Campus Program Activation

A fully activated campus network is essential for George Mason to maximize its potential for collaboration, engagement, and institutional excellence. 

Over the past year, George Mason University has expanded its physical footprint with two major additions: the cutting-edge Life Sciences and Engineering Building at the SciTech campus in Manassas, and the innovation-focused Fuse hub at Mason Square in Arlington. This growth offers a timely opportunity for the university to take a high-level view of its programs—evaluating how to strengthen the visibility, utilization, and academic impact of all campus locations, with particular attention to SciTech and Mason Square. 

Charge

The Campus Program Activation Task Force is charged with delivering concrete recommendations for fully activating our SciTech and Mason Square campuses. It will accomplish this by exploring strategic questions around program distribution across campuses, identifying opportunities for growth and differentiation, gathering input from key constituents, and examining peer institutions to learn from their models.

Toward the goal of developing recommendations for campus activation, the task force will:

  • Identify and articulate any strategic questions around academic program distribution across George Mason’s campuses, with a focus on advancing institutional priorities, supporting enrollment growth, and improving student access and experience
  • Assess the current locations of academic programs and identify where opportunities exist for locating any programs (partially or fully) at other campuses
    • Consider multiple models of multi-campus planning—defining the opportunities and threats of each (full campus programs, 2 + 2 programs, 1 + 3 programs, and other possible options)
    • Articulate how each model accounts for student degree progression, program offices, faculty offices, student life, academic affairs support, transportation, housing, and other top line issues for consideration
  • Consider how program distribution can align with each campus’s unique strengths, infrastructure, identity, community relationships, and any current online course offerings
  • Examine the student, faculty, and staff support structures and services needed to fully activate our SciTech and Mason Square campuses and consider any issues pertaining to infrastructure, governance, and financial implications/costs/efficiencies associated with recommendations that are made
  • Gather input from students, faculty, and staff to understand the practical impacts of decisions to move programs (partially or fully) onto other campuses, and ensure the final recommendations are informed by these perspectives
  • Examine how peer institutions manage multi-campus activation, identifying both best practices and challenges that may inform George Mason’s approach

 

Timeline

Work will begin in fall 2025, with a final report to be delivered to the provost in fall 2026. An interim status report is due on March 13, 2026, with final recommendations to be submitted on September 30, 2026.

 

Task Force

Structure

The Campus Program Activation Task Force will be comprised of representatives from all George Mason schools and colleges as well as campus representatives from Mason Square and SciTech. The task force will be co-chaired by:

  • Cody Edwards, Dean, College of Science
  • Julie Zobel, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Cody and Julie will oversee the task force’s work and collaborate with its members to identify university offices the group will engage to gather insights.

Members

  • Co-chair: Cody Edwards, Dean, College of Science 

  • Co-chair: Julie Zobel, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 

  • Melanie Knapp, Associate Dean of Library and Technology, Antonin Scalia Law School 

  • Debra Stroiney, Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development 

  • Liza Durant, Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, College of Engineering and Computing 

  • Lisa Breglia, Senior Associate Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, College of Humanities and Social Sciences 

  • Martin Binks, Professor and Chair, Nutrition and Food Studies, College of Public Health 

  • Jason Kinser, Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Science 

  • Kristin Johnsen-Neshati, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, College of Visual and Performing Arts 

  • Caitlin Horan, Assistant Dean, Graduate Academic Services, Donald G. Costello College of Business

  • Supriya Bailey, Academic Administration, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

  • Beth Olchowski, Senior Associate Dean for Strategy, Schar School of Policy and Government 

  • Meg Meiman, Associate University Librarian for Learning, Research and Engagement, University Libraries 

  • Colby Grant, Director of Administration and Operations, SciTech Campus Executive Office, SciTech Campus

  • Sara Hawes, Director of Operations, Mason Square Administration, Mason Square Campus

 

Engagement

Meetings and Communication

A charge meeting will kick off in fall 2025, which will include a discussion regarding engagement (i.e. the various constituents with whom to speak) and collaboration efforts.

Feedback

Thank you for your interest in this project. Please submit your questions, comments, and ideas using the Campus Program Activation Task Force feedback form.