University Sustainability provides volunteer opportunities for George Mason University students, faculty, staff, and alums as well as community members.
Volunteer opportunities are primarily in-person, with some virtual opportunities. Volunteers grow food sustainably, harvest and distribute produce, plant trees, participate in zero waste clean-ups, complete waste audits, support large-scale events, and more! All training and equipment are provided at each of our volunteer opportunities – no prior experience needed!
You help make Mason more sustainable and gain valuable, hands-on experience when you volunteer with University Sustainability. Students can earn service hours for their courses and employees can participate in university-wide efforts to improve the university’s sustainability.
All volunteer opportunities are featured on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal.
You can create a free account, browse the volunteer opportunities, and sign up for as many as you would like! George Mason-affiliated folks are encouraged to create an account with their @gmu.edu email address.
Want a custom volunteer experience for your group? University Sustainability can work with you to design custom volunteer opportunities for volunteering groups. If your group is interested in a custom opportunity, please contact us @SustainMason on Instagramwith the preferred dates and times to volunteer, the number of anticipated volunteers, and the activities your group would like to do.
George Mason students are invited to volunteer with University Sustainability. Our volunteer opportunities are mostly in-person, with some virtual opportunities available.
Students can earn service hours for George Mason’s academic courses that require them by volunteering with University Sustainability. University Sustainability can provide proof of your volunteer hours, if needed – please inform us if this is something you need.
You can create a free account on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal, browse volunteer opportunities, and sign up for as many as you would like! You’re encouraged to use your @gmu.edu email address when creating your account.
Student groups are invited to volunteer with University Sustainability. We often host volunteer opportunities for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), fraternities, sororities, clubs, organizations, and groups of students who want to make a sustainable impact.
You can create a free account on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal to browse volunteer opportunities your group may be interested in. You’re encouraged to use your @gmu.edu email address when creating your account.
After browsing the University Sustainability Volunteer Portal, choose at least one current volunteer opportunity listed on the Event Calendar. Contact us @SustainMason on Instagram with your group name, the date and time of the volunteer opportunity (or opportunities) you selected, and the number of anticipated volunteers.
Please inform us at least one week prior to the time you would like your group to volunteer as our team members need time to prepare to make your experience incredible.
George Mason graduates are invited to volunteer with University Sustainability. Our volunteer opportunities are mostly in-person, with some virtual opportunities available.
You can create a free account on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal, browse volunteer opportunities, and sign up for as many as you would like!
As George Mason’s professional team members, your welfare, network, and engagement are a priority. In order to support your well-being and sense of community, Human Resources and University Sustainability have partnered to offer exciting, sustainable opportunities for service.
“Every 9 in 10 people reported an emotional boost from giving back and volunteering,” according to Gallup (Clifton, Harter, p.72, 2021). For this reason, we encourage leaders to support employee interest in programs that provide personal meaning and added value. One way to be more involved, is through George Mason’s sustainable volunteer opportunities.
It is our hope all George Mason faculty and staff members with a passion for sustainability join us and make a positive impact through service!
George Mason employees whose regular work hours do occur during University Sustainability volunteer opportunities:
- Employees are encouraged to engage their supervisor and receive approval to temporarily adjust their daily work responsibilities to be inclusive of one or multiple volunteer opportunities hosted by University Sustainability. This adjustment is similar to the way employees volunteer during regular work hours to support other university-wide efforts.
- Employees may also engage with their supervisor and receive approval to use School Assistance and Volunteer Service Leave, for those who are eligible for this leave type. For additional information, visit the School Assistance and Volunteer Service Leave website or email [email protected].
George Mason employees whose regular work hours do not occur during University Sustainability volunteer opportunities:
- Employees are encouraged to engage their supervisor and receive approval to temporarily adjust their daily work hours to be inclusive of one or multiple volunteer opportunities hosted by University Sustainability. This adjustment is similar to the way employees volunteer at other university-wide efforts.
Use this flyer to share this news with your teams!
Employee groups are invited to volunteer with University Sustainability. We often host volunteer opportunities for employee groups who want to make a sustainable impact.
You can create a free account on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal to browse volunteer opportunities your group may be interested in. You’re encouraged to use your @gmu.edu email address when creating your account.
After browsing the University Sustainability Volunteer Portal, choose at least one current volunteer opportunity listed on the Event Calendar. Contact us @SustainMason on Instagramwith your group name, the date and time of the volunteer opportunity (or opportunities) you selected, and the number of anticipated volunteers.
Please inform us at least one week prior to the time you would like your group to volunteer as our team members need time to prepare to make your experience incredible.
Community members who are not affiliated with George Mason are invited to volunteer with University Sustainability. Our volunteer opportunities are mostly in-person, with some virtual opportunities available.
You can create a free account on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal, browse volunteer opportunities, and sign up for as many as you would like!
University Sustainability reserves the right to prioritize volunteer opportunities to meet the needs of George Mason students and employees.
Community groups are invited to volunteer with University Sustainability. We often host volunteer opportunities for community groups who want to make a sustainable impact.
You can create a free account on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal to browse volunteer opportunities your group may be interested in.
After browsing the University Sustainability Volunteer Portal, choose at least one current volunteer opportunity listed on the Event Calendar. Contact us @SustainMason on Instagram with your group name, the date and time of the volunteer opportunity (or opportunities) you selected, and the number of anticipated volunteers.
Please inform us at least one week prior to the time you would like your group to volunteer as our team members need time to prepare to make your experience incredible.
Minors are invited to volunteer with University Sustainability. A parent or legal guardian is invited and welcome to accompany the minor during their volunteer opportunities, although this is not required.
Our volunteer opportunities are mostly in-person, with some virtual opportunities available. Minors can earn service and volunteer hours, which may be required by their academics or groups they’re a part of.
Start volunteering with us:
- Create your free account with your preferred email on our University Sustainability Volunteer Portal.
- Once you create your account, you can browse volunteer opportunities on our “live” calendar to get an idea of what you'd like to do as a volunteer.
- The minor volunteer or a parent or legal guardian can contact us @SustainMason on Instagram to share the age of the minor volunteer(certain tasks are restricted to protect the health and safety of our volunteers), the preferred dates and times to volunteer, and the volunteer tasks you would like to complete.
- A small amount of paperwork will need to be completed and signed by the minor volunteer and their parent or legal guardian to comply with George Mason’s current practices and policies for minor volunteers.
Get Engaged!
Learn about Zero Waste Mason, Patriot Packout, the Patriot Green Fund, sustainable agriculture on campus, the Better Bins Preview, enhancements to recycling and composting, and much more! Make a sustainable impact, celebrate success, and learn about ongoing initiatives and how you can get involved all year round.
