Faculty/Staff Announcements
Have something to share? Submit an announcement from your unit to efiles@gmu.edu.
Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.
Campus Updates
Join Us for Mason Holidays at Home
George Mason University celebrates its faculty and staff for the work accomplished this year under extraordinary circumstances. Although we cannot celebrate in person with our annual holiday party, we want to spread cheer throughout the Mason community.
Join us for a virtual celebration filled with something for everyone. Participate in what interests you the most, and you might even win a prize!
Mason Holidays at Home will have ongoing opportunities to participate culminating in live events on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Visit the Mason Holidays at Home website for details.
Spring Parking Permit Sales begin Jan. 15 (Online Only)
Spring 2021 parking permits may be purchased online starting Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 at parking.gmu.edu.
As was the case in the fall, permits will only be sold with daily, weekly, monthly, and semester options. All permits are printable only; no hang tags (except for motorcycles).
For important details on parking permits for spring, visit the Parking and Transportation website.
Faculty and staff using payroll deduction for their parking permits do not need to take any additional action.
Contact parking@gmu.edu or 703-993-2828 with questions.
Virtual Holiday Donation Drive
The Staff Senate and Parking and Transportation are sponsoring a virtual holiday and food donation drive to support organizations in our communities. Rather than using drop-boxes to collect items on campus this year, we encourage the Mason community to use the contactless and virtual donation options offered by each charitable organization.
Causes and organizations include the Patriot Pantry, Student Emergency Fund, INOVA Children's Hospital, and more. View the complete list.
If you would like to drop off your donation in-person, please refer to the organization’s guidelines for accepting donations/items.
Parking and Transportation is offering a citation credit in exchange for charitable contributions made to these organizations through Tuesday, Dec. 15. Reduce the cost of an outstanding parking citation by $10 or $20 by making a donation to one of the charities listed. For important details, visit transportation.gmu.edu/donation.
Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu with questions.
Reminder: Mason Shuttles and Spring Semester
A reminder that the only Mason Shuttles route running Monday–Friday from Jan. 4–22, 2021 will be a very limited Fairfax/SciTech route. The schedule is available here.
There will be no shuttle service on Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Spring Mason Shuttles service will begin on Monday, Jan. 25, with two routes running: Fairfax/SciTech and Gunston Mason (Monday–Friday only). There will be no weekend service.
The Fairfax/SciTech route will run two buses with service every 75 minutes. Other than Fairfax/SciTech and Gunston Mason, all other routes will not operate during the spring semester.
For the latest information on Mason Shuttles, visit shuttle.gmu.edu.
Contact Mason Shuttles at 703-993-2828 or shuttle@gmu.edu with questions.
Telework and Inclement Weather
Employees working from home during a university closing are expected to continue working unless it is not possible due to power outages or other conditions that prevent them from working. Teleworkers (if it is their scheduled telework day) and remote workers continue to work even if:
- Classes are canceled and administrative offices are closed
- The university is on a modified schedule
For more details, visit flexwork.gmu.edu. Contact hr@gmu.edu with questions.
University Records Management Services Resuming
During COVID-19, University Records Management (URM) has ceased many of its public-facing services in an effort to reduce risks among the Mason community. As conditions allow, URM will resume certain operations in 2021, such as storage, box requests, and destruction services.
URM will prioritize requests associated with the Horizon Hall and Robinson B moves. URM will also implement a new database system to manage service requests. Training on the new management system will be available in addition to regular workshop offerings.
Those who anticipate using URM’s services need to receive training on the new system. More details will be posted in January 2021, along with the spring training and workshop schedule.
URM staff remain available for consultations, questions, and requests for special exceptions by email. Your patience is appreciated as there is limited staffing. Note: URM does not operate during university closures (such as winter break).
For questions, contact recmgt@gmu.edu.
Arcadia: Hear Nature's Songs with Artist Sam Nester
Arcadia: Hear Nature’s Songs with Artist Sam Nester
Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.
Mason Exhibitions
Free, online performance
Arcadia is an environmental public art installation on George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus, which features a stream of ever-changing music and light generated by the natural biorhythms of Virginia native plants.
Creator Sam Nester, an accomplished trumpet player, will use the music stream to create a concert of pieces inspired by the sounds being produced by the installation. The performance will be streamed simultaneously on the Center for the Arts webpage, Facebook, and YouTube at the scheduled time.
Training and Professional Development
New Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop
The New Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop will be hosted virtually in January. Save the date for Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, including resources and a sample schedule, visit the
New Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop website.
Contact Faculty Affairs and Development at facaffs@gmu.edu with any questions.
Virtual Webinar: Commuting to/from Arlington
Do you work at Mason and live in or commute to Arlington?
Join Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) and Commute66 as they outline your Arlington-based commute options at a Zoom webinar on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 at noon. Hear information about transit, car/vanpools, and Capital Bikeshare.
Learn about the COVID-19 safety precautions in place, and assess whether a new way of commuting makes sense for you.
Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
For questions, reach out to Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu.
Resources for You
Winter Break Timesheet Guidance
Winter break is around the corner. Refer to the Winter Break Timesheet Guidance for information about:
- Holiday hours
- Requirements to receive holiday pay
- How the holiday may affect alternative work schedules
For questions, contact hr@gmu.edu.
ITS Support Center Winter Break Hours
In observance of winter break, the ITS Support Center will close on Friday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. and will re-open and resume normal business hours on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at 8 a.m.
If you have an emergency while the ITS Support Center is closed, call 703-993-8870 and listen to the prompts to be connected to a representative.
Up-to-date information regarding alerts can be found at its.gmu.edu/alerts.
Hylton Center's 10th Anniversary Commemorative Ornament Now Available
2020 marks 10 years since the Hylton Performing Arts Center first opened its doors to serve as a creative commons for the vibrant and culturally rich community of greater Prince William County, Virginia.
This year also marks the completion of the Hylton Center’s new Education and Rehearsal Wing. The Hylton Center is celebrating both milestones with a special 2020 commemorative ornament.
Celebrate your favorite Hylton Center memory with this exclusive anniversary edition. Add it to an existing collection, or give it as the perfect gift for the arts lover in your life.
Your purchase of a 2020 ornament ($25) supports the Hylton Center’s Education Initiatives, which expand access to programs for learners of all ages.
Purchase your ornament today. Contact Jeremy Stern at jstern5@gmu.edu with questions.
DMV2Go Not Yet Available
Due to COVID-19, DMV2Go is not currently in operation. At this time, no visits have been scheduled to Mason’s Fairfax Campus in 2021.
For Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) COVID-19 service changes, visit the DMV website. Limited DMV services are available by appointment at the City of Fairfax’s City Hall. View details about DMV service limitations.