Faculty/Staff Announcements
Have something to share? Review announcement guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form.
Campus Updates
Take Your Junior Patriot to Work
Share the magic of Mason with the youth in your life on April 25, Take Your Junior Patriot to Work Day. Across the Mason Square, Fairfax, and SciTech campuses, Junior Patriots can enjoy tie-dye, storytelling, outdoor games, and more.
Check the list of activities and events on the Take Your Junior Patriot to Work website. Complete the Take Your Junior Patriot to Work Day Consent Form by Friday, April 19, to participate. All participants must have a form on file prior to attending with their Junior Patriots. Those with a consent form on file will be sent sign up link.
As a reminder: Parents/Guardians are responsible for maintaining care, custody, and control of their child(ren) and for supervising them at all times of the day. For questions, contact engagehr@gmu.edu.
President’s Town Hall Meetings Scheduled for the Spring Semester
George Mason University President Gregory Washington will host two 90-minute town hall meetings to engage with faculty and staff.
The first town hall, for Mason employees working in nonacademic units, will take place on Tuesday, April 9, at 2 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus in The Hub Ballroom. The second town hall, for employees working in academic units, will take place on the Fairfax Campus on Tuesday, April 16, at 1 p.m. in the Johnson Center Bistro.
For those unable to attend in person, both town halls will be livestreamed on Zoom. Please contact your respective unit leadership for Zoom links and passwords.
Captioning will be available on the livestream. If you are in need of sign language interpreters for this event, please reach out to the Office of Disability Services.
Earth Month at Mason
April is Earth Month. Check out University Sustainability's Earth Month calendar for events and activities from campus partners throughout the month. Highlights include:
- Residence Hall Cooking 101: Friday, April 19, from 5–8 p.m. in the Sculpture Studio Yard at the Art and Design Building on the Fairfax Campus. Hosted by the Greenhouse and Gardens Program.
- Farmers’ Market: Tuesday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside Southside Dining Hall on the Fairfax Campus.
- Wellness Walk: Steps to Plant Trees: Friday, April 26, 9:30–11 a.m. (Johnson Center), and noon to 1:30 p.m. (Presidents Park). This event is a collaboration between Mason Dining and Facilities to plant trees around the Fairfax Campus.
Capital Bikeshare at the Fairfax Campus
Three new Capital Bikeshare stations have opened on the Fairfax Campus:
- Rappahannock River Lane (near Merten Hall and the shuttle shelters)
- York River Road/Patriot Circle (outside Nguyen Engineering Building, across from the Aquatic and Fitness Center)
- Horizon Hall (between Horizon Hall and Harris Theater)
Mason also has a Capital Bikeshare station at Mason Square in Arlington. All Mason students are eligible for a $25 annual Capital Bikeshare membership, a substantial discount. These bikeshare stations are part of a network that extends throughout the region. Visit bike.gmu.edu for more information.
Bike to Mason Days
Spring is here! Join Parking and Transportation at Bike to Mason Days:
- SciTech: Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Colgan Hall patio
- Mason Korea: Tuesday, April 23, 8:30–10:30 a.m., George Mason statue
- Fairfax: Wednesday, April 24, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Merten Lawn
- Arlington: Thursday, April 25, 3–7 p.m., Plaza
There will be food, biking resources, and fun giveaways. RSVP. Contact transpo@gmu.edu with questions.
Spring into Well-Being: April 22–26
Mason’s annual well-being celebration, Spring into Well-Being, will take place from Monday, April 22, through Friday, April 26. Each day will feature events that focus on a different well-being theme:
- Monday: Physical Health
- Tuesday: Resilience and Strengths
- Wednesday: Mental Health
- Thursday: Kindness (Mason Chooses Kindness)
- Friday: Thriving Together/Mason Day
View the list of events. Contact the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being with questions.
Donate, Don't Dump! Patriot Packout Returns from April 15 to May 10
Patriot Packout, Mason's annual sustainable move-out initiative, is happening April 15 to May 10. As students move out of their residence halls, donations of like-new and gently used items are collected at the Fairfax Campus, SciTech Campus, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.
This year, donated items will support Mason programs including the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, Art Supply Sharing Closet, First Gen+ Center, and Parking and Transportation's bike programs. Community organizations, such as Food for Others, will also receive donated items.
Visit the webpage for a list of accepted items, campus donation locations, and volunteer opportunities. Mason students who live off-campus and Mason employees are invited to bring any of the accepted items to the 24/7 outdoor drop-off locations.
Mason Quantum Week
Mason Quantum Science and Engineering Center (QSEC) will host Mason Quantum Week 2024 from April 15–17 to broaden awareness about the coming second quantum technological revolution. This hybrid event consists of technical seminars, entrepreneurship discussions, and poster presentations on quantum materials, sensing, computing, education, and policy. Attendees will meet guest speakers from academia, technology translation, industry, and legislation sector. Lunch and coffee will be provided. Check out the agenda and RSVP.
'Just Baked' Vending Machines
Introducing Just Baked, a revolution in vending convenience. Located on the Fairfax Campus in the Nyugen Engineering Building and Fenwick Library, these machines serve up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts in just one minute. Grab a bacon, egg, and gouda sandwich or a classic cinnamon roll on the go. Or, try something like spicy kung pao chicken potstickers—satisfy your cravings with the diverse menu. Visit one of these vending stations today for a deliciously quick meal. Contact Mason Dining with questions.
Summer Mason Shuttles Schedules Coming Soon
Mason Shuttles summer service begins on Monday, May 13. Service will be Monday–Friday only. Schedules will be posted soon at shuttle.gmu.edu. Reach out to shuttle@gmu.edu with questions.
Training and Professional Development
Thriving as a Supervisor in the Multi-Generational Workplace
Want to learn about thriving as a manager or supervisor in the multi-generational workplace? Looking for strategies to help address generational gaps on your team? Join the University Life Supervision Collective for the virtual April Manager Meet Up to discuss the topic, “Thriving as a Supervisor in the Multi-Generational Workplace” on Thursday, April 11, from 2–3 p.m. Find out more and register. This session is open to all faculty and staff. Contact Meeghan Milette with questions.
Term Faculty Committee to Host Spring Community Conversation
The Term Faculty Committee will host a community conversation to discuss its progress since last year’s update, answer questions about the work of the committee, and discuss issues. The conversation will be held on Monday, April 22, from 2–3:15 p.m. via Zoom. Visit the term faculty information page for more details.
Term Faculty Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure Info Session
A virtual Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) information session for term faculty is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, from 3:30–4:30 p.m. via Zoom. Guidance for term faculty appointment and promotion is located on the term faculty information website.
RPT information sessions for tenure-line faculty members are held in the fall. Guidance for tenure-line faculty is on the Tenure-Line RPT website. For any inquiries, reach out to Faculty Affairs.
Writing Center Workshop: Online Resources for Improving Word Choice and Grammar in Academic Writing
In this workshop, participants will learn to use a variety of online tools for improving word choice and grammar in academic writing. These resources can help writers acquire new words and phrases for use in research-based academic writing, understand how a specific word or phrase is used in academic contexts, identify which words go together, and check grammar. This online workshop will be hosted on Wednesday, April 10, from 2:30–4 p.m. Register on Mason360.
Resources for You
Money Smart Day: Building Financial Literacy
Mason's fourth annual Money Smart Day, hosted by the Student Support and Advocacy Center, will take place on Wednesday, April 17. This event is free and open to all members of the Mason community.
April is Financial Literacy Month, and Money Smart Day includes empowering sessions on anti-scam protection, home buying tips, health insurance essentials, salary negotiation tactics, and more. Learn more about the sessions and presenters on the Financial Well-Being webpage.
Friends and Threads Clothing Swap
Want to spice up your wardrobe? Have clothes to donate? Visit the Friends and Threads Clothing swap happening on three Mason campuses on Thursday, April 11, from noon to 5 p.m.
Drop off items prior to the event to receive a ticket based on how many items you provide. Bring your ticket to the event, and take as many pieces as you donated. Students are allowed to shop, even if they do not bring items to donate. Learn more and RSVP on Mason 360.
Faculty and Staff Book Scholarship: Call for Applications
Mason faculty and staff are invited to apply for the 2024 Faculty and Staff Book Scholarship, a $250 scholarship dedicated to paying for textbooks and supplies needed for Mason degree or certificate courses.
Apply by Friday, May 24. For further information, visit the webpage. Email awards@gmu.edu with questions.
Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice
Do you live within a few miles of campus and think biking to work could be good for your well-being? All faculty and staff are eligible to participate in the Bike Commuter Choice Program. The program has four tiers of support. The more you ride, the greater the financial incentive. The introductory tier is just five rides per quarter. For details, visit bike.gmu.edu and select the Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice Program. Need help finding a route? Check in with our bike volunteers. Contact Mason Transportation with questions.
Busboys and Poets Lecture: ‘Jimmy and Me’
The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center will host the second annual Busboys and Poets Lecture on Tuesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center (3740 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax, Virginia).
This lecture is part of the Baldwin100 series and will be delivered by Nikki Giovanni, whose friendship with James Baldwin formed the cornerstone of deeply personal public conversations. Giovanni, an award-winning writer and public intellectual, will reflect on her friendship with Baldwin and why Baldwin matters. The Busboys and Poets Lecture is an annual lecture of ideas hosted in collaboration with the founder of Busboys and Poets, Andy Shallal. Learn more and RSVP.
Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at Mason
Artist-Activist Speaker Series – Climate Change: Our Response as Artivists
Thursday, April 18, at 4 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts, Monson Grand Tier III
A group of panelists will explore ways in which artists can use their voices to expand global conversation on political, economic, social, and cultural questions at the root of the climate crisis. This event is a part of the Artist-Activist Speaker Series, an initiative of the Inclusive Collaborative Arts at Mason project.
Small Island Big Song: Trash to Music Workshop
Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m.
Off-campus: The Garden (5380 Eisenhower Ave., Suite C, Alexandria, Virginia)
Led by Small Island Big Song artist Sammy and hosted at UpCycle Creative Reuse Center, Trash to Music is an inspiring, hands-on workshop demonstrating how to make musical instruments from trash, commonly recycled, and/or reused materials. Recommended for ages 10 and up; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, and registration is required.
Mason Opera Presents a Comedic Double Bill
Dewberry School of Music
April 19–21, multiple performances
Fairfax Campus, Harris Theatre
Don’t miss this rare operatic comedy double bill. First up, Mozart’s witty The Impresario, a battle of divas and egos set to sublime music. Then, dive into the whimsical world of The Classical Style: An Opera (Of Sorts), where Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven embark on a hilarious quest to save classical music and to reclaim its glory. With rich orchestral scores and unforgettable characters, this double bill promises an evening of laughter and enchantment.
American Roots Series: Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
Saturday, April 20, at 5 and 8 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen is a torrent of bluegrass. Known for their pile-driving rhythms and Solivan’s bold vocals, the band’s last two albums received Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album.
Mason Artist-in-Residence: Small Island Big Song
Saturday, April 20, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Join Small Island Big Song for an experience combining music, spoken word, and stunning projections to showcase oceanic grooves and island ballads, while shining a light on the devastating effects of global warming. More than 100 Indigenous artists are represented to highlight a shared seafaring ancestry with interconnected musical traditions.
Family Series: The Okee Dokee Brothers
Sunday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
Grammy- and five-time Parents’ Choice Award-winning duo The Okee Dokee Brothers infuse bluegrass music and playful lyrics with an interest in the great outdoors, hoping to spark a desire in children to explore their surroundings and imaginations. Recommended for ages 3–8.
Mason Film Festival
April 22–24 and April 27
Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center
The Mason Film Festival is an annual event showcasing the diverse work of Film and Video Studies students, including that of beginning video students, intermediate directing students, and graduating seniors. This year, the festival will take place over four days: April 22–24 and April 27. The event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required.
Matinee Idylls: Bridging the Gap
Wednesday, April 24, at 1:30 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater
String duo Bridging the Gap features the talents of violinist and American Festival Pops Orchestra Artistic Director Peter Wilson and double bassist Aaron Clay. Celebrating 25 years of performances, this unlikely pair offers a unique voice to musical genres from classical to jazz, folk to film music, funk to popular song, and even Big Band.
Mason Wind Symphony Concert: The Blue Marble
Dewberry School of Music
Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
In collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Mason Wind Symphony presents “The Blue Marble: An Earth Concertvation Experience," a concert curated to bring awareness to humanity's collective responsibility in conservation. A pre-concert talk will highlight how artists can advocate for environmental awareness.
Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert
Dewberry School of Music
Friday, April 26, at 8 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts
This performance will feature both the Mason Concert Orchestra and Mason Symphony Orchestra performing a vast array of musical styles, from Puccini to pop and everything in between. This performance will also celebrate the winners of the 2024 Dewberry School of Music Concerto Competition: Jamilah Barnes (soprano), Ya Chi Tang (piano), Andrew Bell (bassoon), and Michael Abernathy (marimba). The evening will conclude with music from Bernstein’s beloved West Side Story.