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Orientation brings thousands of students to campus throughout the summer months, many who have one important thing on their minds: where to live come August. Whether your student is new to Mason or returning, it is essential to start the housing search now to make sure your student is able to secure housing in time for the fall semester.

One of the best ways to get to know what off-campus housing is like in Northern Virginia is to attend the Off-Campus Housing Fair on July 13 from 2-4:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center. Properties will come to campus and will share information on what they have to offer. Even if your student is not looking for immediate housing, the fair gives students a great idea of what apartments around Fairfax are like. Furthermore, Off-Campus Student Services will be available to help with roommate, budgeting and transportation options for new off-campus students.

Before the Off-Campus Housing Fair, your student can prepare by visiting the Off-Campus Housing website. This will allow him or her to filter properties by price, location, transportation accessibility and more to find a great place to live. This website gets over one million hits throughout the year and is the recommended way to search for housing for Mason students, staff and faculty.

For more information about the Off-Campus Housing Fair or any of the resources available to off-campus students, please contact Off-Campus Student Services at [email protected] or 703-993-6563 or visit offcampus.gmu.edu.

Adrienne Thompson
Graduate Assistant
Off-Campus Student Services

While many students are off for the summer, Orientation and Family Programs and Services is still working hard preparing to welcome new students and families to Mason! Whether you are new to the Mason Family Association, or a longtime member, we recognize the important role you play in your student’s success and want to provide ways to connect you not only to Mason, but to other Mason families.

Join the Mason Family Association Facebook Group
This group was created to supplement the George Mason Family Programs Facebook page by providing a space focused on family-to-family conversation.  Parents and family members are invited to utilize the group as a source of celebration and support as we all strive to support our students and each other on this collegiate journey. To request membership to the group, click here.

Apply to the Parent and Family Council
The Mason Parent and Family Council was established to provide opportunities for parents and families to become actively engaged, informed members of the George Mason community by serving as ambassadors for the university, and prospective and current families. Members of this group meet once per semester and advise Orientation and Family Programs and Services on important issues facing families at Mason. We will be accepting applications for the Parent and Family Council through November. More information about the application process and membership can be found here.

We hope these groups will connect you with other Mason families throughout the summer and into the academic year. For more information about family programs and services, please visit masonfamily.gmu.edu or contact us at [email protected] or 703-993-4281.

Lindsey Conner
Project Coordinator
Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Whether your student will be heading off to Mason for the first time in the fall or returning for a second or third year, it is important to talk to him or her about how to prepare for the academic year. To help, we have compiled a few questions to start the conversation about your student’s transition to Mason.

Have you thought about participating in any activities or organizations in the upcoming year?
This question can lead to further discussions around your student’s interests, his or her hobbies, and ways he or she can take advantage of opportunities at Mason to further explore those interests. Mason has a variety of student organizations and student jobs that present unique opportunities for your student. Encourage your student to check out Student Involvement’s website for a list of registered student organizations and Unversity Career Service’s Hire Mason for a list of on-campus employment opportunities. 

What are you excited about when it comes to your living situation for next year? What concerns do you have?
Whether your student is planning to live on- or off-campus, college living situations can be an area of both excitement and anxiety. To assist students with this situation, Mason offers a number of housing-related resources.

If your student will be living on-campus, Housing and Residence Life offers a multitude of programs and services designed to encourage students to engage with the university community and to promote Mason’s appreciation for diversity among residents. To learn more about everything that Housing and Residence Life has to offer, and to gather more information about move-in day, encourage your student to visit housing.gmu.edu.

If your student will be living off-campus, encourage him or her to check out Off-Campus Student Services, which serves as a centralized resource for academic and social engagement opportunities for off-campus students. Additionally, they provide an off-campus housing locator for students still searching for housing options in the fall. For more information about off-campus housing, advising and programming, click here.

How do you plan to manage your wellness while at college?
College can be stressful and it is important for students to consider their own well-being as they manage possible stress. Mason Recreation values the holistic well-being and development of students and encourages the achievement of positive wellness goals, general fitness, social engagement, emotional well-being and fun. Encourage your student to visit recreation.gmu.edu to learn more about the services Mason Recreation has to offer. The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being also offers resources for wellbeing practices including meditation, positive psychology, and leadership. To learn more about the programs and services offered by the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, visit wellbeing.gmu.edu. 

What is your transportation plan for the fall?
Mason offers a wide variety of transportation options such as shuttles, carpools and Zipcars for students. Learn more by visiting transportation.gmu.edu. If your student plans to bring a car to campus, make sure he or she purchases a parking permit online at parking.gmu.edu. Parking passes for the 2017-2018 academic year will be available beginning on Monday, July 24 here.

It is important that students feel prepared for the upcoming year, or years, ahead. These questions can spark the conversation to stimulate excitement about your student’s time at Mason and prepare him or her for the many opportunities in store!

Lindsey Conner
Project Coordinator
Orientation and Family Programs and Services

Spring 2017 was full of exciting changes to the dining program at George Mason University. At the beginning of the spring semester, Mason announced the addition of eight new dining options – Dunkin Donuts, two food trucks, Chipotle, Steak ‘n Shake, Blaze Pizza, Star Ginger, and Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill. Brands were chosen based on focus group feedback and survey results that revealed the need for customizable options, fresh ingredients and fast service.

To accommodate these new additions, renovations to the Johnson Center food court began over spring break. In anticipation of potentially “hangry” customers during construction, Mason Dining devised a plan to feed your student during construction. Two food court favorites, Red Hot & Blue and IndAroma, moved to a downstairs location in the Johnson Center and opened as students were returning to campus from spring break. At the same time, two food trucks opened on campus and now serve food just outside the closed food court. Steak ‘n Shake food truck and the Mason-created “Hungry Patriot” food truck provide fast service and food on-the-go for students looking for lunch and dinner options near the Johnson Center. When the food court re-opens, the Hungry Patriot will continue to operate at Mason Athletics and Eagle Bank Arena events as a concession option.

Mason Dining’s most anticipated opening of the year took place during the first week of April – our first Dunkin’ Donuts. Located on the bottom floor of the Tidewater residence hall, Dunkin’ Donuts is just around the corner from the Johnson Center and offers another option during the food court construction. Students love the fresh donuts made in-house daily, and array of breakfast sandwiches and coffee beverages.

The food court construction is scheduled to run through this summer and conclude just before the fall semester so that students may finally have access to Chipotle, Steak ‘n Shake, Blaze Pizza, Star Ginger, and Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill.  At the grand opening event, students can look forward to something major – including samples, fun, and of course, the famous Mason Dining prize wheel! The official opening and grand opening dates will be released on Mason Dining’s social media outlets as we draw closer to the fall semester.

With the food trucks, Dunkin’ Donuts location, and soon-to-open new and improved Johnson Center food court, come fall, George Mason University will have an on-campus dining selection in line with the nation’s best. Mason Dining remains dedicated to providing quality food services to the Mason community by serving the community with fresh and trendy dining options.

Bridget Bukovich
Marketing Coordinator
Mason Dining