The Family Support Series is intended to help parents, families and supporters understand how they can best support their student while at George Mason University. Webinars are typically held in the evenings, last approximately one hour, and are recorded and made available following each session on our Youtube Channel, the Mason Family Connection and on this page. We welcome questions, comments, and topic suggestions for the series at families@gmu.edu.
Below are the featured Spring 2024 programs:
| EVENT TITLE | DATE/TIME | DESCRIPTION | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepping for Graduation | Thursday, February 15; 7:00 p.m. ET | Is your student graduating in May? Deadline to apply for graduation is at the end of this month! Attend this virtual webinar to get all your questions answered regarding Graduation and what needs to be done before then! | Watch the Recording Here! |
| FAFSA Financial Aid | Tuesday, Apr. 23; 7:00 p.m. ET | A lot is changing about the Financial Aid FAFSA this year, so whether this will be your first time filling it out or your tenth, this webinar will be be an important crash course on the financial aid process for you so you can support your student. Hear from our campus partners at Financial Aid and get the latest information that has been released by the Department of Education! | Watch the Recording Here! |
| SUMMER SERIES: Prepping for Orientation | Tuesday, June 4; 7:00 p.m. ET | Are you and your student attending Orientation this summer? Come to this webinar to get all your questions answered by New Student and Family Programs Staff! This is your one stop shop for all things Orientation from Schedule of Events, to Packing Lists, to Campus Resources, to Where to Park on the day of! Come get all the need-to-know information in one place and bring with you any questions or concerns you have! | |
| SUMMER SERIES: Prepping for Move-In | TBD | Whether your student is moving onto campus for the first time or they are returning, Move In is a hectic time! Come to this webinar to get all your questions answered by New Student and Family Programs Staff! This is your one stop shop to get any Move In questions answered, learn what to expect when you arrive, and what to bring! |
Here you will find the Fall 2022-Fall 2023 program recordings and descriptions for your viewing.
| EVENT TITLE | DATE/TIME | DESCRIPTION | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepping for Winter Graduation | Thursday, September 7; 7:00 p.m. ET | Is your student graduating in December? Deadline to apply for graduation is at the end of September! Attend this virtual webinar to get all your questions answered regarding Graduation and what needs to be done before then! | Read the FAQ Here |
| Funding an Education | Tuesday, October 10; 6:00 p.m. ET | Does your student have questions about financial aid or the FAFSA? Are they in search of or curious about work study job opportunities? Is billing and your student’s account all a bit overwhelming? Are you a military connected family with questions about GI Bill and other service benefits? Whether your student is new to Mason as a freshman or transfer, or they are returning to campus this fall, there may be questions or concerns you all have. Come attend our Family Support Series to hear from Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Career Services, and Military Services on how to set yourself and your student up for success in these areas! | |
| Prepping for Family Weekend | Thursday, October 5; 7:00 p.m. ET | This is your one stop shop for questions and need-to-know info about Family Weekend 2023! We’ll be presenting info on parking, accessibility, what to do before you arrive, what to bring, and a day by day run through! | Watch the Recording Here |
| First Gen+ Resources | Tuesday, November 7; 7:00 p.m. ET | If your student is a first generation college student, if they are undocumented or refugees, or if they have a limited income, there are resources available for them! The First-Gen+ Resource Center serves all of those populations and in this VIRTUAL webinar, will be presenting them to you. Come ready to ask any questions and raise any concerns you might have! | Watch the Recording Here |
| Campus Safety | Thursday, December 7; 7:00 p.m. ET | Curious about how George Mason University is keeping your student safe? Wondering what your student can do if something bad happens or who they can go to for help? Come to our virtual webinar and hear from Campus Police, the Title IX office, and more! You will have an opportunity to ask questions of your own as well so be sure to bring a list! | Watch the Recording Here |
| EVENT TITLE | DATE/TIME | DESCRIPTION | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepping for Graduation | Thursday, February 2; 7:00 p.m. ET | Is your student graduating in May? Deadline to apply for graduation is at the end of this month! Attend this virtual webinar to get all your questions answered regarding Graduation and what needs to be done before then! | Watch the Recording |
| Registration, Finals, Internships, and Careers | Thursday, March 2; 7:00 p.m. ET | Whether your student is returning to campus in the fall or graduating in May, mid semester is a busy time of year when a lot of future planning is done! Hear from campus partners in Student Success Coaching, the Office of the University Registrar, and Career Services to learn how to help your student through whatever transition they face this semester whether it’s preparing for the Fall semester or entering the workforce! | Review FAQs and Notes Here |
| SUMMER SERIES: Prepping for Orientation | Tuesday, May 16; 7:00 p.m. ET | Are you and your student attending Orientation this summer? Come to this webinar to get all your questions answered by New Student and Family Programs Staff! This is your one stop shop for all things Orientation from Schedule of Events, to Packing Lists, to Campus Resources, to Where to Park on the day of! Come get all the need-to-know information in one place and bring with you any questions or concerns you have! | Watch the Recording |
| SUMMER SERIES: Prepping for Move-In | Thursday, July 27; 7:00 p.m. ET | Whether your student is moving onto campus for the first time or they are returning, Move In is a hectic time! Come to this webinar to get all your questions answered by New Student and Family Programs Staff! This is your one stop shop to get any Move In questions answered, learn what to expect when you arrive, and what to bring! | Register Here |
| EVENT TITLE | DATE/TIME | DESCRIPTION | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fund an Education | Tuesday, September 13; 7:00 p.m. ET | Do you or your student have questions about financial aid or the FAFSA? Are they in search of or curious about work study job opportunities? Are you a military connected family with questions about benefits? Here from our partners Financial Aid and Student Accounts, Military Services, and Career Services, and learn about all of the resources available to your student. | |
| All Things Family Weekend | Thursday, October 6; 7:00 p.m. ET | If you are coming to Mason for Family Weekend, this is your one stop shop to get any questions answered! During this VIRTUAL event, we’ll be presenting FAQs and general need-to-know info regarding parking, accessibility, what to bring, and a day by day walk through. Where: Zoom (link provided @ registration) When: October 6, 2022 7-8pm ET Come ready to ask any questions, and we can’t wait to see you in person Oct 14-16! | Watch the Recording |
| Structure of Support | Tuesday, November 1; 7:00 p.m. ET | Are you or your student wondering about the resources available for their academic success? Are they in need of or interested in success coaching? Have questions about what disability accommodations are available for your student and how to request them? There may be questions or concerns you all have, whether this is your student’s first or returning semester. Come attend our Family Support Series to hear from Learning Services, Student Success Coaching, Disability Services, and the Patriot Experience on how to set up their Mason structure of support! | Watch the Recording |
| Taking Charge of Well-being | Thursday, December 1; 7:00 p.m. ET | Is your student taking advantage of Mason health and well-being resources? Whether your student is a first-year freshman, a graduating senior, or anywhere in between; whether they are going through a rough patch or sailing smoothly, come learn from and ask questions to Patriot experts in the field! At this virtual panel, you will hear from the Center for the Advancement of Well-being, Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Student Support and Advocacy Center. | Watch the Recording |
Here you will find the Spring 2022 program recordings and descriptions for your viewing.
| EVENT TITLE | DATE/TIME | DESCRIPTION | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Engagement and the Patriot Experience | Tuesday, February 22; 7:00 p.m. ET | Is your student unsure what events or programs are taking place on campus? Are they looking for more engagement opportunities? Attend our Family Support Series to hear from Housing and Residence Life, Mason Recreation, and Student Success Coaching, and learn how your student can enhance their experience! | View the Recording |
| Academic Advising and Registration | Tuesday, March 8; 7:00 p.m. ET | Is your student ready to register for classes? Or maybe they have no idea where to start? Register to attend our Family Support Series on Academic Advising and Registration. Academic advisors from different Colleges and Schools will provide resources for how you can help your student have a successful registration process. | View the Recording |
| Career Success: Study Abroad, Research, and Internships | Tuesday, April 19; 7:00 p.m. ET | Is your student completing an internship, studying abroad or conducting research this summer? Or do they want to pursue these opportunities in the future but aren’t sure where to start? Register to attend our last Family Support Series of the semester to learn how you can support your student’s success beyond the classroom. | View the Recording |