Author: Rebecca McCrory

Students in UNIV 100 can look forward to an engaging learning experience in a wonderful community of like-minded students this fall! If your student has not yet registered for UNIV 100, there are still a limited number of spots available. See patriotweb.gmu.edu to search available sections and register.

UNIV 100 is a discussion-based, one-credit course specifically designed for first-year students to make for a smooth transition to the Mason community. These classes are co-taught by a faculty member and an upperclass Peer Advisor (PA), and only enroll about 20 students each, allowing students to build a strong network with their fellow classmates. The Center for Academic Advising, Retention, and Transitions also offers a variety of UNIV courses and programs at the 100-400 levels. These include courses with a special focus on freshman/transfer transition, academic success, peer leadership, career education, and research and scholarly activities. There are plenty of options for your student to enroll in a course throughout their time at Mason.

For more information, visit transitions.gmu.edu or call (703) 993-2470. For UNIV100 questions, contact Melitta Igwe at migwe@gmu.edu. For more information about other UNIV courses, contact Jackie Nash at jhilldru@gmu.edu.

Kimberly Holmes, PhD
Assistant Dean/Director of Retention and Student Success
Student Academic Affairs – Advising, Retention, and Transitions

Student Health Services’ dedicated doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses provide accessible and affordable health care to all currently enrolled Mason students in a caring and confidential environment. Student Health has clinics at Fairfax, Arlington and Science and Technology campuses. A free nurse advice phone service (703-993-2831) is available when the clinics are closed.

Student Health Services’ providers offer care for a range of health needs, including infections, illness, minor injuries and burns, chronic health issues and sleep concerns. We also offer an on-campus lab, and diagnostic and preventive healthcare services. There is no charge to be seen by one of our providers. There are fees for lab tests, immunizations, medications, physicals and supplies.

Important Dates

August 27: Immunization Record Form Deadline
All newly admitted students, both freshman and transfer, graduate and undergraduate, must submit the Mason Immunization Record Form by the first day of classes for the semester. Students can easily upload the form to the secure patient portal. Students can also mail or drop off the form at the Immunization Office. Records that are late or incomplete after the deadline are subject to an account hold and late fee. Visit our immunization webpage at shs.gmu.edu/immunizations for more information.

October 18: Flu Shot Clinics begin
Student Health Services offers flu shot clinics on each campus. Visit shs.gmu.edu/services/flushot for a list of all upcoming flu clinic dates.

How Student Health Services Can Help Your Student
We encourage students to make Student Health their first stop if they have a health concern, as there is no cost to be seen by a healthcare provider. Some services or procedures do have fees; we explain the cost of a service to students at their visit. Learn more at shs.gmu.edu/fees.

For a non-urgent need, students can call (703) 993-2831 or stop by the clinic to make an appointment. During fall and spring semesters, clinics are open in the evenings several nights a week and the Fairfax clinic is open on Saturday. The hours of operation and locations are available at shs.gmu.edu.

Students can walk-in to our clinics for acute or urgent illness or injuries. If a student is feeling unwell after hours, they can call our free nurse advice service (703-993-2831). The nurse will give advice and tell the student what they can do. More information is listed at shs.gmu.edu/locations/urgentcare.

Services and Specialty Clinics
In addition to treating illness and injury, Student Health offers a variety of services including:

• ADD/ADHD Medication: When specific criteria are met, Student Health can provide follow-up appointments for the continuation of ADD/ADHD treatment. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/adhd
• Allergy Clinic: If a student is currently receiving allergy shots, they may be able to continue this service at the Fairfax clinic. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/allergy-clinic
• Health and Wellness Counseling: Providers are happy to discuss any health concern or question. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services
• Immunizations & Flu Shots 
• Lab Services: Our medical technologist performs in-house tests or labs are sent to LabCorp. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/lab
• Men’s Health Care: Our providers can address health concerns affecting men. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/menshealth
• Physical Exams: Offer annual physicals and can perform many required physicals, such as for sports or nursing. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/physicals
• Tobacco Cessation Program: Get one-on-one help to strategize a plan to help quit smoking or using tobacco. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/cessation
• STI Screening and HIV Testing: Sexually Transmitted Infection testing for students, including a free HIV testing option. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/stiscreening
• Travel Clinic: Receive needed immunizations and health info before traveling out of the country. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/travelclinic
• Women’s Health Care: Offer pap tests, and evaluation and treatment of concerns such as urinary tract infections and menstrual irregularities. Learn more: shs.gmu.edu/services/womenshealth

Student Health Insurance Plan Option
The University has partnered with UnitedHealthcare StudentResources to administer the student health insurance plan. The plan is available to all eligible undergraduate and graduate students who would like to enroll. Details about eligibility, open enrollment, and more are available at shs.gmu.edu/insurance.

Connect with Student Health Services
Facebook: Mason Student Health
Twitter: @HealthyMason
Listserv: https://shs.gmu.edu/healthed/ (Submit online form to subscribe)

Erin Harpine
Patient Care Advocate & Special Projects Coordinator
Student Health Services

We are excited to welcome our students and families back to Mason soon! We will welcome our first-year students to campus on Thursday, August 23 and our upper-class students back on Saturday, August 25.

The Mason community has been preparing for the past several months to welcome our students and families to campus with a stress-free move-in day experience. Since move-in is right around the corner, we want to make sure you understand Mason’s move-in day procedures. All students are assigned a move-in date, time, and campus entry point; students received this information in their Mason email (or the email they listed on their Housing application). Move-in times are also posted on the Housing and Residence Life website at housing.gmu.edu. Be sure to arrive at the appropriate entrance and at your student’s assigned time to ensure everyone has access to move-in help from volunteers and the greatest availability of moving bins.

When can my student check in?
Freshmen & Transfer Students

• All freshmen students may check in on Thursday, August 23 at or after their assigned check-in time.
• All transfer students may check in on Saturday, August 25 at or after their assigned check-in time.
• Please view assigned check-in times at gmu.edu/sites/housing/files/Move-in%20Times%20FR_1.pdf. All check-in times are based on your student’s housing assignment.
• Attending Orientation on Wednesday, August 22? All first-year and transfer students registered for orientation on Wednesday, August 22 may check in after completing Orientation. Please check in for move-in at your student’s neighborhood desk at gmu.edu/housing-options/desk-operations.

Returning residents

• Returning students may check in on Saturday, August 25 at or after their assigned check-in time.
• Please view assigned check-in times at gmu.edu/sites/housing/files/Move-in%20Times%20UC.pdf.
• All check-in times are based on your student’s housing assignment.

Can my student check in early?
Freshman students are not allowed to check in early unless participating in a university-sponsored activity or registered and attending the August 22 Orientation.

Upperclass students may request to move in early via eLiving. The first day to request early move-in is Sunday, August 19. If approved to move in early, your student will be charged $50 a night depending on the day your student checks in. More information on early arrival check-in will be emailed to your student’s Mason email account in August.

Any upperclass student who successfully volunteers for Freshmen Move-In Day as part of our Move Crew will be credited the early arrival charge back to their student account. Students who wish to sign up to be a Move Crew volunteer can do so at getconnected.gmu.edu/submitter/form/start/171597.

Where does my student check in?
Check-in for all freshmen on Thursday, August 23 is centralized via neighborhood until 4 p.m. It is important to follow directions and enter campus as instructed for your student’s assigned neighborhood. View and download move-in maps of each neighborhood at housing.gmu.edu/housing-options/hall-openings.

• If your student is assigned to the Shenandoah Neighborhood (all Presidents Park buildings), you are to enter campus via Braddock Road onto Roanoke River Lane into Lot L. Look for signs and volunteers. You will remain in your car for check-in and then proceed to your area for unload.
• If your student is assigned to the Rappahannock Neighborhood (Commons, Piedmont, Commonwealth, Dominion), you are to enter campus via University Drive and proceed to park in the Rappahannock parking deck. Your student will exit your vehicle and check-in will be in person at Hanover.

If you and your student arrive to campus for move-in after 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 23, please park your vehicle in a campus visitor lot and proceed by foot to the neighborhood desk of your student’s assignment. Here your student will receive a temporary parking permit to use during move-in.

• Shenandoah Neighborhood (all Presidents Park buildings): Eisenhower Desk
• Rappahannock Neighborhood (Commons, Piedmont, Commonwealth, Dominion): Piedmont Desk

Upperclass move-in
Upperclass move-in is on Saturday, August 25 and will take place in the building where your student is assigned until 4 p.m. Vehicles should be parked in a lot adjacent to your student’s building. Your student will then be able to proceed by foot to the building where he or she will receive a temporary parking permit for move-in.

If you and your student arrive to campus for move-in after 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 25, please park your vehicle in a campus visitor lot and proceed by foot to the neighborhood desk of your student’s assignment. Here your student will receive a temporary parking permit to use during move-in.

• Shenandoah Neighborhood (Liberty Square and Potomac Heights): Eisenhower Desk
• Rappahannock Neighborhood (Hampton Roads, Blue Ridge, Sandbridge, Piedmont, Tidewater, Northern Neck, or Eastern Shore): Piedmont Desk
• Aquia Neighborhood (Townhouses, Rogers, or Whitetop): Whitetop Desk
• Mason Global Center: Mason Global Center Desk

If you have any questions, please contact Housing and Residence Life at (703) 993-2720 or housing@gmu.edu. We can’t wait to welcome you and your student to Mason!

McKenzie Riley
Assistant Director of Conferences and Marketing
Housing and Residence Life

As the fall semester can be a busy time for both new and returning students, Mason offers a variety of programs and events to support the entire Mason community during the transition. For new students, learning to navigate campus, making connections with peers, and understanding university resources can be overwhelming, but Mason strives to aid students during this pivotal time. The Preamble and Welcome2Mason are a few of the first experiences in the fall semester that will usher in the 2018-19 year. Welcome2Mason events begin on August 25 and end September 15.

The Preamble,which will take place August 23-24, is Mason’s extended orientation program geared towards welcoming and acclimating new students to the Mason community. It brings together freshman and transfer students before the start of the fall semester to officially initiate their experience at Mason.

At the conclusion of The Preamble, Welcome2Mason will commence. This is a series of programs and events held during the first three weeks of the fall semester to bring together students, faculty, and staff as we kick off the new academic year. This is a great opportunity for new students to learn about Mason traditions and create connections with their peers and campus resources.

The Get Connected Fair is on September 5 at the Fairfax campus and will showcase various service opportunities, academic resources, student organizations, and recreational activities. Additionally, throughout the first week of classes, “Ask Me” tents will be posted across campus to answer questions, give directions, and provide important information to new and returning students.

Over 100 events will be sponsored across the university’s campuses during Welcome2Mason. These events will include academic receptions, social events, involvement fairs, spirit rallies, educational development programs, and will feature free food and prizes. Encourage your student to attend any of this year’s events to meet new friends, join an organization, or simply feel more confident as they embark on their college journey.

A list of events and information can be found at welcome2mason.gmu.edu. We are excited to welcome students back to campus and look forward to the start of fall 2018! #Welcome2Mason

Samantha Greenberg
Associate Director of Family Programs
Orientation and Family Programs and Services