Highlights - Administration & Operations

Summer camps and other youth-focused programs are in full swing at George Mason, and RSR's Operational Risk Management division is working behind the scenes to keep them safe and well prepared. ORM guides program administrators through all requirements for programs serving minors, from risk self-assessments and background screenings to participant safety documentation. In partnership with ORM, RSR's Emergency Management team oversees the submission and approval of Camp and Program Emergency Plan forms using an in-house, online, interactive, and collaborative tool to make sure that thousands of children and teens have a positive, safe summer camp experience on campus.

George Mason’s RSR-Emergency Management & Fire Safety team led the Annual Institutions of Higher Education Fire Safety Symposium at the University of Virginia on June 5. This event, started nearly 15 years ago by George Mason’s Fire Safety team, brought together fire safety professionals from across the Commonwealth and institutions of higher education to share best practices and emerging technologies, and to network with other professionals in the field. The George Mason team, including representatives from RSR-Environmental Health & Safety, presented on battery safety and led a roundtable discussion on fire watch, fire drills, and chemical inventory management.

Two new systems are now live at the Biomedical Research Laboratory. A new Vocera Minibadge system enables hands-free voice commands such as “call 911” or “call Mason Police” during emergencies for staff working alone who may be unable to reach a phone or radio. Access to the BRL itself has also been made more secure through a new video intercom and access control system, which allows security officers to communicate with guests at the entry and exit gates while remaining at their post. In the future, a mobile component will enable officers to manage visitors at the gate while conducting their security rounds.

The fruits – or flowers – from last fall’s landscaping renovation are in full bloom. The two new Living Lab spaces for the Residence Hall and the Academic Teaching Gardens at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation were completed last October. More than 20 different native plant species now provide a habitat for pollinators and are available for research conducted by high school and undergrad students. The project was developed and coordinated with Facilities Management’s Grounds team, SMSC faculty, and the contract partner Brightview.

On June 23, George Mason University officially launched the Cybersecurity Working Group, a new cross-functional governance body focused on strengthening the university’s approach to cybersecurity, privacy, technology risk, identity and access management, data governance, compliance, and the responsible use of emerging technologies, including AI. Chaired by the Chief Information Security Officer, Matthew Dalton, with representatives from academic, administrative, and research areas, the CWG provides a strategic forum for collaboration, policy development, and risk-informed decision-making. The group will help advance a consistent, institution-wide approach to protecting the university’s digital environment while ensuring cybersecurity initiatives remain aligned with operational needs and institutional priorities.

George Mason has begun Wave 1 of its Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium rollout, expanding the university’s strategic use of AI to support faculty and staff productivity, operational efficiency, and innovation. Participants have begun receiving enhanced Copilot capabilities across Microsoft applications—including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams—enabling them to draft content, analyze data, summarize meetings, automate routine tasks, and work more effectively. This initial cohort will help establish best practices, measure impact, and identify opportunities to further integrate AI into business operations as future waves of the rollout are planned.

The new Campus Store is open, the product of months of work between Auxiliary and Business Services and new operational partners, Rally House and eCampus.com, which will continue to evolve over the summer. The first change in bookstore operations in more than 25 years, the updated store offers an enhanced retail experience, expanded spirit merchandise, and modernized course material services for the George Mason community, with Rally House overseeing retail and eCampus.com managing course materials.