George Mason 麻豆国产 President Gregory Washington last week outlined his goals for the coming academic year, including the establishment of the Mason Virginia Promise to 鈥渂e the institution for all Virginians鈥 and implementing a five-year plan for Mason to climb more than 40 spots in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Washington shared his goals at the July 30 meeting, which came a day after the annual President鈥檚 Planning Conference.
The Mason Virginia Promise is a pathway toward a degree or help starting a business for every Virginian who wants one. The pathway will involve extending the Mason shares with Northern Virginia Community College to other community colleges around the state. Students can continue on to Mason to earn a four-year degree or, if they would like to start a business, they can receive help from one of Mason鈥檚 more than 30 around the state.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 one institution that can be that beacon of hope for Virginians鈥攏o matter what economic class you are in, no matter what status you鈥檙e in, no matter your academic stature up to this point鈥攊t is this one,鈥 Washington said in the meeting broadcast live (LINK) from Merten Hall on GMU-TV. 鈥淭hat is a task that we are going to embrace, and we鈥檙e going to embrace with authority.鈥
Washington said there is a five-year plan for Mason, , to crack the influential publication鈥檚 Top 100, which can enhance the university鈥檚 national reputation. At 143 in 2021, Mason climbed 10 spots from the previous year鈥檚 rankings, and among public universities, Mason is ranked 65th, up seven spots from the previous year. The magazine鈥檚 2022 rankings are slated to come out this September.
Also among Washington鈥檚 goals for the coming year: implementing 15 recommendations from the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force, growing research by 15%, executing a brand renewal of the university, launching a strategic plan process focused in part on recommendations from the Mason Innovation Commission, and establishing a climate and sustainability action plan to determine when Mason can approach net-zero emissions status.
Most important, Washington said, was to continue to provide a safe living and learning environment for the university community amid the ongoing pandemic. And to grow from the experiences of the past year.
鈥淵ou go through something like this,鈥 he said, 鈥渢he goal should not be to come out of it and look the way you looked going into it.鈥
The programs and services offered by George Mason 麻豆国产 are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.