Category: Uncategorized

The Mason community is deeply saddened by the loss of human life and the devastation of communities in Turkey and Syria – and we are equally humbled by the acts of courage, kindness, and determination we have seen. 

If you have been affected by this disaster, Mason can help.  

In support of Mason students, faculty, and staff who may have been impacted by this tragedy and in remembrance of those lives lost in the earthquake, University Life would like to host a candlelight vigil at the Clock Tower, Wilkins Plaza at 5PM (EST) on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. We hope you can join us in this campus-wide vigil as well as collaborate with us on collecting donation items to help with disaster relief.

 The university offices listed below are committed to supporting student well-being and can serve as a valuable source of advice and aid to help you during this difficult time. 

University Life Resources: 

• Student Support and Advocacy Center  for emotional and all emergency financial support 
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for counseling support, both in-person and virtual 
• Office of International Programs and Services for international student support; a resource list to support those affected is coming soon 

Donation Sites: 

If you are in a position to donate money or goods to support relief efforts in the region, the following is a list of organizations gathered by members of the Mason community.  (Please note that the university does not endorse any organization and encourages you to examine any organization carefully before making a donation at any time)

Advice on giving during international disasters from the US Agency for International Development – Center for International Disaster Information — https://www.cidi.org/how-to-help/ 

AFAD – Turkey’s official disaster and emergency management authority  

AHBAP – a non-governmental organization with search teams, serving basic necessities.  

AKUT – Volunteer/non-governmental organization in Turkey on the ground with search teams and rescue.   

GMU Brazilian Student Association

Islamic Relief USA

MedGlobal

Mercy USA, Launchgood 

Molham Team – Volunteer/non-governmental organization in Syria with on-the-ground search and rescue teams  

RedCross UK – working with the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to help across regions.  

Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS)

Syria Forum USA

Syria Relief and Development (SRD)

Turkish Embassy – Washington DC

Turkish Red Crescent

UNICEF-Turkey/Syria Earthquake

Celebrate Mason during Homecoming from February 10–18, 2023! Show your Mason spirit, reminisce, and share experiences with friends and family.

Learn more and register today.

More than 5,000 students will graduate with degrees or certificates in the university’s Winter Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. today at EagleBank Arena. The ceremony will be livestreamed on Mason’s YouTube channel.

Learn more about this graduating class.

Watch the livestream.

Photos by Ron Aira/Creative Services

George Mason University was among the six Virginia universities awarded a Higher Education Mental Health Workforce Pilot grant to improve mental health services available to students.

Learn more about Mason’s commitment to student mental health.

Fairfax. VA— ​November 16, 2022​ – George Mason’s First Gen+ Center, a department within the division of University Life, has recently received a grant from The American Talent Initiative (ATI) for research regarding the effectiveness of resources provided to first-generation college students through a summer bridge program. The grant application was a result of a collaboration with the First-Gen+ Center’s Director, Dr. Amber Holton-Thomas and Dr. Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron, Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies in the School of Integrative Studies, the current University Life Faculty Fellow in the First-Gen+ Center.

 History of the ATI 

The American Talent Initiative is a collaboration between Ithaka S+R, the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, and a collection of 341 universities. This organization aims to assist high-achieving students from low and moderate-income backgrounds in achieving a college education. The organization’s current goal is to help 50,000 high-achieving, lower-income college students graduate from associated universities by 2025.

About the First Gen+ Center and the Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) 

The First-Gen+ Center was announced as a new department within University Life in June 2021. Its mission is to support students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and their allies while specifically centering college students who identify as first-generation, who are undocumented, have refugee status, and those who have families with limited income.

The Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) is a program is one of many initiatives in the office but has a longstanding recruitment and retention history at Mason. STEP began in 1990 and continues to aid and retain first-generation college students through providing peer mentorship, workshops, and community building. The program also has a multi-year focus, meaning that students complete a 6-week summer program prior to their first fall semester and continue to receive support and mentorship through graduation and beyond. Lex Lewis-Semien, Assistant Director in the First-Gen+ Center coordinates the summer and multi-year curriculum and programmatic elements.

 Details of the Study 

This study explores the intersection of first-generation college student (FGCS) identity and summer bridge program experiences with the aim of creating scholarly and practical deliverables that support best practices in summer bridge programming. The mixed methods study will examine trends and Mason STEP Scholar experiences from 2019 to present and will also include the contributions of Mason STEP alumni and faculty/staff partners who have supported the STEP program.  This collaborative project is a wonderful example of an university life-faculty partnership in service to first-generation college student support.

ENDS 

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Holton-Thomas ([email protected]) or Dr. Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron ([email protected])

When Alissa Karton began working at Mason in 1996, the university looked like a very different place, with fewer residence halls, fewer students, and a reputation for being a commuter school. In her various roles with University Life, Karton has had an insider’s view to seeing Mason transform into what she calls “a university that is basically as big as a small town.”

Read more about Alissa’s work with Mason students.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Jasmeen Linares, a freshman computer science major and a graduate of Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP), found a synergy between coding and art.

Read about her journey.

Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications.