Author: Shyanne Hardy

During the past year, we have had to readjust our lives in a multitude of ways in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes altering the academic schedule and eliminating this year’s Spring Break.

Spring Break is typically a time when Mason faculty, staff, and students are able to rest and recharge before continuing to move towards the end of the semester. For some, this week includes vacationing, traveling, spending time with family and friends, or simply relaxing at home. However, due to pandemic protocols, a lot of these activities are no longer able to be performed as they once were.

Additionally, the Mason community is expected to continue classes and work as usual during what would normally be Spring Break. Because of this, the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Senior Vice President, and Mason’s Faculty Senate leadership designated this week (March 8-12) as “Mason Meeting Free Week” – an attempt to help Mason faculty and staff focus on their well-being and help alleviate their workloads. Even though Mason Meeting Free Week mainly affects administrative meetings for faculty and staff, there are resources available for students to help them prioritize their mental-health and well-being:

Racial Healing Circles: Racial Healing Circles (RHCs) are designed for community building and racial awareness by focusing on health, well-being, agency, inclusion, and our common humanity. For more information, visit wellbeing.gmu.edu/resources/racial-healing-circles. Circles are available for all Mason students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Online RHCs will be held on the following dates, and your student can register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLHOb9vdJrK1Mgi3spjc_h_j5PXsal6nUToThqrDmSWpwgTQ/viewform.
– March 29; 2-5 p.m.
– April 13; 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
– April 19; 2-5 p.m.

Mental Health First Aid Training: This training provides information about the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses and strategy for connecting with those who demonstrate these indicators. The free training is 8 hours and will be split into two, 4-hour Zoom sessions. After successful competition, participants can earn a 3-year certification through the National Council for Behavioral Health. The sessions will be held on the following dates, and your student can register at www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-first-aid-part-of-hfe-programming-march-25-and-april-1-tickets-139541344919.
– March 25; 1-5 p.m.
– April 1; 1-5 p.m.

Mindful Mason Moments: These free, 30-minute online mindfulness sessions help Mason students, faculty, and staff take a mindful break in their day to contribute to positive well-being practices. These sessions take place at 12 p.m. every week day from now to May 14. Your student can join any of the sessions through this link: gmu.zoom.us/j/99936517619#success.

For more information on well-being opportunities for your student, visit wellbeing.gmu.edu.

Samaria Moss
Graduate Assistant
New Student and Family Programs

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

The Parent and Family Council was started in 2013 to help parents, family members, and supporters of current undergraduate students become informed and actively engaged members of the Mason community. They also advise New Student and Family Programs on important issues facing families at Mason. Council members serve as representatives of the Mason family experience and assist with enhancing the relationships between current, incoming, and prospective families and the institution.

In addition to being parents of Mason students, they are also volunteers and their goal is to represent and support all Mason families. The Council consists of 25 members of diverse backgrounds and geographical locations, who are well-versed in various topics pertaining to academics, student organizations, resources, and support services at Mason. In a typical year, they would participate in a panel during Orientation, plan and host a Summer Send-Off for incoming students and families, meet you on campus at Move-In, and interact with you during Family Weekend.

There is a Council member who serves on the Parents Fund Allocation Committee as well. The Parents Fund raises money that directly benefits the lives of current students and enhances their academic and co-curricular experience at Mason. Funds raised are used to support initiatives with the direct goal of increasing student success through the provision of direct support services. For a list of programs and initiatives supported by the Parents Fund in previous years, visit masonfamily.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Parents-Fund-Project-List.pdf.

Although their visibility looks different this year, the Council is available to help you navigate your Mason experience. The best way to engage with the Council right now is through our Family-to-Family Dialogue sessions. The purpose of these sessions is for you to connect with other Mason family members, ask questions, share experiences, and support each other as you support your students. There are two more sessions this semester – Tuesday, March 16 and Thursday, April 22 both at 6 p.m. ET. Register for one or both!

Meet the entire Council and see what each of them has expertise and experience with at masonfamily.gmu.edu/parent-and-family-council.

Rebecca McCrory
Associate Director of Family Programs
New Student and Family Programs

We are currently in the Mid-term Evaluation Period at Mason. Does your student need assistance with their writing assignments? At the Writing Center, your Mason student can enjoy free one-to-one tutoring at any stage of the writing process. Tutors are ready to work with your student on topics ranging from brainstorming for paper ideas and developing a thesis to citing sources and polishing a final draft.

Our principal goals involve supporting students as they write in a variety of academic disciplines and preparing students to write in professional settings. Professionals in all fields rely on processes of feedback and revision to craft high quality documents. The Writing Center will help your student develop and maintain the strong writing and revision habits required for professional success.

The Writing Center hires tutors from an array of disciplines, including creative writing, English, communication, global affairs, information technology, linguistics, and psychology. With this diverse staff, we can work with your Mason student on any kind of writing: essays, research papers, memos, proposals, resumes, cover letters, creative writing, and personal statements for graduate school.

We also have extensive experience supporting multilingual and international students. All tutors are trained to work with multilingual writers, and our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Opt-In Program allows students who request additional support to meet with the same tutor every week throughout the semester.

Due to COVID-19, the Writing Center is currently operating online. Your student can choose from one of two appointment formats: Written Feedback, where the writer uploads a draft and receives written feedback from the tutor; or Zoom, where the writer and tutor meet via Zoom to have a real-time conversation about the assignment. During the academic year, the Writing Center is open Monday through Friday and on Sunday afternoons. Students may make up to two appointments per week and up to 15 appointments each semester.

For more information and to make an appointment, your Mason student can visit writingcenter.gmu.edu. Our website also houses writing resources, including over 60 quick-guides that address specific writing-related topics. If your student is seeking writing help, encourage them to send an email to wcenter@gmu.edu with any questions.

Dr. Courtney Massie
Assistant Director
University Writing Center

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