Month: April 2020
Dear Patriots,
I want to thank everyone who participated in our first-ever virtual town hall. I am inspired by the level of engagement in our community. We had more than 2,100 viewers from all over the world, including Australia, Congo, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Niger, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. We received more than 375 questions from students, faculty, staff, family members, alumni and community members, and we continue to receive more. Our goal was to answer the most pressing questions. If you missed the town hall or would like to see it again, it is available here: https://vimeo.com/gmutv/masontownhall.
We plan to read all of your questions and find ways to respond, either through our frequently asked questions or in future communications. Please continue to check Mason’s Coronavirus web page for new information. Our two most important goals are to keep our campus community safe and educate students, and all our decisions are made with those objectives in mind. Here are a few key points I shared during the town hall.
Commencement
We are looking ahead at the calendar and making adjustments that allow us to continue with our mission and core goals. With a heavy heart, we have postponed commencement indefinitely. At the town hall, we announced that we will hold a celebration for the Class of 2020 online on May 22 and will share more details about that soon. We know this doesn’t replace commencement, but we also want to recognize our graduating students’ hard work and accomplishments. If you are earning your degree this spring we hope you will participate in this event. Once we have responses to a pending student survey, and once we know how we can safely proceed, we will share our plan for a formal recognition for the Class of 2020 at a later date.
Summer 2020
As you know, the university made the decision to hold summer sessions in the virtual format. After consulting with public health officials and recognizing the need to plan for summer schedules, we feel it’s in the best interest of our community to extend our cancellation of other events as well through Aug. 8. We are creating an exceptions committee that can make decisions for events closer to the start of the semester with the most relevant information at that time. For parents, we encourage you to consider the camps that the university is offering this summer online.
Many people have asked how long we will continue to require employees to telework. We are following the recommendation of public health officials, as well as the guidelines from the state. We will continue to monitor both, adjust the telework policies as needed and provide more guidance and tools for employees and supervisors in the coming weeks.
Fall 2020 Opening
We know that many people have questions about the fall semester. We are doing our best to plan and are hopeful that we will be able to reopen the campus this fall, though it may not look like a typical fall semester. We are depending on the guidance of public health experts to inform our decision making and we hope to share more details on this evolving situation soon. Our goal is to have more clarity by early June.
Budget and Tuition 2020-2021
Finally, we know many students are concerned about their finances in general and tuition costs for next year specifically. We are concerned too. The University is facing unprecedented financial challenges as a result of this crisis, as are our students, families and state government. The university expects to get more guidance on state funding when the General Assembly re-convenes next week; after that date we will adjust our projected budget scenarios based on the latest economic and public health data available. Our Board of Visitors received input from students and others at a public meeting on April 2 on this topic.
Rector Tom Davis will be holding an additional public forum at 10 a.m. on May 6, where students can ask questions and share further comments and concerns about tuition and fees. We will send details about how to join the forum to students through their Mason Live email as well as through university communication and social media channels. The Board of Visitors will consider all this input as well as the latest and best advice we can garner when it meets to make decisions about the budget and tuition at its next meeting, now scheduled for May 20. I know the uncertainty is as frustrating for you as it is for us.
How to Help
You may have seen that Gov. Northam has issued a call for volunteers to join the Virginia Department of Health’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing students have been particularly encouraged to apply, but other volunteers are needed to fill roles in logistics, communication, coordination, technology and other support areas. I strongly encourage you to visit vamrc.org to learn more.
I also want to thank everyone who has contributed to the Student Emergency Assistance Fund. More than half of our faculty and staff have donated to the fund, providing help for our students with paying rent and utilities, or with technology assistance needed to continue their coursework. More than 1,600 applications have been received with requests totaling more than $3 million, and more than $1.1 million in funds have already been dispersed. Please consider making a donation to help our students.
We all want better clarity for the future but the safety of our university community and our students’ education are our two driving forces as we navigate this new reality. Thank you for your adaptability and resilience.
Sincerely,
Anne Holton
Interim President
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During the month of April, Mason’s Student Advocacy and Support Center (SSAC) spends this time raising awareness of sexual and interpersonal violence, honoring survivors, and bringing the university together to engage in prevention education and self-care. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, we look forward to engaging more through our social media and other virtual platforms in keeping with our commitment to survivors and the Mason community.
There are various virtual and other leadership opportunities available for your student to get involved at Mason.
With the health and safety of the university community being paramount, the decision has been made to move Orientation online for Summer 2020 and to cancel our Quill Camp programs. We did not make the decision lightly, but we feel a virtual option for Summer Orientation is the best alternative. We are committed to producing a high-quality virtual experience that will help students and families transition successfully into Mason.
To achieve their missions, nonprofits need everyone from accountants and administrators to developers and programmers to designers and marketers and everything in between and beyond. Your student can join University Career Services to explore the multi-faceted world of nonprofit work!
Mason students can dive deeper into how they can use their degree to get into this field and how to choose and develop the skills necessary for their industry-focus before they get there.
In the upcoming panels and workshops, your student will get to talk to professionals working in those fields, ask questions, and network with alumni.
Dear Patriots,
It is an understatement to say that these are unprecedented times for everyone. Here at George Mason University, we are all adjusting to a new normal and for many of us, it may feel like continuous change. We are proud of the way our community has responded to the coronavirus outbreak, but we also know that many of you may have questions about our new policies, university operations and the path forward.
In response, the university will hold a virtual town hall on Friday, April 17 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interim President Anne Holton will provide an update on the university’s response, and then she and her leadership team will be available to take questions from students and their families, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.
You can submit your questions in advance here or during the event and view the town hall on GMU TV. We encourage everyone to participate and look forward to gathering with you virtually on Friday.
Stay healthy and safe.
Sincerely,
Michael Sandler
Interim Vice President, Communications and Marketing
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Mason community has rallied over the last two weeks with the Patriots Helping Patriots initiative, supporting students in unprecedented ways and at levels never before seen.
Using a combination of donations received since the crisis emerged and existing university funds, University Life has distributed more than $709,000 to 638 students since the application form for the Student Emergency Assistance Fund went online on March 19.
Dear Graduate Students:
In our continued efforts to adapt to the ongoing changes and best support our graduate students, the Graduate Council has approved the following alterations to graduate policies for this spring 2020 semester:
1) For the Spring 2020 semester, the academic termination policy has been altered for all graduate students. All letter grades “C” or the equivalent alternative grades “XP” received in graduate courses will not count towards the number of unsatisfactory grades stated under AP.6.6.2 Academic Termination. Graduate students, who may receive letter grades “F” or the equivalent alternative grades “XN”, should consider the available withdrawal option as the effect of these non-passing grades on AP.6.6.2 Academic Termination will remain unaltered.
2) The GA hiring procedures have been altered for all graduate students who may be offered a graduate assistantship for Fall 2020. Students must be in good academic standing, maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and not have any unsatisfactory grades at the end of Fall 2019 or any letter grades “F” or the equivalent alternative grades “XN” at the end of Spring 2020. No unsatisfactory grades earned during Spring 2020 should be considered for GA hiring decisions.
3) For the Spring 2020 semester, the coursework requirements policy for accelerated master’s students has been altered. Letter grades “A-C” or the equivalent alternative grades “XS” and “XP” received in graduate courses will count towards the number of credits that can be applied to the undergraduate degree and provide the student advanced standing in the related Mason master’s program. Letter grades “F” or the equivalent alternative grades “XN” will not count.
4) For the Spring 2020 semester, the change from nondegree status policy has been altered. Letter grades “A-C” or the equivalent alternative grades “XS” and “XP” received in graduate courses will count towards the number of credits that can transferred to the degree program. Letter grades “F” or the equivalent alternative grades “XN” will not count.
For more important and related information, visit the Graduate Education – Spring 2020 COVID-19 Updates and the Office of the University Registrar – Spring 2020 Grading Options webpages.
Reminder: Coffee time with APGE tomorrow (Friday) at 10am. All information can be found on your Blackboard under the Graduate Education Resources organization.
We thank all of you for your patience and efforts with adapting to the ongoing changes.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bray.
Laurence Bray, PhD
Associate Provost for Graduate Education
George Mason University
703-993-2218
Dear Mason Residents and Families,
I hope you are all staying safe and doing well during these unprecedented times. Your health and well-being continue to be our number one concern. With that in mind, and in consultation with public health officials, we have made the difficult decision to suspend all Move Out activities until further notice. You will receive more specific information shortly in a communication from Chris Holland, our Chief Housing Officer. Please know that we understand this may present challenges, and we will bring you back to campus as soon as it is safe to do so. While this news may feel disheartening to some, I feel strongly that the safety risks are too great at this point. I hope you will take a moment to receive these messages of hope from myself, and Mason’s amazing staff, to remind you that we stand with you and we are here for you.
It is important that we find ways to stay connected to each other while we shelter in place and practice social distancing. We want you to know we are here and working hard to make sure you have every means available to communicate and engage with your fellow Patriots, Mason families, faculty and staff. Please remember to bookmark our University Life Covid-19 Student Success website, which serves as a central hub for all the resources and messages students will need to make the fast-paced transitions this unpredictable time requires.
These are precarious times, but we have come together in solidarity and strength. The Mason community will support you as you continue to reach your goals.
Honestly, we can’t wait to see you again. Hang in there, and please, above all, stay safe.
Rose Pascarell
Vice President for University Life
Mason Resident,
We recognize the Covid-19 pandemic brings new challenges weekly. Due to this fluidity, along with public health advice, all residential students will not be able to move-out before June 10th. We understand it is difficult to not have access to your belongings for such a long time, however your health and safety are paramount.
Beginning June 10th, each student will be given an assigned time to Move Out. During this time frame, a limited number of students will be allowed on each floor with access to the halls so that we are able to practice appropriate social distancing and to sanitize between appointments. Additionally, we will make sure that there are ample appointments available to accommodate various schedules, while still staying safe.
We will send Move Out sign-ups in late April, assuming that there is no need to delay to a later date, in which case we will update the check-out times appropriately and communicate with you directly. Until then, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
Sincerely,
Chris Holland
Chief Housing Officer
George Mason University