George Mason University: Around Mason: Week Of Sept. 14, 2021

Press release from George Mason University:

September 14th, 2021

Have something to share? Review announcement guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form. Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition. Campus Updates Save the Date for the Winter Wellness Flu Shot Clinics Mark your calendars! Winter Wellness Flu Shot Clinics will be hosted at the Fairfax and SciTech campuses on the following dates: Fairfax Campus: Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall SciTech Campus: Oct. 19, noon to 1 p.m. in Colgan Hall, Room 110H The flu shot clinics will follow all safety and social distancing protocols. Shots will be offered by appointment only. We will also share information on alternative options if you are not able to attend one of the above flu shot clinics. This will include information on options near the Arlington Campus and a list of locations where Kaiser Permanente members can receive the flu shot. Stay tuned—more details and registration information will be available soon. Questions? Contact worklife@gmu.edu. Package Delivery Problems Mason is experiencing ongoing parcel delivery issues with several delivery services. Some drivers are leaving packages at Information Desks, loading docks, or other unattended public areas rather than delivering these parcels as addressed. This issue primarily impacts faculty and staff, as student parcels are distributed via lockers in the mail room. In light of this issue, using the United States Postal Service (USPS) to deliver items is the safest bet, as those parcels are processed through the mail room and delivered with campus mail. Mason’s current mail contract does not contain a provision to have packages centrally delivered for other delivery services, though that option is being explored and funds sought for it. If you encounter an unattended or misdelivered package, please send a picture of the label and/or tracking number to Buz Grover so the appropriate delivery service can be contacted and the issue addressed with their delivery staff. Questions or comments? Reach out to Buz Grover, Operations and Business Services, at 703-993-5784 or hgroveri@gmu.edu. Try the Faculty/Staff Meal Plan Looking for a flexible and affordable dining option? Try the Byte Meal Plan! It’s a great option, exclusive to Mason faculty and staff. Simply purchase a plan with a fixed number of meals and eat at any dining hall on campus. The Byte Meal Plan has three different plans with the choice of 10, 25, and 50 meal swipes. Plans are priced as low as $7.40 per swipe. To learn more or purchase this meal plan, visit mealplans.gmu.edu. For questions, contact the Mason Card Office (located in SUB I, Room 1203) at 703-993-2870 or masonid@gmu.edu. Vision Series Returns This Fall The Office of the Provost will once again host the Mason Vision Series, which sheds light on the real world research and creativity that takes place every day on Mason campuses. This semester, the series will be held both in person (Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 1201) and livestreamed through GMU-TV. Climate Change: Science, Politics and Ethics
Monday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m
Distinguished University Professor Jagadish Shukla, Managing Director of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies
RSVP Fall Cleaning on Patriot Web To keep the semester going on the right foot, let’s do some fall cleaning on Patriot Web. Please update your information, including addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contacts. Training and Professional Development Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference: Sept. 20–24 Save the date for the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning’s annual Innovations in Teaching & Learning (ITL) Conference from Sept. 20–24. ITL brings together Mason instructors from across disciplines to share teaching strategies through lively virtual interactive workshops and panels. This year's keynote speaker is Tia Brown McNair, vice president for diversity, equity, and student success and executive director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the Association of American Colleges and Universities. McNair will share her insights and expertise on fostering equity and inclusive excellence in higher education. McNair is lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education. Free access to the e-book is available courtesy of University Libraries. Register and find out more at stearnscenter.gmu.edu/itl. Virtual Performance Conversations Playlist Access the Virtual Performance Conversations Playlist on LinkedIn Learning for tools and resources supervisors and employees can use as they prepare for upcoming performance conversations. (Login required.) The playlist can be accessed through MasonLEAPS and LinkedIn Learning. Contact hr@gmu.edu with questions. Records Management Courses: Fall 2021 Schedule The fall schedule for records workshops has been posted online. If your department still needs to assign a Records Coordinator per University Policy 1102, workshops are available. Offices needing to transfer or request records from the University Records Center should take the Infolinx Database training for the new processing system. University Records Management is a compliance unit for Mason governing our public records. Improper handling can affect audits, accreditation, litigation, and more. Registration is required to attend. Workshops are conducted via Zoom. See dates, times, and workshop descriptions at recordsmanagement.gmu.edu/workshop.php. Resources for You Learn the Basics of When and How to Claim Social Security No matter your age or how far away you are from retirement, we want you to be able to enjoy retirement and do the things you want without having to worry about money. Join Fidelity for a complimentary learning event. If you anticipate Social Security will be your primary source of income in retirement, learn when and how to claim your benefit at this virtual web workshop. Learn the Basics of When and How to Claim Social Security (Virtual Workshop)
Wednesday, Sept. 15, noon
Register Contact hr@gmu.edu for more information. Time to Feel Better, Mason: Live CommonHealth Webinar How much time do you spend sitting each day? If you’re like most people, more than half of your waking hours are spent parked in a seated position. Even if you dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to formal exercise (such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming), it’s still important to get up and move for at least a few minutes, many times throughout the day. Join an upcoming CommonHealth webinar: Time to Feel Better
Thursday, Sept. 30, 1–2 p.m.
Register Contact worklife@gmu.edu with questions. Mason Recreation Faculty/Staff Membership Promotions Mason Recreation is here to help you reach your goals, understand/implement healthy habits into daily life, and make your health and well-being a priority. To help you make the most out of the upcoming year, the following membership promotions are available until Sept. 30: First Time Faculty/Staff Recreation Members: Enjoy a one-month free trial First Time “Payroll Deduction” Member: Receive one free personal training session Annual Membership Purchase: Get four months free (12 months for the price of eight) For details, visit the Mason Recreation website. To take advantage of one of these offers and begin your Mason Recreation membership, email masonrec@gmu.edu. Try Going Car-Free It’s always a great idea to have more than one way to get to Mason. Car-Free Day on Sept. 22 is an opportunity to try a new way to commute. Take the Car-Free pledge at carfreemetrodc.org, receive a Nift Gift, and be entered into a raffle for some great prizes. Remember, public transportation costs are subsidized for full-time Mason employees up to the IRS limit of $270/month. Details on the Commuter Choice Program are available at transportation.gmu.edu/commuter-choice. Contact transpo@gmu.edu with questions. Flu Awareness Webinar from Kaiser Permanente Join the Well-Being Wednesday Flu Awareness Webinar from Kaiser Permanente to get the scoop on the latest news on the flu, learn the difference between the flu and a cold, and find out what you can do to prevent both. Flu Awareness Webinar from Kaiser Permanente
Wednesday, Sept. 29, at noon
Register Take the opportunity to learn more about the flu before Mason’s Winter Wellness Flu Shot Clinics. You do not need to be a Kaiser Permanente member to participate. Contact hr@gmu.edu with questions. College of Visual and Performing Arts Presents: Arts Emerging Arts Emerging
Saturday, Sept. 25, 5–9 p.m.
Fairfax Campus: Holton Plaza, Center for the Arts, and Buchanan Hall
Tickets: $10 The arts are back at Mason! Join a family-friendly welcome back extravaganza full of arts, food, and community to celebrate the return of the arts to campus and the 20th anniversary of Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). The evening begins with showcases of student and alumni work and culminates with a program inside the Center for the Arts celebrating CVPA’s 20th anniversary. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Northern Virginia’s top food trucks. Learn to Ride with Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling Want to experience the joys of biking, but haven’t gotten around to learning? Now is your chance! Join Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) instructors as they teach the basics of bicycling on Saturday, Oct. 2, on the Fairfax Campus in Parking Lot C. The class is just $10 for Mason faculty, staff, and students (ages 18 and up). Bikes and helmets will be provided. Registration information is available at bike.gmu.edu. Contact transpo@gmu.edu with questions.

This press release was produced by George Mason University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.