Category: Uncategorized

• To view the web tutorial, click here: registrar.gmu.edu/interactive-demo-change-grade-mode
• Log into Patriot Web (patriotweb.gmu.edu)
• Click on the Student Services tab
• Click on the Registration link
• Click on the Registration & Planning link
• Click on the Register for Classes link
• Select Spring 2020 as the Term
• Click on the Schedule and Options tab
• In the list of sections, click in the Grade Mode column and select “Credit/Non-Credit (COVID19)”
• Scroll to the bottom and click Submit

Dear Patriots,

Your health and safety are our highest priories, and we continue to monitor the coronavirus outbreak around the globe and in the region. While there are no known cases on our campus, we are aware of a number of confirmed cases in Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region. With this in mind, we are taking a number of precautionary measures to limit exposure and minimize risk.

Mason to extend spring break, then move to virtual instruction

To limit exposure on our campus, Mason is extending spring break by an additional week through March 20. This will allow students and faculty to prepare for virtual alternative instruction and reduce close contact on campus.

The Antonin Scalia Law School will move immediately to virtual alternative instruction and will not go on an extended spring break. Additionally, classes in other colleges and schools that are already online will not be delayed by the extended spring break and will continue as scheduled.

When spring break ends, most classes will be conducted through virtual alternative instruction, from Monday, March 23 through Friday, April 3.  Students will be contacted by their faculty with additional details about virtual learning. The university will continue to monitor and reevaluate the situation prior to April 3. If an extension of virtual learning is needed, we will adjust as determined and communicate that with you.

We are also committed to ensuring that our students will successfully complete their coursework this semester, and will work to create tailored plans for those instances where virtual instruction is not a sufficient solution.

Students encouraged to stay off campus, but residence halls remain open

We know that one of the most powerful ways to minimize the spread of coronavirus is limiting interaction in close spaces. For that reason, we encourage students who are home to stay home during this time. We will continue to keep residence and dining halls open for students who cannot return home.  Specific details will be sent to all residential students on Thursday. More information about student services, student centers, and the library will be forthcoming.

Mason to remain operational during this time

The university will remain open, and faculty and staff are expected to continue working during this period. In fact, for some, constraints on their time will increase, particularly as we work to shift classes to virtual instruction. I appreciate everyone’s patience as we move through this uncharted territory.

Of course, if you feel unwell, please stay home. And some faculty and staff may need to telework, particularly those who have medical vulnerabilities that put them at high risk. I encourage supervisors to work with faculty and staff who request flexible work options due to medical susceptibility to coronavirus.

If you are returning from a level 3 travel restriction country, or have been instructed by the health department, please follow guidance from the CDC about self-quarantine, whether on or off-campus.

The Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning and ITS have resources for faculty to migrate to virtual alternative instruction and for staff to be telework-ready as necessary.  Instructional continuity plans can be found on the Stearns Center website, and VPN information is available from ITS. Guidance on telework is available from Employee Relations. Deans, directors and department heads have been in contact with their teams to ensure continuity of operations during this time.

As a reminder, the university also has suspended university-related domestic and international travel through April 10 for students, faculty and staff, and has cancelled study abroad-related travel for the semester. In addition, we strongly encourage our campus community to postpone or forgo nonessential personal travel during this time.

Moving forward

We are currently evaluating additional options, including cancelling events. We anticipate sending more information about events and other university business this week, and we encourage you to reach out to organizers to check the status of those events.

As you know, this situation is changing rapidly and we will continue to send information often. I want to urge everyone to monitor their email. Students, if your family members want to receive these emails, please make sure they sign up for the Mason Family Flash newsletter.  In addition, please utilize other university information channels, including the university’s coronavirus website and the university’s switchboard, which can assist in directing calls about Mason’s response to the coronavirus. The number is 703-993-1000.

All of these decisions are being made with the health and safety of our campus community in mind. Remember to take time to practice good self-care and focus on what you can do to remain healthy: frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds, getting enough rest, eating healthy and drinking plenty of water.

Sincerely,

Anne Holton
Interim President

Dear Patriots:

We all are experiencing a great deal of uncertainty as we respond to the evolving coronavirus outbreak. I want to thank everyone in our community for showing such resilience and adaptability. I am continually impressed with how the Mason Nation responds to challenges and finds ways to thrive during them. We continue to monitor this situation and want to make certain that everyone is informed as we depart from our normal routines and make adjustments. With that, I’d like to share some additional details about health and safety precautions being taken at the university.

All Campus Events Cancelled from March 13 through April 10

Out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with the Commonwealth’s announcement today, campus events from March 13 through April 10 will be canceled. This includes university events and events at EagleBank Arena, as well as events organized by outside groups. Our admissions team has also cancelled campus visits and is implementing virtual visits for prospective Patriots and their families. We will continue to evaluate the situation and extend the cancellation period further, if needed.

We are assessing the governor’s guidance following his call for a state of emergency for the commonwealth, and will adjust our plan and communicate as appropriate.

We know this is in an inconvenience but we believe it is an important step toward curtailing the spread of the coronavirus. Mason is hardly alone in these restrictions, and we believe this is the right thing to do to protect public health.

This does not apply to routine departmental activities or meetings with 30 people or fewer, although we strongly recommend all meetings be held in rooms with sufficient space to allow social distancing. This may require securing a larger meeting space or converting to telepresence options.  If you would like to reschedule an event, please reach out to your event coordinator for assistance.

Practice Social Distancing

To minimize the potential spread of coronavirus at the university, we are asking all students, faculty and staff to implement social distancing measures wherever and whenever possible.  Examples of social distancing include leaving six feet between individuals in meeting spaces, avoid large gatherings and limit direct contact with others.

The university will remain open, and faculty and staff will be working through this time. We anticipate that there may be the need to reduce some services and hours of operation to implement social distancing measures, so please check the FAQs on the university’s coronavirus website for updates or reach out directly to departments for more guidance.  I appreciate everyone’s patience during this time.

As stated in my previous message, if you feel unwell, please stay home. Some faculty and staff may need commence teleworking immediately, particularly those who have medical conditions that put them at high risk. If faculty and staff believe the best option is teleworking, please work with your supervisor.

Travelers Returning from Level 3 areas

We know that risk of spreading the virus can be controlled by self-quarantine, so for those members of our community who are returning from travel, we want to remind you of the CDC level 3 travel restrictions and guidelines.

All students, faculty, and staff returning from these areas are advised to stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing.

The Office of Housing and Residence Life has reached out to all residential students, and the majority of those students will not be living on campus at this time.  Any student requesting an exception must disclose if they have traveled to a level 3 country prior to returning. Faculty and staff returning from those countries are also required to disclose this information to Human Resources.

We will continue to keep you informed of the university’s response to this situation. In the coming days, you may receive information directly from our various departments. I recommend everyone stay current with the university’s information channels – email, website and social media. I also urge all of you to take care of your health and keep a positive attitude, and keep in the mind the most vulnerable in our community. Moments like this make me proud to be a part of the Mason Nation.

Sincerely,

Anne Holton
Interim President

Dear Patriots,

We appreciate your flexibility during the continuing changes associated with the coronavirus outbreak. As the situation evolves, Mason’s response evolves with it. We will continue to communicate with you via email as much as possible to make sure you have the most updated information. Please also continue to refer to the university’s coronavirus website, which is the official source for university updates.

We want to share some additional information and guidance about George Mason University operations during this time.

Events: All events are cancelled until April 10. All student events, registered student organization functions, social functions, and gatherings are cancelled.  Programing for students who remain on campus during this period will be organized and managed by University Life. Only routine administrative and academic functions may be held on campus. Whenever possible, faculty and staff should conduct meetings using collaborative technology.  If a face-to-face meeting is necessary, meetings must be held in space managed by the department and social distancing must be maintained.  To reinforce this restriction, reservations will not be taken through University Events during this time.

Telework: In an effort to promote social distancing, the university is encouraging faculty, staff and student employees to telework during this time. Teleworking employees are expected to be reachable by phone and email, attend meetings via Webex, and be able to perform their duties as they would while present on campus. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that telework accommodations do not diminish university service delivery.

Additional resources are being deployed to support the institution’s migration to a telework environment. ITS has created Webex accounts for all Mason employees and is setting up Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, which will allow employees remote access to basic office tools from their personal computers. For status and support, please check ITS’ Working Remotely.  Please look for additional guidance on this topic soon, and share any questions you may have with your supervisor in the meantime.

Travel: On Thursday, March 12, Gov. Northam prohibited out of state travel for all employees of the Commonwealth, with exceptions for those whose work requires them to commute in the Northern Virginia/DC metro region. We are seeking additional guidance from the Commonwealth regarding official travel across state lines within DC region and will share those details when they become available. The university has restricted all student, faculty, and staff domestic and international travel. International travel is prohibited.

Student organizations, teams, and clubs are prohibited from travelling domestically for university related functions.  Employees should suspend all domestic travel unless it is required to support a critical business or academic function that cannot be accomplished remotely. Use of commercial transportation is prohibited. Attendance at events and conferences does not qualify as an exemption to this restriction.  Supervisors must approve critical travel in the local area and social distancing must be maintained at the traveler’s destination.

Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL): The Commonwealth of Virginia has announced Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL), which provides employees with up to eighty (80) hours of leave when the State Health Commission and Governor declare communicable disease of public health threat conditions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  All state employees, covered or not covered by the Virginia Personnel Act, are eligible, including student wage employees, non-student wage employees, graduate assistants, and adjunct faculty. Employees may use PHEL to attend to their own medical needs or the medical needs of an immediate family member being treated for COVID-19.  For more information on PHEL, please see this guidance from HR.

We appreciate your patience as we prioritize the health and safety of our Mason community.

Respectfully,

David Farris, PhD
Executive Director, Safety & Emergency Management

Lisa Park, MD, MPH
Executive Director, Student Health Services

UPDATE: The RAC is closed March 16-22.

Patriots,

Thanks for hanging in there.

Though this week was filled with uncertainties and questions, we are working hard to stabilize things as much as possible for you during this time. While this is new territory for all of us, we will do our best to remain responsive and keep you informed as new information becomes available.

Please remember to reference www2.gmu.edu/coronavirus. It is a great resource to get the most updated accurate info and FAQ’s. There are also links to the CDC and other sites that will provide more information related to the virus.

Many of you may be feeling anxious over the unanswered questions regarding this coronavirus.The sudden changes to your schedule and daily routine can be unsettling, along with additional concerns you may have about your health and the health of your loved ones. In this moment, remember Mason offers several online options focused on your care and well being.

ONLINE SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR YOU AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW

Please check out the online resources and articles on the websites for the Center for the Advancement of Well Being, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Student Health Services. Now is an excellent time to join BurnAlong (free to you) and participate in online classes  — exercise, dance, yoga, relaxation — all in community and at a distance. BurnAlong also runs on a social platform so you can invite your friends, roommates, and others to join you in these activities.

Counseling and Psychological Services will soon offer virtual workshops addressing anxiety, including worry related to COVID19 as well as workshops focused on healthy coping skills. All Mason students can register for free, online psychoeducational support through Therapy Assisted Online (TAO).

UPDATED  HOURS

Updated hours for many student services and student-facing offices during Spring Break Week 2 are listed on the University Life website. The hours will likely change as new information emerges – this could happen on a daily or weekly basis and we will update that information as quickly as possible. The Mason Student Services Center and all University Life offices are open and providing service on a modified schedule, either in person, online, or via telephone.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK

This week, you will receive information to help you get ready for online instruction, including the most effective approaches to online learning. Some of you may be very familiar with online courses and others may be first timers. By the way, this is also true for Mason faculty. Many are very familiar with online instruction; others are thinking through this in real time. Please be patient with yourself and your faculty as we move through this together. And please remember to maintain communication with your instructors regarding your accessibility needs as we transition to online learning.

During this time, it may seem tempting to connect with each other as you would normally, prior to the precautionary distancing measures now in place.  I cannot stress strongly enough the need to focus on physical distancing to ensure not just your health and well-being, but everyone around you as well.  Do not meet in large groups on or off campus  – it’s just not smart right now.  Connect with each other in other ways — online, outside in the fresh air, or remotely. Look for updated e-activities organized by Student Involvement, LEAD and other University Life offices soon. You can still work out at Mason Recreation. And if you feel ill, rest at home to keep others safe and healthy.

Finally — stay connected to each other. Show compassion for yourself and others, and continue to be courageous as we move through this together. In times of crisis, communities usually realize they are stronger and more resilient than anyone knew. That’s us, Mason Patriots. That’s you.

Rose Pascarell
Vice President for University Life

Colleagues:

I hope that you are remaining safe, healthy and well.

As I have been saying, “…extraordinary times require extraordinary efforts by extraordinary people doing extraordinary things.” I am proud to have extraordinary colleagues.

Thanks to everyone for ALL you are doing—and will do—as we support each other and assure the continued learning and development of our students.

As we transition to the “new reality” we all face, and continue the important “online lift” of our academic programs to an online format, it is very important that we remain connected, share information pertinent to developments at our university and continue support for each other during this complex time.

I will be communicating regularly with you. And, I promise that I will make every possible effort to share information that will keep you informed about issues pertinent to Mason’s plans, associated policies and practices and ways that we can continue to support each other and our students.

I write this message as a follow-up to Interim President Holton’s and Provost Wu’s March 16 messages, which I hope you already have read.

In addition, please open, read and carefully review ALL MESSAGES that come to you from the university as they will provide you with important information. Indeed, additional information will be forthcoming as the coronavirus crisis continues to be dynamic, fast moving and circumstances continue to be rapidly changing.

As was reported by Interim President Holton, in her message distributed on March 16, given recent guidance from the CDC and other public health agencies and health professionals, Mason has decided to extend the period of online instruction for ALL classes for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester.

In addition, as also was reported in the March 16 message, the university’s academic calendar has been revised slightly such that the spring 2020 semester will be extended by one week. Consequently, the summer 2020 class schedule will begin on June 1, a week later than originally had been planned. I strongly suggest that you review the message from Interim President Holton, as well as other university messages and websites, for specific changes in the dates for and schedule of the academic calendar for spring 2020 and summer 2020.

Also, I want to reinforce and underscore recent communications from Provost Wu that no coursework or class activities, including evaluative assignments, are to be due or take place prior to the March 23 restart of classes (in an online format) other than for the small number of our classes that had re-started on March 16.

Also, in terms of CEHD faculty communications with students I want to inform you about an important shift in the “funnel for communications” from what I communicated last Friday.

• Effective immediately, rather than sending communications to me that you intend for your students, if your message to your students is specific to your class, course requirements or other matters pertinent to your role as an instructor for your course, please send the message directly to your students. It is no longer necessary, or required, that you send your DRAFT messages to me (and Meg Yoder and Jerome Boettcher) for review and approval prior to distribution.
• Please consult, as is necessary and appropriate, with your Academic Program Coordinator and/or School Director or Division Director, and please keep them informed about any issues or problems that may arise.
• If you include in your message to your students’ information regarding Mason’s policy or practices related to the coronavirus crisis, please cite university policy as it is/was provided by the university. That is, please refer students to the specific policies of the university, likely the Mason web page (gmu.edu/coronavirus). I do not want to “slow” communications, yet also I want to be certain that all messages are accurate and consistent and only include information that is/was provided by the university.
• Please be sure that your message is consistent with your syllabus for your course.
• I also remind you not to offer medical advice.
• I strongly encourage you to be positive in the language of your message to your students and help to motivate them and provide support for them – this is a very difficult time for us all.

Preparations are continuing intensively across the university to transition all of our classes to an online format. As we all prepare for online instruction for all classes, I remind you that there are many resources that are available to you which are summarized in the message I sent to you on Friday. In addition, for guidance on instructional continuity, please refer to the March 13 and March 16 messages from Provost Wu.

Currently, Mason’s campuses remain open, yet this is a fluid situation as guidance from the CDC and other public health agencies continues to be refined. Libraries, computer labs, Mason operations and Mason administrative offices now remain open and fully functioning, although many administrative offices are functioning virtually.

I also want to share with you that Mason has decided, until further notice, that:

• Students who are employed (full- or part-time) by Mason in teaching, research or administrative roles, or who are engaging in research or providing support for research as part of their studies, should NOT be required to work in university facilities, whether on- or off-campus.
• Where possible, faculty and staff supervisors should make arrangements for students to work remotely.
• If a faculty or staff supervisor believes it is essential that one or more students come to university facilities, whether for teaching, research, or administrative support purposes, they must request an exception from this university policy from the Office of the Dean (my office) upon the recommendation of their School or Division Director.
• Requests for an exception to this university policy must state why: a)  it is essential that the student works on site, b) when the student is needed for on-site work, c) where the student’s work will be performed, d) working arrangements for the student including supervisor support and social distancing strategies implemented, and e) contact information for any student seeking and granted an exception to this policy.
• Decisions on requests for exceptions ordinarily would be made within 24-48 hours of receipt. However, university policy is that, effective immediately, no undergraduate students, individuals under age 18 or external visitors will be permitted in Mason’s research labs or facilities.

Again, thanks to each of you for your many efforts during this unprecedented time. I am very appreciative and express to you my sincere gratitude.

All the best—stay safe, healthy and well.

Dear Patriots,

As we continue to shift our administrative operations to telework, we wanted to share some guidance and resources to help you in that process, as employees and managers. As communicated previously, Mason’s operations remain open with employees encouraged to telework.

Transitioning to Telework

Teleworking will mean different things for different people, as different roles transition more easily to telework. There are some jobs and assignments that require onsite presence and cannot be done remotely. It is important that employees work closely with their supervisor to make decisions and accommodations for their specific situation and responsibilities. HR & Payroll has put together Telework Guidelines for employees and managers to help navigate this process. If you are currently teleworking, or will begin teleworking, please complete a telework form.

At times, this may require flexibility and modifications to an employee’s scope of work to rethink how to make the best use of their skills and bandwidth in this environment. It is important that everyone is able to continue working and is able to do so in a safe environment. Where alternative duties cannot be identified, supervisors should contact Employee Relations at emprel@gmu.edu.

Student employees (i.e., student wage workers, graduate assistants) are not required to telework, but those who want to continue working remotely should follow guidance provided for faculty and staff. The University Flexible Work Policy will be expanded temporarily during this time to include student workers.

Using Technology to Telework

In this new remote environment, many employees will need to use new tools or use familiar technology in an unfamiliar way.  Information to help employees stay connected with workplace is available at Working Remotely: A Guide to Maintaining Continuity.

Most Mason applications—Office 365, Patriot Web, Blackboard/myMason—are available via the Internet with just your NetID and Patriot Pass Password. Some select services, including MESA and Banner Admin, may require the Virtual Private Network (VPN) when teleworking. Webex Meetings and Webex Teams accounts have been established for every employee, and Windows Virtual Desktops will be available to provide access to Blackboard and Microsoft Office 365 applications on personal, non-Mason computers, by the end of the week.

• Office 365 (Email for Employees) information
• VPN information
• Webex Meetings information
• Webex Teams information
• ITS Support | support@gmu.edu | 703-993-8870

Call forwarding to an external line, such as a cell or home phone, is available. Contact your department’s Telecom Coordinator or Telecom Administration to coordinate getting this service. Update your email signature, out-of-office and voice mail greetings as necessary to provide your updated contact information and availability.

Flexibility and Leave

We recognize many of you are facing additional responsibilities outside of work during the day, as child or other care needs may be more demanding with the closing of schools, daycares and other facilities. Employees should work with their managers to prioritize their responsibilities and encourage all to be flexible and accommodating, and report leave as appropriate.

To respond to these situations, employees have access to the Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL), as well as personal leave for supplemental time off. PHEL usage guidelines have been expanded beyond direct COVID-19 testing or treatment, which we will continue to update on our Public Health Emergency Leave Guide.

The Road Ahead

This is unprecedented for Mason as an institution, as it is for all of us as individuals, so we appreciate your continued flexibility in this evolving situation. We do not know how long this is going to last. We will continue to develop additional guidance and new tools, which we will share through regular updates and communication. Please let your supervisor know what more we can do to help in these challenging times.

We will continue to communicate with you as this situation progresses. The latest and most comprehensive information is available on Mason’s official coronavirus page. Thank you for your contribution to Mason and doing your part to ensure we can deliver on our mission of teaching, research, and service during this trying time.

Sincerely,

Carol Dillon Kissal
Senior Vice President, Administration and Finance