�鶹����

At its May 1 meeting, the George Mason �鶹���� Board of Visitors (BOV) voted 10-4 to keep in-state tuition flat for the 2025-26 academic year, citing the university’s standing as an affordable option for students and families across the commonwealth, and approved a tuition increase for out-of-state students as well as an increase in mandatory student fees for all students. 

The out-of-state tuition increases are $528 for undergraduates, $720 for graduate students, and $1,022 for law students. The student fee increase will be $96 for all in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students and $72 for law students. Those fees support student infrastructure and services. Tuition and fees for in-state students next year will be $14,316 for undergraduates, $18,060 for graduate students, and $27,834 for law students. Tuition and fees for out-of-state students next year will be $39,313 for undergraduates, $41,124 for graduate students, and $44,970 for law students.

During the May 1 meeting, George Mason officials and BOV members discussed an environment of almost unprecedented financial uncertainty, including research cost recovery limitations, reduced or withdrawn federal appropriations, the drop in federal funding for external partners, declining international enrollment, and other factors.

The state budget includes additional one-time and recurring funding for George Mason, which helps support this year’s 3% salary increase for employees and funding for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program as well as long-term planning and campus investments.

BOV members who voted against raising in-state tuition encouraged the university to identify cost savings in curriculum programs and other student supports, as well as continuing to attract increased philanthropic support. President Gregory Washington noted that five of the university’s six most successful fundraising efforts have occurred in the last five years.

The board also approved a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy for compensating student-athletes. Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, said the policy aligns George Mason with the Commonwealth of Virginia's legal framework, the NCAA's pending legislation, and peer institutions.

“At its core, the policy is designed to provide George Mason with the flexibility to offer enhanced benefits to our student-athletes while positioning the university to proactively navigate the structured settlement provisions” stemming from NCAA litigation, Lewis said. 

President Washington and Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, shared details on the launch of the Grand Challenge Initiative, focusing research on six long-term strategies aligned to the university’s strengths. 

“It puts us in a really strong strategic, intentional position and engages the entire university and our partners,” Marshall said. “This is something to rally around as a community.”

As of May 1, White House executive orders have led 38 federally funded research projects at George Mason to be formally terminated, totaling more than $50 million. That is about 9% of the university’s nearly $600 million research portfolio. The university has submitted eight appeals on those 38 terminations, which include a combined 25 from the U.S. Department of State, the National Science Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The other 13 terminated projects are from eight other federal agencies.

Marshall said that the university will host a “Research Resilience Workshop” for faculty, students, administrators and deans to discuss the effects of the executive orders on George Mason’s research enterprise and a vision for the future. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20;  by Thursday, May 15.

Sharnnia Artis, vice president for access, compliance, and community, shared the steps George Mason has taken to comply with federal orders regarding elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. 

This calendar year, the university has dissolved or eliminated the following: Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the promotion of third-party opportunities that use race-conscious criteria; the institutional partnership with The PhD Project; use of affirmative action plans for women and minorities; use of diversity statements in hiring and promotion; and the director of supplier diversity role. There also has been a series of staff positions reviews and realignments that began prior to the issue of the executive orders.

“We anticipate having to continuously be reviewing programs to ensure that we have an environment that is free from unfair and illegal preferences and is open to all. �鶹���� goal is to be in compliance with state and federal laws, executive orders, and mandates and for our students to also have the tools that they need to be successful at George Mason and when they graduate.”

Board members encouraged Artis to enlist a third party to review the university’s changes to ensure compliance with the executive orders and to not risk a loss of federal funding.

Also at the meeting: 

• Fourteen Early Identification Program (EIP) graduates were recognized. More than 2,300 students have graduated from the program for 8th through 12th graders who would be the first in their families to attend college. 
• Carolyn Peterson was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters in recognition of her support of the arts at George Mason. 
• Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations recipients were recognized, .
• With the seating of BOV member Caren Merrick, the board is now back to 16 members.

The recordings of the committee meetings and full board meetings .