Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
University Life Gives Back—Summer Day of Service 2025
Registration is open for the 2025 University Life Gives Back—Summer Day of Service on Wednesday, July 23. Faculty and staff across the university are invited to participate in a variety of service projects. Immediately following all service projects, participants are invited to attend the University Life Gives Back Social from 1–2:30 p.m. Register.
George Mason Selects Chartwells Higher Education as New Dining Services Partner
George Mason University has selected Chartwells Higher Education, a national leader in campus dining, as its new dining services provider, following a comprehensive and competitive RFP process. George Mason’s contract with Chartwells started July 1 and is expected to transform dining on campus. Further information will be shared in the coming months about the transition process, upcoming opportunities for community feedback, and ways for students to help shape the future of dining on campus. Read more.
New AI Guidelines and Tools for George Mason University Students, Faculty, and Staff
George Mason University has released comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines. These resources provide framework and guidance for the responsible and ethical use of AI across the academic community.
George Mason’s enterprise AI platform, PatriotAI, represents the first major outcome of the university’s strategic partnership with Microsoft and Cloudforce to start a meaningful and thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence capabilities into university operations.
Through a suite of six specialized AI tools, called agents, PatriotAI offers secure, university-managed access to large language models that aid academic work, studies, and student life. Each agent was co-developed with members of the George Mason community, including the AI Visioning Task Force, and they represent our first lineup of AI tools designed to enhance learning, instruction, research, and administration across campus. For complete details about this vision, visit ai.gmu.edu.
Faculty and Staff Book Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to the 2025–26 Faculty and Staff Book Scholarship winners. Each awardee will receive $250 to use toward books and other educational materials from the George Mason University bookstore, supporting their continued academic studies:
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Tasneem Amrou, student outreach coordinator, College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Amrou is pursuing a master of arts in global affairs.
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Isela G. Caballero, communications coordinator, Health Administration and Policy, College of Public Health. Caballero is pursuing a master of public health in global health.
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Lee Friend, student success coach, Student Success Coaching. Friend is pursuing a master of social work.
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Raven Green McCormick, assistant director for career advising, College of Public Health. McCormick is pursuing a doctorate in education leadership.
Training and Professional Development
University Business Consulting: Summer Knowledge Share Series
Faculty and staff are invited to University Business Consulting’s Summer Knowledge Share Series. These summer sessions are open to all faculty and staff. The remaining session will cover the topic “Design Thinking and Experimentation” on Wednesday, August 13. This session will be held over lunch on the Fairfax Campus in Merten Hall, and via Zoom. Find out more and register.
Branded Products Educational Seminar
Join the Office of University Branding for a Branded Products Educational Seminar on Thursday, July 31, located in George's at the Johnson Center on the Fairfax Campus. Two 90-minute sessions will be facilitated in partnership with licensed vendor Pat Dome. Register by July 28. Anyone who purchases George Mason-branded products should attend.
Participants will learn about the following:
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Proper use of the university logo on products
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Selecting products that are “on brand” with George Mason’s colors
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Navigating the limitations of printing the logo on small products
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The licensing process cycle and the production process
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Different uses of the brand across the university
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Different embellishment options of the logo
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Requesting a two-color version of a unit logo
Contact David Atkins, executive director, brand development and licensing, with questions.
Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop
The Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop will be hosted virtually on Saturday, August 16, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New and returning adjunct faculty are invited to attend the workshop to help with the transition into their new role at George Mason. The workshop includes professional development support, resources, and introductions to friendly faces on campus.
Human Resources Liaisons should send the registration link to any new adjunct faculty as they are hired. For more information, visit the Adjunct Faculty Success Workshop webpage. For questions, contact Faculty Affairs and Development at facaffs@gmu.edu.
Mason Career Academy
George Mason University has launched Mason Career Academy, a new online learning resource that is free for current students, faculty, and staff to develop new skills. Mason Career Academy is also available to displaced workers, including federal workers and contractors in the region, for a small registration fee.
Mason Career Academy offers access to more than 90 online micro-credential courses and industry-recognized certifications in fields such as data analytics, cybersecurity, project management, and information technology support. Read more.
Resources for You
Thrills and Chills with Cinema on the Plaza at Mason Square
Beat the summer heat with a chilling movie at Cinema on the Plaza at Mason Square on Friday, July 18. Social hour starts at 7:30 p.m., and Little Shop of Horrors starts at 8:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets for a free outdoor movie. A food truck will offer items for sale. Some street parking is available, as well as paid parking in the Van Metre Garage. Kids are welcome, if supervised by their adult(s). Note: This movie is rated PG-13.
Kritikos Reading Series: Summer 2025
Hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Kritikos reading series engages topics such as writing about the arts, critical studies, translation, the artist in society, and art as speech. All are welcome. The next session will discuss the topic “Libraries and Librarians” on Friday, July 18, from 1–2:30 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more.
Upcoming Peformances and Arts Events at George Mason
Prince William Little Theatre: Hairspray, The Broadway Musical
Multiple performances through July 20
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Gregory Family Theater
Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is a family-friendly musical piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and loveable teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire—to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star.
Onyx Youth Orchestra and Onyx Philharmonic
Wednesday, July 16, at 6 p.m.
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall
The Onyx Project presents The Soul of America: An Orchestral Celebration of Soul and R&B. Onyx Youth Orchestra and Onyx Philharmonic will celebrate soul and R&B classics with guess vocalists and a little help from the audience.