ANNOUNCEMENTS

Power Outage on Tuesday, August 9

New Payment Policy for Fall 2005 On-Time Registrations

Instructional Resource Center (IRC) 427 Lab Closing

Single Tickets on Sale for 2005 - 2006 Season of Great Performances at Mason

Field House Announces Change in Operating Hours

IRC Lab Boasts Wide Variety of Software for All Levels of Users

Staff Senate Survey

HR/Payroll News

TRAINING

eVA Training

HR Training

Mason E-Files

Posted August 8, 2005

Power Outage on Tuesday, August 9

There will be a brief power outage in several buildings on Tuesday, August 9 beginning at 2:00 am and concluding at 6:00 am. Each outage should last about 30 minutes. The outages are required so new electrical metering equipment can be installed. The buildings that will have the power outage are East, Krug, Finley, North Chesapeake Module, and South Chesapeake Module. If you have any questions, contact the Physical Plant Customer Service Center at 993-4659.

New Payment Policy for Fall 2005 On-Time Registrations

Registrations are considered on time prior to the first day of the semester.

The payment due date for all on-time registrations and other charges is August 29, the first day of the semester. Payment options and plans are on http://studentaccounts.gmu.edu. A late payment fee of 10% or $250 (whichever is less) will be added to all unpaid balances from on-time registrations and other charges after the first day of classes.

Late Registrations. Registrations on or after August 29 are late. A late registration fee of $250 will be charged for all initial registrations occurring on or after the first day of the semester. Late registration fees are nonrefundable.

The payment due date for all late registrations and other charges from August 29 through September 13 is five business days after registration. Payment options and plans are on http://studentaccounts.gmu.edu. A late payment fee of 10% or $250 (whichever is less) will be added after the 5th business day.

All late registrations after September 13 require pre-payment of the $250 late registration fee, plus all tuition, fees and any prior balance. The Semester Payment Plan option is available until October 1.

Registrations will not be canceled for nonpayment. Classes will not be canceled for nonpayment. The last day to drop fall semester classes with no tuition penalty is September 13. Students must drop by the payment due date all classes they do not plan to complete to avoid the late payment fee on those classes. Late registration fees are nonrefundable.

Late Payments. A late payment fee of 10% or $250 (whichever is less) will be added to unpaid charges after the 5th business day. If the registration is late, the late payment fee is charged in addition to the late registration fee. The late payment fee applies to all charges added and not paid or dropped within five business days.

Questions? Call Student Accounts at 993-2484.

Instructional Resource Center (IRC) 427 Lab Closing

On Thursday, August 11 the IRC Lab will be closed for the day. It will re-open on Friday, August 12. Additionally, on Friday, August 19 the IRC Lab will close at 12:00 pm, and the lab will re-open on Monday, August 22.

If there are any questions regarding the IRC Lab hours of operation, contact the Lab Manager, James Ouellette at jouellet@gmu.edu, 993-4766, or you can visit the IRC web site at www.irc.gmu.edu.

Single Tickets on Sale for 2005 - 2006 Season of Great Performances at Mason

"George Mason University is blending its wide spectrum of entertainment with the global taste of its neighboring communities to form a new season," said The Washington Post after the April 2005 announcement of the 2005-2006 season of Great Performances at Mason. This season showcases a collection of some of the finest music, dance, theater, opera, and the incomparable artistry of today's best national and international performers. Single tickets for the entire season of Great Performances at Mason will go on sale to the public on Thursday, September 1. Credit card purchases through tickets.com may be made online at www.tickets.com or by calling (888) 945-2468 (service charges apply). In person purchases may be made at the Center for the Arts ticket office, located in the lobby of the Concert Hall on Mason Pond Drive on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University. Ticket Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. For general information call 993-8888. For a complete calendar of performances, visit http://www.gmu.edu/cfa.

Field House Announces Change in Operating Hours

The Field House will begin its normal operating hours on Monday, August 15. These hours will be as follows:

IRC Lab Boasts Wide Variety of Software for All Levels of Users

The Instructional Resource Center’s (IRC) Lab (Innovation Hall, Room 427) boasts a wide variety of software for all levels of users.

To assist the Mason faculty and staff, the IRC has purchased Adobe Acrobat 7 Professional, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Camtasia Studio 3, and SnagIt 7.2.

Adobe Acrobat 7 Professional is Adobe’s latest version in their popular Acrobat family. With the help of Adobe Acrobat 7 Professional experienced users as well as users new to the Acrobat family can quickly create, edit, organize PDF’s as well as create interactive PDF forms.

Adobe Photoshop CS 2 is the latest incarnation of the Adobe’s Photoshop series. Photoshop CS 2 boasts some exciting new features allowing experienced and novice user to customize their work space work more efficiently and creatively utilizing Photoshop CS2’s cutting edge tools.

Camtasia Studio 3, by TechSmith is a dynamic screen recording software. With this program the user can record on-screen activities, edit and enhance your final product, and publish your movie in several file formats. Some new features in Camtasia 3 include: capturing video on webcam and synchronizing it with your recording, creating quizzes within your video and new title clips.

SnagIt 7.2, by TechSmith is a screen capture software and so much more. Version 7.2 gives the user the ability to capture images, text, video, regions of a screen, menus, objects and scrolling windows. To save time SnagIt designers provided add-ins for most Microsoft Products, Adobe Products and Internet Explore. With its inexpensive price tag and its power and versatility SnagIt 7.2 will quickly become a program you use everyday.

The IRC invites all faculty and staff members to come visit the Innovation Hall (Room 427) Lab to explore these new software packages as well as the other software the IRC provides.

Staff Senate Survey

The Staff Senate is conducting a survey to find out whether or not you are satisfied with Banner, Communication within the University, and Parking/Infrastructure. Go to http://gunston.gmu.edu/staffsenate/survey.asp to complete the survey.

HR/Payroll News

HR Training and Development Sign Up Process Change. You may have noticed that we have migrated our training class sign ups to WEMS, the events management and sign up program used for ITU, Banner, and other training opportunities. Check out our new look and feel at http://hr.gmu.edu/training.

Address Updates. In addition to updating your address(es) and phone(s) in the Patriot Web, faculty and staff must update their address in the Commonwealth of Virginia database in Richmond which houses health insurance and flexible benefits information for employees. To do this, go to http://edirect.virginia.gov. Companies that administer retirement plans (VRS or ORP), tax deferred annuity plans (TSAs), deferred compensation, and other miscellaneous benefits must also be notified separately. Refer to the Human Resources Benefits pages to find web links and/or addresses for these companies.

Retirement Fund Performance Report. Retirement investments keeping you awake at night? Wondering how your Optional Retirement Account and Cash Match Account retirement investments are performing? Click here to view performance information for the second quarter of 2005.

Parking Payroll Deductions. If you've already signed up for parking and elected to pay via (pre-tax) payroll deduction, you will notice that your payroll deduction began with your August 1 (July 31) check. Deduction amounts are smaller than in the past because they will be taken throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. The goal is to eliminate future trips to the parking office or new deduction forms for most continuing employees. Parking fees will be deducted from each check for the remaining checks this fiscal year, or for however many periods remain in the fiscal year after you sign up for parking. Starting with your July 1, 2006 check, deductions will be taken year round and you will not need to sign up for parking again. If you do leave the university, be sure to return your hang tag or decal to the parking office so that deductions can be stopped. Parking and payroll will determine the amount that has been used and paid, make any adjustment on your next check, and stop the deductions. If you do not return the tag or decal, the remaining amount for the full year will be deducted from your last pay or leave payout check.

eVA Training

eVA, Virginia's electronic purchasing system, has been implemented at George Mason University. Individuals who purchase goods and services for their departments using the American Express Purchase card or the Limited Purchase Order (LPO) form are encouraged to attend an eVA training session. A state-issued eVA user name and password are required to purchase goods and services through eVA. The eVA request form available on the Fiscal Services web site may be used to request an eVA user name and password.

eVA training sessions are scheduled for August 4 and 25 and September 16 from 9:30 am to noon in Innovation Hall. Those interested may register at: http://ittraining.gmu.edu.

HR Training

Barriers to Communication, Part II. August 10, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Johnson Center, Room C. Register online on the HR website or call 993-2621.

New Supervisor Start-up Guide. This session is appropriate for anyone who is new to supervising, returning to it, or thinking about becoming a supervisor. August 15, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, SUB II, Rooms 1 & 2. Register online on the HR website or call 993-2621.

Food and Beverages Expenditures. August 16, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, in Innovation Hall, Room 215G. Register online on the HR website or call 993-2621.

Everything You Need to Know to Plan a Successful Event. August 17, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, Innovation Hall, Room 206. Register online on the HR website or call 993-2621.

Navigating the College Selection, Admission and Financial Support Process. Presented by Andrew Flagel, Dean of Admissions. September 2, 12 to 1:30 pm, Johnson Center, Room C. Register online on the HR website or call 993-2621.

Fiscal Basics. An overview presented by Fiscal Services. September 21, 9:00 to 11:00 am, Innovation Hall, room 215G. Register online on the HR website or call 993-2621.

Pre-Retirement Seminar for Participants in the Optional Retirement Program. September 28, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Johnson Center, Cinema. Register online on the HR website or call 993-2621.