In This Story
Dear colleagues,
As we move through the fifth week of the semester, it’s been energizing to see the campus come alive again with activity. We’ve welcomed the largest and most diverse undergraduate class in George Mason’s history, including a record number of first-year students. This is an exciting time for us—and I know that each of you plays a crucial role, whether you're in the classroom, interacting with our students in various ways, advancing your scholarship and creative work, or engaged in other essential campus work.
In my ongoing efforts to connect with our community, I continue to listen closely, ask questions, and seek to understand your experiences and needs. I've been delighted to participate in several events and activities that showcase the vibrant life of George Mason, including move-in day, convocation, athletic events, research talks by several faculty, tours of many of our facilities, and orientation and welcoming sessions for new faculty and students. These moments have given me a firsthand look at the incredible dedication you all bring to advancing our mission as a university.
I’ve been reflecting on how best to communicate with our colleges, schools, and administrative units to ensure that you receive the information you need in the most effective and engaging way. While we’re still refining our approach, for now, we will transition from the Provost’s Newsletter to a Provost’s Message. This will feature fewer but more focused updates that I will curate to provide transparent and substantive information on key academic and administrative initiatives, important decisions, and progress on our priorities.
I am delighted to announce that one of our critical priorities this year will be a budget model redesign project, which will kick off in the coming weeks. This effort will create a more transparent and strategic approach to how we allocate resources, helping us make informed financial decisions that align with the university’s mission and directly support the success of our students, faculty, and staff. I encourage you to read more about this important project, as well as other notable updates below.
In the coming weeks, I look forward to connecting with many of you as I begin my visits to colleges, schools, and administrative units. In the meantime, I wish you all a productive and successful fall semester.
Sincerely,
James Antony
Provost and Executive Vice President
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President’s Town Hall Sessions Scheduled for the Fall Semester: 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.
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New Resource Offers Guidance on Faculty Facing Harassment: The university has launched a new online resource to support faculty who may be targeted as a result of their scholarship.
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Budget Model Redesign Work Begins: To better support the university’s mission and enable more thoughtful decision-making, George Mason is initiating a budget model redesign.
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Patriot Connect Launches Program Website: George Mason has launched the Patriot Connect program website, a key resource to support the transition to a new system of engagement for the student journey.
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New Tutoring Partnership with Knack to Support George Mason Students: George Mason University has entered into a new partnership with Knack, a tutoring platform, to provide free tutoring services for students in selected courses.