1. What does the Service Desk do?

   • The service desk is staffed with Office of Housing and Residence Life student employees. Interns use the desk for checking-in, getting help with key problems, borrowing items like vacuums and games, placing facilities requests, picking up mail, and obtaining general information about the campus and the area.
   • The Potomac Heights service desk serves both Potomac Heights and Liberty Square. The Liberty Square desk will open for limited hours. All check-ins and mail pick-up will take place at the Potomac Heights desk, located on the first floor of Potomac Heights in the middle of the building.

2. What are the Service Desk hours?

   • Service Desk hours may change throughout the summer as we adjust to the needs of our guests.
   • Anticipated Regular Desk hours:
     • Monday - Thursday, 7 AM - 11 PM
     • Friday, 7 AM - 1 AM
     • Saturday, 10 AM - 1 AM
     • Sunday, 10 AM - 11 PM
   • Special Desk hours:
     • 5/23, 10 AM - Midnight (Check-in begins at 1 PM.)
     • 5/24, Closed
     • 5/25, 6 AM - Midnight
     • 7/4, Closed
     • 7/31, 7 AM - 5 PM (All Interns must check out by 1 PM on 7/31.)

3. How does Mail Service work?

   • Address your mail to the following address:
     • Your Name
     • Intern Housing, Building Name and Room Number
     • 4400 University Dr., MSN 3F6
     • Fairfax, VA 22030
   • A mail notice will be placed in your door pocket by our staff, if there is mail for you. You may then pick up your mail at the Potomac Heights service desk. Please note that mail first goes to the campus mail room, then the housing office, and then to your area desk, so it may take a couple more days that you might typically expect, even if your mail is sent "overnight" or "express".
   • If you plan to receive a lot of mail in the summer, you may request an on-campus mailbox upon arrival from Mail Services, who will issue you a different mailing address.

4. Where are most interns from?

   • In 2008, we hosted 355 interns. 75% visited us from other universities in the US or abroad. About 21% were graduate or doctoral students.

5. Can I come before 5/23?

   • Unfortunately, given our quick turn-around time from Spring semester to Summer, we are generally not able to prepare rooms before 5/23. Some exceptions, however, may be granted on a space-available basis for as early as Wednesday, 5/19 at 5 PM. Please email housing@gmu.edu to request arrival on 5/19. Please mention intern housing so that your request is directed appropriately. Requests made after 5/11 will not be granted.
   • Mason students living on campus for the Spring 2010 semester may apply for Spring-to-Summer Extended Stay housing, allowing them to stay in their spring spaces until their summer spaces are available. The cost of Extended Stay housing is $23.50/night for the entire Extended Stay period and will not be prorated. We notify these students by email when their summer spaces are available (generally between 5/17 and 5/23). Students are expected to move over at that time. The Extended Stay request form will be available on eLiving. The deadline to request Extended Stay Housing is Friday, May 7 at 5 PM.

5. Can I stay past 7/31?

   • We close out intern housing on 7/31, so that we can prepare our halls for our Fall students. We are rarely able to accommodate late stay requests. Some exceptions may be granted on a space-available basis for an extension through 8/8 at noon. Requests made after 5/11 will not be granted. Email housing@gmu.edu to make a request; include "intern housing" in your subject line.
     
   • Mason students with fall housing assignments on campus who wish to stay for the entire period between 7/31 and Fall opening may apply for Summer-to-Fall Extended Stay housing. This application will become available this summer.

6. Will I get a parking ticket if I don't have a permit?

   • Parking Services will tickets cars that do not have permits. Even if the Parking Services office is closed, you could get a ticket. Parking Services has agreed not to ticket cars parked in Lot R on 5/23, 5/24, and 5/25. You must have a permit all other days!

7. How do I purchase a parking permit?

   • You have 2 ways to get a permit. You can mail in the Parking Permit Form with a copy of your license and registration and a check or you can purchase your permit on campus during expected Parking Service Operating Hours:
     • Tuesday, 5/25, 8:30 AM – 7 PM
     • Wednesday, 5/26, 8:30 AM – 7 PM
     • Monday – Friday, 5/27 – 7/31, 8:30 AM – 5 PM

8. How long will it take me to get to work?

   • Fairfax Mason is only a few miles from the downtown historic Fairfax area. You could take the CUE bus or drive if your work offers parking. Other parts of Fairfax may take 5 – 20 minutes to drive to.
   • Other VA Areas We often host interns who work in Vienna, McLean, Oakton, Tyson’s Corner, Annandale, Burke, Falls Church, Great Falls, and Centerville. Parts of Falls Church and Arlington are right off the Metro, and may not be a bad commute. We have also hosted interns who work in Alexandria, Chantilly, Reston, Clifton, and even Leesburg, but these locations do take longer to get to!
   • DC If you plan to work in DC, your best option is most likely to take public transportation. You might take the Mason to Metro shuttle (free) or the City of Fairfax Cue bus ($1.35) to the Vienna Metro Station (10 – 20 minutes). Then take the Metro to the stop closest to your work.
   • Metro Cost The Metro generally costs between $1.35 and $4.50 each way. Exact fares depend on distance and time of day; fares are available on the website are wmata.com
   • Metro Travel Time Traveling by Metro train from the closest station (Vienna) to the nearest DC Stop (Foggy Bottom) usually takes 25 minutes. Traveling to other further locations and switching lines takes longer! Times are available on the website are wmata.com.
   • Other Area Locations We are happy to try to give you an idea of what your work commute may be like, but you might also try asking your future supervisor/colleagues as well. In 2008 we hosted over 350 interns, so as you can imagine, there are often carpooling opportunities too.

9. Can I change my arrival date or departure date?

   • Requests for additional stay must be submitted to the Office of Housing and Residence Life in writing at least five (5) business days prior to Date of Departure and will be granted on a space available basis.
   • Requests for an arrival date earlier than the originally requested Date of Arrival must be made in writing at least five (5) days prior to the new arrival date and will be granted on a space available basis.
   • Requests for refunds for departure prior to scheduled Date of Departure must be received by the Office of Housing and Residence Life in writing ten (10) business days or more prior to the requested new date of departure. Refunds for early checkout nine (9) business days or less prior to said Date of Departure will not be granted. Refunds for early checkout not meeting the thirty (30) night minimum will not be granted. All refunds must be approved by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
   • Requests for refunds for arriving later that the originally requested Date of Arrival must be made in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the originally requested Date of Arrival.

10. What happens if I lose my keys?

    • Interns who lock themselves out may borrow a temporary card up to three times at no charge. After a third lockout, fees will be charged at a rate of $10 for the fourth lockout, $15 for the fifth lockout, and $20 for the sixth lockout. For each subsequent lockout, a charge of $20 will be assessed.
    • To borrow temporary keys, visit the service desk or call the service desk at 703-993-9250 to access the staff member on call if it is closed.
    • An intern requiring a lock core change due to lost or missing keys will be assessed a $75 fee. A fee of $10 will be assessed for a lost, missing, or broken key card. Failure to return a key or key card at the end of the contract period will result in a charge to re-core the lock and make new keys.
    • Temporary keys must be returned to the service desk, even if their access has been cut off.

11. Can I request a roommate?

    • Yes. On your application you are able to request up to 3 roommates.
    • If you forgot to select your roommate when you filled out your applciation, you may send your request by email to housing@gmu.edu by May 11. Please include "intern housing" in the subject of your email.
      

12. How are room assignments made?

    • Interns are organized into groups of 4 based on similar dates of stay, roommate requests, same companies, and undergraduate/graduate grouping. Each group is then placed into apartments based on dates of arrival and what facilities plans to have ready first. We attempt to place Mason students with Spring or Fall 2010 assignments in Potomac Heights in the same apartments, but this is not always possible. We attempt to keep companies together. Any specific requests made after 5/11 are not likely to be granted. Please keep in mind that we are not always able to accommodate all of these factors or all requests and sometimes assignments are random.

13. What comes with my room?
    

    • Bedroom
      • Extra-long twin bed (80")
      • Desk
      • Desk chair
      • Small dresser
      • Closet
      • Carpet
      • Blinds
    • Living/Dining Room
      • Couch
      • Lounge chair
      • Coffee table
      • Armoir
      • End table
      • 4 dining chairs or stools
      • Dining table or counter
      • Carpet
      • Blinds
    • Kitchen
      • Stove
      • Oven
      • Full-size refrigerator
      • Dishwasher
      • Microwave
      • Sink
      • Cabinets
      • Linoleum or tile
    • Bathroom
      • Toilet
      • Sink
      • Shower or tub with curtain
    • Amenities
      • Wired and wireless internet (bring your own wireless card and ethernet cord, sometimes the wireless gets busy)
      • Campus cable (bring your own tv and cable cord)
      • Local phone service (bring your own phone and phone cord)
      • Laundry on each hall (Your entry card will be programmed with some laundry money already on it.)
        

14. What airport is closest?

    • Mason is fairly close to 3 airports: Dulles International (IAD) is about 15 miles, Reagan National (DCA) is about 20 miles, and Baltimore Washington International (BWI) is about 53 miles.
    • Other Transportation Option Estimates (From 4/10/09 research)

      Estimates (2009)	IAD	DCA	BWI
      Time (Time varies as traffic varies!)	35 minutes driving to 1 hour and 50 minutes on public transportation	35 minutes driving to 1 hour and 20 minutes on public transportation	1 hour and 20 minutes driving to 2 hours and 20 minutes on public transportation
      Metro & Bus	$8.15	$5.70	$9.00
      Taxi	$38 - 44	$38 - 44	$118 - $136
      Supershuttle	$28	$27	$63

15. Is there a deadline to apply?
    

    • No, we do not have a specific deadline.
    • If we become full, we will post a message on the intern website stating so.
    • We begin arranging assignments on 5/11. Roommate requests are difficult to grant after this time.
    • Interns should apply at least 10 days before their requested arrival date, so we can process the application and prepare a room.

Additional Information

Additional Intern information will be posted as we receive questions from you and continually improve our website. Please send suggestions or questions to housing@gmu.edu. Please include "intern housing" in the subject.

Housing Office Contact Information

Intern Links