Maintain continuity When You Aren't on Campus

Whether you're navigating everyday tasks or unexpected disruptions, being equipped with the right technology tools ensures you can stay connected to your work or studies from anywhere.

This guide provides essential resources for George Mason University students, faculty, and staff to support remote work and learning.

Information Technology Services (ITS) encourages you to stay in contact with your department’s IT support and leadership for personalized guidance and best practices.

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ITS Support is George Mason's central point of contact for IT support and information and is available 24/7.

Students

Tools and Technology You'll Need
Collaboration Tools, Email, and Productivity

Email

Office 365 Email is the official email system for George Mason students.

Collaboration & Productivity Tools (chat, web conferencing, document sharing, etc.)

Students are granted a Basic Zoom account. This allows the hosting of up to 100 participants for a maximum of 40 minutes per meeting. If you require more than a Basic account, you may request an upgraded account at Zoom.

Getting Software

Accessing Academic Software Remotely
Patriot Virtual Computing & Labs (PVCL) provides remote access to academic software. PVCL provides a standard computer lab image available in University Computer Labs. For information on how to connect or the software currently available, see Patriot Virtual Computing & Labs (PVCL).

Microsoft Office Software
George Mason students can access Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) at no cost. Each student may install Microsoft Office on up to five devices. See Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for details and download instructions.

Adobe Software for Students
Students may purchase an Adobe subscription for personal use by purchasing directly from Adobe. Students may purchase individual subscriptions to Adobe Creative Cloud with discounted student pricing ($19.99/month-to-month or $239.88/full-year one-time). Details for student pricing can be found on Adobe’s Creative Cloud for Students page.

Eligibility for student pricing requires proof. If a student provides a school-issued email address during purchase, they are instantly verified. If they do not have a school-issued email address or their email address cannot be verified, additional proof of eligibility may be requested after purchase. Further proof of eligibility may include a school ID card, report card, transcript, or tuition bill issued by the institution with the student’s name, institution name, and current date. Details for proof of eligibility can be found on Adobe’s Creative Cloud for Students Eligibility page.

Connecting to George Mason Applications and Services

Connecting from home
For most types of work—email, cloud apps, collaboration platforms—you should be able to connect through your regular home internet service. Just navigate to the sites you need and log in using your NetID and Patriot Pass Password.

You may be prompted to use George Mason’s Two-Factor Authentication to complete the login process for certain websites/applications.

Connecting through a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
For some types of work, such as working in an application or service that can only be accessed through the George Mason wired or Wi-Fi networks, you might need to use the Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN allows a user to appear as if they are logging in from within George Mason’s network.

Continuity of Instruction
Compute Safely
Get Support

If you need help while learning remotely, ITS is here for you 24/7!

Browse our knowledge base articles and request a service.

Faculty/Staff

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Tools and Technology You'll Need
Collaboration Tools, Email, and Productivity
Email Office 365 is the official email and calendar for George Mason. It can be accessed via the login at mail.gmu.edu using your George Mason credentials (NetID and Patriot Pass Password) and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Collaboration & Productivity Tools (chat, web conferencing, document sharing, etc.)  See all Email and Collaboration Tools knowledge articles for how-tos and FAQs.
Connecting to George Mason Applications and Services
Connecting from home For most types of work—email, cloud apps, collaboration platforms—you should be able to connect through your regular home internet service. Just navigate to the sites you need to use and log in using your NetID and Patriot Pass Password. If you are an employee, including student workers, be ready to use Two-Factor Authentication to complete the login process. If you don’t have broadband internet at home If you don’t have the internet at home, or if your connection speed is too slow to allow you to work the same way you would if you were on campus, be sure to let your supervisor and co-workers know and come up with a plan for how to keep collaboration flowing. You could connect periodically to send and receive emails and files, share files through a removable ‘thumb’ drive, or use a cellular hotspot. Connecting through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) For some types of work, like working in an application or service that can only be accessed through the George Mason wired or Wi-Fi networks, you might need to use the Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN allows a user to appear as if they are logging in from within George Mason’s network. If you require the VPN, it’s a good idea to test the connection before starting remote work, if possible. Connecting Via Patriot Virtual Computing & Labs (PVCL) on a Personal Device  For some individuals, bringing home your work computer is not an option. If you need to work remotely but still need access to specific applications on your personal device, the PVCL service can provide an experience similar to being on campus, connected to a computer in your office. PVCL is secure remote access to a Windows desktop environment that provides access to George Mason applications from off-campus.  
Phone and Voicemail
Call forwarding to an external line, such as a cell or home phone, is available. Contact your department’s Telecom Coordinator (if unsure, contact your office manager or Telecom Administration) to coordinate getting this service. All telephone and voicemail requests must be processed through your department’s Telecom Coordinator.
Continuity of Instruction
Compute Safely
  • George Mason University employees teleworking are reminded that any devices used to access George Mason’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) must have a current operating system and updated software. Devices using the VPN should only be used by George Mason employees. Devices managed by ITS in MESA Active Directory and Jamf Pro for Mac OS are automatically set up to receive the latest operating system and software. Employees are encouraged to use a managed system whenever possible. Employees who access sensitive information should only use George Mason-owned devices.
  • Employees using their personal computers to telework should use the Patriot Virtual Computing & Labs (PVCL) service. This service provides secure remote access to a Windows desktop environment. Employees using this option on their personal devices are not approved for storing sensitive data and, therefore, should not print sensitive data using the print-to-PDF option. Review Data Classification and Storage Requirements for proper storage of sensitive data. Understand that PVCL is intended for university work only, and employees are bound by all university policies when using this resource.
  • When working remotely, it is imperative to remain vigilant about data security. Ensure you are on the appropriate connection for each task; for example, use a VPN or other equally secure connection when handling sensitive or restricted data. Additionally, be aware of the increased risk of phishing attempts. Check with your department IT support staff to make sure you are equipped to work safely while off-campus.
  • Antivirus Software
  • Read George Mason’s University Policy 2202: Flexible Work
  • Review University Policy 1301: Responsible Use of Computing, which explains what constitutes acceptable and appropriate use of campus computing and network resources
Devices: Hardware & Software
Getting Hardware  ITS requires that faculty and staff use George Mason-managed endpoint devices for their work and research. For assistance configuring a computer system, contact ITS Support. For more information, go to: Password Reminders for Computing Remotely You are required to reset your Patriot Pass Password every 180 days. ITS sends daily emails to users 14 days before passwords expire. Be alert for these messages and reset your password before it expires to avoid disrupting access to Patriot Web, employee email, Blackboard, etc.
  • George Mason-Managed Windows Users: If you are working remotely and reset your password, you must connect to the Virtual Private Network (VPN) to sync your new password and complete the reset process.
  • George Mason-Managed Mac Users: Most Mac users do not require additional steps to sync their computer after resetting their password.
  • Additional details and instructions for syncing your computer are available at How to Sync Your Computer After Resetting Your Password.
Software on Managed George Mason-owned Computers Software is available through System Center Configuration Manager-SCCM (for PCs) or Jamf Pro (for Macs). Users on George Mason-managed computers should routinely connect to the VPN to ensure that they receive timely software updates. Unmanaged Computers and Non-Standard Software Support Resources for Non-Standard Software and Tools Users on unmanaged George Mason-owned systems are encouraged to be managed to receive George Mason enterprise software and routine operating system updates. To request to have a George Mason-owned device managed, visit Desktop Support and click the Request Managed Enrollment button.
Administrative Processes
Electronic Signatures The Code of Virginia and federal law, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, permit the use of electronic signatures on contracts; however, such signatures must be unique and verifiable as they demonstrate each party’s intention to be bound to the contract terms. If electronic signatures are to be used, both parties should agree that digital or electronic signatures are acceptable. It should be explicitly stated and agreed to in the contract language. Guidance for the Use of Electronic (Digital) Signatures at Mason
Plan for Remote Work
To stay effective during events that necessitate telework, it’s important to make preparations, ideally before the disruption occurs. Within your department or group, you should:
  • Discuss how your group(s) will handle business disruptions
  • Develop and document a communication plan that covers how your department or group will:
    • Provide important updates and information
    • Communicate during emergencies
    • Conduct routine collaboration on projects
  • In your communication plan, clarify which tools and platforms will be used for routing information. These could include:
    • Your departmental intranet or shared drive
    • Email
    • Web conferencing for virtual meetings
    • Telephone features such as call forwarding
    • Online chat (via Microsoft Teams)
    • VPN or Patriot Virtual Computing & Labs to connect to George Mason applications from off-campus
  • Assign responsibilities, and assemble a list that includes names and contact information (including personal phone numbers) for the people who are carrying out the plan
  • Share documentation of your plan within your group in a location where all members can easily access
  • Review your plan at least annually, updating contact lists and tools as appropriate
  • Make sure your group members are signed up for ITS Alerts
Keep in mind that some online services may not be available during a major disaster until they are recovered or restored.
Get Support
If you need help while working remotely, ITS is here for you 24/7! Browse our knowledge base articles or request a service.