Author: Samantha Greenberg

It seems like yesterday that students were moving into the residence halls and the semester was beginning. Now it’s almost Halloween and before we know it, Thanksgiving.  Thus, it’s not too early to begin thinking about travel plans for your student during Thanksgiving Break. To help with this transportation, Mason’s Parking & Transportation department offers several different options.

Mason offers low-cost shuttles to Dulles Airport during the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, November 26 as well as during the morning of Wednesday, November 27.  After Thanksgiving, there will be shuttles back to the Fairfax campus from Dulles Airport on Sunday, December 1.  Shuttles are $10 each way. Reservations and payment are required in advance.  The reservation links will be posted on shuttle.gmu.edu and also emailed to all resident students early in November.

Other airport transportation options include Super Shuttle and Washington Flyer shuttle taxis. Super Shuttle is offering a discount to students through the discount code: MASON.  Through the use of this code, students will receive $5 off a round-trip booking or $2 off a one-way reservation. Click here for more information on options including transportation to Reagan National and BWI airports.

There will also be shuttles to regional cities for Thanksgiving Break, including Fredericksburg, Richmond, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York City.  Tickets are $20 one-way or $30 round trip. Information about these shuttles will be made available along with the airport shuttles in early November.

Besides the shuttles, a great option for students looking to share a ride or find a ride home is to use Zimride, Mason’s ridesharing network. Students can sign up hereusing their Patriot Pass login and password. Zimride is free to use and a great way to carpool, whether it’s for one-time trips home or back to campus around Thanksgiving, winter, or spring breaks!  Students willing to share a ride can state how much gas money they want from other riders to help defray their costs.

For any student bringing their vehicles to campus after Thanksgiving Break for the first time, monthly passes for the Field House general lots, as well as for reserved lots I and J, are available in person at the Parking Services office. Spring 2014 semester permits will be available for purchase online only at parking.gmu.edu.

Of course it is not necessary for students to have a car  with all of the transportation options Mason provides.  Encourage your student to visit zipcar.com/gmu for more information on renting cars by the hour and an opportunity to get a special $15 registration rate.  Also encourage your student to visit parking.gmu.edu, transportation.gmu.edu, and shuttles.gmu.edu, “like” Mason Parking & Transportation on Facebook, and “follow” @MasonParking and @MasonShuttles on Twitter.

Josh Cantor
Director
Parking & Transportation

The Center for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.  In order to keep the Mason community healthy, Student Health Services will be offering flu vaccines to students, staff, and faculty this fall.  While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. Getting the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available each year is always a good idea, and the protection you get from the vaccination will last throughout the flu season.  Encourage your student to visit Student Health Services to receive their flu shot during the dates and times listed below:

Tuesday, October 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fairfax Campus, SUB I, Suite 2300
Tuesday, October 15, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fairfax Campus, Hub Ballroom
Tuesday, October 15, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Prince William Campus, Occoquan Bldg
Tuesday, October 15, 3 – 6 p.m., Arlington Campus, Founders Hall
Friday, October 18, 3 – 5:30 p.m., Johnson Center, Gold Room
Thursday, October 24, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Johnson Center Room 116

The flu shot is $15 for students and can be paid for by cash or check.  Please also remind your student to wear short sleeves when receiving their flu shot.  For further details on the benefits of receiving a flu shot and other programs offered by Student Health Services, visit shs.gmu.edu.

In addition to receiving a flu shot, encourage your student to take everyday preventive steps like staying away from people who are sick  and washing his or her hands to reduce the spread of germs. If your student is sick with flu, please encourage him or her to visit Student Health Services and avoid close contact with others in order to prevent the spread of influenza.

For more information on Student Health Services, encourage your student to visit shs.gmu.edu, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Carol J. Filak, PhD, RN
Administrative Director
Student Health Services