As George Mason University continues to grow, so do the demands on its resources. To better support the university’s mission and enable more thoughtful decision-making, the administration is launching a budget model redesign.
This initiative aims to align spending with key strategic goals, such as strengthening academic programs, supporting faculty and staff, and investing in critical infrastructure. Additionally, the redesign will make the budget process more transparent to the entire university community.
The project will focus on several key areas to improve resource management. Its goals will be to create a clear system for distributing tuition, fees, and indirect cost recovery revenue to ensure funds are allocated in line with George Mason’s priorities. Guidelines for space usage will be established to optimize the use of campus resources, and new procedures will govern how one-time funds, such as reserves, can be utilized to support unit-specific goals. The redesign will also provide guidance for managing institutional financial aid, allowing units to better understand its impact on their planning.
For the George Mason community, this new budget model will simplify the understanding of how funds are distributed and used. It will ensure that every dollar is working in service of the university’s mission, leading to better management of resources, more strategic investments, and improved planning. These changes are expected to benefit students, faculty, and staff by providing greater support and flexibility.
In the coming weeks, a budget model redesign webpage will be launched to provide updates, timelines, and FAQs. Regular update sessions will also be held during key campus meetings to gather feedback and share progress as the project moves forward. Expect more information and opportunities to engage with the redesign process soon.