Admissions

Quill Camps Welcome New First-Year Students with Immersive Experiences

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:58:34 +0000

Quill Camps Welcome New First-Year Students with Immersive Experiences Andrew J Schappert Thu, 07/27/2023 - 11:58

Orientation season begins in earnest at ��AV in August, but for a number of rising freshmen, their first year of college began in July during Quill Camp.

Incoming freshmen from Quill Camp: Republic got a twilight tour of Washington, D.C., landmarks. Photos by Ron Aira/Creative Services.

The series of four-day camps—there are five of them, each with a different academic emphasis—bring together like-minded students who explore not just the Mason campuses but also the surrounding Washington, D.C., region. For instance, True Crime members are provided insights into the criminal justice system; studio students are provided with hands-on experience in the arts; and Project Peak participants enjoy immersive outdoor excursions. The camps are organized by Mason’s New Student and Family Programs Office.

A mid-July field trip capped off Quill Camp: Republic, which sent new students by bus into the District of Columbia to visit landmarks, tour museums, and get a general idea of where decisions are made in one of the most important political cities in the world.

Not surprisingly, many Quill Camp: Republic students are majoring in degree programs hosted by the Schar School of Policy and Government. Having some knowledge of what the vaunted “hallowed marble halls” of Washington, D.C., actually look like provides good background for government majors who will be studying policy and politics.

The camp’s activities were even insightful for those who had been to Washington before.

“I didn't see too many things that were new, but it was fun to tour them with my future classmates and colleagues,” said incoming government and international politics (GVIP) major Griffin Crouch, who lives in Arlington, Virginia, not far from the District of Columbia. “I was learning from all the other students what going to Mason would be like.”

Quill Camp: Republic’s incoming freshmen got a tour of a place some of them may work as future interns—the Capitol.

The tour of the Capitol, the dusk visit to the familiar landmarks of D.C., and an excursion into the National Museum of African American History and Culture “was a great way to see the city with a different group of people and experience everything that’s here,” he said.

“It’s been amazing,” said Charlotte Bell, a GVIP major from Richmond, Virginia. Even though, like Crouch, it was not her first visit to the nation’s capital, Quill Camp: Republic afforded “a lot of really great opportunities this week,” she said after the visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“I never would've known what this museum was or knew of its importance” without the visit, she said. “I really gained perspective. And the monument tour we went on last night was really wonderful. It was beautiful.”

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Finding Mason’s voice en español

Colleen Rich — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:26:34 +0000

Finding Mason’s voice en español Colleen Rich Wed, 01/25/2023 - 10:26

If you recently caught a glimpse of the familiar green and gold on the side of a Northern Virginia bus, you may have also noticed something new. Since May 2022, Mason has invited the families of prospective Hispanic students to learn about the university in its first Spanish-language marketing campaign.

The campaign features Spanish-language posters on buses and at Virginia Rail Express and Metro stations in Northern Virginia, as well as social media advertising and radio marketing aimed at the Hispanic community in the greater Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland area. The models in the ads are all Mason students.

In addition, radio marketing has included commercials during 2022 World Cup coverage and Spanish-language faculty interviews, which received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Spanish speakers are invited to learn more about Mason via a Spanish web presence, or to call for more information. The Office of Admissions and Enrollment and Office of University Branding, which operates the university switchboard, have both hired bilingual phone attendants to welcome callers and connect them with the offices that can help them.

Mason enrolls and graduates the largest percentage and number of Hispanic students among Virginia and Maryland public universities, which makes the expansion into Spanish-language marketing even more important.

“The Hispanic populations in Virginia and at Mason have both increased significantly in recent decades,” said Eric Woodall, associate vice president of brand marketing for the Office of University Branding. “This campaign is part of our efforts to better highlight our current Hispanic student population and ensure that prospective families have materials in Spanish to help them make informed decisions.”

“We are starting a lasting dialogue with households headed by those who may not be conversant in or comfortable speaking English, and are looking for way-finding to get their sons and daughters to and through college,” said Paul G. Allvin, Mason vice president and chief brand officer. “Our messaging mirrors what these families tell us they look for and find in a Mason education: flexibility, affordability, safety, and the existence of their own culture in campus life.”

Despite a nationwide increase in Hispanic college students, Hispanic young people are still the least likely among their peers to be enrolled in college or have a bachelor’s degree, according to the Pew Research Center. Taking this into account, the campaign’s first phase focused on raising parent awareness of Mason’s commitment to diversity and accessibility.

“What comes next for us is maintaining our presence in terms of Spanish-language advertising and looking to expand and strengthen our partnerships with Hispanic community organizations,” Woodall said.

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��AV sees a .9 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2022

Colleen Rich — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 12:54:54 +0000

��AV sees a .9 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2022 Colleen Rich Mon, 10/03/2022 - 08:54

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Bucking a statewide trend of declining college enrollment, ��AV, a top 10 public university for diversity, innovation, and cybersecurity, welcomed its largest and most diverse freshman class in school history for the Fall 2022 semester.

Enrollment figures released by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) reaffirm Mason’s status as Virginia’s largest public university, with 39,510 students enrolling at Mason, an overall increase of 368 students. Statewide, public university student enrollment dropped slightly from 221,946 in the fall of 2021 to 220,466 in fall 2022.

Mason’s nearly 7,000 total new undergraduate students included 4,156 first-time freshmen and 2,781 transfer students. They collectively accounted for a 3.5% increase in freshmen students, a .9% increase in undergraduate enrollment overall. Mason also saw a 1.1% increase in graduate enrollment from the previous year, with 3,502 new graduate students.

More than 63% of incoming freshmen identify as being of a racial or ethnic minority or an international student, up from 57% from a year ago.

“Mason’s consistent enrollment growth is a true testament to the strength and rigor of our academic programs and faculty, and, importantly, the role that Mason plays in the nation’s capital and a thriving Northern Virginia economy by providing access and providing the generation of talent for the region,” Provost Mark Ginsberg said.

The top majors for the incoming freshmen included computer science, business, cybersecurity, information technology, and nursing.

The increase shows the value of a Mason education at a time when college enrollment numbers are dropping across Virginia and nationally. Mason has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the state’s most diverse and innovative university. Other rankings rank Mason No. 1 in the nation for veterans and No. 2 among public universities for nontraditional students.

“This record enrollment is not new for us. In the last 20 years, Mason has grown its enrollment every year except for two,” said David Burge, Mason’s vice president for enrollment management. “Despite this growth, the Mason Virginia Promise, now needed more than ever, is helping ensure families access to education and future career successes, especially the nearly one-third of Mason’s incoming class who are first-generation college students.”

Mason’s freshman Class of 2026 accounted for the highest averages in terms of GPA and SAT scores (3.8 GPA, 1240 SAT) and represented 45 different states and U.S. territories and 48 countries. The majority of incoming freshmen were students of color, with Asian students accounting for nearly 25% of the class, followed by Hispanic students (14.1%) and Black students (13.8%). Nearly half (48%) of Mason’s incoming freshmen are females.

Editor's note: The numbers in this story have been updated.

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Research says club sports are Mason’s untapped resource

Colleen Rich — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:22:08 +0000

Research says club sports are Mason’s untapped resource Colleen Rich Wed, 09/28/2022 - 14:22

Participation in club sports is a significant factor in bringing in and maintaining students at ��AV, and also contributes to higher graduation rates, a new study has found.

Zikun Li. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

The research, by Mason PhD student Zikun Li, also found that as an engine for recruiting students, club sports could be added to Mason’s broader admissions and marketing strategies.

“These findings enhance the understanding of club sports and its broader impact on the university,” Li said. “Maybe it will inspire other universities to do some comparative studies.”

Li, who is in the interdisciplinary specialization program through the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), began the study in December 2021 after a request from Paul Bazzano, assistant director of competitive sports, camps, and athletic training at Mason Recreation.

Laurence Chalip, a CEHD professor, a member of Mason’s Recreation Advisory Board, and Li’s advisor, asked his students if anyone was interested. Li was all in, even though the subject was not exactly in her program concentration of sport for development.

In that way, Li embodies Mason’s goal of delivering All Together Different by acting with confidence while trying something unconventional that challenges the status quo.

“As a novice scholar, I appreciate the interconnectedness among disciplines,” said Li, who earned her undergraduate degree in her native China and her master’s at the University of Michigan. “Because of Mason’s interdisciplinary program I have been able to take courses outside the sports area, which gives me a refreshing way to look at it. I’m able to see sports in a broader way.”

“Zikun is deeply interested in the ways in which sport is used effectively and ineffectively for development purposes,” Chalip said. “But clearly, when you work in the policy world, economics matter. Policymakers want to know what the numbers look like. So to develop the kind of skills that will enable her to work in the policy world—understanding how to collect data, and analyzing and thinking through financial data—is really vital. So it made great sense.”

Mason's men's ice hockey team was among the club sports that scored high in terms of players choosing Mason to participate in the sport. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Strategic Communications

Li surveyed 425 undergraduate club sports athletes during the 2021-22 academic year. The data were eye-opening.

For example ...

The aggregate spending by undergraduate club sports athletes at Mason in the 2021-22 academic year—including tuition, campus fees, campus housing, food, Mason gear, study-related supplies, parking, and health insurance through the university, minus financial aid—is estimated at more than $21 million.
Athletes agreed that playing club sports factored into their decision to attend and stay enrolled at Mason, and their decision to recommend the university to potential students. Those participating in men’s ice hockey and men’s football (both of which actively recruit athletes to attend Mason), were especially strong on those scores, with 92.3% of football players and 100% of hockey players saying their participation is a factor in remaining at Mason.
Students who participate in club sports as freshmen, even if they did not participate as sophomores, graduated at a significantly higher rate than the overall undergraduate student body: 76% to 70.1% for six-year graduates; 66% to 65.7% for five-year graduates; 54% to 47.4% for four-year graduates.

Why is this information important?

“Our goal was to gather information for us to make the best decisions moving forward as a department and a university,” Bazzano said. “Is recruiting an opportunity for some of our other clubs? Is recruitment something that can differentiate ourselves from other universities?”

There is also a financial consideration, Bazzano said.

“Is there any way we can restructure to support those programs, to lower the barriers of student participants funding them?” he said. “The focus is on how we can reimagine our budget and restructure what we’re doing.”

Andrew Bunting, Mason’s executive director of enrollment services, also found Li’s research useful.

“Her work is certainly research of consequence and can have a direct impact on the way the Mason markets itself to prospective students,” Bunting said. “Zikun’s findings help us to better understand the various and often very personalized factors that motivate students to apply, enroll, and persist at the university.”

Li, who plans to graduate by the end of 2023 and hopes to turn the research into a publishable paper, said the research experience will benefit her eventual search for a faculty position.

“This study not only generated my interest in continuously understanding club sports, but also enhanced my data analysis skills,” Li said. “To do some hands-on analysis really gave me confidence to do more quantitative research in the future.”

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Dream Catchers partnership helps high schoolers envision a pathway to college

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 16:51:33 +0000

Dream Catchers partnership helps high schoolers envision a pathway to college Lauren Reuscher Wed, 09/21/2022 - 12:51

In This Story

Juliette Rouge (Shedd)

Everyone has the power to make a difference in the life of a young person. The Dream Catchers partnership between ��AV and local K-12 public school systems offers an opportunity for at-risk high school students to receive mentorship and support from Mason faculty, staff, and graduate students.

The Dream Catchers program provides hope for college-capable youth enrolled in Fairfax County and Prince William County Nontraditional School Programs. Students apply for Dream Catchers through their school counselors, generally during their senior year.

Photo provided

“The program is designed to help students overcome barriers and see that attending college is indeed a possibility for them,” said Karen Kitching, associate professor of accounting in the School of Business. Kitching has volunteered as the coordinator for the Dream Catchers program since 2013 and has been a mentor since 2007.

“The program started 22 years ago with a goal of providing hope, encouragement, and support to at-risk students in alternative high schools and to help them achieve their dreams of attending college,” said Kitching.

Dream Catchers is sponsored by Mason's Office of the Provost, with additional support from the Office of Admissions, the Office of International Programs and Services, and University Life.

The program currently serves approximately 30 high school students each year and has supported approximately 300 students since its inception 22 years ago under the leadership of Peter Stearns, provost emeritus.

Mentees are invited to attend a campus tour, workshops on college success skills, team building activities, and other campus life activities—like a Mason men’s basketball game and the International Week Dance competition. These activities help the students picture their lives as college students, Kitching explained.

The college application process can be challenging for all students—even those with strong support systems. Julie Shedd, associate dean with the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, has served as a mentor for the Dream Catchers program. She first got involved as a mentor after her oldest child started college.

"His college search raised my awareness of how difficult the process is, even with a lot of family and school support. I realized how much need there is for students who are first-gen or without those supports to have adult mentors to help guide them through the process,” said Shedd.

After completing the Dream Catchers program, many students apply to a community college, Mason, or another four-year college or university.

As longtime coordinator Karen Kitching prepares to leave her faculty role at Mason in December, the Dream Catchers program will be led by two new co-coordinators, Shedd and Buz Grover.

Serve as a Dream Catchers Mentor

Mason faculty, staff, and graduate students are eligible to serve as Dream Catchers mentors. The time commitment includes monthly events held on campus on Fridays, along with two evening events.

Mentors get to know their mentees and their goals, support them in the college application process when needed, and share their own insights based on personal experiences.

Grover, director of contracts and special projects with Operations and Business Services, also serves as a mentor. He supports Dream Catchers to honor those who helped him in his youth.

“Several notable teachers and adults stepped up and helped me wrangle the issues I faced in my teens. Paying it forward is the least I can do to pay homage to those who assisted me,” Grover said.

Dream Catchers is seeking new mentors to help promising students find a path toward college. To volunteer as a mentor, contact Julie Shedd.

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The ‘superheroes’ leading Mason’s tour experience

Colleen Rich — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:49:00 +0000

The ‘superheroes’ leading Mason’s tour experience Colleen Rich Mon, 09/19/2022 - 12:49

Tour season is year-round at ��AV, with sessions offered Monday through Saturday, twice a day, every week. The people that help make this happen are the Mason Ambassadors: Mason’s student-volunteer tour guides.

Mason Ambassadors. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

“The Ambassadors are like mini superheroes,” said Carla Goodwin, assistant director of undergraduate admissions and advisor to Mason Ambassadors.

In addition to leading tours for prospective students, visitors, and new Mason employees, Ambassadors participate in and represent Mason’s student population at admission events, student panels, webinars, and photoshoots.

“What's unique about these tours given by current students is that they provide that sentimental and emotional piece about Mason,” Goodwin said. “It’s nice to see what Mason really means to the current students and how it makes a difference for them.”

For Sam Harrison, Mason Ambassadors president and a senior majoring in community health, “college was all about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she said. “In high school, I had a big fear of public speaking, so I joined Mason Ambassadors in 2019 to really improve my communication and interpersonal skills.”

Mason Ambassador Mario Belenfante joined the team as a way to get involved and make connections. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

Ambassadors undergo an application and interview process. Upon acceptance, they go through training, including workshops with offices such as Career Services and Student Success Coaching for individualized academic and professional development.

Every spring, Goodwin said she teaches a one-credit course, called “UNIV 333: Peer Leadership—Mason Ambassadors,” to help Ambassadors get acquainted with various student support services, such as the LGBTQ+ Resources Center and the Office of International Programs and Services.

The training has practical applications for the Ambassadors as well.

Navigating Mason’s various resources and large campus can be overwhelming, Harrison said. And the training makes one comfortable with accessing Mason’s numerous offices and sharing that important information on the tours.

Mario Belenfante, vice president of visits for Mason Ambassadors, said he joined the team as a way to get involved, make connections, and build valuable experience for his communication major.

“I always tell people at the end of my tours that I hope I can make Mason feel like an inclusive, safe place and make Mason feel like home for them,” said Belenfante, who led 78 tours in the Spring 2022 semester.

“Seeing the students that I've given tours to end up at Mason just makes what I'm doing 10 times better,” he said.

Tours are ever-changing, as the Ambassadors work to tailor the experience to students with different interests and as new features are added to the Fairfax Campus.

On-campus visits consist of a 30-minute information session with an admissions staff member, followed by an Ambassador-led campus tour or a self-guided walking tour.

Mason also offers virtual options, including virtual information sessions hosted by an admissions counselor, virtual guided tours led by Mason Ambassadors, and an independent virtual tour that’s accessible any time on the university website.

These virtual options remain important, Goodwin said, as they make tours accessible to underrepresented students and those that may not have the financial means to travel or take time off work.

Due to rising interest in on-campus visits, Goodwin said the goal is to recruit 100 new Mason Ambassadors during this semester.

Students can apply here by September 24.

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Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

Aju Cherian — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 18:38:44 +0000

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report Aju Cherian Thu, 04/07/2022 - 14:38

April 8, 2022

To the Mason Community:

On May 18, 2021, ��AV received a $32,116,557 supplemental allocation of funding for student emergency grants under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) as authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) signed into law on March 11, 2021. This third round of funding is commonly referred to as “HEERF III”.

The Department of Education has established eligibility and prioritization requirements for students to receive grants from the HEERF programs. Recent updates to the eligibility guidelines have expanded the population of eligible students beyond those eligible for earlier rounds of HEERF awards. Mason estimates that up to 38,000 students are eligible to receive HEERF III grants based upon these expanded guidelines. Mason has the discretion to determine individual award amounts provided to eligible students.

For the HEERF III awards, Mason is continuing to use a multi-prong approach which includes proactive awards to students with existing FAFSA data in our Financial Aid system and application-based awards utilizing our existing Student Emergency Assistance grant process. Students were identified for proactive awards ranging from $500 - $1,350 with higher amounts awarded to students with the greatest need as indicated by estimated family contribution (EFC) as determined on the FAFSA. Application-based awards are provided to eligible students experiencing adverse financial impacts of the pandemic based on information provided in their applications. We anticipate that these funds will be fully disbursed during the 2021-2022 academic year.

The table below lists the award distributions made during the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2022, along with information on previous distributions for reference.

ARPA – HEERF III Awards

	Prior Quarters	1/1/2022- 3/31/2022	Grand Total
Total amount of HEERF grants distributed to students	$15,952,916	$15,037,370	$30,990,286
Number of students who received a HEERF grant (unduplicated)	14,414	12,448	15,840

Students experiencing on-going financial hardships are encouraged to apply for emergency assistance available from the HEERF funds, and can submit applications for assistance via Mason’s University Life website. The application is updated for each new semester.

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Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

Aju Cherian — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:45:23 +0000

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report Aju Cherian Mon, 01/10/2022 - 19:45

January 10, 2022

To the Mason Community:

The table below lists the award distributions made during the calendar quarter ended December 31, 2021, along with information on previous distributions for reference.

ARPA – HEERF III Awards

	Prior Quarters	10/1/2021– 12/31/2021	Grand Total
Total amount of HEERF grants distributed to students	$14,597,933	$1,354,983	$15,952,916
Total number of students who received a HEERF grant	13,161	1,253	14,414

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Meet Alan Byrd, Mason's Dean of Admissions

Colleen Rich — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:15:54 +0000

Meet Alan Byrd, Mason's Dean of Admissions Colleen Rich Fri, 01/07/2022 - 11:15

Alan Byrd, Mason's Dean of Admission. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Alan Byrd joined ��AV as its dean of admissions in November 2020. Prior to Mason, Byrd served as the chief enrollment officer at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), where he earned his PhD in educational leadership and policy studies. During his time at UMSL, Byrd set several new milestones for the university in enrollment growth, diversity, and graduation rates, while creating innovative new financial aid programs. Byrd has a BA in communication and an MA in higher education administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Why did you choose Mason?

I started my job search at probably the worst time imaginable—during the height of the pandemic. I had just finished my PhD, and I was looking for an opportunity where I could continue doing what I love, which is helping transform lives through higher education. Initially, being from the Midwest and living there my entire life, I was looking for new opportunities on the East and West Coasts. I wasn't familiar with Mason other than they ruined my [NCAA basketball] bracket back in 2006. I had won our office pool four years in a row, and Mason completely trashed my bracket and ended my winning streak [laugh].

Once I did my research, I was very impressed with the strength of Mason's academic programs, the faculty, and its location so close to Washington, D.C. However, I was most impressed with the diversity and success rates of the Mason student body. I've spent a great deal of my career closing achievement gaps for underrepresented students, and to see that Mason was so solid and consistent at graduating all students at similar rates regardless of their backgrounds—that blew my mind. These outcomes said a lot about the type of environment that Mason provides its students, and I am excited to join such a caring and supportive community.

What are some of your goals for the Office of Admissions?

One thing that I noticed about Mason when I applied for the job is that we have very ambitious enrollment goals. Early on, I saw video of President Washington talking about Mason possibly growing to 50,000 students. That number might seem like a heavy lift in this climate, but I like our ambition and competitive spirit.

I've worked in admissions and enrollment management for the last 21 years, and I've led multiple institutions to record enrollment. I understand student recruitment, how to implement an effective strategic plan, and how to develop new markets. These are all things that I've had tremendous success doing over my career. For me, [50,000 students] is just another challenge. It gives me the opportunity put the things that I've learned over the course of my career to work and to do it on a larger scale. I am also very excited for the opportunity to expand our college access initiatives. As a first-generation college student, I'm a firm believer that higher education has transformative power for all, and everyone should have a goal for some type of formal education beyond high school. I feel like there's an opportunity for Mason to become a beacon of hope for every student in this region and throughout the state. I look forward to expanding our reach into the rural areas of Virginia, supporting underserved student populations in the DMV, and creating clearer pathways for everyone to pursue higher education.

What was your experience like as a first-generation student?

I'm from a typical Midwest working-class family. My father was an open-road truck driver who left to work for weeks at a time. My mother primarily worked for the post office but usually had two or three jobs to make ends meet. They worked hard to create a better life for me and my siblings. However, they weren't sure how we were going to be able to afford college. My parents told me that I was going to need to earn an athletic scholarship to attend college. I remember my father talking to me during my senior year when I hadn't received any offers yet. He said, if this football or track [scholarship] doesn't work out, we can start saving to send you to send you to trucking or trade school. I was thinking in the back of my mind—I do not want to do that.

I was very fortunate that I was able to earn both an athletic and academic scholarship to attend college. It meant a lot for me to be the first in my family to earn a college degree, and it put my life on a totally different trajectory in terms of just having things that people take for granted, such as a well-paying job, good health insurance, and the ability to travel and see the world. This standard of living did not seem to be attainable where I was raised. Therefore, I take great pride in providing these opportunities for as many others as possible, especially for talented students who don't believe they can afford college.

What sport did you end up playing?

So another thing about me—I'm extremely stubborn. [Laughs] I received several track scholarship offers my senior year, but I was dead set on playing college football. Since I was a smaller guy, I didn't get any Division 1 offers for football. I actually turned down a track scholarship at the school that I attended to walk onto the football team. My parents were not happy with that decision, but I was confident in myself. After one year as a football walk-on, I earned a scholarship as a kick returner. Fortunately, the Pell Grant and my academic scholarship provided me with enough financial support to get me through my first year.

What do you do for fun?

I try to stay as active as possible. I love to exercise—run, bike, hike, and all of that. My two sons, Alexander and Aidan, keep me busy. Now I spend most of my leisure time taking them to all their games and events—which includes swimming, soccer, Cub Scouts, baseball, and basketball. My wife, Kimela West-Byrd, is also a former college athlete and huge sports fan, so you will see us at a lot of Mason athletic events.

So how did your first year at Mason go?

It has been great so far. The first six months were tough because it was primarily virtual. But since we've been back on campus, it's been amazing to finally get to meet people in-person and start developing relationships. In my first year with the team, we brought in the largest class of new students in school history. Now we just have to do it again and keep things moving in the right direction. I can't wait to get into the local high schools and community colleges. I thoroughly enjoy supporting school districts with their college and career planning, so I hope we have opportunities to do more in that space. I want every student in this region to have some type of relationship or experience with Mason.

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University Closed - December 18, 2021 - January 2, 2022

Aju Cherian — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 13:53:17 +0000

University Closed - December 18, 2021 - January 2, 2022 Aju Cherian Wed, 12/15/2021 - 08:53

The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid will be closing for the winter break on Friday, December 17. 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET, and will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. ET. If you need assistance while our offices are closed, you can reach us virtually via our Admissions and Financial Aid webforms. Happy Holidays!

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Quill Camps Welcome New First-Year Students with Immersive Experiences

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Finding Mason’s voice en español

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����AV sees a .9 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2022

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Research says club sports are Mason’s untapped resource

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Dream Catchers partnership helps high schoolers envision a pathway to college

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The ‘superheroes’ leading Mason’s tour experience

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Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

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Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Report

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Meet Alan Byrd, Mason's Dean of Admissions

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University Closed - December 18, 2021 - January 2, 2022

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��AV sees a .9 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2022