Month: September 2019

Career development opportunities

The Fall Career Fair at George Mason is expanding! The October 2^nd& 3^rdevent will be held in the Johnson Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are taking over the entire lower level as demand from employers to hire Mason students is at an all-time high! We are expecting 150 employers each day – so, encourage your student to take advantage of networking with these employers and by doing some research ahead of time so that it’s not overwhelming when they arrive at the fair.

ADVANCE grows for fall 2019, offering more pathways to a four-year degree

Adeline Vo can sum up in four words her experience in the ADVANCE Program, a transfer pathway between Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University that aligns curriculum, financial aid, advising and other student services.

“Complete peace of mind,” said Vo, 25, who in addition to attending classes at NOVA manages a hair and nail salon in Washington, D.C. “The only problem I need to focus on is going to work and getting the grades. All the white noise in between isn’t an issue as much anymore. That should be how it is.”

Hundreds of students and their families are making that same discovery. In the second year of the ADVANCE Program, more than 690 students are enrolled, including nearly 400 students who joined this fall. ADVANCE now offers 102 pathways in various degrees—five times as many as when it launched last year.

Mason receives $250,000 award from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation recently announced a $250,000 award to support ADVANCE and the Early Identification Program (EIP)—two transformational programs at George Mason University that are creating unprecedented educational access to diverse student populations. Consistent with the foundation’s core mission, this grant funding will ensure the success of exceptionally promising students with financial need who are enrolled in these programs.

Mason student gets ‘Good Morning America’ spotlight

Karen Escobar took a seat in Fenwick Library on George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus, cracked open a book and powered up her laptop.

But the junior criminology, law and society major was not there just to study, she also was being videotaped by a crew from ABC’s “Good Morning America,” which is producing a segment on Generation Hope, a local nonprofit that provides financial aid and mentoring to help teen parents become college graduates and help children enter kindergarten at higher levels of readiness.

Watch Karen’s surprise student loan payoff

Mason partners with fitness app to improve campus well-being

Mason Nation volunteers for 9/11 Day of Service

Mason Student Services Center celebrates launch

The Mason Student Services Center celebrated its grand opening Wednesday, Sept. 4, as part of Welcome2Mason.

Students gave feedback about their experience with the center and enjoyed Italian ice, t-shirt giveaways and raffle prizes.

The Mason Student Services Center opened over the summer in the lower level of Student Union Building I. In that short amount of time, they have served more than 7,000 visitors, averaging more than 200 per day.

Patriot Experience: Growth beyond the classroom

Did you know that students who become engaged with their campus community are more likely to be successful during their time at Mason? Mason offers thousands of programs and events on campus every year, which might seem overwhelming for students as they try to navigate all of the opportunities on campus. The Patriot Experience is here to help make the transition to campus much smoother for students and help them become successful Mason graduates!

A Message from Rose Pascarell, Vice President for University Life

(originally posted in the Mason Family Flash)

Dear Parents and Family Members,

As we start the fall semester, the question I hear most often as parents and family members accompany their students to George Mason University is, “Where did the time go?”

We are privileged to witness many poignant moments as parents, family members and friends help our newest Patriots settle in for the fall semester; each one brings a unique perspective and history to Mason, and we look forward to their excitement and energy as we embrace their hopes and expectations for the future.

It’s also a time to reflect on how much the university has changed over the years, even though our guiding principles remain the same. Mason’s commitment to transformative learning continues as we advance with the Student Experience Redesign, a collaborative initiative to provide the ideal university culture where students experience a harmony of people, processes, and technologies in a transparent and responsive environment. We are already seeing the fruition of that hard work with the launch of the Mason Student Services Center (MSSC), a first stop and central resource for information and solutions related to registration, enrollment, financial aid, billing, academic records and other student support services; At MSSC, a team of cross-trained representatives provide assistance and expertise for new and continuing students at all points of the academic year.

Our students have changed too: the majority of our incoming class of freshmen, part of the cohort popularly referred to as Generation Z, are both tech-talented and tech-dependent – they’ve not known a time without full connectivity. But they are also passionate about exacting real change in the world. Our students are multi-cultural; they are activists; they are experience-driven; they are entrepreneurial and innovative. Thank you for creating this wonderful class of Patriots!

Even though their generation may be unique, our current and incoming students still want the same things that most students want:

academic programs that are intellectually challenging and engaging, and that prepare them to successfully pursue their passions, dreams, and future careers;
a climate to explore concepts and ideas with curiosity, openness, and respect;
a safe and open community, where they feel a sincere sense of belonging;
opportunities to work with, learn with, or live with someone different than themselves, adding to the quality of their overall learning experience.

We are committed to building an inclusive environment that is focused on student well-being, and we offer many learning opportunities designed to build and capitalize on the resilience of each student. We know this is important to academic success, but it is also necessary as we prepare students to be citizens of the world. At Mason, your student is not only part of one community – they are a part of many. And a committed community of faculty and staff are here to support your student throughout their time at Mason.

Please refer to the University Life webpage as a starting point in connecting to many university resources. I also invite you to watch Welcome to George Mason University, a short video that embodies our shared perspective of the inclusive community and welcoming climate we seek to create here.

We will do everything we can to help your students achieve their goals and aspirations. I look forward to meeting many of you at Family Weekend, November 8-10, 2019.

Best regards,

Rose Pascarell
Vice President for University Life

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