Author: Samantha Greenberg

“Welcome to the Writing Center! What would you like to work on today?”

Every tutoring session at the George Mason Writing Center begins this way. In 45-minute individual tutoring sessions, tutors and writers work on brainstorming, outlining, discussing the assignment prompt, composing a rough draft, citing sources, and revising for structure, argument, clarity, and grammatical usage and mechanics.

At the Writing Center, we work with your student on any kind of writing: essays and research papers in every discipline, resumes and professional writing, and personal writing. We even coach students on preparing for essay exams and offer our services to all members of the Mason community, from freshmen to graduate students to faculty members and staff.

No matter what topic your student is studying, the Writing Center has a tutor that can work with him or her. Writing Center tutors are a diverse group of Mason students: in programs ranging from Biology to Business to Global Studies. We even have graduate students from Mason’s English MA programs working in the Writing Center.

All tutors are trained to work with multilingual writers and we have three tutors on staff who are ESL specialists. For multilingual writers who are interested, we also offer the ESL opt-in program, which enables students to make recurring appointments with a single tutor so that they have the opportunity for long-term and consistent tutoring to help develop their writing skills.

We offer appointments at three different locations on the Fairfax campus as well as at the Arlington campus. If for some reason your student cannot make it to campus for a face-to-face appointment, we offer video and email tutoring.

During the academic term, the Writing Center is open Monday through Friday and on Sunday afternoons. Mason students can make a face-to-face or online appointment through our website at writingcenter.gmu.edu, or by coming into the Writing Center’s main location in Robinson A 114. We welcome walk-ins whenever tutors are available. Our website also offers many great writing resources including over sixty handouts or quick-guides on various writing skills, genres, and concerns.

If your student is looking for additional assistance with his or her writing, encourage him or her to visit the Writing Center located in Robinson A 114 or reach out to [email protected] with any questions!

Susan Lawrence
Interim Director
The Writing Center

There is still time to register your Mason student and their sibling for Siblings Weekend on April 18-19! Siblings Weekend registration will close in just over two weeks on Friday, April 10 at 5 p.m. EST.

Saturday, April 18 will be a day full of exciting activities that allow siblings to experience life at Mason while having fun with his or her Mason sibling. Some event highlights include:

• Scavenger Hunt
• Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
• “Who Done It- Catching a Criminal”- Mystery Game
• Dinner and Trivia
• Big Hero 6 Movie Night

The cost for siblings ages 6-11 is $20, and $30 for siblings ages 12-18. Mason students attend for free! This fee includes entrance to all activities, give-a-ways, a Siblings Weekend t-shirt, and a full day of activities on both Saturday and Sunday.

While Siblings Weekend is designed to provide siblings time to connect on campus, all family members will be invited to join us for brunch with the Patriot on Sunday, April 19. Family members over the age of 10 will be charged $10.50 to attend brunch, while family members until the age of 10 are free.

For more information about the schedule of events, registration, and frequently asked questions, visit https://masonfamily.gmu.edu/siblings-weekend/. We can’t wait to welcome siblings in April! 

Kristen Wright
Graduate Assistant, Family Programs
Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Last week, George Mason University students, in partnership with Break Away, participated in several exciting alternative break trips designed by students and staff from Social Action and Integrative Learning, to address social issues through meaningful community service and education.  Each of Mason’s trips challenged students to explore and address issues of discrimination, housing, hunger, and poverty. These trips provided the opportunity for students to learn about social issues they are passionate about and developed new perspectives that inspire them to be active and engaged citizens in their communities.

This year, Mason sent students on six different domestic and international alternative spring break trips addressing the following community issues:

Indigenous Culture, Education, and Equity: Guatemala
Students traveled to Xecanchovax, a rural indigenous community. They provided assistance in a local elementary school that offers education through the sixth grade with projects that include teaching English, dental hygiene, as well as environmental awareness.

Literacy, Education, and Equality: Jamaica
Students traveled to Jamaica and supported teachers by assisting with school maintenance and beautification projects as well as they spent time in the classroom and on the playground with the children.

Ecosystem Restoration: Stuart, Florida
Students helped the community return land to its pre-development state. Projects included planting native trees and removing invasive plants, oyster reef building, beach cleanup, and park maintenance.

It’s Not Them but Us – Turning the Tide on HIV/AIDS: Washington, DC
Students provided meaningful service right in our own backyard in Washington, DC. They learned from organizations that educate, test, and serve individuals with acute AIDS-related illness. Service included direct outreach to educate individuals in at-risk communities, supporting nonprofit fundraising efforts, and friendly visits with individuals in health care facilities.

Community Activism/Homelessness: Camden, NJ
Students traveled to Camden and volunteered with grassroots organizations addressing the needs of Philadelphia youth through after school enrichment programs.

Development as Global Obligation: Human Rights in El Salvador
Students traveled to El Salvador and worked with Foundation Cristosal whose strategy is to build community capacity so that citizens can take the lead in organizing and establishing their own approaches to developing just and equitable communities.

In addition to the alternative spring break trips offered during the semester, Mason runs a summer trip during the end of May to Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Mason will be adding another location to next spring’s trips to Selma, Alabama to work with the Freedom Foundation to provide more students with the opportunity to participate in an alternative spring break trip!

Building Relationships and Adequate Housing: Pine Ridge, SD
Students will volunteer with RE-MEMBER, a nonprofit organization, engages volunteers in service and cross-cultural learning in order to become advocates and stand in solidarity with the Oglala Lakota people on the Pine Ridge reservation. In addition to work assisting with building affordable and adequate housing, volunteers visit sites of historical significance and engage in cross-cultural learning.

Freedom Foundation: Selma, Alabama
Students will travel to Selma, Alabama and work with the Freedom Foundation to tutor and work with students, as well as learn and experience the era of the Civil Rights Movement and participate in nonviolence training, historical tours, and community service projects.

If your student is interested in learning more about social issues, impacting change, and meeting new people, encourage him or her to participate in a future alternative break! For more information, visit sail.gmu.edu/alternative-break. 

Kelly McGrath Dalton
Graduate Assistant, Alternative Break Programs
Social Action & Integrative Learning

Is your student looking for an interesting elective that prepares him or her for a career?

Career preparation courses help your student make decisions that are pivotal to his or her education and career path. Each course offered by University Career Services targets various aspects of the career exploration process including personal attributes and skills, writing career-related documents (i.e. resumes and cover letters), networking and interviewing strategies, and real world application of a college education in the workforce.

Career courses will be taught by a team of career professionals and business executives. Guest lecturers from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors will also contribute their knowledge and perspectives in navigating the job search process and gaining satisfying, professional employment. Career courses are taught every fall and spring semester and Mason students can select from multiple sections for each career course.  

There are four courses (including hybrid versions) currently available to students:

• UNIV 220: Decide/Confirm Major (2 credits, second-semester freshman or higher) Learn how to choose a major that is the right fit for your interests, skills, and personality 

• UNIV 320: Internship/Career Readiness (one-credit course for sophomores or higher) Prepare to pursue internships and other career-related experiences 

• UNIV 420: College to Career * (one credit course for juniors and seniors) Discover how to transition from Mason to a job or a career

* The College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers three customized sections of the College to Career course for students who study humanities, social sciences, and global affairs. 

• UNIV 421: College to Graduate School (one credit course for juniors and seniors) Learn how to become ready for graduate and professional school 

• UNIV 422: Developing your Professional Edge (one credit course for graduating seniors) Develop a professional image so you can stand out in your first job after Mason 

If your student is interested in enrolling in any of the above courses, encourage him or her to visit careers.gmu.edu/students/courses for more information.

Elena Chiru
Assistant Director, Career Education
University Career Services