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Volunteers Needed for Commencement New Interdisciplinary Minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies Patriot Pack Out Provides Opportunities to Donate and Volunteer Staff Appreciation Day Is Coming Soon Center for Teaching Excellence Workshop Office of Research Development Workshops 13th Annual Northern Chapter VSCPA Golf Tournament Free Summer Programs for Non-Native Speakers of English
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Mason E-FilesPosted May 5, 2008 | ||
| Announcements | |||
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| Volunteers Needed for Commencement Here's your chance to be part of the happiest event on campus. The Office of Events Management is soliciting volunteers to work at the Information Kiosks in the Patriot Center for Commencement on Saturday, May 17. Volunteers need to arrive at the Patriot Center at 8:30 am (continental breakfast is available), doors open at 9:00 am, and Commencement begins at 10:00 am. The volunteers are welcome to stay for the ceremony or may leave around 10:30 am. If you would like to volunteer, call Beth Grohnke at 993-2124 or sgrohnke@gmu.edu | |||
| The telephone systems that support the distributed campuses are scheduled to be upgraded. The length of the telephone outages incurred by the distributed campuses will vary by campus. Fairfax. This upgrade was done on Saturday, May 3 at 10:00 pm. The total amount of downtime was approximately 30 minutes. This outage affected telephone service on all campuses, so see below about the voice mail message waiting indicator. Arlington. This upgrade is scheduled for Saturday evening, May 17. The total amount of downtime is expected to be 10 hours. We have coordinated this effort with Arlington operations staff and have placed by-pass phones in critical areas to provide dial tone to this campus while the telephone system is upgraded. Prince William. This upgrade is scheduled for Saturday, May 24. The total amount of downtime is expected is to be 10 hours. We have coordinated this effort with the Prince William operations staff and have placed by-pass phones in critical areas to provide dial tone to this campus while the telephone system is upgraded. The message waiting indicator for voice mail will need to be reset after the upgrades. Encourage all staff and faculty to dial into their voice mail boxes to reactivate the message waiting indicator. Should further assistance be needed to reset a voice mail indicator, call Telecom Admin at 993-3546. Should you have any questions, regarding the telephone upgrades, contact Doris Rollins at 993-3470 or drollins@gmu.edu | |||
| New Interdisciplinary Minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies Beginning in Fall semester 2008, Mason undergraduates will be able to pursue an interdisciplinary minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS). The sponsoring faculty in Anthropology, English, History, Music, and New Century College will offer a broad range of courses that reflect on the history, culture, politics, and identity of indigenous cultures. The minor will focus primarily on Native American peoples in the U.S., but it also includes indigenous cultures from around the world. NAIS 201: Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies will be offered in the Fall, along with other courses applicable to the minor. The new minor is structured to meet multiple interests and needs within the university and also the larger Washington D.C. metropolitan region. At present the percentage of Mason undergraduates who self-identify as American Indian or Alaskan Native is approximately 0.35, among the largest percentage of any college or university in the D.C. metro area. But no other regional college or university offers a Native Studies program. In fact, very few colleges or universities along the eastern seaboard offer such a program. Students interested in pursuing the NAIS minor should contact Professor Eric Anderson, English, eandersd@gmu.edu. | |||
| Did you know that George Mason University is now participating in an environmental program for recycling used rechargeable batteries like ni-cad, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride and small sealed lead less than two pounds? These batteries are found in two-way radios, portable power tools, laptop computers, cell phones, emergency lighting, etc. Alkaline or one time use batteries cannot be recycled. Boxes for the batteries are at multiple locations: Johnson Center, across from the information desk under the LCD TV, and Patriot Computers; SUB I and SUB II info desks; the warehouse at Facilities Management, and at the Office of Laboratory Safety, Patriot Square, 10517 Braddock Rd., Suite 1701. Instructions are located on each box. Simply place one battery or cell phone in the provided plastic bags, seal and place in the box. Leave the cell phone intact and only one battery or cell phone per plastic bag. If practical, the cell phones are refurbished with all the proceeds from their sale going to charity. The batteries are broken down with the metals being reused to manufacture new batteries. For questions or more info call 993-2547 or email rlim2@gmu.edu. | |||
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| Eldercare Support Group: Care for the Caregiver (New Time for May Only). The eldercare support group meeting time has changed for May. Instead of meeting at noon on Wednesday, May 14, the group will be meeting at 4:00 pm on May 14 in Mason Hall, Room D5. The eldercare support group is designed to bring faculty and staff together who are caring for an elderly family member to share strategies that work and gain insights into the caregiving role. This month, we're adding a new dimension to the support group -- Care for the Caregiver. Join Patrice Winter, eldercare coordinator and licensed physical therapist, who will be discussing reflexology. No need to register, just stop by. Six Flags America. Mason faculty and staff can enjoy Six Flags America at a discount. A one-day admission is $21.99 plus tax (a $3.00 service charge is added to each order ... not each ticket). See myMasonHR for details. Your email login and password are all you need to enter myMasonHR. | |||
| Patriot Pack Out Provides Opportunities to Donate and Volunteer The second annual Patriot Pack Out gives faculty and staff a fun way to utilize their Volunteer Service Leave. The week-long event primarily gives students moving out of the residence halls an opportunity to donate clothes, appliances and nonperishable food to local charities. Faculty and staff are needed to volunteer for two-hour shifts between May 9 and 16 to join the recycling staff and gather the donated items at various drop locations around the Fairfax Campus. Those who wish to volunteer may select a specific shift on the Patriot Pack Out sign-up sheet. In addition to the students, faculty and staff can make donations to the Patriot Pack Out. On May 13, from 7:30 am to 9:30 am Mason employees can drop off their bagged donations at the Interstate Worldwide truck located behind Harrison Hall on Presidents Park Drive on the Fairfax Campus. | |||
| Events | |||
| On Friday, May 16, join bicycle commuters in the D.C. metro area to celebrate Bike to Work Day. Mason cyclists will gather at University Mall for a free breakfast, raffles of bike-related prizes, and bicycling information handouts including the new Fairfax County Bike Map to be unveiled on Bike to Work Day. Pre-registered riders also get a free t-shirt. Register at www.waba.org. | |||
| Staff Appreciation Day Is Coming Soon Mason's Staff Senate invites all classified, non-student wage employees and administrative faculty to Staff Appreciation Day. This year the Staff Senate will offer free food and beverages at the Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William campuses and will mail gift certificates for a surprise treat to our staff at Loudoun. Mark your calendar for the day and time at your campus. Arlington - June 3, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm, Original Building, Room 302, and Hazel Hall, Room 215 Fairfax - June 4, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm, Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall (South) Prince William - June 5, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm, Bull Run Atrium Loudoun - Staff will receive gift certificates in the mail for something special For more information, contact Nina Joshi, njoshi@gmu.edu. | |||
| Center for Teaching Excellence Workshop Faculty and graduate students are invited to attend the following faculty development workshop. Mapping Learning Objectives with Technology Tools by Ying Xie (Learning Support Services) Thursday, May 8, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm, Innovation Hall, Room 334. Register on-line: ittraining.gmu.edu For more information visit, www.gmu.edu/cte/workshops/workshops.htm. | |||
| Office of Research Development Workshops Conflict
of Interest/Commitment. Identifies what conflicts of interest are and
how they are to be handled, as well as examples of the types of conflicts that
are encountered by researchers and institutions. Explore areas of potential conflict
that can arise in collaboration, publication and in financial relationships. Presenters:
Conflict of Interest Committee Members. Grant Writing. Provides instruction on how to write grant proposals. It will include specifics on how to read and interpret a Request for Proposal and how to apply it to your proposal. Includes information on what grant reviewers and program officers look for in a proposal and advice on how to develop a strong proposal. Presenters: A. McGuigan and L. Schioler (a grant project director and former program officer at the NSF and the U.S. Air Force Department of Research). May 15, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Research I, Room 162. Research Resources: Office of Sponsored Programs. This session will provide a description of the services provided by OSP. Includes information on roles and responsibilities in research administration at Mason and details on the proposal submission process. Presenter: M. Laskofski. May 21, 11:00 am - 12:00 noon, Mason Hall, Room D3. | |||
| Just a reminder that Health Care and Flexible Spending Account Open Enrollment runs through Friday, May 16. Open Enrollment is your chance every year to enroll in or change your health plan, add or remove family members or enroll in a flexible reimbursement account (FRA). If you take no action, your health plan and membership will remain the same, but current FRAs will end on June 30. Remember that you must enroll in an FRA each year. The Benefits Team will be visiting each campus during open enrollment to share a presentation and answer questions about open enrollment and your health and flexible spending account options. Arlington
- Tuesday, May 6, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Original Building, Room 269 To register for any of the information sessions, visit http://hr.gmu.edu/training. And visit the HR and Payroll homepage for the latest in Health and Flex Open Enrollment information including a 7 minute video presentation on open enrollment. If you have any questions, call the HR and Payroll Customer Service Center at 993-2600 and ask to speak to a member of the Benefits Team or email them at benefits@gmu.edu. | |||
| The Association of Black Faculty, Administrators and Staff (ABFAS) will hold its final monthly organizational meeting of the Spring semester on Wednesday, May 7, 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, Johnson Center, African American Studies Resource Center: The Paul Robeson Room, Room 240A. Feel free to bring your lunch and invite colleagues interested in becoming members of the organization to participate. For more information about ABFAS, visit our website today at http://www.abfas.gmu.edu/. Thanks to all current members for your continued support of ABFAS. | |||
| Toastmasters is coming to Mason. A year in Toastmasters can change your life and accelerate your career. Join the first meeting of the George Mason Toastmasters Club. The demonstration kickoff meeting is Tuesday, May 13, 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, Johnson Center, Room B. Come see what a Toastmasters meeting is like. Lunch is free. People join Toastmasters to improve their public speaking and leadership skills. A number of us are organizing a lunch-time Toastmasters club on campus – which makes it easy to attend meetings. This club is intended for staff, faculty, and graduate students (a second club for undergraduates will begin in the Fall). Whatever your level of presentation skills, Toastmasters is the place to practice and get better. Beginners go to Toastmasters to overcome their fear of public speaking in a safe environment, and professional keynote speakers go to Toastmasters to practice new material. Contact Andy Finn in the Department of Communication, afinn@gmu.edu, 703-850-7003 with questions or comments. Or just show up. Did we mention that lunch is free? | |||
13th Annual Northern Chapter VSCPA Golf Tournament Join the School of Management on Monday, May 19 for the 13th Annual Northern Chapter of the Virginia Society of CPAs Golf Tournament. For thirteen years, alumni, current students, professors and the local business community have met to compete in this scramble golf tournament. Proceeds will support student scholarships and a professorship in the School of Management. Entry fees are $150/person; $600/foursome. Entry fees include prizes, green fees, range balls, beverages, and a barbecue dinner. Come for a day of golf and fun at the Virginia Oaks Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. For more information click here. | |||
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| Training | |||
| Free Summer Programs for Non-Native Speakers of English This summer the English Language Institute will offer a free two-part seminar in graduate-level writing and free pronunciation, grammar and conversation/culture workshops for non-native speakers of English. The writing seminar is open to non-native English speaking graduate students and visiting scholars; the workshops are open to all international and immigrant members of the Mason community. Registration is required for the writing seminar; contact Melissa Allen at malle2@gmu.edu. Registration is not required for the workshops. Seminar in Graduate-Level Writing. Monday and Wednesdays, 2:00 pm - 3:40 pm, Part One (Basics): May 28 to June 25; Part Two (Research Writing): June 30 to July 28. Pronunciation Workshops. Mondays, June 16 to July 21, 12:00 noon - 12:50 pm, Robinson A, Room 245. Grammar Workshops. Tuesdays, June 17 to July 22, 12:00 noon - 12:50 pm, Robinson A, Room 245 Conversation and Culture Workshops. Wednesdays, June 18 to July 23, 5:30 pm - 6:20 pm, Robinson A, Room 206 For more information about the English Language Institute's programs for the Mason community, contact Melissa Allen, Coordinator of Support Services for Non-Native Speakers of English, at malle2@gmu.edu or 993-3642. | |||
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| Fiscal Services Walk-in Assistance. Every Wednesday, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, Research I, Room 92. Faculty and staff are welcome to stop by for assistance with issues related to eVA, Banner Finance, travel, food and beverage, and PI Reports. No appointment is necessary. Call Joey Carls at 993-2089 for additional information. Basic eVA Purchasing. Thursday, May 8, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, Johnson Center, Room 311B. Hands-on workshop for utilizing Virginia's electronic procurement system to purchase goods and services less than $2,000. Travel. Thursday, May 15, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, Johnson Center, Room 311B. This workshop will provide detailed information on processing travel authorizations before a trip and travel reimbursement requests at the conclusion of a trip. Procedures for purchasing airline/train tickets, hotel accommodations and rental cars will also be covered. The session will conclude with a demonstration of Mason's automated Travel Request System. PI Financial Reports for Faculty and Grant Administrators. Friday, May 16, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Innovation Hall, Room 334. Hands-on training for using Discoverer reports to view financial transactions related to sponsored projects. A representative from OSP will be available for questions. Banner Finance Self Service. Tuesday, May 27, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, Johnson Center, Room 311B. This workshop for faculty and staff who work with budget and financial activity provides an overview of the University's Banner Finance system and chart of accounts. It includes hands-on training to view reports generated by the system. Contact Joey Carls 993-2089 for information or register online at http://ittraining.gmu.edu/. | |||
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| How to Use eWork. Learn more about the benefits and functions of the eWork online hiring/recruiting system at Mason. Join the Human Resources and Payroll team as they share some of the tips and tricks for using eWork. Also, learn about the new upcoming modules for eWork that can make your hiring easier and more efficient. This workshop will take place on Tuesday, May 13, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm, Innovation Hall, Room 334. New SUPERvisor Series: Smile. Say Cheese. Supervisors at Mason are invited to learn about change management during a training based on the book Who Moved My Cheese?, by Spencer Johnson, MD. Join Rick Holt as he helps put the book’s principles into action to help you find and enjoy the new cheese. Each participant will receive a copy of the book to read before the training. All Mason supervisors are invited to attend this workshop, which will take place on Wednesday, May 14, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, Johnson Center, Room B. Electronic Approval (EA). Join HR on Thursday, May 15, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Innovation Hall, Room 334 for this Banner software training. Participants will be given access to a computer and, using support documentation and several practice employee entries, will learn how to enter full or part time employees on temporary assignment into the Banner system without error. To register for any of these sessions, visit http://hr.gmu.edu/training | |||
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