George Mason University

 

Graduate Student Life

Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA)

Office of the Provost

Office of Student Involvement

Gradstravaganza: Graduate Student Welcome

SAVE THE DATE:

Gradstravaganza 2018 will be held on Friday, September 7, 2018. Stay tuned to this page for updates!

Gradstravaganza 2018 details will be published here in June 2018. For your reference, information about Gradstravaganza 2017 is below.

Please contact Graduate Student Life with any questions.

 

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Friday, September 8, 2017

3:30-5:00pm: Mini-Workshops in the Johnson Center (Fairfax Campus)

5:30-7:30pm: Picnic at The Hub (Lawn, Patio, and Indoor Spaces) (Fairfax Campus)

All new and continuing Mason graduate students are invited to Gradstravaganza, Mason’s annual graduate student welcome event! Join fellow Mason grad students for FREE food, mini-workshops highlighting strategies for success in graduate school, connections with campus resources, games, and giveaways, including special Mason Grad Student t-shirts! Families are welcome! Remember to bring your Mason student ID with you. Brought to you by Graduate Student Life, Student Involvement, the Office of the Provost, Mason Recreation, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA), and Mason Parking Services.

Mini-Workshops for Graduate Student Success

We are offering an array of mini-workshop sessions aimed at promoting your success in your graduate program. All mini-workshops will be held in the Johnson Center on the third floor. Check-in for these sessions will be held in the West Lobby on the third floor by the elevators. Graduate students who participate in the mini-workshops will have the opportunity to receive their T-shirts at the end of the third session and a wristband for expedited entry to the picnic!

Mini-Workshop Schedule

	JC Room A	JC Room B	JC Room C	JC Room D	JC Room E
3:30-4:00pm	Making the Commitment to Writing	Teaching Tips for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)	Mason Libraries: We’re at Your Fingertips!	Pathway through the PhD	Managing Limited Time and Multiple Demands
4:00-4:30pm	Building Your Network Now for Your Job Search Later	Building an Effective Relationship with your Mentor/Advisor	Strategies for Success in Your Master’s Degree Program	Fellowships and Funding Opportunities during Grad School and Beyond	Managing Limited Time and Multiple Demands
4:30-5:00pm	Building Your Network Now for Your Job Search Later	Building an Effective Relationship with your Mentor/Advisor	Strategies for Success in Your Master’s Degree Program	Well-Being during Graduate School Looking out for Yourself and Others	How to Get On-Campus Employment as a Graduate Student

Mini-Workshop Descriptions 2017

Important Information about Mini-Workshops

Check-in for the mini-workshops will begin at 3:00pm in the West Lobby on the third floor of the Johnson Center, near the elevators. Capacity for the mini-workshops will be limited to 55 students each and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please review the mini-workshop descriptions in advance and select first-, second-, and third-choice options.

Menu

• Entree
  Pulled Barbecue Chicken on Kaiser Rolls.
  Black Bean Garden Burgers
• Sides
  Creamy Coleslaw
  Vegetarian Baked Beans
• Dessert
  Rita’s Italian Ice

Agenda

This agenda will be updated with further details and instructions for check-in by early August 2017.

3:30 – 5:00pm  Mini-Workshop Sessions in the Johnson Center (third floor)

5:30pm Picnic Begins at The Hub (Lawn, Patio, and Indoor Spaces)

Novelty entertainment and lawn games provided by Mason Recreation begin.

The Corner Pocket will be open and free for Gradstravaganza attendees, featuring billiards, table tennis, and arcade-style games.

7:30pm Gradstravaganza ends

Location

Gradstravaganza will be held on the Fairfax Campus. The mini-workshop sessions will be held in the Johnson Center on the third floor. Check-in will take place in the lobby by the elevators on the third floor. The picnic will be held at The Hub. To view a map of campus, visit here.

Parking and Transportation

The closest public parking to the picnic is available in Shenandoah Parking Deck ($3/hour). You may also park in your regularly assigned lot. For those without parking passes for the Fairfax Campus, Lot C will be made available for you to park in for free. For more information about parking, visit the Parking Services website.

From Arlington Campus:

• Shuttle: A free shuttle will be provided between Arlington Campus and Fairfax Campus specifically for Gradstravaganza. Starting at 2:00pm, Friday, Sept. 8th, a shuttle will be running between Founders Hall (Arlington Campus) and The HUB (Fairfax Campus) on a continuous loop.
  • Founders Hall- First pick up is at 2pm; last drop off is at 8pm.
  • The Hub- First pick up is between 2:45 and 3:00pm, depending on traffic from Arlington; last return trip returning to Founders Hall is at 7:30pm.
• Metro: You may also choose to take the Metro to reach Fairfax from Arlington. You can take the Orange Line from the Virginia Square-GMU Metro station to the Vienna Metro station. At the Vienna Metro station, there is a Metro to Mason Shuttle that can take you directly to the Fairfax Campus with a valid Mason ID. Visit the Mason Shuttles website for more information. You may also take any Cue Bus from the Vienna Metro station to the Fairfax Campus.

From Science and Technology Campus in Prince William:

• You may take the SciTech-Fairfax GMU shuttle to the Sandy Creek Transit Center stop. For more information, including the schedule, visit the Mason Shuttles website.

What to Bring

• Mason ID (how to get your ID)
• Picnic blanket, lawn chairs, or towels to sit upon
• Openness to meeting fellow Mason graduate students!