Orientation takes on new meanings as we adjust to changing concepts of safety and social interactions. At George Mason University, New Student Orientation helps students navigate the many paths open to them as incoming members of the Mason Nation, now in a virtual format.
Dear Patriots,
Preparation is underway for what may be the greatest campus-wide challenge the George Mason University community has ever taken on – our safe return to campus.
We have no playbook – none exists to navigate any modern university through a global pandemic, much less the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression.
So, like every university, we are in the process of writing our new playbook, observing the best public health expertise that exists – often from the Mason community itself – to address the unknowns that await in months ahead.
The quality of education you can expect to receive will not change. We will not retreat from our mission to provide the very best, most inclusive education possible, to create a more free, just, and prosperous world. And we will support the health and safety of our community in pursuit of that goal.
To stay focused on our mission, we just have to think like Patriots. That means bridging often-competing interests to find our own way forward, like insisting on both excellence and inclusion as a core value of who we are.
For this challenge, it means both committing ourselves to the health, safety, and well-being of everyone in our community and maintaining the most complete university experience possible, as circumstances allow.
It means finding excellence through online instruction and through in-person coursework – and knowing when it’s best to use which technique.
And it means having the discipline to act in ways that protect our own health and look out for the health and safety of our fellow Patriots.
Instruction
We will offer the same robust academic plan for this fall that we always do, in a mix of in-person instruction and online classes. We will start and end the semester classes on time, beginning August 24 and ending December 19.
Drawing on our knowledge that in-person instruction makes a difference, particularly in smaller learning environments, we will preserve this environment where we are able to. Students learn best through dialogue and experience, when they can interact directly with other students and have more direct access to faculty. At the same time, larger classes can be just as effective online, and for some the convenience makes a difference. We’ll develop excellence in blending both forms of instruction.
When in-person classes are best, we will observe public health best practices including social distancing in classrooms, enhanced cleaning procedures, and the requirement that everyone wear masks.
Coming back to campus
We know that bringing people back to campus is a major effort, and we will be conducting this effort in stages. Students who are living on campus will begin to come back in phases. Student staff will move in on August 8. Upper class students will move in between August 15 and 18. Freshmen will move in between August 19 and 21. Students will receive time slots from University Housing and Residence Life, and will need to follow those instructions closely.
Reducing campus density
The university you return to won’t look like the university you left. Everyone must wear face coverings in public places. Physical distancing will be required. We are reducing density in classrooms, residence halls and administrative offices. Supervisors will create safety plans and telework will remain an important component of work plans. Our goal is to greatly reduce the density on campus while providing outstanding service to our students.
A lot can change in the next six weeks. We will be working closely with the local health department, Virginia Health Department and through Centers for Disease Control guidelines to put the safest environment in place. We will also continue to work with renowned experts in public health who work right here at Mason to guide the way.
Public health and safety
The university will not reopen until public health officials deem it safe for us to return. We also will remain agile. Should circumstances change, we are prepared to pivot back to full online instruction.
Shared commitment to each other
Each of us will need to do our part. We must complete online training to understand the new environment on campus. Anyone coming to campus is required to conduct a daily self-health check.
And, I cannot emphasize this enough: If you feel sick or are symptomatic, stay home.
It is not possible to make our university 100 percent risk-free. But we can greatly minimize risk, and our new playbook has been written so that we can make that happen, even without knowing exactly how this year will play out.
Each of us should review the university’s Safe Return to Campus website. For those who want to go even deeper, feel free to read our Safe Return to Campus Plan.
Above all, get ready for an academic year like none other. We will move through this year together, stronger and wiser for our efforts.
Alright, Patriots. Let’s get to work!
Sincerely,
Gregory Washington
President, George Mason University
Dear Patriots,
This week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that it would discontinue visa exceptions for international students on F-1 visas who take all of their courses for the semester online. This decision could force hundreds of thousands of international students to leave the United States and threatens to interrupt the academic work of more than 3,000 students here at George Mason University.
International students contribute greatly to the cultural and intellectual fabric of George Mason University, benefiting everyone in our community. Our best-in-state diversity ranking is in no small part dependent on the students from more than 130 countries who choose Mason for its academic and inclusive excellence. We are proud to say that you can meet the world on our campus. We have an obligation to stand with our international students and make our voice heard on this unfortunate decision.
Universities will be joining together to explore options for how we can protect this vulnerable population. Our Association of Public and Land Grant Universities shares these concerns, as you can see in this public statement. I, too, urge the administration to reconsider this executive action.
Here at Mason, and across Virginia, conversations are underway as we work to fully understand the new guidance and its impact on our operations and our students. We are committed to finding creative solutions so that our students are able to continue their study in the U.S.
Our Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) is putting together more information, which will be forthcoming later this week. Faculty and administrators in the schools and colleges can expect to learn more from their deans; international students will receive information from OIPS, including guidance and announcements about FAQ’s and online discussions.
Despite unprecedented challenges we currently face, we will not waver in our support for our international community.
Sincerely,
Gregory Washington
President, George Mason University
University Career Services will offer its Career Influencer Training as a virtual workshop series in early August. The Career Influencers Network provides faculty and staff the opportunity to learn how to best support students in becoming career ready and achieving post graduate success in today’s quickly evolving world of work. In times of uncertainty, we can expect to discuss job and career plans with Mason students even more than before. Joining the Career Influencers Network will help you help students as they reflect on, refine and pursue their career goals.
The three modules that comprise the training will be offered from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., August 3 – 5. Participants must participate in ALL THREE scheduled workshops in the series to complete the training. The workshops are intended to be undertaken in the order offered, so plan to participate in the workshops on all three mornings. Course participants can expect to:
Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion and the Career Readiness Toolkit, a collection of activities, rubrics, and templates to facilitate connections between students’ academic experiences and their career goals. Members of the Career Influencers Network also receive invitations to Lunch & Learns for on-going professional development and updates on career related programs and services. Click here to register.
GMU Esports is now a Departmental Student Organization. Previously existing as one of over 450 Registered Student Organizations, within this new structure, GMU Esports will be housed in the Student Involvement office (located in the Hub, Room 2300). The new space will provide gaming computers and space for teams to practice and compete in online competitions, as well as for the leadership team to work on creating and planning events and activities to increase student participation in the esports community at Mason.
GMU Esports, under Student Involvement, will also gain broadened funding and support, including a new Graduate Assistant position that will serve as an advisor alongside the Executive Director of Student Involvement. Both will take the lead in building the infrastructure for the department’s expansion. “Student Involvement and University Life are excited to expand esports gaming at Mason. We started with the GAMEmason annual gaming-con event and are looking forward to the increase in student engagement as the GMU Esports group grows. So far, the students have been amazing to work with,” Lauren Long, Executive Director of Student Involvement, said.
GMU Esports aims to bolster its top collegiate teams and players competing in League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and offer a year-round home for the greater esports community at GMU. Teams in other esports will be fielded as well, providing competitive opportunities for a variety of other games and will expand in accordance with student interest.
According to Peter Parker, Student President of GMU Esports, “With GMU Esports now becoming a part of Student Involvement, we’ll be able to provide support in the future to our top teams and players to be the best they can be, as well as create ways for students who are passionate about esports but don’t necessarily want to be top competitors a way to actively participate in other roles. With this new structure, we can begin developing new community events, and make mainstays like our Smash weekly even better.”
GMU Esports is set to formally launch in the Fall 2020 semester. More information regarding the program will be announced over the coming months. To stay updated on what’s happening, follow:
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.
