Category: Mason Family Flash

February 15, 2014 marks George Mason University’s annual Homecoming celebration.  This year, we will celebrate with the theme “Bringing Home the Green and Gold” as the men’s basketball team battles St. Bonaventure University.  There will be a variety of great events for your student to participate in throughout the week leading up to Homecoming, including spirit competitions, service activities, and the annual pep-rally.

We also invite all students and families to join us for the annual Homecoming Block Party on February 15 from 3 – 5 p.m. in Lot K.  Orientation and Family Programs and Services and the Office of Student Involvement will be hosting the family friendly zone, a tent where we will be providing lots of fun games and activities for families.  We will also be giving away Mason Family Association car decals to Family Association members.  In order to receive a car decal, show us this email on your electronic device before going into the Patriot Center to watch Mason send St. Bonaventure home with a loss!

Haven’t purchased your tickets to the game yet?  Don’t worry!  Orientation and Family Programs and Services is offering tickets to George Mason Family Association members at a discounted rate of $10.  We encourage you to click here to purchase tickets for you and your family.  Tickets are limited, however, so make your purchases TODAY!

For a full listing of Homecoming events, visit homecoming.gmu.edu.

Rebecca Kurihine
Graduate Assistant
Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Feb. 3:	Groundhog Day Breakfast for Off-Campus Students
Feb. 15:	Homecoming 2014: February 15Homecoming, Block Party: 3 – 5 p.m., Basketball Game: 6 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets at discounted rate of $10.
Feb. 17:	Midterm evaluations begin
Feb. 19 & 20:	Spring Job and Internship Fair
Feb. 21:	Last day to drop classes
Feb. 21:	Spring 2014 graduation application deadline
Feb. 24:	Selective withdrawal period

 

George Mason University offers Aetna Student Health insurance to all undergraduate students, full-time and part-time, who take at least six credit hours, and all graduate level students taking at least three credit hours. This is a student-focused health insurance plan that protects students at school, at home, and while traveling or studying abroad. Basic health care coverage with major medical benefits is provided to an aggregate maximum of $500,000 per condition, per policy year.  Domestic students are encouraged, but not required, to have health insurance while international students are required to have health insurance. For more information please click here.

Please see below for a few plan highlights and more information regarding Mason’s student health insurance plan.

• No exclusion because of a pre-existing condition.  Pre-existing medical conditions are covered as any other illness
• Access to Aetna’s nationwide network of health care professionals, including primary care and specialist doctors
• $250 annual deductible
• Inpatient and outpatient charges are covered 80/20, Aetna pays for 80% of covered charges and the patient is responsible for 20% of covered charges after the deductible is met
• $500,000 coverage for prescription drugs: co-pay $15 for generics, $40 for formulary and $75 for non-formulary prescriptions
• Access to Vision, Dental, Fitness and Alternative Health Care Discount Programs.
• Travel Assistance Services and Worldwide Medical Coverage while traveling or studying abroad
• Adult Immunizations are covered at Student Health Services ONLY
• Preventative Services covered at Student Health Services and in-network providers

For a detailed plan description, including online enrollment, please click here. 

Please also note that the spring 2014 Open Enrollment period ends February 15, 2014.

If your student is living on campus and is currently covered by a family members’ insurance policy, please review the details of the plan to make certain that coverage is provided when away from home.

For questions about Mason’s student health insurance plan, please call Aetna Student Health’s Customer Service at 1-800-878-1945. You may also contact Mason’s Insurance Office at (703) 993-2827 or (703) 993-7634.

Angela Drukier
Insurance Coordinator
Student Health Services

Studying abroad enables students to earn academic credit while greatly enhancing their resume and with summer right around the corner, now is a great time for your student to explore all programs offered by Mason’s Center for Global Education. See below for sophomore Rondene Grinam’s experience studying abroad in Paris, France:

Since the year I enrolled in my first French class in high school I have gained and cultivated a profound sense of appreciation for language and culture. I fell in love with the knowledge of French culture that I have obtained since, and I cannot get enough of the music, the food, the customs, and the language of France. You can imagine how excited I was to learn that the Center for Global Education offers a French Language Study Program in Paris, France each summer.

I had always known I would study abroad in college, but one of my main concerns was trading valuable time on campus for time abroad. Since this trip is offered during the summer I didn’t have to worry about that. After I had done some more research on the Center for Global Education’s website, globaled.gmu.edu, I discussed it with my mom and with my academic advisors and determined that this would be the best way to complete my foreign language requirement for my Honors College Communication major. This trip seemed perfect for me! My next step would be applying for it.

First, I made an appointment with the program director for the tour, Erin Mateu. Meeting with a program director is the absolute best way to begin the application process. She provided me with a checklist of things to do in order to complete my application by the summer program deadline, a cost breakdown to let me know exactly how I should begin financing my trip, and told me about scholarships to which I could apply. I ended up being able to utilize a scholarship offered by the Center for Global Education to pay for a portion of my airfare.

With the guidance of my program and faculty directors I was able to book my flight and prepare for my trip once my program and scholarship applications were submitted and approved.  I found it extremely helpful that both my program and faculty directors were only a quick email away throughout the entire application process.

After booking my flight and four long months of waiting, I finally arrived in France in May! I spent four weeks in one of the world’s most beautiful cities and was able to practice my French not only in my two classes every day, but also in my interactions with others. We stayed in a hostel for international students in Paris and we studied at the Alliance Française, where I was able to meet students from all over the world. When we weren’t in class, we had an abundance of time to explore Paris and walk or take the metro to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, or the Champs Elysees. We went on a few excursions as a group, including a boat tour on the Seine River and a weekend trip to Normandy. However, we were also free to explore on our own, and a few of us went to Disneyland Paris on a weekend we had free; others went to London or Spain. The possibilities were endless!

Embarking on this trip was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life and I fervently recommend studying abroad for every student. The Center for Global Education offers a variety of programs in almost 50 countries. There is truly something for everyone.

As displayed by Rondene’s story, a successful study abroad experience begins in the cold of winter with thoughtful research, planning, and preparation. The deadline to apply for summer study abroad programs is March 8.  Encourage your student to visit globaled.gmu.edu for more information or stop by the Center for Global Education on the second floor of the Johnson Center to visit with a Center for Global Education Program Officer and begin their study abroad experience today!

Rebecca Kurihine
Graduate Assistant
Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Story by:
Rondene C. Grinam
George Mason University Class of 2016
B.A. Communication and Global Affairs