Inaugural A&O Employee Picnic
A&O hosted its inaugural department picnic on September 17 in the Center for the Arts Lobby. A&O leadership served barbecue and sides to a stream of more than 300 employees throughout the three-hour event that featured cornhole and a raffle.
Successful Patriot Web Upgrade
Patriot Web, George Mason University's self-service site for managing personal, administrative, and academic information, was upgraded this month to a new, modern interface with improved navigation. A soft launch of the new environment was made available for use on September 1 at the Patriot Web login page. The prior version of Patriot Web was disabled on Tuesday, September 30.
Microsoft 365 Storage Update
ITS continues to implement new storage quotas to manage growth within our Microsoft 365 (M365) environment. The next phases include administering new email and calendar quotas, creating a MyHub request process for more MS Teams and SharePoint space, investigating M365 retention policies, and refining the account lifecycle process. For quota information and updated project details, see the M365 Storage Roadmap.
AI Autumn of Literacy Kicks-off
On Tuesday, September 9, ITS hosted the inaugural Copilot Chat Prompt-A-Thon, marking the beginning of a series of AI-focused workshops and training sessions that will be offered throughout the academic year. The Prompt-A-Thon brought together students, faculty, and staff for an engaging introduction to Copilot Chat. Microsoft experts were on hand to guide participants through interactive demos and real-time exploration of this powerful generative AI technology.
The AI Toolkit provides university-supported AI tools and support for integrating AI into work or classrooms, with more AI-focused events planned at the Johnson Center:
- 9/29 - AI Assistant Demo
- 10/7 - AI Policy at Work – What We Wrote, What It Means
- 10/14 - New AI Community of Practice
- 11/4 - Patriot AI Show and Tell
Launch of Workshops to Address Top Enterprise Risks
Enterprise Risk Management workshops for the identified top enterprise risks for FY26-27 have begun to take place. These workshops are focused on refining risk definitions, describing risk drivers and current controls, and identifying top mitigation actions to address these enterprise risks. These workshops will continue throughout fall 2025.
Activities Community Wellness Center Building Substantially Completed
The new Activities Community Wellness Center has been substantially completed and is expected to be ready for use by mid-October following final safety inspections. The new 25,000 square foot facility features two full-sized basketball courts, other athletic courts, and meeting spaces for the university’s 350-plus student groups, as well as providing practice space for the Green Machine.
TimelyCare Well-Being Services for Employee
Risk, Safety, and Resilience is in the process of implementing TimelyCare well-being services for faculty and staff, which offers 24/7 virtual health and well-being services, fully independent of campus health and well-ness resources with no insurance required and no copays.
Employees can access immediate emotional support (TalkNow), scheduled mental health counseling, health coaching, self-care tools, and medical care for low-acuity issues. TimelyCare also provides a dedicated Guidance Line that faculty/staff can call to get expert help in identifying and connecting students in distress with appropriate resources.
This service is expected to be available to all employees by January 2026.
AI-Powered License Plate Recognition introduced at Mason Square
Parking Services introduced a new AI-powered license plate recognition system in the Van Metre, Vernon Smith, and Fuse garages that makes parking a faster, more convenient experience for the Mason community and visitors alike. Developed and operated by George Mason’s long-time partner, Metropolis, this cutting-edge platform makes parking seamless. Permit holders simply drive in and out as their license plate serves as their credential — no swiping or tickets required. Guests can quickly register their license plate and payment method on a mobile device, with charges processed automatically upon exit.
Biomedical Research Laboratory Receives No Findings
The laboratory was issued no findings from the Center for Disease Control, a rare accomplishment that is reflective of exceptional teamwork across Facilities, Safety, Operations, Research, and students being committed to upholding the highest safety and research standards.
Fuse Building Shortlisted for Environmental Award
The recently opened Fuse building at Mason Square has been nominated and put on the shortlist for an Environmental Impact Award from P3 Awards. The ceremony will be held in late October in New York.