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Our Policies

What innovation do we bring to the future of Mason? Read through below to learn all about the changes we plan to implement.

University Services

  • Basic Needs: Writer – Hannah Covey

    • Food Recovery Network

    • Assist SCHEV's comprehensive survey to gather quantitative data on the prevalence of food insecurity among students. Analyze the data to identify specific demographics or groups that are more affected by food.

    • Utilize various communication channels, such as social media, campus newsletters, and posters, to disseminate information and resources related to food insecurity.

    • Establish partnerships with local food banks, pantries, and community organizations to expand the resources available to students facing food insecurity. Create a network of support that extends beyond the university campus to ensure that students have access to food resources both on and off-campus.

    • Implement a system for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the initiatives aimed at addressing food insecurity. This can be done through frequent check-ins with the Patriot Pantry and updates regarding user status.

  • Sustainability: Writer – Lakshita Dey

    • Get certification from the National Wildlife Federation: Campus Race to Zero Waste

    • Incorporate plastics reduction and composting education into student orientations, specifically targeting incoming freshmen and housing residents. - Mason student Ambassadors, Orientation days, (Combining New Student and Family programs with Sustainability)

    • Utilize official university social media platforms to raise awareness about sustainability initiatives and provide tips on reducing plastic consumption. (All George Mason Instagrams) 

    • Install visual cues such as posters and signage around campus to remind students about the importance of sustainability and proper waste management.

  • Campus Operations: Writer – Colin McAulay

    • Brightening/placing more lights on patriot circle, Braddock Road, and Roberts road/Add pedestrian lights to crosswalks to alert cars of pedestrians in the crosswalks.

    • Improving study areas in Student Centers.

    • Payment Plan for Parking Passes.

    • Attribute Financial Aid to Parking Passes.

    • Play a major role in the RFP process for the dining contract coming in 2025.

University Life

  • Student Life: Writer - Cole Messina

    • Monthly tailgates to promote school spirit

    • Fridays at Mason - Bringing different clubs together to organize and host bi-weekly events composed of music, games, and food. The clubs will rotate, and the events can have different themes and purposes. 

    • Food Truck Thursday – Pack campus with diverse of food options every Thursday

    • Create a better advertising system: Mason360 could send notifications of events, hand out flyers of the events that will be happening that week/month so that students are aware (this same flyer can be posted throughout the university social platforms)

    • Block Seating for Student Organizations in the Student Section

  • Well-Being: Writer – Liam Keen

    • Vulnerable Student Populations Outreach by the University Life Office

    • Police Therapy Dog Awareness Campaign

    • Advocacy for On-Campus Pharmacy

    • Student-Led Mental Health Support Initiatives

    • Annual Mental Health Awareness Week

Diversity and Multi-Cultural Affairs

  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Writer - Maria Cuesta

    • Create coalition with all umbrella organizations, to ease/start communication. This can be a starting point for organizations to collaborate with each other. Cross organization events can be hosted between each other. SG can facilitate conversations between orgs to find common struggle, common goals, and common solutions that all orgs can contribute to and benefit from. Builds power, builds community, builds identity.

    • Expansion of On-Campus Meditation/Prayer Space, - Help reserve different rooms for prayer spaces using a Space Allocation Request with GMU Facilities to create a larger permanent space.

    • Murals/art around the Student Centers to promote the different organizations on campus.

    • Help advertise organization events. Wilkins Plaza outreach - distributing flyers. Work with housing and RA’s to promote events for on-campus students. Department emails of the events. 

  • International Students

    • A how-to or what to do guide, to give to students so they know what to do when they arrive in the United States. 

    • Create regional events for students to mingle with each other, and reconnect with their cultures, through music, dancing, food, & language. 

  • First generation students +Undocumented students

    • Create a useful guide on what to do to have a successful career and university experience Work with the advising department to create this. This guide will contain the following information:

    • Class recommendations

    • Where to find jobs on campus

    • How to find scholarships

    • Where to find them what are valuable centers/resources/people.

    • Work towards better transparency regarding course requirements and opportunities on campus.

    • Advocate for the university to have clearer communication that has to be understood for student success. Translation.

  • LGBTQ+

    • Work to foster community between queer orgs and cultural orgs. Recognizing the intersectional nature of inclusivity and restorative justice for queer communities.

    • Working with Queer resource center, meet with queer orgs and set up meeting with cultural orgs to establish relationships and begin collaborating on future events and work.

    • Expand access to mental health treatment with queer professionals to ensure that all students can receive the treatment they deserve in spaces they are comfortable. Work alongside CAPS and Services to obtain more queer providers for university supplied resources.

    • Work alongside academic departments to expand queer studies course work 

    • Direct the colleges to invite queer speakers to give lectures.

  • Accessibility: Writer – Adam Rizzoli & Zoe Winter

    • Create a Disability Resources Center.

    • Hold a Campus ADA Check at least once per semester.

    • Advocate for the Disability Services position of Analyst for Education and Strategic Initiatives a permanent position.

    • Work to create a sensory friendly dining space.

Administrative & Financial Affairs

  • Administrative Affairs – Writer: Colin McAulay

    • Student Representation - Create Student Representative Positions for as many decision-making bodies as possible. (Boards, Committees, Commissions, Task-Forces, Selection Committees)

    • Monthly Town Halls with President Washington

  • Financial Affairs – Writer: Colin McAulay

    • Tuition and MSF Transparency - Increase student influence on the allocation of these funds.

    • Work with State Senators and Delegates on budget amendments for GMU.

Government & Community Relations

  • Government Relations – Writer: Colin McAulay

    • Intrinsically connected to all representatives

    • Maintain a partnership with each level of government. This gives us established relationships with the state, local, and federal government so when we need them, it is easy to get on the line.

    • Submit Bills During Each Legislative Session with our partners in Richmond.

    • Advocate for student friendly development zoning in the campus region.

  • Community Relations – Writer: Colin McAulay

    • Get students involved in community service that benefits the Mason Community - (example Maintain Mason, Food Pantry, Mason Stewards, Founder’s Friday) 

    • Bring local establishments on campus to advertise student deals.

  • Civic Engagement – Writer: Griffin Crouch

    • Encourage students to vote for student government elections to increase the legitimacy of our representatives. 

    • Submitting public comments to the Board of Visitors at every given opportunity.

    • Coalescing students at the beginning of our administration to prepare a legislative agenda for the various legislative sessions in the Virginia General Assembly

University Academics

  • Academic Affairs: Written – Zayd Hamid

    • Flash Lectures/Symposiums - Professors, Students, or any speaker giving lectures in public space. The goal will be to raise the level of public discourse on campus and increase the level of academic interest on campus.

    • Blackboard/Canvas Education for Professors to improve the student experience on the learning management system.

    • Work with each college to create and maintain student advisory boards for their dean, ensuring student involvement in their college’s planning and administration.

    • Host regular listening sessions with academic administrators in the Provost Office and academic colleges

    • Advocate for the exemption of up to three internship class credits (e.g., BUS 492, CRIM 480, GOVT 480, and INTS 490) from billable charges for students benefiting from the Federal Pell Grant.

    • Support Just Societies remaining set for launch in the Mason Core for academic year 2024-2025 and continue working with campus partners and including the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, Faculty Senate, American Association of University Professors to grow student academic engagement related to learning outcomes in Just Societies.

  • Cost of Attendance: Writer – Zayd Hamid

    • Advocate for an appeals process for Stay Mason Emergency Fund rejections, ensuring that students have due process in financial support appeals.

    • Have Colleges Highlight Scholarships of the Week

    • Work with the GMU Bookstore to cap textbook purchases at $500. Every dollar over $500 will be covered.

    • Advocate for students with conditions registered with Disability Services to receive subsidized tuition insurance through GradGuard.

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