In This Story
Dear Colleagues,
I had the great pleasure of attending my first George Mason University Convocation this fall, and I’m not sure anything could have prepared me for the musical excellence and exuberance of the Green Machine! Their energy was extraordinary—and it was matched by the excitement of the students around me as we welcomed them into the George Mason community.
Looking out at those students was especially meaningful knowing that they are part of the largest undergraduate population in George Mason’s history. This is a tremendous milestone and one worth celebrating—not simply because of the number of students who have chosen George Mason, but because of what that choice represents: more students are coming here to learn, grow, and prepare for what comes next.
Their arrival also reflects years of thoughtful work to make a George Mason education accessible to more students. Through ADVANCE, our partnership with Northern Virginia Community College, students have a clear pathway from community college to a four-year degree. With direct admissions, we are finding new ways to reach qualified students and make the path to college simpler and more accessible. Across the university, colleagues are continually looking for ways to remove unnecessary barriers and create more pathways into a George Mason education.
But creating pathways to George Mason is only the beginning. Our greater responsibility is helping students succeed once they are here, challenging and inspiring them to reach ambitious academic goals.
That responsibility belongs to all of us. Student success is shaped by countless interactions and experiences across a student’s time at George Mason, from the classroom to the many communities, opportunities, and resources they encounter. No single person or office creates the George Mason experience. We create it together.
And success means more than reaching graduation. We want our students to feel that they belong here, to encounter ideas that change how they see the world, to discover abilities and ambitions they may not yet recognize in themselves, and ultimately to leave George Mason prepared to build meaningful lives and careers.
There is something particularly exciting about welcoming a record class because of the possibility it represents. Each of these students has a story that is only beginning at George Mason. We cannot know exactly where their education will take them, but all of us will have opportunities to help shape what happens next.
Thank you for the many ways you make that possible, and for everything you have done to begin this academic year with such energy and purpose. I am thrilled to experience my first fall at George Mason alongside our students, faculty, and staff.
Sincerely,
Marion K. Underwood
Provost and Executive Vice President
Faculty and Staff Opportunities
- President’s Town Hall: President Gregory Washington will host two 90-minute town hall sessions to discuss the state of the university and to engage with faculty and staff.
- Stearns Center Resources to Start the Semester: Explore resources for course planning, including syllabus guidance, AI policy development, and updated Common Policy Addendum language.
- Innovations in Teaching and Learning (ITL) Conference: This year’s Stearns Center ITL conference, themed Relevant Teaching, will be held September 24–25. Registration closes September 18.
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Teaching Excellence Awards Nominations: Celebrate the impact of exceptional educators by submitting nominations for the Stearns Center Teaching Excellence Awards. Nominations are due September 28.