Around Mason: Week of Feb. 23, 2021

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Faculty/Staff Announcements

Have something to share? Review announcement guidelines and 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


Final Call for Outstanding Achievement Awards Nominations

The 2021 Outstanding Achievement Awards nomination deadline is fast approaching!

These awards celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of Mason’s faculty and staff. Award categories include the Adjunct Faculty Service Award, the Mason Faculty/Staff Alumni Award, the Exceptional Support Award, and more.

If you would like to recognize a faculty or staff member’s dedication and contributions to Mason, be sure to submit a nomination by March 5.

Questions? Contact awards@gmu.edu.


Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Town Hall on Feb. 23

The Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Taskforce (ARIE) invites all members of the Mason community to participate in the first of two virtual town hall meetings on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 2–3:30 p.m. Register here.

Attendees will learn about ARIE’s organizational structure and the group’s progress since it was established in September. Draft recommendations from the group’s committees will also be shared. For more information, visit the ARIE website.


March Staff Senate Meeting with Guest Speaker Rose Pascarell

The March Staff Senate Meeting will feature guest speaker Rose Pascarell, vice president of University Life. Rose will share updates on student life and discuss ways that staff can help Mason students achieve their academic and personal goals during the unique challenges of the pandemic.

During the general business meeting (10–11 a.m.), Michelle Griffith will share a brief update about the Patriot Learning Pod.

Wednesday, March 3
10 a.m. to 11 a.m., General Business Meeting
11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Guest Speaker Rose Pascarell
Zoom Meeting: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/97615034925?pwd=dHhrSy9OeUxxMW1Ic2liV0F0czlmdz09
Passcode: SS123
Call in: 301-715-8592 or 267-831-0333
Webinar ID: 976 1503 4925 / Passcode: 572793

Submit a question or comment for the session by Feb. 24.

All are welcome to attend the Staff Senate meeting. Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu with questions.


ITS Extending the Duo "Remember Me" Feature to 14 Days 

Effective Feb. 22, Information Technology Services (ITS) is increasing the number of days devices can be remembered for users verifying their identities with Duo Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).

The number of days users can stay logged into their Duo account on devices without being prompted for a second factor is now 14 days.

To stay logged in to your account, check the "Remember me for 14 days” option when authenticating with your second factor. You should only use this feature on devices you use regularly and trust.

Additional information is available on the ITS website. For questions, contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu.


New: Patriot Pathbreakers Team Award

Do you know a high-performing, collaborative team that embodies the Mason value, We thrive together? 

If so, the Staff Senate and Human Resources and Payroll are accepting nominations until March 5 for the brand-new Patriot Pathbreakers Award. 

Two teams will be chosen and honored at the Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony on April 13, 10–11:30 a.m. Visit the website for more details and the nomination form.

Questions? Contact awards@gmu.edu.


Curbside Pickup at the Arlington Campus

Can't come to campus? Let us bring the campus to you! The Arlington Campus is excited to pilot curbside pickup services for students, faculty, and staff. Starting Thursday, Feb. 25, you will be able to pick up:

  • Mason photo IDs
  • Bookstore orders
  • Face coverings
  • Library books

Curbside pickup will be available in front of Van Metre Hall on Thursdays from 3:45–5 p.m.

For details and to arrange a pickup, visit arlington.gmu.edu/student-resources/curbside-pickup.


Equinox Explorers Club: Spring Break Program for Kids

Business Services Administration and the Patriot Learning Pod are pleased to announce the Equinox Explorers Club, a week-long program during spring break for most local school districts (March 29 to April 2).

Activities will include arts and crafts, science topics, language arts, and other fun and educational activities. Space availability currently will limit the camp to 8–10 children, ages kindergarten through third grade. Organizers would like to hear if parents of older children would also be interested in attending.

Registration should open soon and is anticipated to cost $199 for the children of Mason faculty/staff and $219 for non-Mason attendees.

Organizers would love to hear feedback as they finish up the design of this program. Contact plp@gmu.edu with questions or suggestions.


Training and Professional Development


Career Influencers Network Training for Faculty and Staff

University Career Services will offer its Career Influencer Training as a virtual workshop series March 2–4 from 10–11 a.m. each day. The three modules will focus on defining career readiness, understanding how employers recruit Mason students in all degree programs, and supporting students at various stages in their career development.

Participants must participate in all three scheduled workshops in the series to complete the training. To register, click here.


Virtual Mason Leadership Summit: Innovative Leadership for Adult Learners and Student Parents

Registration is now open for the 2021 Virtual Mason Leadership Summit: Innovative Leadership for Adult Learners (25 years old and up) and Student Parents.

Participants will learn practical ways to further develop as leaders in multiple contexts (career, family, community, etc.), whether they have a formal leadership position or not.

This summit is hosted by the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Office and Contemporary Student Services.

Open to students, faculty, and staff. For more information and to register, visit lead.gmu.edu/summit.


Resources for You


One-Day Summit on Accelerating Active Transportation Change in Northern Virginia

A group of 11 Northern Virginia organizations, including Mason Parking and Transportation, are teaming up for a one-day virtual summit on Thursday, March 25, via Zoom.

The summit will address how to make active transportation more accessible to all, including sessions on the following:

  • Intersection of health and active transportation
  • Promoting equitable outreach
  • The business case for active transportation
  • And much more

Event speakers include local elected officials; advocacy, planning, and consulting professionals; and academic research faculty.

Registration is required. Visit transportation.gmu.edu/activetranspchange.


Mason Arts at Home: Upcoming Performances

Visual Voices Speaker Series: Rozeal
Mason School of Art
Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
V
irtual Event
Presented in a digital format, the School of Art invites you to this intimate look inside artists’ minds, workshops, and practices.
 Rozeal (FKA Iona Rozeal Brown) was born in Washington, D.C. Her paintings utilize traditional ukiyo-e printmaking techniques to meld Japanese folklore, geisha, kabuki, and ganguro culture, and burapan (which appropriates black culture imagery) with her own references to hip-hop and African-American culture.

Ranky Tanky  
Live from the Hylton Center
Saturday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. 
Virtual Event

Enjoy the 2020 Grammy® Award-winning quintet, Ranky Tanky, in a digital concert that is part-folk, part-funk, and totally fearless. From the comfort of your home, Ranky Tanky’s performance is guaranteed to lift your spirits with their soulful sound and lively rhythms.

The Artist Activist: Centering Black Voices with Lawrence Brownlee 
Monday, March 1, at 7 p.m. 
Virtual Event

The Artist Activist: Centering Black Voices speaker series returns with one of America’s foremost modern opera singers, Lawrence Brownlee, in conversation with distinguished Mason Opera Professor and Director of Vocal Studies, Patricia Miller.

The evening will continue the series’ mission to discuss the intersection between the arts industry and social justice movements, highlighting the opportunity to change the future of the field to be more diverse and inclusive.