Overview
In October 2022, Mason announced the launch of the Graduate Division within the Office of the Provost whose mission is to elevate graduate education and improve the experience of all graduate students at Mason.
The launch of the Graduate Division was preceded by months of hard work from a dedicated team of stakeholders across the University. In February 2021, President Washington created the Graduate Reimagine Initiative to explore, develop, and reimagine what graduate education might look like at George Mason University. The Graduate Division is following a phased implementation plan based on the recommendations of the Phase I Task Force and the Phase II Advisory Groups.
The mission of the Graduate Division is to elevate graduate education at Mason by increasing the global impact of its graduate students and programs, fostering a collaborative culture of academic excellence, and contributing to the research productivity and the workforce development appropriate to a world-class research institution.
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Phase I: Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force (February to December, 2021)
Phase I of the initiative was an exploration and development phase led by the Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force, which resulted in a comprehensive set of recommendations. The task force met bi-weekly and was composed of representatives from each college and school, the Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, graduate students, and a variety of other stakeholders.
Task Force Members
Laurence Bray (Chair)
Associate Provost for Graduate Education
Representing: Grad. Ed.
Akitta Robertson (Ex Officio)
Graduate Education Manager
Representing: Grad. Ed.
Andy Hoefer
Assistant Dean, Honors College
Representing: Honors College
Aurali Dade
Associate VP for Research & Deputy Chief Research Officer
Representing: Research
Carey Drews-Botsch
Professor, Chair in Global & Community Health
Representing: CHHS
Cristiana Stan
Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic & Earth Sc. (COS)
Representing: Faculty Senate
Dawn Anderson Kelley
Assistant Director, Grad. Admissions (CVPA)
Representing: OGAL
Deborah Goodings
Professor and Associate Dean
Representing: CEC
Ellen Drogin Rodgers
Associate Dean, Student & Acad. Affairs (CEHD)
Representing: Grad. Council
Iosif Vaisman
Director, School of Systems Biology
Representing: COS
Jenna Strahm
Senior Marketing Associate (CEHD)*
Representing: GRAC
Jill Deering
Assistant Dean, Student Affairs (Schar)
Representing: GAGAA
Julie Choe Kim
Director, Graduate Student Life
Representing: Graduate Life
Kevin Connor
Master’s student, Business Administration (SBUS)
Representing: GAPSA
Kim MacVaugh
Policy and Government Librarian
Representing: Libraries
Laurence Chalip
Professor, Director, School of Sport, Recreation and Tourism Management
Representing: CEHD
Lisa Kahn
Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies
Representing: CVPA
Marguerite Rippy
Associate Dean, Graduate Academic Affairs
Representing: CHSS
Nuno Garoupa
Associate Dean, Research and Faculty, Director of Graduate Studies, Professor of Law
Representing: Law
Paige Wolf
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
Representing: SBUS
Pallavi Rai Gullo (Ex Officio)
Director, Grad. Academic & Std. Affairs
Representing: Grad. Ed.
Parag Chitnis (Ex Officio)
Associate Professor, Bioengineering, Provost Faculty Fellow (CEC)
Representing: Grad. Ed.
Steven Zhou
Doctoral student, Psychology (CHSS)
Representing: GAPSA
Susan Woodruff
Coordinator, Academic Program Development
Representing: SCHEV
Thomas Flores
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Programs
Representing: Carter
Thys Van Schaik
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs*
Representing: Schar
Task Force Charge
The charge for this task force was to consider the current context for and state of graduate education at Mason. The group was also asked—among other critical issues—to consider the benefits and challenges of the prospective creation of a Graduate School at our university that could facilitate consistent and equitable expectations, opportunities both within and across academic units and enhance structures that support graduate students.
Specifically, the following areas were considered:
- Identify and review Mason’s current graduate education opportunities and associated challenges;
- Utilizing R1 institutions’ models and best practices, review and consider strategic solutions to could help to overcome these challenges;
- Suggest operational and structural enhancements that could facilitate the implementation of the proposed solutions;
- Provide recommendations on what graduate education structure would best align with the University’s mission, vision, overall structure, strategic objectives, and funding allocations, including the prospective forming of a Graduate School at Mason.
Final Recommendations
The Mason Community had the opportunity to help shape the future of Mason's graduate education by providing the Task Force with feedback on a draft report. Two town hall meetings were held to engage the community on October 29 and November 1, 2021.
In December 2021, the Graduate Reimagine Task Force Final Recommendations white paper was presented to the Provost and the President.
Phase II: Graduate Division Implementation (January to August, 2022)
Based on the Phase I recommendations, Mason Senior Leadership initiated an implementation planning process leading to the creation of a Graduate Division. The overall goal was to develop an iterative implementation plan that would enable the Graduate Division to elevate Mason graduate education programs and support Mason’s graduate faculty and graduate students.
Guided by specific strategic goals, four advisory teams were formed to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy.
Implementation Team
Laurence Bray (Chair)
Associate Provost for Graduate Education, Office of the Provost
Stephen McWilliams
Executive Director of Finance and Planning, Office of the Provost
Representing: Administration, Finance and Planning
Susan Woodruff
Director of Academic Program Development, Office of the Provost
Representing: Academic Affairs, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Liaison
Molli Herth
Program Manager for Faculty Affairs & Development, Office of the Provost
Representing: Project Management
Blue Advisory Group Members and Goals
Debra Isaacs-Kasemi
Solutions Analyst, Information Technology Services
Representing: Information Technology Services, Systems Integration
Elijah Earl
Assistant Director, Data Management, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning
Representing: Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, Data Access & Reporting
Jason McKnight
Associate Director for Graduate Academic Success, Office of the Provost
Representing: Graduate Education, Graduate Student Success
Juliet Blank-Godlove
Dean of Students, University Life
Representing: University Life, Graduate Student Life and Services
Kimberly Macvaugh*
Policy and Government Librarian, Arlington Campus Library, University Libraries
Representing: University Libraries, University Dissertation and Thesis Services
Marguerite Rippy*
Associate Dean of Graduate Academic Affairs, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Representing: Graduate Council
Natalie Burls
Graduate Program Director, Climate Dynamics and Associate Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, College of Science
Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty
Patricia Appiah
Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning
Representing: Data Access and Reporting
Rebecca Sutter
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services
Representing: Faculty Senate
Saskia Campbell (Chair)
Executive Director, University Career Services
Representing: University Life, University Career Services
Steven Zhou*
Doctoral Student, Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Representing: Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member
Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:
- Increase the number of graduate degrees conferred, with a priority at the doctoral level
- Improve graduate time-to-degree, with a focus on full-time doctoral students
- Improve graduate retention, with an emphasis on first-generation and underserved students
- Increase the participation in and equalize the access to career and professional development opportunities offered across graduate programs
- Optimize the graduate student experience and engagement across graduate programs
Green Advisory Group Members and Goals
Chris DiTeresi (Chair)
Associate Director for Research Integrity and University Affiliate Faculty of Philosophy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Representing: Research Conduct and Integrity
James Parrish
Assistant Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations
Representing: Alumni, External Relations and Advancement
Jeremy Campbell
Assistant Director of Strategic Engagement and Affiliate Faculty, Sociology and Anthropology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Representing: Research and External Partnerships
JP Singh
Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government
Representing: Faculty and Graduate Programs
Kimberly Maze
Reporting and Systems Administrator, Office of Sponsored Programs
Representing: Research
Parag Chitnis*
Associate Professor, Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing
Representing: Graduate Program Director, Graduate Education and Faculty
Paula Sorrell
Associate Vice President, Innovation and Economic Development, Office of Research
Representing: Research, Commercialization and Economic Impact
Siddhartha Sikdar
Professor, Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing
Representing: Faculty and Trans-disciplinary Centers
*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member
Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:
- Increase multi-year and competitive graduate assistantships and scholarships, especially from sponsored research
- Increase student and fellow access to inter- and trans-disciplinary education and research opportunities
- Increase student and fellow engagement with external partners and the community
- Increase funding from philanthropic and advancement initiatives
Orange Advisory Group Members and Goals
Anastasia Kitsantas
Director, PhD in Education Program and Professor, School of Education, College of Education and Human Development
Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty
Debra Isaacs-Kasemi
Solutions Analyst, Information Technology Services
Representing: Information Technology Services, Systems Integration
Doug McKenna
University Registrar, Office of the University Registrar
Representing: Academic Affairs, University Registrar
Jennifer Bazaz Gettys (Chair)
Director, Enrollment, and Curriculum Management, College of Science
Representing: Curriculum Management
Matt Smith
Director of Accreditation, Office of the Provost
Representing: Academic Affairs, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Matthew DeSantis
Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness , Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning
Representing: Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, Academic Program Review and Data Reporting
Michael Bloom
Associate Professor, Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services
Representing: Faculty and Graduate Programs
Paige Wolf*
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs, School of Business
Representing: Faculty and Graduate Council
Pallavi Rai Gullo
Director, Graduate Academic and Student Affairs, Office of the Provost
Representing: Graduate Education, Graduate Policies & Procedures
*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member
Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:
- Improve graduate programs’ quality and rigor
- Elevate graduate programs’ ranking and reputation
- Maintain academic standards and ensure consistency and compliance
Red Advisory Group Members and Goals
Caitlin Shear
Senior Director, Integrated Enrollment Marketing Communications, Office of the Provost
Representing: Enrollment Management, Marketing
Dawn Anderson Kelley*
Graduate Admissions and Recruitment, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Representing: Graduate Admissions Operations Liaisons
Jeff Offutt
Associate Chair, Volgenau School of Engineering College of Engineering and Computing
Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty
Jenny Chism (Chair)
Director of Admissions Operations, Enrollment Management
Representing: Enrollment Management, Admissions and Enrollment
Kevin Connor*
Admissions Counselor, Graduate Programs and Master's Student, School of Business
Representing: Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
Purshara Church
Associate Director, Technology Admissions
Representing: Enrollment Management, Target X
Reeti Bibhuti
Salesforce Technical Administrator, Information Technology Services
Representing: Information Technology Services, Salesforce
Thomas Flores*
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty
*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member
Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:
- Increase full-time doctoral enrollment in current doctoral programs (Full-time classification: 9 enrolled credits per semester (or 6 + GA)
- Increase master’s and graduate certificate enrollment in current programs
- Improve yield rates at both the master’s and doctoral level (Yield rate: Percentage of number of enrolled graduate students from number of admitted graduate students)