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Faculty/Staff Announcements  

Have something to share?  and submit an announcement from your unit through the online form. 

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Campus Updates 

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Commencement and Degree Celebrations 

George �鶹��Ƶ Commencement and Degree Celebrations are coming soon. Spring Commencement will take place on Thursday, May 15, at 9:30 a.m. in EagleBank Arena. Degree Celebrations on May 14–17 will honor individual graduates as they cross the stage. University Events is seeking faculty and staff volunteers to help with the events. . Contact University Events with questions. 

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Community College and High School Graduation Ceremonies at EagleBank Arena

Heavy traffic is expected on and around �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus for regional community college and high school graduation ceremonies at EagleBank Arena from May 12 through June 16. 

Northern Virginia Community College's Commencement will take place at EagleBank Arena on Monday, May 12, at 11 a.m. 

High school graduation ceremonies start at EagleBank Arena on Tuesday, May 27, and continue through Monday, June 16. EagleBank Arena will host up to three ceremonies each day, so traffic may be entering and exiting campus from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. Please allow extra travel time on and around campus. .

George �鶹��Ƶ faculty, staff, and students are advised to use the general permit area of the Rappahannock Parking Deck or the Field House parking lots to avoid delays. Shenandoah Parking Deck (levels 4 and 5) will be open for limited overflow student, employee, and event parking on weekdays when graduations occur.

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Patriot Packout Happening through May 14 

 is an opportunity to donate like-new and gently used items at the Fairfax Campus, Science and Technology Campus, and the Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation. During residential move-out, Patriot Packout diverts items from the waste stream and makes them available to those who can use them. .   

Students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to donate items. Donations are redistributed to George �鶹��Ƶ Patriots, on-campus resources, and local community organizations, preventing useful items from ending up in the trash. Patriot Packout’s donations this spring will support the Patriot Pantry, Trans Clothing Closet, Art Supply Sharing Cabinet, First Gen+ Center, The MIX, Parking and Transportation's bike programs, and Food for Others, and more.  

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Open Enrollment Is Coming Soon: Drop-in Information Sessions  

It’s almost time to make important choices about your benefits for the upcoming year. Open Enrollment starts Friday, May 16, and ends Friday, May 30, so be sure to mark your calendar. This is your annual opportunity to: 

• Review and update your health insurance 

• Add or remove dependents 

• Choose new benefits or make changes to existing ones 

• Take advantage of flexible spending accounts Health FSA and Dependent FSA 

 will be hosted from May 19–30 across multiple campuses and virtually. Be sure to read the publication or visit the Virginia for the enrollment form, summary of benefits coverage, and much more information.

For questions, contact benefits@gmu.edu. 

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Degree and Certificate Milestones: Let’s Celebrate Your Success 

George �鶹��Ƶ classified staff, A/P faculty, I/R faculty, adjunct faculty, and non-student wage employees are invited to share information regarding degrees or certificates (trade certification/license, associate's, bachelor's, master's, graduate certificate, doctorate, etc.) that they have earned during this current academic year. Human Resources would like to share the great news and feature stories of George �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff who are seeking continual education and professional development.    

Complete the  by Friday, May 16, and the Faculty and Staff Engagement team will follow up with you on your successes! For questions, contact awards@gmu.edu. 

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Summer Shuttle Schedule Effective May 19 

The summer schedule for �鶹��Ƶ Shuttles goes into effect on Monday, May 19. . There will be no shuttle service on the following holidays: 

• Memorial Day (Monday, May 26) 

• Juneteenth (Thursday, June 19) 

• Independence Day (Friday, July 4) 

Contact shuttle@gmu.edu with questions. 

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Professional Clothing Closet: Donations Needed 

The Professional Clothing Closet allows students in the College of Education and Human Development to rent clothes to wear to their internships or job interviews. The EDSE Council, a Special Education Program student organization, opened the closet due thanks to donations from the George �鶹��Ƶ community. Read more about the program. Items are needed to help support the operations of the clothing closet. The following items are needed: 

• Clothes hangers 

• Shoe organizers 

• Clothing racks 

• Plastic storage bins for clothing 

• Full-length mirror 

Donation items can be placed in the donation bin on the Fairfax Campus in the Finley Building outside Room 116B. If a donation is large, like a plastic bin, place it by the donation bin with a "donation" label on the item. 

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Training and Professional Development 

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Reminders: Canvas Training and Blackboard Storage 

Canvas Training 
Starting in summer 2025, all courses will use Canvas as the university’s official learning management system (LMS). Instructors who have not yet participated in Canvas training, or have not begun this transition, should visit the for valuable information, resources, and checklists. 

Blackboard Storage 
Before July 15, users are strongly encouraged to download and save any materials from Blackboard that they may want or need to keep. Once Blackboard access ends, these materials will no longer be available. You will not have access to these courses in Canvas. If you have any questions or need assistance downloading your materials, visit  or contact the project team at lms@gmu.edu. 

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University Life Student Success Symposium 

The University Life Student Success Symposium is a chance to connect with colleagues, learn about innovative practices to support your work, and explore strategies to foster student engagement. The symposium will take place at the Fairfax Campus on Wednesday, June 4, with pre-conference sessions on Tuesday, June 3. . 

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1st Annual Counterterrorism Summit

�鶹��Ƶ, in partnership with the Government Technology and Services Coalition’s (GTSC) publication Homeland Security Today, will host the inaugural “” summit on Tuesday, June 3, at Van Metre Hall at �鶹��Ƶ Square in Arlington, Virginia. This full-day event will explore the shifting dynamics of global terrorism and the strategies being developed to confront emerging threats. The summit will feature sessions discussing key terrorism challenges and the evolving tactics of terrorist organizations. .

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Resources for You 

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George �鶹��Ƶ with the Washington Spirit 

Get your kicks! Patriots are invited to fill Audi Field on Sunday, June 8, for an afternoon of women's soccer as the Washington Spirit take on the North Carolina Courage. .  

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Apply for the Faculty and Staff Book Scholarship 

George �鶹��Ƶ faculty and staff are eligible to apply for the $250 scholarship to cover books, software, and supplies for George �鶹��Ƶ courses. Eligibility requirements include: 

• Enrolled in a George �鶹��Ƶ degree or graduate certificate program 

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher 

• At least one year of service at George �鶹��Ƶ 

• “Successful,” “High-Performing,” or “Outstanding” rating in the most recent performance evaluation 

. The application includes a 500-word statement on your goals, program of study, and how the scholarship supports your academic journey. Questions? Contact awards@gmu.edu. 

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First Annual Stearns Center Summer Reading Program  

Did you love summer reading programs as a kid? Do you want up to two free books, prizes, and gift cards? Join the Stearns Center’s Summer Reading Program to read books you choose from our list, receive recognition, and earn prizes. Faculty of all appointment types are eligible to participate. , to receive your free book(s). Supply is limited; first-come, first-served.  

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Great 18th-Century British Baking Challenge 

On your marks, get set, bake! University Libraries is hosting a very old-fashioned baking challenge, and the recipes come from the held in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Special Collections Research Center.  

The event will happen on Wednesday, May 21, from 3–5 p.m. on the Fairfax Campus, Fenwick Library. Try your hand at one of the featured recipes, and bring the results to share—or simply come to taste-test and judge. . 

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Resource Expo for Federal Employees and Contractors 

Community members can discover job opportunities, resources, and career-themed workshops at the Next Steps: Resource Expo at �鶹��Ƶ Square on Wednesday, May 28, from 12:30–5:30 p.m. More than 40 employers and service providers will be in attendance. Sessions will be available on transferable skills, using AI for a job search, activating your resilience for well-being, and more. 

Contact jobseeker@arlingtonva.us with questions. This event is brought to you by Arlington County Government and Employment Center, City of Alexandria Government and Workforce Development Center, �鶹��Ƶ, and Virginia Career Works Alexandria/Arlington Region. Registration is not required, but is available to you should you wish to receive updates from the event host. . 

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Math Enrichment Camps for Grades 6–9 

�鶹��Ƶ Math Odyssey is a camp for rising 6–9 graders who are curious about math and would like to learn about mathematics concepts typically not taught in K-12 curriculum. Campers will build mathematical maturity while honing problem solving, collaboration, and communication skills. Camps will be hosted from July 7–11 and July 21–25 on the Fairfax Campus. .  

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Upcoming Performances and Arts Events at George �鶹��Ƶ  

  
Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. 
Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Center 
Commemorate Armed Forces Day with a patriotic musical tribute performed by the American Festival Pops Orchestra in collaboration with �鶹��Ƶ’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative. The orchestra will perform a salute to the community’s veterans featuring the music of Barber, Copland, and John Williams, plus other patriotic classics. Special guests Anthony J. Maiello and Darden Purcell join Maestro Wilson and the orchestra.   

 
Saturday, May 24, at 4 p.m. 
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall 
Join Peter and his animal friends on a mischievous adventure as they attempt to capture the predator wolf. Set to Prokofiev’s famous score, Peter learns to be brave and persistent when confronted with challenges.   

 
Friday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. 
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall 
Take a musical journey with the Manassas Chorale, its ensemble, orchestra, and the Greater Manassas Children’s Choir as they celebrate the stories of Disney princesses and swash-buckling pirates through music. Greater Manassas Children’s Choir students in grades 2–8 perform alongside adult singers in this exciting musical adventure. 

 
Saturday, May 31, at 8 p.m. 
Fairfax Campus, Center for the Arts 
This special anniversary season culminates in a heartfelt program that pays tribute to Maestro Zimmerman's debut concert as music director with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in 2009. Join this special tribute concert celebrating Maestro Zimmerman's remarkable leadership and vision. 

 
Saturday, June 28, at 7 p.m. 
SciTech Campus, Hylton Center, Merchant Hall 
Legendary singer and songwriter Paul Anka, who has written for artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, performs his greatest hits, including “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” “Diana,” “She’s A Lady,” and “My Way.”