays 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Key themes: higher education leadership, shared governance, change management, and more
• Self-assessments, case studies, leadership coaching, and peer learning

What’s Required for the Application?

• Leadership philosophy (2 pages)
• Responses to key questions about how the program will help you and George Mason
• Current CV or resume
• One supervisor recommendation

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to develop leadership skills that will benefit you and the entire George Mason community. Submit your application to [email protected] by March 21!

For more information, visit the Leadership Legacy website.

 

Are you struggling with anxiety?  Concerns?  Need some support?  George Mason’s Center for Community Mental Health offers two emotional support lines (English & Spanish) and 3 FREE coping skills therapy sessions to anyone connected to George Mason (students, staff, faculty and contractors). Sessions are virtual and there is NO waitlist! Sessions are confidential and do NOT connect with your George Mason record or employment.

Find out more about Emotional Support Line numbers and request for sessions .