Month: April 2020

Dear Graduate Students:

In partnership with academic units, the Office of the University Registrar, Office of Graduate Life, Faculty Senate and GAPSA representatives, the Graduate Council has approved the following changes for graduate students for this spring 2020 semester:

• Students may withdraw from any graduate courses in which they are enrolled in Spring 2020 by the specific deadlines found here. These withdrawals will appear with the notation “XW” on their official transcript.
• Students enrolled in graduate courses will be permitted to change to an alternative grading option until the end of term, May 20, 2020*.

*The end of term deadline may vary based on the degree program.

To ensure graduate students make the best selection for themselves and maximize their potential for long-term academic and professional success, it is critical that:

• Graduate students seek advising and guidance from their advisor, mentor and/or coordinator prior to making any decision about making any of these changes.
• Graduate students determine the impact electing an alternative grading option may have on financial aid, licensure, admission to professional programs, scholarships, fellowships, among others.

For more important and related information, visit the Graduate Education – Spring 2020 Alternative Grading Options for graduate students and the Office of the University Registrar – Spring 2020 Grading Options webpages.

We thank all of you for your patience and efforts with adapting to the ongoing changes.

Sincerely,

Laurence Bray
Associate Provost for Graduate Education

Dear Patriots:

Now that classes and other academic programs are being conducted online, George Mason University’s Title IX Office reminds members of our community that maintaining an academic program free from sex/gender discrimination remains a high priority for the university. Faculty, staff, and students should be aware of the following important points:

• The Title IX Office remains open and is functioning remotely at this time. Anyone impacted by sex/gender discrimination and harassment is encouraged to make a report to the Title IX Coordinator at https://diversity.gmu.edu/titleix-webform. Investigations and all other services will be conducted virtually to assure that any sexual harassment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, retaliation, or other sexually discriminatory behaviors are addressed promptly.
• University policies on sexual harassment and misconduct apply to behaviors that occur in any context, including in person, as well as in online environments and through virtual communications. Any behavior that is prohibited by policy continues to be prohibited in cyberspace, including cyber-harassment, sex-based cyber-bullying, and cyber-stalking.
• Mason’s sexual and interpersonal misconduct policy applies to students who are registered or enrolled for credit or noncredit-bearing coursework, all university employees, and third parties. This policy pertains to acts of prohibited conduct committed by or against students, employees, and third parties when:
  1. The conduct occurs on campus or other property owned or controlled by the university;
  2. The conduct occurs in the context of a university employment or education program or activity, including, but not limited to, university-sponsored study abroad, research, online, or internship programs; or
  3. The conduct occurs off campus or outside the context of a university employment or education program or activity, and has continuing adverse effects on or creates a hostile environment for students, employees, or third parties while on a university campus or other property owned or controlled by the university or in any university employment or education program or activity.

• Faculty and staff members are reminded that reporting alleged sexual harassment and misconduct is required when they become aware of current or past incidents or allegations involving members of the campus community, regardless of how they learn of the potential misconduct, whether in person, in writing, or online.

The full text of the university’s Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Other Forms of Interpersonal Misconduct Policy, as well as community resources, can be found online, and our online reporting form can be accessed here.

Sincerely,

Angela Nastase, JD
Title IX Coordinator

Julian Williams, JD
Vice President for Compliance, Diversity, and Ethics

Mason Patriots,

Due to the high number of suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases in our region, the university is taking a proactive approach to slowing transmission in our community. Public agencies in Virginia are advised by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Human Resource Management to document positive or suspected cases, and inform those students, faculty, or staff who may have had contact with the individual to take further precautions.

In order for this protective measure to work, we need your help. First and foremost, if you don’t feel well and have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider should report any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 illness to your local health department.

Additionally, it is critical that the university be aware of who is at risk in our community. Therefore, if you test positive for COVID-19, have two or more symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or have been instructed by medical professionals to self-isolate, the university is asking you to report as follows:

• Faculty and staff contact Human Resources and Payroll via this  online reporting form (This form will require two factor authentication.)
• Students contact Student Health Services. If you are a student living on campus or have had contact with a student living on campus, please call 703-993-2831. All others please use the SHS secure, online portal at: https://gmu.medicatconnect.com
• Mason Contractors must contact the Environmental Health & Safety Office (EHS) at 703-993-8448 or [email protected].

When notified, Human Resources and Payroll, Student Health Services, or EHS will request information about where you were on campus and with whom you may have come into contact. An assessment will be conducted to identify other members of the Mason community who are at risk of exposure and cleaning of university spaces will occur as necessary. Students, faculty, and staff will be notified if quarantine is recommended based on the information gathered.  Please refer to the university’s guidance on who to notify if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms and always consult with your primary care provider for medical questions.

The university is committed to protecting your confidentiality. At no time will names, positions, or department information be shared with the university community. Only those who are determined to be at risk of exposure will be contacted. Supervisors and employees must not conduct any independent notifications to their employees or colleagues to prevent confusion and breaches of confidentiality. Supervisors should consult the university’s guidelines on when employees or students may return to work or campus, and consult with the appropriate office before advising employees or students on precautions.

If you would like to take a voluntary risk assessment to better educate yourself about COVID-19 and minimize risk to our community, please read more from Provost Wu and the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. The risk assessment tool is located on the university’s Blackboard homepage. If you have questions about the tool please contact [email protected].

All members of the community should avoid stigmatizing those who are affected by this disease. Instead, please focus on how we can help those in need and protect others from becoming ill.  Thank you for helping us reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. If you have any questions about this process, contact [email protected].

Respectfully,

Lisa Park, MD, MPH
Executive Director, Student Health Services

Lester L. Arnold, Sr.
CHRO | Vice President for Human Resources and Payroll

• Log into Patriot Web (patriotweb.gmu.edu)
• Click on the Student Services tab
• Click on the Registration link
• Click on the Registration & Planning link
• Click on the Register for Classes link
• Select Spring 2020 as the Term
• Click on the Schedule and Options tab
• In the list of sections, click in the Grade Mode column and select “Credit/Non-Credit (COVID19)”
• Scroll to the bottom and click Submit

Dear Patriots,

This is an unprecedented time for all of us. Every day, we face new realities created by the coronavirus outbreak. This event has created a tremendous amount of stress and uncertainty, and I am particularly concerned for our students and their well-being.

I want all of our students to know that George Mason University is here to support you. I know that many of you are worried about your financial stability at this moment. One way that we can help is by providing refunds for housing, dining and parking, which is what I have directed the university to do.

Students will begin to receive their refunds in the coming weeks, with all refunds expected to be processed by the end of the semester. Students who have an Independence plan may receive up to $2,000 from their combined housing and dining refunds, although each refund will vary and be based on specific housing and dining plans. Please refer to these charts to understand what you can expect for your specific refund. Additional information is available in our Student Accounts FAQs.

Credits will be applied automatically to outstanding balances on student accounts, with the remainder refunded by Direct Deposit or check. Students, please check to make sure your mailing address is current in PatriotWeb or enroll in Direct Deposit to assist us in processing these funds. You do not need to take any other action to request a refund. We know you have been significantly impacted by the current crisis and are committed to processing refunds as quickly as possible.

In total, the university will refund $7.1 million in housing fees, $4.3 million in dining fees, and $1.77 million in parking fees. This represents roughly 5,500 on-campus housing refunds, 15,000 parking passes and 4,300 meal plans.

We are also very concerned about our faculty and staff during this time and are taking steps to help ease the financial strain this situation may be causing. Additional information will be forthcoming regarding faculty and staff parking and dining accounts.

Students should be aware that the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act has a number of provisions that may help address students’ current financial needs.  For information on Economic Impact Payments, please consult https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know. Information on expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits and online applications are available from the Virginia Employment Commission athttp://www.vec.virginia.gov/covid19. For those with questions about student loans, the Department of Education reported Tuesday that it has set student loan interest rates to 0%, suspended student loan payments, and stopped wage garnishments. Additional guidance is available here: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus under the “Additional Resources for Higher Education Institutions” heading.

We also know that many students need more help and that every dollar counts. In recognition of the unprecedented need and hardship many of our students are facing, the university has changed the focus of its annual Giving Day initiative to Patriots Helping Patriots, with an emphasis on the University Life Student Emergency Fund. The need is great as many of our students work part- or full-time and many have lost their source of income as a result of these unprecedented circumstances.

Many of the requests are directly related to technology so that students can continue learning in our alternative online environment. More than 800 students have submitted applications to the fund, with an average request of $1,900. As of last Friday, $435,508 has been distributed to students in need, out of a request pool of nearly $1.6 million, according to our partners in Advancement.

Our faculty and staff have made tremendous efforts to ensure we can continue our mission of access to excellence. I’m now asking those of you who have the ability to help others, to please consider making a gift to the student assistance fund to help our students succeed and thrive during these uncertain times.  We are all in this together, so let’s come together to support those who need our help the most.

Thank you.

Anne Holton
Interim President