Author: Shyanne Hardy

Welcome to the 40^th International Week at Mason! Over the past four decades, International Week has evolved substantially to become what it is today – representing international students from more than 130 countries and celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of our Mason community.

In this unprecedented year, while the whole world battles against COVID-19 and countless other crises, it is even more important that we continue our long tradition of iWeek at Mason. Getting to know one another fosters mutual cross-cultural understanding and establishes relationships while learning about global issues. It is a year that demands collaboration and unity, desires humanity and care, and longs for the light at the end of the tunnel. Celebrating our differences is one way to raise our spirits.

We have prepared a wide range of educational programs and fun events, including:

• Mason’s internationalization discussion
• Study abroad seminars
• Global health panels
• Food truck festivals
• International dance competitions and sporting events
• Many other exciting events.

We invite you to tune in for our annual International Dance Competition on Friday, April 9 at 8 p.m. ET. This year, we will present the dance competition in a virtual format, so you can watch it from the comfort of your home. Please visit iweek.gmu.edu/dance-competition for specific details about the dance competition.

Although the majority of our events are virtual, we encourage your Mason family to attend as many as possible. Utilizing these opportunities will help our students get out of their comfort zone, develop their global interests, build intercultural competency, and possibly bring about change we want to see on a global level.

Please Zoom in, lean forward, wear a mask, practice social distancing, and enjoy! For a full calendar of events, visit 2021 iWeek Calendar. Happy International Week!

On behalf of the iWeek Committee,

Jonathan Carmona
Global Programs Coordinator
International Programs and Services

Kenneth Jones
INTO Mason

Ayleen Leonhardt
Student Involvement

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Thursday, April 8 is Mason’s fourth annual Giving Day. Giving Day is a 24-hour period where all Mason supporters – alumni, friends, volunteers, faculty, staff, and students – are encouraged to come together to make a difference by supporting one of Mason’s many causes.

This year, University Life is partnering with the College of Health and Human Services, the Schar School of Policy and Government, and the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution to raise money for students who are experiencing financial distress and need emergency funding to ensure their basic needs are being met.

Our goal on Giving Day is to have 471 individuals make a gift to one of our student emergency assistance funds in honor of the 471 students who reported financial distress last year.

You can show your support early by making your gift now, or on April 8.

Gifts from parents and families demonstrate involvement, passion and confidence in Mason, and strengthen our university community in ways that would not be possible without philanthropy. I hope you will join us on April 8 and #GivetoMason!

For a list of featured Giving Day funds, please visit: givingday.gmu.edu

Let’s show the world that together, we are Mason!

Kaitlin Cicchetti, Ph.D.
Director of Advancement
University Life

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Is your student seeking a summer internship or carer development opportunity and not sure where to start? One of the best places for them to begin is by logging into their Handshake account at gmu.joinhandshake.com/login.

What is Handshake? Handshake is a career management system available to all Mason students. Students can connect with other students and recent alumni, explore career paths, look for internships or jobs (on or off campus), find events to attend, and schedule an appointment with University Career Services!

Additionally, students can speak with advisors, professors and other students to find out about opportunities. Many University Life offices and academic departments have listservs, where they often email students about internship, research and leadership openings.

Students can always find out what is happening by checking out University Career Services’ events page at careers.gmu.edu/events.

University Career Services is hosting several upcoming events as well. These are great places to connect with employers and find out about openings. Depending on your student’s interests, you may direct them toward any of the following:

• Education Recruitment Day, March 17
• Media, Arts, Design, and Communications Fair, March 18
• Health and Science Career Fair, March 31
• Nonprofit Careers Week, April 12-16
• Just-In-Time Hiring Career Fair, May 17
• Career Launch, May 17

Students are encouraged to explore careers.gmu.edu/students/find-job-or-internship for more resources related to this topic.

Carolyn Kleiman
Senior Career Counselor
University Career Services

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Current Mason students (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who submitted a housing application by February 2nd are currently able to create roommate groups in the housing portal. This is for students to select other students they wish to share a bedroom and/or suite/apartment with next year. Group sizes can be between 2 and 6 students. Students can use the housing portal to browse compatible roommates or search for specific roommates. Students can opt not to group and participate in selection as an individual, but they will not know who they are selecting to share a suite/apartment with next year.

The next step in the process after grouping (for students not in Learning Communities), will be selecting a room. Selection times will be sent to students closer to the start of room selection on March 15th. Each group will be able to select their housing based on their group’s preferences – building, room type, etc. Students in Learning Communities will be assigned housing within their Learning Community based on the room style preferences they ranked on their housing application and their roommate group.

Any current student who still wishes to apply for housing will be able to apply when the general application opens on April 15th. The transfer student housing application also opens on April 15th. Incoming freshmen will hear more about their process in May.

For additional information, please visit housing.gmu.edu, call (703) 993-1000, or email housing@gmu.edu.

Sherri Greenaway
Assignments Coordinator
Housing and Residence Life

*To receive more articles like this straight to your inbox, sign up for the Mason Family Association at gmu.edu/mason-family-association.