Initiatives

The Provost's Office shapes the future of George Mason University through academic initiatives that enrich the student experience, promote research, and facilitate academic success.

The Office of the Provost provides leadership and support to the campus community through initiatives that advance the university's academic mission. Working collaboratively with campus leaders and stakeholders, these strategic projects and programs enhance George Mason’s educational offerings, research capabilities, faculty development, student success, and overall academic excellence. 

Current Initiatives

As part of our continuous improvement process, the Office of the Provost undertakes a variety of initiatives that can vary widely in scope and focus depending on the institution's strategic direction, challenges, and opportunities.

Explore our ongoing initiatives, which work across the university to discover, integrate, connect, and engage:

Campus Program Activation
The task force is developing comprehensive recommendations for fully activating our SciTech and Mason Square campuses.
Future of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs
The task force is helping to envision the future of PhD, MFA, and postdoctoral education, with a focus on strengthening institutional infrastructure and enhancing funding and financial support.
Pell Initiative for Virginia
The university is increasing opportunities for students by utilizing grant funding to support the recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation of Pell-eligible Virginians.
Undergraduate Learning Supports
The task force is developing recommendations for a center that integrates existing student services together, with the goal of making our services more accessible, cohesive, and student-centered.
Working Groups
The university engages campus partners in addressing critical issues and advancing initiatives that support our mission and community.


Past Initiatives

  • Patriot Connect: To provide a more seamless and connected student experience, George Mason created Patriot Connect, a unified platform that integrates data and technology systems across the university to support essential student services. The university continues to expand and refine the platform as part of its ongoing commitment to student success. 
  • Budget Model: George Mason undertook and completed a multi-year redesign of its budget model to strengthen alignment between resources and strategic priorities. The approved model now serves as the university’s framework for financial planning and resource allocation.
  • Canvas: George Mason transitioned to Canvas, an advanced learning management system that empowers both students and faculty. 
  • ADVANCE: A collaborative initiative between Virginia’s community colleges and George Mason University, ADVANCE was designed to enhance the transfer experience for community college students pursuing a bachelor's degree by removing common barriers and providing early support in their educational journey. 
  • Vision Series: The Vision Series was a forum for George Mason researchers and scholars to share their work with university colleagues and the general community.