Category: Mason Family Flash

The end of the semester is fast approaching, and before we know it students will be on summer break. With the amount of “stuff” students collect over a year it can be tricky getting your student’s belongings home and then back to Mason again in the fall.  The UPS Store, however, is able to help!

The UPS Store, conveniently located in University Hall on the Fairfax campus, offers a summer storage program so you won’t have to haul all of your student’s belongings away for the summer. As part of the program, your student would pack all items he or she would like to have stored and we will pick them up in front of their residence hall.  All belongings will be stored in a safe and secure warehouse over the summer and will be delivered back to Mason in the fall.

The Basic Storage Plan costs $249 and includes up to five 18x18x18 boxes and a roll of packing tape. Encourage your student to sign up before April 30 to receive a $15 discount!  Upon payment at The UPS Store, your student will receive the boxes and tape, a packing tip sheet, and in inventory sheet. The inventory sheet must be filled out and returned to us at the time of pick-up. Please be aware that retrieving anything from storage is costly so students should plan not to pack anything they may need over the summer, such as important papers or passports.

We even offer storage for large items such as TVs and mini refrigerators! Visit gmustorage.com and click on the “summer storage” tab for more detailed information on the various storage packages, additional charges for storing large items, and sign up for the service.  Your student can also stop by The UPS Store in University Hall to register for the storage program.

As an alternative to our storage program, or if you have a student that is graduating, we also offer pack and ship services.  We are experts in packing and shipping to all destinations including international locations and would be happy to help your student ship their belongings.  Our pack and ship guarantee assures your packages will arrive safely and on time.

Encourage your student to visit gmustorage.com, call 703-865-5544 or stop by our location in University Hall for more information on all services the UPS Store offers!

Ilka Lazaroff
Manager
The UPS Store, Fairfax Campus

Summer is right around the corner and many students are busy wrapping up the semester with final exams, papers, and projects.  Because this time of year can be particularly demanding for students, we have provided you with several different ways to help your student manage stress during finals week.

Learning Services
During final exams students often feel overwhelmed by their workload.  Encourage your student to visit Mason’s Learning Services website to gather techniques on how to best manage their time and study most efficiently.  Learning Services also offers a variety of workshops for students to help manage stress levels such as sessions focusing on exam strategies, managing performance anxiety, and overcoming procrastination.  Click here for a full list of available academic skill workshops.

Study Locations
Many students are spending long hours studying and writing papers during this hectic time of year.  Encourage your student to utilize the extended hours of the libraries and Johnson Center as safe study spaces on campus.  Students can also reserve group study rooms in the libraries as well as the Johnson Center by clicking here.  If your student lives off campus, encourage him or her to visit the 24-hour Off-Campus Finals Study Lounge located in George’s Restaurant, located on the top floor of the Johnson Center between May 7 and May 15.

Care Packages
Show your student some extra love during this stressful time of year with a care package subscription from Co-Ed Supply.  Every month Co-Ed Supply will deliver a big orange box filled with healthy snacks, personal care items, school supplies, and entertainment products that are sure to put a smile on your student’s face.  Visit coedsupply.com/georgemason for more information.  Make sure to use promo code GEORGEMASON to receive $10 off your first order!

De-Stress Fest
Every year the Office of Student Involvement hosts a week of events to help students de-stress before finals.  This year, De-Stress Fest will take place between April 28 and May 2.  Visit osi.gmu.edu for more information on the week’s events and encourage your student to attend for several opportunities for free refreshments, exam kits, and fun ways to relax before exams.

With all of the demands the end of the semester brings students often struggle to manage stress levels.  Please encourage your student to take advantage of these activities in order to relieve stress and power through the final weeks of the semester.

Rebecca Kurihine
Graduate Assistant
Orientation and Family Programs and Services

It is hard to believe but Siblings Weekend is just days away!  We are happy that so many siblings have decided to join us for the weekend’s festivities, and we hope that everyone has a great time exploring all of the events and opportunities on our schedule.  There are some great events planned for students and siblings over the weekend such as a scavenger hunt, crafting events, movie night, inner tube water polo, and much, much more!  All siblings that have paid the registration fee and will be joining us for Siblings Weekend have received an email from families@gmu.edu with additional updates on the weekend as well as a parking pass.

Please note that this email does not contain your official check-in materials for Siblings Weekend.  Students and siblings will still need to stop by check-in which is located in Side Pocket on the second floor of the Hub.   Check-in will be held from 10 a.m. – noon and from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.  When your student checks in with his or her sibling they will receive a full schedule of events, Siblings Weekend t-shirts, giveaways and additional information that will be helpful throughout the weekend.

Additionally, all siblings attending Siblings Weekend (or the parent/guardian if under 18 years of age) must complete a Permission of Participation Waiver in order to participate. If the sibling is between the ages of 12 and 18 and their Mason student lives on campus they are invited to stay overnight in the residence hall.  Please note, all siblings under the age of 12 are prohibited to stay overnight in the residence halls and are encouraged to arrange other overnight accommodations.  If a sibling will be staying overnight in the residence hall on April 26 they must complete the Overnight Stay Waiver.

If your student has not returned all needed waivers, please encourage them to do so by April 26. Signed waivers can be submitted in one of two ways:

1. Fax to 703.993.3966 – attention: Rebecca Kurihine
2. Scanned and emailed to families@gmu.edu

Failure to return all waivers will prevent siblings from being able to participate in the weekend’s festivities.

If you have any questions as your student prepares for Siblings Weekend please do not hesitate to email families@gmu.edu, or call 703.993.2475.  We look forward to seeing students and siblings on Saturday!

Rebecca Kurihine
Graduate Assistant
Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Siblings Weekend registration will close on Friday, April 18 at 5 p.m. EST!  If your student hasn’t already signed up for this fun weekend with their sibling(s) ages 6-18, encourage them to do so by visiting masonfamily.gmu.edu.

Siblings Weekend will take place April 26-27 and will be a great time for siblings to spend time with their student and experience what life is like at Mason. Saturday, April 26 will be a day full of exciting activities such as a scavenger hunt, crafting events, video games, movie night, and much more! Siblings ages 12-18 are invited to stay overnight on Saturday in their on-campus student’s residence hall.  We encourage families with siblings ages 6-11 to arrange alternative overnight accommodations.

The cost for siblings ages 6-11 is $20 and for siblings ages 12-18 is $30.  As always, Mason students are free! The registration fee includes all giveaways, a Siblings Weekend t-shirt, and entrance to all daytime activities on both Saturday and Sunday.  Siblings ages 12-18 will also be granted entrance to all evening entertainment and late night programming.

Family members are also invited to join us Sunday, April 27 for brunch in Southside!  Family members over the age of 10 will be charged $9.50 to attend the brunch.  All family members under the age of 10 are free.  Mason students with meal plans will be required to swipe in to Southside.

If your student and sibling(s) have already committed to attending Siblings Weekend, please ensure that they have returned all necessary waivers to Orientation and Family Programs and Services.  All siblings (or their parent/guardian if under 18) are required to complete the permission of participation waiver in order to participate in Siblings Weekend.  If your student lives on campus and their sibling is between the ages of 12-18, they must complete the overnight stay waiver in order to spend the night in the residence hall on Saturday night. Please note all waivers must be filled out, signed and returned to the Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services on or before April 26. Failure to return all waivers will prevent siblings from being able to participate in the weekend’s festivities.

For information about event details, registration and restrictions, please click here.  We look forward to seeing students and siblings next weekend!

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