CHSS Digest

January 25, 2022

CHSS Digest January 25, 2022

Welcome back, everyone. Spring 2022 will be our fifth “COVID semester,” and we remain grateful for your resilience and resourcefulness. We will continue working together to maintain the safety of our students and each other—and sustain the high-impact learning opportunities for students that put this college “at the center of it all” in Mason’s educational mission. Thanks for all you do! And a special thanks to our CHSS digest contributors for sharing updates, teaching tips, events, and so much more. We look forward to seeing you on campus or online this spring.  Your CHSS Digest Team  

Announcements & Resources
COVID testing requirements update

COVID testing requirements update

In accordance with Virginia Department of Human Resource Management directives, Mason has modified its guidance on COVID-19 testing.

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Alumni relations and development updates

Alumni relations and development updates

Nominate your former students as CHSS distinguished alumni, help us improve our alumni communications, make your students aware of Mason scholarships, and learn how you can be the face of Mason for distant alumni.

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Preparing for spring semester

Preparing for spring semester

As we begin the spring semester, here are a few tips for preparing your site.

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Virtual town hall to focus on enhancing Mason Core 

Virtual town hall to focus on enhancing Mason Core 

The Mason Core Committee will hold a virtual town hall on Friday, January 28, from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Learn more about updates to the Mason Core and offer feedback.

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It's not bragging if it's true

It's not bragging if it's true

The college's strategic marketing and communications team would like for you to brag a bit: we have created a short form that allows us to collect your news so that we can share it through our outlets and with Mason's Office of News and Content.

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Instructional Guidelines & Support

Temporary remote instruction guidance for faculty

The college offers guidance for temporary remote instruction for faculty who are teaching face to face and are impacted by COVID, unable to teach face to face, but are still able to teach remotely.

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Updated experiential learning/internship forms now available

Updated forms for all internships and experiential learning have just been made available.

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Blackboard tip to help students affected by COVID

Blackboard tip to help students affected by COVID

Associate Professor Justin Ramsdell has outlined a way to use Blackboard to keep multiple students from falling behind if they are out of class due to COVID.

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Research News
David Weisburd is the first criminologist awarded Israel's Rothschild Prize in social sciences

David Weisburd is the first criminologist awarded Israel's Rothschild Prize in social sciences

David Weisburd, known for his innovative work in place-based criminology, experimental criminology, and white-collar crime, was recently awarded the prestigious Israeli Rothschild Prize for 2022 in social sciences. This is the first time the prize (established in 1959 and awarded every four years in social science) has been received by a criminologist.

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ORIEI sponsored seed funding opportunities for Spring 2022

The Office of Research Innovation and Economic Impact (ORIEI) is excited to announce two new seed funding opportunities.

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National Science Foundation CAREER awards versus standard grants

Sponsor Talks Series

Clock Icon for Wednesday, February  9, 2022 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM ESTWednesday, February 9, 2022 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST

Drs. Jeff Mantz, Paul Huth, and Jan Leighley from NSF's Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) discussed strategies for deciding between applying for the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) versus a standard grant proposal, particularly for SBE. They also talked about general best practices for applying for NSF funding.

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February 2022 CEC research funding panels: NSF CAREER panel and DoD program director panel

The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) is hosting a couple of panels in February for NSF and DoD and invites their colleagues from outside of CEC to participate.

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CHSS in the Media

George Oberle receives "I Love my Librarian" award

George D. Oberle, assistant term professor in the Department of History and Art History, director of the Center for Mason Legacies, and history librarian with University Libraries, is a winner of this year’s I Love My Librarian Award, administered through the American Library Association.

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In the New York Times, Todd Kashdan describes taking action despite anxiety

In an article on the benefits of accepting and managing stress, psychology professor Todd Kashdan describes choosing to complete stressful tasks despite anxiety.

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In Washington Post and Bloomberg, Tyler Cowen considers American pessimism and markets

In an opinion article in Bloomberg and the Washington Post, economics professor Tyler Cowen discusses some limits of American investor pessimism.

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In HealthDay, James Maddux discusses attitudes on aging

In an article on the HealthDay site about adults' outlooks on aging, James Maddux, University Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology and senior scholar, Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, weighs the effects of general optimism or pessimism.

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HR News
Another call for nominations: Outstanding Achievement Awards

Another call for nominations: Outstanding Achievement Awards

A reminder that the Department of Human Resources and Payroll is seeking nominations for the 2022 Outstanding Achievement Awards. Please consider nominating one or more of your colleagues to recognize their hard work, dedication, and achievements - nominations close February 25!

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Public health emergency leave updated January 10

Public health emergency leave updated January 10

The Commonwealth of Virginia has announced new public health emergency (PHEL) guidelines related to COVID-19 (photo by CDC on Unsplash). 

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Spring 2022 Supervisor Bootcamp

Spring 2022 Supervisor Bootcamp

Registration for spring 2022 Supervisor Bootcamp is open; the course offers need-to-know information and resources to anyone who supervises at least one employee.

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Events & Deadlines

A Comparative Analysis of Good Samaritan Laws: Toward a Global Duty to Rescue

Clock Icon for Tuesday, February  1, 2022 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM ESTTuesday, February 1, 2022 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM EST

Map Icon for Online LocationOnline Location

Dr. Alison Dundes Renteln, a Professor of Political Science, Anthropology, Law, and Public Policy at University of Southern California, joins us for this event.

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Virtual Panel Discussion: Migration During Global Change

Clock Icon for Tuesday, February  1, 2022  1:00 PM to  2:00 PM ESTTuesday, February 1, 2022 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST

Climate change and extreme weather events are already forcing millions of people to move, but current migration laws were not designed with climate migration in mind. On this webinar, experts will discuss how climate change creates migration, what steps the United States can take to respond to this new challenge, and how immigrants are part of the solution.

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CHSS Graduate Student Welcome Back Coffee Break!

Clock Icon for Wednesday, February  2, 2022  9:00 AM to  4:00 PM ESTWednesday, February 2, 2022 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST

Map Icon for Horizon Hall, 6th Floor KitchenHorizon Hall, 6th Floor Kitchen

CHSS Graduate Students Welcome back to the start of Spring 2022!

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After Trauma: A Future toward Black Healing

Dr. Tianna Cobb in conversation with Dr. Catherine Olien

Clock Icon for Friday, February 11, 2022  1:00 PM to  2:00 PM ESTFriday, February 11, 2022 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST

Map Icon for Zoom link belowZoom link below

Tianna L. Cobb is a post-doctoral research and teaching fellow in the Department of Communication with joint appointments with African and African American Studies and Women and Gender Studies. Her research focuses on the normalization of prioritizing mental wellness within the Black community.

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Proposal Writing 101 with Dr. Barbara Endemaño Walker, Research Development Professional

CHSS Research

Clock Icon for Thursday, February 24, 2022  2:00 PM to  4:00 PM ESTThursday, February 24, 2022 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST

CHSS Research will host the workshop, Proposal Writing 101, presented by Dr. Barbara Endemaño Walker, Research Development Professional. This workshop is one of three workshops that CHSS Research is sponsoring focused on research and grant writing strategies for the humanities and social sciences.

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