Month: March 2020

Campus Building Closures and Other Updates – A Message from President Holton

Dear Patriots:

The university continues to monitor the coronavirus outbreak and take additional measures as appropriate. This is important as we focus our efforts around resuming the spring semester through alternative virtual instruction, supporting the small community of students who must remain on campus, and providing essential operations to support our mission.

As a result of our continuing focus on the safety of our community, the University will be closing our buildings to the general public for the foreseeable future. We also will be mandating telework for all faculty and staff except for those who need to work on campus to continue critical functions for the university as outlined below.

Building security and core functions

University buildings will be closed effective Wednesday March 25, except as otherwise provided. All exterior and interior doors will be locked. Faculty and staff will continue to have cardswipe and key access but must comply with the telework mandates outlined below.

Police and Safety Headquarters will remain open, with police patrolling the campus and facilities monitoring buildings. Southside Dining will provide grab and go dining service for those remaining on campus during hours listed here. Retail dining establishments with separate entrances will be allowed to remain open so long as they are complying with the Governor’s Executive Order limiting numbers of occupants and enforcing social distancing; more details are available here.

Mason library facilities, including Fenwick, will be closed starting Monday March 23. Library services will continue to operate, will expand virtual access as feasible, and will be available virtually to support faculty and students in accessing needed materials for online classes and assisting with other resources and services. For more details about library services and accompanying policy changes during this period, please see: https://library.gmu.edu/

SUB I will be closed to the public, but Student Health Services, the Mason Card Office, and the Cashier’s Office will be open on a limited access basis. In an effort to limit risk of infection, we ask students to call 703-993-2831 and speak with a nurse prior to coming in to Student Health Services. For more information, visit the Student Health Services page and click the Patient Notice link.

Faculty, staff, and students who wish to access the Mason Card Office should call 703-993-1004 to make an appointment. The Cashier’s Office will be accepting cash payments by appointment Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; please call Bill Cunningham, Assistant Director, Cashier’s Office and Account Management, at 703-993-2498 to schedule an appointment. All check payments should be mailed to GMU Cashier’s Office, 4400 University Drive, MS 2E2, Fairfax, Virginia 22040.

The HUB will be closed to the public. Packages from USPS , UPS, FedEx and Amazon will be delivered to the Mail Center in the HUB. Individuals with a valid Mason ID will be able to access the HUB via the ground floor (basement level) door across from the Shenandoah parking deck, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday for mail and package pickup.

If faculty and staff need more information or have questions about card access please go to https://masonid.gmu.edu/access/ or contact the Card Access Security Office at 703-993-3127, or contact [email protected] or Key Control at [email protected] or 703-993-2823. If you need to request access to a locked building please review the list to determine the appropriate contact.

Telework mandate

The university is mandating that all employees who can work remotely should do so, except those who must report in person to carry out key university functions, such as critical research, teaching including online instruction, supporting students allowed to remain on campus, health care, and administrative and other obligations that cannot be conducted remotely.

Deans, directors, unit leaders and managers have the authority to identify those who must report in person, those who can work remotely, and those who may need limited, intermittent access. They should share that guidance with their faculty and staff. Those who need access, including on a limited basis, to perform key university functions should coordinate with co-workers to allow for social distancing and of course should continue to practice careful hand hygiene.

Employees shifting to telework should return to campus before Wednesday, March 25 to collect whatever items they may need to work remotely for the remainder of the semester. Please practice social distancing during this time; you may need to schedule individual time in your department for employees to retrieve belongings.

If you have questions about leave, your ability to do your job remotely or your current job duties, please contact your supervisor and/or Employee Relations. If you have questions about Virginia Public Health Emergency Leave, please review the PHEL guidance and/or contact the HR Benefits Team.

Notification of confirmed cases in our community

We want to let you know about another confirmed coronavirus case associated with our campus. On March 14, we received notice from a student regarding their positive diagnosis of coronavirus. The public health department has since confirmed that case and has informed us that since the student had not been on campus since Feb. 25, to include during the infectious period, there is no risk to the campus community from this case.

As I stated in my last message on Friday, we do not anticipate sending messages about coronavirus testing or positive cases each time we learn of a new confirmed case associated with our university. Instead, please visit the university’s confirmed coronavirus cases webpage, which will be updated at 2 p.m. daily if there is new information to share.

Please continue to monitor the Virginia Department of Health for the latest information about the virus in Virginia and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for national and worldwide updates, and George Mason’s coronavirus website for the latest Mason information.

Remember to practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, take time to get outdoors, and get sufficient rest. We remain focused on our core education and research missions along with our commitment to keep our community safe, and thank you all for your cooperation toward those ends.

Sincerely,

Anne Holton
Interim President

Resuming Classes Virtually and Other Updates – a Message From President Holton

Dear Patriots,

It is an understatement to say that we are living in extraordinary times. When the academic year began, few of us could have imagined that we would be preparing to finish the spring semester teaching our courses online. This is a new reality for all of us, and while we might not have planned on this path, we are taking it and stepping boldly into this new frontier.

At the same time, the outbreak from the coronavirus is intensifying with each day. We continue to monitor developments and respond in a way that protects our community and minimizes widespread exposure.

Sadly, I learned today as did the rest of you that one of our students has tested positive. Our prayers are with that student for a speedy recovery, and we are doing everything we can to provide support and assistance with our partners in the department of health.

We expect more of our community will test positive for COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks. Rather than send out messages every time we learn of a case, I have asked our communications team to add a link to the university’s coronavirus web page, listing the number of cases. This is in line with how our peers at other universities are reporting these cases.

Events cancelled through the end of the semester

The university has decided to extend the cancellation of all events through May 18. We made this decision after considering the Centers for Disease Control’s guidance and recommendations from a working group that included faculty, staff and deans.

We will reevaluate the situation in April and share more details about how this affects future events going forward.

Commencement postponed indefinitely

We have decided to postpone Commencement and our degree celebrations indefinitely. This was among the most difficult decisions we have had to make. These are time-honored traditions that students and their families look forward to, and we did not make this decision lightly. Our hope is to either reschedule at a later date, and/or to find a creative way to celebrate our students online. We will be seeking input from our graduating students on how they would like to be celebrated during these unprecedented times. We’ll be in touch soon on this, as well.

Study abroad cancelled for summer session

Because of the U.S. Department of State Travel advisory elevation to level 4, it is not possible to run our summer abroad faculty-led programs this year. Many of our peer institutions have also cancelled their summer programs. I know this is a disappointment to our dedicated faculty and staff and to the nearly 500 students who participate in these programs each summer, but it is the right thing to do for the health and safety of our community.

Resuming classes on Monday, March 23

I know many of you are eager to resume your studies and coursework. Our hard-working faculty, with the excellent support of the Provost’s office and the Stearns Center and others across the university, are standing up about 5,500 classes in a virtual alternative format to ensure that we can maintain our instructional continuity. That’s a remarkable accomplishment. I am proud of the collaborative spirit I have seen within and among our departments, schools and colleges.

I also want to thank our faculty and staff for their flexibility and creativity. Whether you’ve found new ways to do your job remotely or you’ve taken on entirely new responsibilities, we appreciate your adaptability during this time.

Please know that it is reasonable to expect some bumps along the way, particularly this first week. Patience and persistence will be key, as will collaboration and kindness. We will get through this together. Some students and faculty are new to the online environment, and we will all be learning as we go. Our technology leaders are in frequent contact with Cisco, Blackboard and Microsoft to ensure increased capacity. However, because many schools and businesses are looking to these same vendors for support, there may be technology glitches. Faculty are encouraged to make back up plans for course instruction or consider asynchronous class structures.

Please contact the ITS Support Center in the event of a technology problem so it can be monitored and shared, and monitor the ITS Alert page. If you have not already registered for the ITS Alert listserv, please take a moment to subscribe so you can be made aware of issues as they arise.

Students are advised to visit https://learningservices.gmu.edu/keeplearning/ for resources, tips and helpful advice. I also encourage you to watch this video with five tips for online learning success from Associate Professor Melissa Broeckelman-Post.

The Stearns Center’s Instructional Continuity page has valuable resources for faculty, as does as does ITS’s Working Remotely: A Guide to Maintaining Continuity.

We know this transition is not seamless, nor is it easy, but it is the path forward to completing our educational goals this semester, and I have the full confidence in our university community that we will succeed.

Grading

I know many of you, students and faculty alike, have questions regarding grading structures in light of the instructional transition. This is a faculty governance question. Once the Faculty Senate has the opportunity to review options, we will communicate more details to you about this. We are committed to a successful semester in this new environment.

Financial resources for students

We know that the alternative instruction format and other potentially challenges may cause additional financial burdens. Both the Stay Mason Student Support Fund and the Student Emergency Assistance Fund are taking applications from students to provide emergency relief related to this new environment. University Life also has other resources for health and well-being during this time.

Refunds for housing, dining and parking

As many of you know, we are closing our residence halls to all but those students with extraordinary circumstances. This is an important step to prevent the spread of the virus.

Many of you have asked about refunds. The university is committed to refunding money to students for housing, dining and parking. We are working out the details and will get more information to you soon.

Taking care of yourself

All of this can be overwhelming, and I know we are all doing our best to stay positive and focused on what matters most. Your studies can be a wonderful distraction from the headlines, and I urge everyone to take care of themselves and each other. Rest. Eat healthful meals. Get outside. Find time for family and friends – whether it be in small groups practicing social distancing, or using online tools that help keep us together.

I appreciate everyone’s flexibility and creativity to make the best of this changing situation. I am proud to be a part of Mason Nation, and I know you are too.

Sincerely,

Anne Holton
Interim President

Mason Student Diagnosed with Coronavirus

Dear Mason Patriots,

On the evening of March 19, George Mason University was made aware that a student who attended classes in Arlington tested positive for coronavirus and is receiving treatment at a local hospital. While this student is undergoing treatment, please be considerate of the student’s privacy and wellbeing. We all wish the student a quick recovery and the university is working to provide the student with assistance and support.

An investigation is being conducted by the local health department to determine if anyone else within our community should take additional precautions such as self-isolation or quarantine. The student does not reside on campus, and to our knowledge, the last time that this student was on the Arlington campus was on March 4.

The university has taken aggressive steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus within the Mason community by moving classes to an online format, cancelling events, and promoting telework whenever possible. Given these precautions and what we know about the situation, the risk of exposure to other students, faculty, and staff who visited the Arlington campus remains low.

We encourage anyone that has concerns about potential exposure to await official guidance from the health department or university before taking additional precautions. Individuals who were at risk of exposure will be contacted directly and provided specific guidance. The actions the university is taking are consistent with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health guidelines, but we understand that this situation may cause some anxiety in our community.

If you have individual concerns about the university’s response, please contact [email protected]. At this time, we continue to stress the importance of general precautions; wash your hands, practice good hygiene, monitor yourself for illnesses, remain home if you are sick, and continue to practice social distancing. If you feel ill or have concerns about your health, please contact your healthcare provider.

For more information about coronavirus, please visit www.gmu.edu/coronavirus.

David Farris, PhD
Executive Director, Safety & Emergency Management

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

What you need to know about COVID-19

Campus mail service update

Mail Services has provided the following information:

Fairfax campus: Regular mail delivery will be on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday until normal operations resume. Mail Services front counter will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Arlington and SciTech campuses: Interoffice mail delivery service will be on Tuesday and Friday.
Mail delivery to essential departments will continue on the usual schedule.
Departments may request their mail be held until Mason resumes its normal schedule. Departments may also request to pick up their mail at the HUB, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please send either request to Mail Services at [email protected].
The HUB mailroom will be closed on weekends.

With questions, contact Terry Metro at [email protected].

March 18: University Housing

Dear Mason Patriot,

Our top priority remains the health and safety of you, our students. We know you have questions and concerns and we thank you for your continued patience as we have created a plan about residency and move out.

In order to minimize the risks to students and in light of the university’s decision to extend alternative virtual instruction for the remainder of the semester, we will begin to close the residence halls for the semester to all but those with exceptional circumstances. We will complete the process outlined below by 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25.

Effective immediately and through Wednesday, March 25, residents will be able to access their space to retrieve basic belongings. If you have what you need, there is no need or requirement for you to return.
Please ensure that good social distancing measures are adhered to during this time to retrieve belongings.
Departing residents will not have access beyond Wednesday, March 25 for the foreseeable future.
Please note that the stated timeframe above is not a formal moving out period. Students will have the option to return to their residences after Monday, April 13 to formally move out, once the university has a better sense of the situation and we can allow for appropriate social distancing.
Use this parking pass when removing belongings between now and March 25th or moving out of the halls after April 13th.

Requests for an exemption

Students who need to stay past Wednesday, March 25, will be required to show exceptional circumstances. Based on the guidance we’ve received, we know that by greatly reducing the number of students in residence, we will reduce risk and we can more easily manage social distancing and health concerns that may emerge.

The Mason Housing Portal will make request for exemption forms available starting Wednesday March 18. Please note: all students seeking an exemption must file a new request form.

Approvals will be granted within 24-48 hours and will be granted in exceptional circumstances where it is impossible for residents to return home. Examples include:

International students whose residence is outside the U.S. who are unable to return home
Student employees who have been identified as critical to on-site operations
Students who must continue in an internship, clinical placement, or practicum which requires on-site presence
Students whose personal circumstances prevent them from returning home. Examples include:
- Absence of an off-campus home
- Home is quarantined
- Home presents a safety/health threat to self or others
- Students for whom returning home would prevent them from accessing courses remotely because of inability to access internet/technology capability at home – please note the university will be working with these students to eliminate these barriers and will expect them to return home when they have been addressed.

All requests must include supporting documentation where necessary, including:

Names of supervisors with contact information for verification
Any correspondence supporting your request to stay

Students who are not approved will need to depart campus by Wednesday, March 25. Please know that our top priority is the safety and well being of our residents.

Limited Services and expectations after March 25

To keep our community safe, all residents who are approved to remain on campus should understand the following conditions and limitations:

Dining options and hours will be limited, as will other services and HRL desks will have modified hours and services. Public safety officers will continue be on campus.
No programming or events will be held in the halls during this time.
You should limit travel to the minimum necessary and practice good hygiene and social distancing for the safety of yourself and those around you.
Guests will not be permitted in the halls during this time.
We may need to make room changes or moves at any time to ensure health and safety.
If you are tested for COVID-19 you will be moved to a location for isolation for a minimum of 14 days or until cleared by health professionals.
If you are exposed to COVID-19, you may be moved in order to facilitate a 14-day quarantine.

We know we can count on students to comply with these rules as well as all those in the student code of conduct which will continue to apply during this time.

Formal Moving Out Period

Beginning the week of April 13, we anticipate creating a staggered move-out schedule through the end of the semester. This will allow for appropriate social distancing for a safe move-out process. More specific details will come out once we have more information. We regret that requests to move out in the meanwhile cannot be accommodated.

Refunds

At this time, we are exploring ways to refund students not returning. We realize this action prompts several questions and concerns and we will be following up with more communication soon to address this. Please continue to check your Mason email.

We thank you for your patience while we work together to navigate the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19. You are in our thoughts and we wish you nothing but the best during this time. We are so proud of our resilient Mason Nation and thank you for your patience, resilience and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Christopher J. Holland

Chief Housing Officer

SHS Services Update

As healthcare professionals at Student Health Services, we are working hard and adjusting daily to support the healthcare questions and needs of our community.

Given the present pandemic, SHS is implementing the following steps, in order to reduce the risk of community spread of the virus:

Students should not walk into the clinic without calling first.
Students must call the Fairfax Clinic (703-993-2831) to talk with a nurse about symptoms, illness, or a health concern. The nurse will evaluate the concern and determine the appropriate level of care needed.
Many appointments may be able to be conducted over the phone.
No routine appointments (such as vaccinations or physical exams) will be scheduled during this time.
Students should call or email the Immunization and Insurance Offices to have questions answered. Immunization and Insurance Offices are closed to in-person visits.
- Immunizations: 703-993-2135; email: [email protected]
- Insurance: 703-993-2826 (After Tuesday 3/24th); in the meantime email at [email protected]

These practices help reduce the risk of exposing others, both patients and healthcare workers, to potential illness. Thank you for helping us keep the Mason community safe.

Sincerely,

Lisa L. Park, MD, MPH
Executive Director, Student Health Services
George Mason University

Help Mason Raise Money for Students in Need

Did you know, 3 million students drop out of college for financial reasons every year due to a crisis of less than $500? At Mason, we are proud to be home to over 37,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, many of whom face overwhelming financial obstacles while in school. And when our students are in need, Mason Nation answers the call. That’s why University Life, College of Health and Human Services and the Schar School of Policy and Government are working together on Giving Day to secure donations that will address the immediate needs of Mason students.

Join us on Giving Day, April 2, and make a gift to the UL Student Emergency Assistance Fund which provides resources to students experiencing an unexpected crisis, whether that be related to food and housing insecurity or another financial challenge.

Together, let’s ensure that every student with the ability to succeed at Mason has the opportunity to do so.

Interim President Anne Holton discusses Mason’s response to the coronavirus

Practice well-being using BurnAlong

The Center for the Advancement of Well Being, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Student Health Services have ample well-being resources for your student including BurnAlong. Your student can join BurnAlong for free and participate in online classes — exercise, dance, yoga, relaxation — all in community and at a distance. BurnAlong also runs on a social platform so your student can invite their friends, roommates, and others to join you in these activities.