The Staff Senate’s work is threefold: to advocate, appreciate, and educate George Mason’s classified and non-student wage employees on matters that have an impact on their work life.
We achieve those goals through engaging with our constituents, cultivating relationships with university administration, and working collaboratively across all campus communities. To learn more about our work in each of these areas, please click-through the drop-down menus below.
The heart of the Staff Senate’s work is advocacy. Senators serve on a variety of university advisory committees and take on issues pertinent to staff.
Contact the Staff Senate via email or by completing the contact form for more information or if you are interested in volunteering on an advisory committee.
A core function of the Staff Senate is the organization of staff appreciation events on all George Mason campuses. We also sponsor the Outstanding Supervisor Award and participate in the Employee of the Month initiative.
The Staff Senate distributes a monthly newsletter via the Staff Senate Listserv. If you are not receiving these messages, please send an email to [email protected].
Do you have an announcement for our newsletter? Please submit it through our Qualtrics submission form!
Committees
The Staff Senate Awards and Engagement Committee celebrates and supports the outstanding staff who make George Mason University thrive. We recognize exceptional contributions through the Employee of the Month program, where we honor colleagues with meaningful gifts and words of appreciation.
Our committee also sponsors and selects recipients for the Outstanding Supervisor Award and the Patriot Pathbreakers Award, presented annually at the Outstanding Achievement Awards in collaboration with our partners in Human Resources.
In addition to celebrating excellence, we strive to build connection and community. We serve as a first point of contact for new classified staff at orientations and represent the Staff Senate at events and tabling across all three campuses. Our goal is to meet colleagues where they are, share the impactful work of the Senate, engage with them, and be a supportive ally as they navigate workplace challenges.
You can view all current committee members here.
The Staff Senate Communications Committee is responsible for ensuring effective communication between the Staff Senate and the George Mason staff community. The committee focuses on staff awareness of campus resources, events, programs, services, staff accomplishments, and other relevant initiatives by developing and implementing communication strategies across multiple platforms, including the Staff Senate website, a monthly newsletter, and monthly meetings with speakers that align with the interests and needs of staff.
You can view all current committee members here.
The Staff Senate Events Committee hosts meaningful experiences that strengthen connection and engagement among staff at George Mason University. Each year, the committee coordinates two major staff appreciation events at each campus as well as additional outreach and professional development opportunities to foster open communication and community-building. The Events Committee also leads donation drives to extend Staff Senate’s impact beyond campus and deepen engagement with the broader community.
You can view all current committee members here.