Categories
Month: April 2015
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 your student, we want to provide you with several ways to help your student manage stress during finals week.
Learning Services
If your student is feeling overwhelmed by his or her workload, encourage your student to visit Mason’s Learning Services for access to resources about time management, tutoring resources, and academic counseling. 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, which is on the top floor of the Johnson Center between May 7 and May 15.
De-Stress Fest
Every year 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. Encourage your student to attend De-Stress Fest events 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.
Kristen Wright
Graduate Assistant
Family Programs and Services
Over 7,000 students will be eligible to take part in the 48th annual Spring Commencement and Convocation ceremonies at Mason on Saturday, May 16 at 10 a.m. in the Patriot Center.
As part of the graduation festivities, each school or college also holds a special celebration called Convocation for its graduates. Graduates are encouraged to attend both the official University Commencement and their individual Convocation ceremony. Convocation ceremonies may include a formal entry procession of graduates and faculty, an invited guest speaker, a student speaker, musical pieces, and the reading of the graduates’ names as they cross the stage. Most ceremonies, including Commencement, last approximately two hours.
A complete list of all the ceremonies along with detailed event information may be found by clicking here.
Tickets
Individuals eligible to participate in the annual Commencement ceremony include all Summer 2014 doctoral graduates, all Winter 2014 and Spring 2015 graduates, and all bachelor or master candidates planning to graduate in Summer 2015. Guest tickets are needed for the Commencement ceremony as well as some of the individual Convocations. Eligible students may obtain four Commencement tickets at the Patriot Center between April 21 and May 13. Commencement tickets that are not picked up by 5:30 p.m. on May 13 will be distributed to other graduates needing additional tickets. If your student is interested in obtaining extra tickets, encourage him or her to visit the Patriot Center starting on Wednesday, May 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If tickets are still available, the final opportunity to acquire them will start Saturday morning, May 16 at 9 a.m. until the Commencement ceremony begins.
Parking
Parking lots on campus during the ceremonies are open and free for guest parking. Accessible and special-assistance parking is available in Lot A which is adjacent to the Patriot Center’s south entrance and near the Concert Hall in specially marked areas. Most Convocation events will take place at either the Patriot Center or the Concert Hall on the Fairfax Campus.
Schedule
Commencement morning begins with students gathering near the Johnson Center. There, they will be greeted by faculty marshals who will guide them to their place in the formal university processional line, which will begin at the iconic George Mason Statue. Members of the Alumni Association will also be on hand to welcome the students with tokens in honor of their soon-to-be alumni status. The festive atmosphere includes light morning refreshments, music, and a visit by President Cabrera. As the processional passes the Mason statue, degree candidates traditionally rub George’s toe for good luck. After the ceremony, it is a tradition to return to the statue for a photo in cap and gown.
Regalia
Commencement at Mason is a traditional ceremony where graduates and faculty wear academic regalia. Bachelor degree candidates wear a green mortarboard style cap and gown and may add a green tassel to the mortarboard. Master degree candidates also wear a master’s hood that denotes by color the different fields of study. All regalia may be purchased by clicking here or visiting the University Bookstore.
Personalized announcements, college rings, diploma frames, mugs and other mementos are also available at the University Bookstore. Undergraduate students who have earned honors status will be notified by the Registrar’s Office via email. Those students may wear Mason honor cords, also available at the Bookstore, to all graduation events.
As part of the ceremonies, degree candidates cross the stage and receive a “stage” diploma. Actual diplomas are mailed to the address designated by the student during the online graduation application process. Diplomas are mailed within five to seven weeks following degree conferral.
Graduation is a special time for both students and their families, and if the Office of Events Management can be of any help in your student’s transition from Mason this spring please do not hesitate to contact us by calling 703.993.2853 or emailing gmuevent@gmu.edu.
Barbara Lubar
Executive Director
Office of Events Management
Categories
Your Guide to Siblings Weekend 2015
It is hard to believe but Siblings Weekend has arrived! We are happy so many siblings have decided to join us for the weekend’s festivities, and we hope everyone has a great time exploring Mason and all of the opportunities on our schedule.
Schedule and Check-In
We have great activities planned for students and siblings over the weekend such as a scavenger hunt, mystery game, movie night, circus, 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, located in Side Pocket on the second floor of the Hub. Check-in will be held from 9:30 a.m. – noon on Saturday, April 18. Your student will receive a full schedule of events, Siblings Weekend t-shirts, giveaways, and other helpful information when he or she checks in for the weekend.
Waivers
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 a sibling is between the ages of 12-18 and will be staying overnight in the residence hall on April 18 they must complete the Overnight Stay Waiver. 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.
*Failure to return all waivers will prevent siblings from being able to participate in the weekend’s festivities.
Parking Pass
If you are planning to join us for brunch on Sunday, April 19 at Southside or will need to leave your car on campus, you can download a parking pass for the Rappahannock Parking Deck.
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!
Kristen Wright
Graduate Assistant
Family Programs and Services