Dear Patriots,
This has been an extraordinary time for all of us, and I remain so proud of George Mason University community’s response.
I hope you were able to attend Wednesday’s town hall meeting. I’m pleased to say that more than 3,000 people tuned in to watch, and we received more than 500 questions for the event. More than 50 percent of those were from students and about 30 percent were from faculty and staff. The leadership team answered many of your questions, and we plan to address those we didn’t through upcoming communication with you and on the Safe Return to Campus website. If you missed the meeting or would like to see it again, you can see the video recording here.
We miss you. Mason isn’t the same place without our students, faculty, staff and researchers. The good news is that we continue to plan to start the fall semester on time on Aug. 24 with a hybrid of in person and online classes. That successful start depends on our region’s continued success in fighting the virus, and we are working closely with public health officials to monitor conditions and help ensure we do our part to support their work. It also depends on us committing as a community to four key things. We must wear our masks; I wear a mask to care for you, and you wear a mask care for me. We have to stay six feet apart from each other. We have to wash our hands, and we have to stay home if we are sick. If we can put protocols in place that support those key pieces, we are convinced that we can significantly reduce the risk and rejoin our campus community together. It will be different but also rewarding. Together, we can make this work.
A few updates that are worth noting:
Class schedule anticipated to be available by July 17
As Provost Mark Ginsberg said Wednesday, class scheduling is complex jigsaw puzzle. By July 17, we hope to have the class schedule available so that students know the time and format of their classes for the fall semester. We plan to offer many classes in both face-to-face and online formats, with preference for in-person instruction given to labs, hands-on classes and experiential learning. This has required tremendous cooperation and hard work by the provost’s office, the deans, the Faculty, and facilities management among others, and I know you appreciate their work as much as I do. Some students may receive specific information from their individual school or college prior to July 17, but that’s our goal to complete the puzzle.
Housing
We had a lot of questions about housing at the town hall. We are keeping our on-campus student occupancy rate around 75 percent, intentionally keeping about 1,500 beds empty to facilitate physical distancing and in case we need space for students to quarantine. Most of the occupancy is single rooms along with some doubles but with no more than two people in a room.
Any new students or first-year students who met the June 1 priority registration deadline are guaranteed a housing assignment. All returning students who selected an on-campus housing assignment in March are also guaranteed an assignment. We do have an established waitlist and any student on the waitlist as of June 20 is receiving an assignment. We will continue to work with all others as spaces become available. In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, move-in will look different this fall, starting on Aug. 15 and occurring over a week-long period instead of the more typical two days.
Financial aid for students
Some parts of the country are reopening and the economy is rebounding but in other places this is a longer and more drawn out process. We know the economic crisis affects a great number of our students and their families. Mason is distributing over $10 million in federal CARES act relief funds to students, with about half already out the door and the rest being issued this summer and early fall. We also continue to accept applications for the Student Emergency Assistance Fund. This is particularly important to our undocumented students who do not currently qualify for CARES Act relief. Our Foundation and Advancement teams have been instrumental in working to help this important part of our student population.
Athletics
Our student-athletes are eager to return to practice, and I know I speak for many fans when I say I’m looking forward to seeing them return as well. Selected sports will be able to begin voluntary workouts on July 13, with numerous health and safety protocols. This includes a 14-day self-quarantine period before returning to campus, appropriate testing, daily health assessments, COVID 19 training, and other factors to ensure health and safety of students, trainers and coaches. Stay tuned for more information from our athletics department in early July.
Commencement
This came up at the town hall and I know it’s an important question for many. The university’s virtual recognition ceremony was well-received, but we know it’s not a substitute for an in-person event. We will celebrate the Class of 2020, but at this time we can’t provide a specific date. We are committed to bringing you together to celebrate when it is safe to do so. As vaccines and treatments are developed, as contact tracing increases, we will be able to get a better idea. I promise I will be there to applaud your efforts when we can gather safely to celebrate.
Travel
As a follow up to previous messages, we are announcing that Mason has suspended all international travel through the end of the fall semester, with the exception of travel to South Korea. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case by the University Travel Advisory Committee ([email protected]).
More about Phase 3
Gov. Northam has announced that Virginia will move into Phase 3 on Wednesday, July 1. Most employees will not be returning to campus in July and many employees will continue to telework through the summer and possibly through the fall semester. Please reach out to your manager or supervisor to talk about your work situation. Our Human Resources and Employee Relations teams are available to help you work through individual specific situations. We know many of our employees have children in the K-12 schools and those schedules and decisions will affect their work schedules, and we encourage everyone to remain flexible as we move into fall.
A word of gratitude
As I return to the faculty and begin preparing for my fall teaching, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your many kindnesses and help during my tenure as Interim President, and for honoring our Mason value “we thrive together” in this moment. The tough situations we are now facing can indeed make us stronger, if we can stay flexible, be patient and open with each other, and stay focused on meeting the needs of all. I want to thank especially my leadership team for their incredible work and friendship, and President-Designee Washington for his invaluable engagement over the last few months. I have total confidence that you will extend him your full support as he begins his tenure July 1, and that together you and he will lead this university forward to its next great chapter.
Remember to hold each other in the light.
Sincerely,
Anne Holton, Interim President
Even before the coronavirus pandemic forced so many dramatic changes in their lives, college students faced serious mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, suicide, eating disorders and addiction. In fact, experts and researchers use terms like “epidemic” and “crisis” to characterize the mental health challenges currently facing American college students.
Read More about Mason’s Counseling and Psychological Services
Dear Patriots:
As George Mason University prepares to bring students back to campus this fall, we want to make sure everyone in our community has access to the most current information. Today, we are announcing the Safe Return to Campus Plan website, which will be updated frequently as new information becomes available.
We encourage you to bookmark this site and use it as a reference when you have questions. The site includes the university’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the university preparedness guide, announcements, and other information designed to support the health, safety, and well-being of the Mason community as the university fulfills its academic mission. The second phase of information will be posted to the website in early July.
As previously stated, our plan calls for starting the fall semester on time and bringing students back for a mix of in-person instruction and expanded online classes, as well as the continuation of research. This hybrid approach will allow for appropriate social distancing on campus, while making alternatives available for those students who are not ready to return.
Some essential faculty and staff are returning to work this month, although most faculty and staff will continue to work from home. All faculty and staff who return to Mason campuses must first complete the Safe Return to Campus Training, accessible on the Safe Return to Campus website. The stages outlined on the website reflect our preparation for an Aug. 24 start to the semester.
We know that students and their families, faculty and staff, and community members have many questions about the university’s plans for the fall semester, which include a combination of in-person and online instruction and other adaptations.
To address questions, Interim President Anne Holton and senior leadership will conduct a virtual town hall from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, livestreamed on GMU-TV. Questions and comments can be pre-submitted here.
Sincerely,
Paul G. Allvin
Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing
Students, their families, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend a virtual Town Hall Wednesday, June 24, from 1-3:30 p.m. The Town Hall will be livestreamed on GMU-TV. Submit questions here.
Dear Nighthawk Patriots,
Today is a very important day in our country’s history. This day, recently declared a holiday in Virginia by Governor Ralph Northam, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, the last of the former Confederate states to abolish slavery. This is also an opportunity to honor the significant roles and innumerable contributions of African Americans to the Commonwealth and the nation, especially as we come together to collectively fight anti-Black racism at both the individual and institutional levels following the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and far too many others.
By now, we hope you may have read full statements sent by President Kress at NOVA as well as Interim President Holton and President-designate Washington at Mason representing the inclusive views of both institutions. ADVANCE reiterates that diversity is our strength and racial injustice will not be tolerated. Moreover, ADVANCE is committed to improving the social and economic inequities experienced by historically marginalized student populations within U.S. higher education.
In addition to providing support, listening to, and being in conversation with Black students and other oppressed student groups, several action steps are happening at both institutions to address systemic racism and will have a positive impact on ADVANCE students, including a few examples below:
The ADVANCE Team is also aware that students may be coping with recent events in varying ways or may experience racism as a daily occurrence. Whether you are looking to engage in self-care or get active in your community, we recommend taking action steps, a few of these including:
As ADVANCE Success Coaches, we hear, see, and value the lives of our Black students and colleagues. We understand the severity of our national climate and the negative impact on your mental health and well-being while trying to prioritize your education. We are motivated to ensure our direct support for you as ADVANCE students. Our emails and virtual office doors are always open if you are seeking comfort and safety.
In solidarity,
The ADVANCE Team
On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision to uphold the decision to maintain Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which provides work permits and protection from deportation for close to 700,000 DACA recipients in the United States. We are very happy about this decision and acknowledge that even in times of difficulty and tremendous change in the United States, it is also important to recognize the wave of positive decisions and actions that can happen when the voices of a community are heard.
DACA has opened up educational pathways for our students and for many others across the country through access to admissions, in-state tuition, and financial resources. DACA recipients at George Mason University contribute to and shape our campus culture and identity. This decision from the Supreme Court will continue to grant access to higher education for some of the best and brightest students in the United States.
We want to take this time to communicate ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources’ strong and continuous support for our DACA recipients and their families. We will work with DACA recipients to continue to connect them with legal service providers on and off campus, mental and physical health services, and other support services to support their success at Mason. Below are resources for students and also for YOU to learn more about how you can help!
You are also welcomed to reach out to the Student Access and Equity team within ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources to learn more by emailing Dr. Amber Holton-Thomas, Associate Director of Student Access and Equity ([email protected]).
Financial Support:
• Emergency Fund (accepting Summer 2020 applications)
• First Gen Next Gen Fund Scholarship (Spring 2021 applications due in November). For more information email [email protected]
Emotional Support:
• Counseling and Academic Programs and Services (CAPS) Link: https://caps.gmu.edu/
• Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) Link: https://ssac.gmu.edu/
Peer Support:
• Connect with Mason DREAMers, the primary collective of students who support and advocate for students who are undocumented, DACAmented, and who have TPS and their families.
• Website: https://www.masondreamers.org/
• Email: [email protected]
• Social Media: Twitter @MasonDREAMers | Instagram @masondreamers
Legal Support:
• Legal Aid Justice Center (Falls Church) Link: https://www.justice4all.org/
• Ayuda (Fairfax) Link: https://www.ayuda.com/
• CASA (Woodbridge) Link: http://www.wearecasa.org/
• Just Neighbors (Annandale) Link: https://www.justneighbors.org/
What else can you do as a person who holds citizenship in the United States?
• Review policies or procedures in your department that might have additional barriers for undocumented or DACAmented students – if you change something, let us know! Email Dr. Amber Holton-Thomas ([email protected]) who serves as the Chair for the Undocumented Student Task Force at Mason
• Educate yourself! Sign up for 1 of the 6 UndocuAlly Training sessions (3 in Fall | 3 in Spring) offered this academic year.
• Review resources on the ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources Website: https://www.gmu.edu/financial-aid/eligibility/undocumented-daca-students
To the DACA students, faculty, and staff, know that you have the full support of our department. We remain as supportive as ever of DACA recipients and other immigrants learning and working in our community, and remain committed to enabling the continued success of DACA recipients and to securing permanent relief for these aspiring Americans.
ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources
Dear Patriots,
As President Holton noted in her message last week, George Mason University will reopen on time on Aug. 24 with a mix of in-person and online classes.
We know there are many questions about our Safe Return to Campus and the university’s overall operations. We invite students, their families, faculty, staff and community members to submit questions here ahead of the town hall that President Holton will host with senior leadership from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 24.
The town hall will be livestreamed on GMU TV and a link also will be available directly from the university’s homepage.
This is new territory for all of us, and your flexibility, compassion and creativity will be essential as we move forward together. We look forward to gathering with you virtually on Wednesday.
Sincerely,
Paul G. Allvin
Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing
This is a time of sorrow, of anger, of introspection, of discomfort, of activism. As we confront anti-black racism in the wake of the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others, Women and Gender Studies reaffirms our collective mission to understand and address social inequities. We mourn and march and commit to the work of social justice collectively. We are not all experiencing this the same way. For some of us racism is a daily and familiar experience while others of us must interrogate our own racism and complicity in oppression. Women and Gender Studies has been articulating these concerns through academics, advocacy, and support, and we have more work to do. Black women have fundamentally shaped gender activism and critique from the very beginning of modern feminism. Sojourner Truth, Harriet Jacobs, Ida B. Wells, Anna Julia Cooper, Audre Lorde, Bernice Johnson Reagon, bell hooks, Barbara Smith, Ntozake Shange, Anita Hill, Patricia Hill-Collins, Cheryl Dunye, Dorothy Roberts, Janet Mock, Sybrina Fulton, and many others have challenged those practices that, to quote Kimberlé Crenshaw, “relegate the identity of women of color to a location that resists telling.” Critical tools like intersectionality were developed to name blindness and oppression within the most visible articulations of feminism and women’s studies and they remain powerful because that critique is still necessary. Through introspection and advocacy we will work for institutional change here and in the world. The university is one place where we can make this change as we hire faculty, develop curricula, and reform academic and institutional policies. We who are faculty and staff prepare our students to make changes in those institutions that they will shape outside the university, and we must listen when they in turn hold us accountable and make us better.
In community,
Tamara Harvey, Interim Director of Women and Gender Studies
David Powers Corwin, Associate Director of Women and Gender Studies
and our core faculty in Women and Gender Studies
The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.
George Mason University is aware of objections by some members of our community to the admission of a student whose presence they believe would create an unsafe and threatening environment due to the student’s alleged expression of support for neo-Nazi and white supremacy ideology.
Mason leaders understand the community’s objections. We want to again reiterate that we are wholly committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and respectful learning environment. We understand that some in our community hold beliefs that are antithetical to Mason’s stated values.
It will be unavoidable that some students will engage in a way that is contrary to our institutional values. Mason has a very clearly outlined Code of Student Conduct and behavioral requirements for admitted students. Mason will not only uphold these codes and requirements but also act accordingly if made aware that any member of our student body has broken the law or university policy. In cases where the actions of a Patriot, while not breaking policies or laws, cause great concern within our community there may not be a path to legal or disciplinary action. But we believe there is still an important opportunity not to be missed. We, as educators, can use the tools available to us to guide these students in critically examining and understanding the potential impact of their decisions and actions. To that end, we urge you to keep informing us when you witness behavior that falls short of Mason’s standards; We also ask you to remember that intervention can take many forms, and we will employ every resource available to us to bring about a positive change in a situation. If you would like to report an incident of bias you can do so here: https://campusclimate.gmu.edu/report-an-incident/bias-incidents-and-the-reporting-protocol/
Mason is reviewing this matter. Due to extreme personal sensitivities that touch everyone involved, we do not anticipate having any more specific comment on this situation.
Rose Pascarell , VP of University Life
Amy Takayama-Pérez, Dean of Admissions
