Admin & Academia

Cabrera tweets responses to student snow complaints

At 8pm on March 2., President Ángel Cabrera disdainfully announced on Twitter that Mason campuses would be closed on Monday due to winter weather.

Federal financial aid cut for non-Mason study abroad programs

At the beginning of the fall semester, the Office of Financial Aid informed the Center for Global Education that federal financial aid would no longer be applied to non-Mason study abroad programs.

Changes to federal financial aid regulations have changed the financial aid office’s interpretation of how aid can be applied to these study abroad programs, which are not directly affiliated with the university.

Provost candidate José Bermúdez delivers presentation to Mason community

The provost committee presented their final candidate, José Bermúdez, at an intimate lunch at the Mason Inn’s Boxwoods restaurant on Feb. 14 after the university’s closure.

Editor’s Blog: Tenured professors are teaching less and researching more

Mason’s strategic plan, passed late last semester, outlined a commitment to boost research funding and incorporate more research into undergraduate programs.

Part of this transition has raised discussion about how faculty will spend their time, and finding a balance between research and teaching.

LiveBlog: Board of Visitors meeting (Feb. 5 2014)

The Board of Visitors meets on Feb. 5 to discuss a number of different issues ranging from room and board rates for next year to new ways to engage with alumni. In case you were wondering, what is the Board of Visitors?

Here is a list of some agenda items for today's meeting:

Proposed student conduct changes would likely cost Mason $100,000, report says

According to Mason’s current code of conduct, students are not allowed to have a lawyer represent them during hearings with representatives from the Office of Student Conduct.

A proposed bill in the Virginia General Assembly could change that system to make certain student conduct hearings look more like court proceedings. In cases where a student is at risk of being suspended for 10 days or more, or expelled, they would be permitted to have a lawyer represent them during conduct hearings.

Bill could allow students to have legal representation in conduct hearings

According to Mason’s current student code of conduct, students are not allowed to have a lawyer represent them during hearings with representatives from the Office of Student Conduct.

“Students may be accompanied in a disciplinary proceeding by an advisor of his or her own choosing and at his or her own expense,” reads the current code. “Advisors may only consult with the respondent and are not permitted to speak on the respondent’s behalf or address the hearing board or officer.”

Provost search committee releases names of final candidates

The names of the four finalists to the Provost search process were released in an email announcement to Mason students and faculty late Monday night.

"Over the past six weeks, the search committee reviewed more than 70 applicants for the position of provost," Kelly wrote in the email. "During the holiday break we interviewed 12 semi-finalists. I want to take a moment to thank all the members of the committee for giving up a significant portion of their break for this effort."

Low enrollment leads to Law School tuition freeze

During its final meeting of 2013, the Board of Visitors voted on Dec. 12th to freeze the tuition of Mason’s law school for the upcoming school year.

The tuition freeze was prompted by low enrollment numbers at the law school, which have been dropping steadily since 2010, with a decrease of approximately 84 students from 2010 to 2012.

Dan Polsby, the dean of the law school, attributes the low enrollment numbers to the economic recession and a limited job market for new lawyers.