Updates about Mason Core categories, courses, and other important information will be posted below and shared out in our newsletter. Please reach out to us at masoncor@gmu.edu with questions.
Mason Core Course Proposal Workshops & Resources
Looking to spend summer “break” developing new or revising existing Mason Core courses? No time to work on transitioning your Global Understanding course to Global Contexts? Want to know more about that Just Societies flag you’ve heard so much about recently? Our workshops are designed to meet these needs and more, providing a collaborative space to begin or continue your course development.
Mason Core Inclusive Excellence Two-Day Academy
Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | ~9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Join us for our last two-day Mason Core Inclusive Excellence Academy, offered in conjunction with the Stearns Center, which includes a $500 stipend for faculty and instructors (any level) who participate on both days! Don’t forget the added bonus of meeting other Mason Core instructors with excellent ideas that could help you reimagine your course. If you attend on campus, we provide breakfast and lunch, and some chocolate, which aids in creativity, or so our facilitators believe.
This workshop will have options to participate on-campus (strongly recommended) or live-remote via Zoom. Each day’s activities will include a blend of information, guided individual work time, and collaboration and feedback from peers. Seats are limited, so please register early to reserve your space! Register here!
Successfully (Re-)Designing and Proposing a Mason Core Course
Friday, May 17 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Not sure if the two-day workshop is for you? This two-hour workshop is a great way to gain insights into the nitty gritty of the new Global Contexts and Just Societies learning outcomes, and how to align your assignments with the Mason Core outcomes as well as structure assignments that are assessable for our future accreditation efforts. In this workshop, you will begin to draft your own course proposal and receive invaluable feedback as you get started. This workshop is also useful if you want to submit a course to other Mason Core categories as the information applies across the board. Register here!
Mason Core-specific Accelerated Continuing Professional Development
Are you teaching an exploratory course in Mason Core? Would you like to participate in professional development that allows you to document your growth as an instructor? Whether you are new to college teaching or an experienced instructor, we invite you to take advantage of the following workshops. If you complete Part 1 and Part 2 of Accelerated CPD Level 1, you will earn the CPD Level 1 Teaching Essentials Credential in two days. as part of the Stearns Center’s Continuing Professional Development program. This credential can become a part of your renewal or promotion portfolio.
Accelerated CPD Level 1 for Mason Core: Part 1
Tuesday, May 14 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Part 1 features two workshops: Fundamentals of Effective Teaching and Relate to the Real World: How to Make Your Assignments Relevant.Register here.
Accelerated CPD Level 1 for Mason Core: Part 2
May 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Part 2 features two workshops: Make Room for the Good Stuff: How to Avoid the Tyranny of Content and Teaching and Reduce Your Workload: How to Grade Efficiently. Register here.
Course Proposal Additional Resources
In addition to the above workshops, we’ve added some new supporting resources to our website for faculty developing or redesigning Mason Core courses: