Provost's Office

George Mason University announces James Soto Antony as new provost and executive vice president

Jeannine Harvey — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:01:37 +0000

George Mason University announces James Soto Antony as new provost and executive vice president Jeannine Harvey Mon, 04/29/2024 - 11:01

FAIRFAX, VA (April 29, 2024) – George Mason University President Gregory Washington today announced James Soto Antony as the next Provost and Executive Vice President. He is a nationally recognized higher education scholar and leader with substantial experience as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Washington, Yale University, Harvard University, and University of California San Diego. He will begin this new role on July 1, 2024.

“We searched the nation for the very best provost for George Mason University, and James Antony was our number one choice,” Washington said. “He has the perfect mix of academic credentials, knowledge, and temperament to lead our academic enterprise as this university takes its place as one of America’s new leaders in higher education. I look forward to having Jim on the team.”

Antony is currently Dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs at UC San Diego, where he also serves as Professor of Education Studies with a secondary appointment in the Rady School of Management. At UC San Diego, he has led a transformation of graduate and professional student financial support, created infrastructure to advance student professional development, prioritized student access and opportunity, and launched grant-funded initiatives to improve mentoring.

As Provost and Executive Vice President, Antony will help cultivate a dynamic and forward-thinking academic environment. In collaboration with senior leaders, faculty, staff, and students, he will be instrumental in advancing academic excellence, research, and scholarly pursuits in alignment with Mason’s core values and strategic direction. He will oversee all colleges, schools, and academic support units.

“George Mason University is an inspiring students-first institution that prioritizes inclusive access and opportunity. As a first-generation college student from a low-income family, this resonates deeply with me,” Antony said. “As a young top 50-ranked university with significant research investments, Mason is on a fast track as one of the most compelling institutions in the nation. I look forward to being part of the Mason Nation helping to advance student, faculty, and staff successes and collaborating to continue the university’s rise as a world-class research university.”

A national search was conducted from September through March, following the departure of Mark Ginsberg, now president at Towson University. Interim Provost Ken Walsh will return to his position as chief of staff on July 1, 2024. Megan Healy, interim chief of staff, will also return to her role as special advisor.

"James Antony shares our strong commitment to ensuring access to a world-class education, an engaging campus experience, and a culture of belonging,” added Professor and Faculty Senate President Melissa Broeckelman-Post, who chaired the 20-member search committee. “His nearly three decades of leadership experience make him an ideal provost to help Mason navigate the many opportunities and challenges ahead.”

From 2015 to 2019, Antony served as Faculty Director of the Graduate School of Education’s Higher Education Program at Harvard University, and Co-Director of the Management Development Program. From 2012 to 2015, he was an Associate Provost at Yale University, where he worked on issues ranging from faculty development to the promotion of undergraduate student leadership. From 1995 to 2012, he held faculty and leadership roles at the University of Washington, including Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy and Adjunct Professor in Sociology; Associate Vice Provost and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Graduate School; and Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Education. While at Washington, he also served as Director of the Graduate Program in Higher Education and was founding Executive Director of the Center for Leadership in Athletics, and its associated degree programs.

As a scholar, Antony’s research and teaching focus on the preparation of forward-thinking leaders in college or university settings, both domestically and globally. He has written about higher education faculty, the socialization and leadership development of future faculty and college leaders, and data-driven decision-making in higher education settings. He has taught courses in such topics as leadership theory, organizational change, assessment and evaluation, data-based decision making, introductory and advanced quantitative research methods, student affairs administration, leadership ethics, college athletics and athletic leadership, sociology of higher education, and the history of higher education.

Antony earned his baccalaureate degree in Psychology, and his master’s degree and PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change, all from UCLA.

About George Mason University

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

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Did You Know… Student Evaluations of Teaching

P Shepherd — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:07:57 +0000

Did You Know… Student Evaluations of Teaching P Shepherd Mon, 04/15/2024 - 12:07

The end of the spring term is rapidly approaching and Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) will be open for most full-semester courses on Friday, April 19. SETs are administered throughout the semester for Mason’s multiple part-of-term courses. The full schedule can be found on the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning (OIEP) website.

A few facts about the administration of SETs at Mason:

SETs are administered prior to final exams.
All enrolled students are notified multiple times by email and via Blackboard alerting them to the opportunity to evaluate their courses. Courses must have at least three students for an evaluation to be generated.
The length of time an evaluation remains open is related to the length of the course. The default for most full-semester courses is 10 days. The default for part-of-term courses is five days. 
Instructors can monitor response rates in real time on the Blue dashboard. 
OIEP developed and maintains the SET Response Rates Dashboard which provides response rates filtered by Term, School/College, School/College by Department, and Instructional Mode & Level. Individuals must be on the campus network or VPN to access the dashboard.

More SET information and resources are available on the OIEP website, including FAQs for instructors and students, tips to maximize student participation, and the SET questionnaire. Email questions to oiepset@gmu.edu.

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Recipients of 2024 summer team Impact projects announced

P Shepherd — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:03:13 +0000

Recipients of 2024 summer team Impact projects announced P Shepherd Mon, 04/01/2024 - 12:03

In This Story

Keith Renshaw, PhD

The Office of Undergraduate Education recently awarded five groups with Summer Team Impact Project Grants, which will support multidisciplinary summer projects of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members. The summer grants are part of the larger Mason Impact program that prepares students to tackle significant global questions and challenges by investigating meaningful questions, engaging multiple perspectives, and creating new knowledge.

“These grants combine support for faculty from multiple disciplines to develop and tackle a research question with support for students to engage in that research effort—they are one of the purest examples we have of realizing our mission of access to excellence,” Keith Renshaw, senior associate provost for Undergraduate Education, said. “They also yield high-impact results—past projects have sown the seeds for what is now the Enslaved People of George Mason Memorial, the bruise and injury detection research in the College of Public Health, and more.”

Summer Team Impact Projects tackle global questions and challenges within all three focus areas of Mason Impact which include Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities, Community Engagement and Civic Learning, and Career, Industry, and Entrepreneurship. Faculty present a question to a team of undergraduate students who work throughout the summer to create a solution and then present their findings, action plan, or prototype to the Mason community. The following teams have received funding for their topics:

Investigating the link between civic engagement, E-health, and health outcomes of older immigrants

Limei Chen, assistant professor, social work (College of Public Health)
Jung Yeon (Ellie) Park, assistant professor, quantitative research methods (College of Education and Human Development)
Kyeung Mi Oh, associate professor, nursing (College of Public Health)

Assessing Supports to Address Suicidality Among Northern Virginian Middle- and High- Schoolers

Melissa Villodas, assistant professor, social work (College of Public Health)
Anna Parisi, assistant professor, social work (College of Public Health)

Addressing the International Artificial Intelligence Cyber Question with US Cyber Command

Brian Ngac, instructor, information systems and operations management (Costello College of Business)
Nirup Menon, professor, information systems and operations management (Costello College of Business)

Recording the lived experiences of patients with chronic pain from minoritized and underserved communities

Samuel Acuña, research assistant professor, bioengineering (Volgenau School of Engineering)
Kevin Lybarger, assistant professor, information sciences and technology (College of Engineering and Computing)
Seiyon Lee, assistant professor, statistics (College of Engineering and Computing)
Siddhartha Sikdar, professor, bioengineering (Volgenau School of Engineering)

How do we recruit and retain a diverse, new generation of Virginia teachers?

Margaret Weiss, associate professor of special education (College of Education and Human Development)
Holly Glaser, assistant professor elementary education (College of Education and Human Development)

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Did you know...annual assessment updates

P Shepherd — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:00:01 +0000

Did you know...annual assessment updates P Shepherd Mon, 03/18/2024 - 13:00

George Mason University successfully concluded the first cycle of annual assessment reporting in Nuventive,a platform that helps users plan more efficiently, collaborate more effectively, and make smarter, more data-informed decisions.

Mason requires academic, administrative, and co-curricular units to annually report their assessment plans and findings as part of a systemic approach to assessment that fosters continuous improvement, enhances decision-making, and ensures compliance with regional accreditation and state mandates. As the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning (OIEP) prepares for the AY 2023-24 cycle, below are assessment highlights and process improvements.

Academic Degree Programs
In an effort to promote continuous improvement, OIEP managed a process of academic annual assessment feedback for four cycles. The Mason Academic Assessment Council members form small groups to review and provide constructive feedback for each program. Feedback is then integrated in the new annual assessment platform, Nuventive. The quality of annual assessments has steadily improved since this process has been in place. To honor and recognize exemplary submissions, OIEP will present pilot assessment awards this spring.
Co-Curricular Units
OIEP, in collaboration with the Co-Curricular Assessment Council, actively engages units with best practices in assessment. Co-curricular units are supported with a 1:1 consultation at the beginning of each year, giving them the opportunity to refine annual goals and outcomes while collaboratively reflecting on peer feedback and the past year’s findings and improvement plans. Through the annual assessment process, units evaluate the impact of programs and services to continuously improve students’ co-curricular experiences. In the upcoming year, OIEP will provide professional development opportunities focusing on identifying priority areas when selecting assessment methods.
Administrative Units
OIEP is currently developing a peer feedback process for administrative units based on the one used for academic degree programs. Working with the Administrative Assessment Council, OIEP assesses the unique needs and requirements of administrative units to see how the feedback process can best be adapted. OIEP anticipates having the process in place for AY 2023-24 assessment reporting. Individuals involved in the annual administrative assessment process and interested in serving on the council can contact OIEP for more information.

The AY 2023-24 reporting deadline for academic, administrative, and co-curricular units is June 30, 2024. More information about the annual assessment process and the Nuventive platform can be found on the OIEP website. Email questions or concerns to OIEP.

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New programs ensure graduate students leave Mason with more than a degree

P Shepherd — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:28:54 +0000

New programs ensure graduate students leave Mason with more than a degree P Shepherd Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:28

In This Story

Stephanie Bluth, Ph.D.

Laurence Bray, PhD

For decades, graduate students were left to their own devices to find employment and, even with a degree in hand, successfully landing a full-time position became increasingly more difficult. Historically, graduate students are academically prepared to do a job in their chosen field, but may lack the skills to GET a job, exacerbating the student debt issue and leaving many Americans to wonder about the value of higher education.

It was this dilemma, and the opportunity to change it, that brought Stephanie Bluth, associate director for graduate professional and career development, to George Mason University. In her role, Bluth has established programs that allow Mason to meet state, national, and federal requirements while preparing graduate students for the changing workforce and ensuring that those who come to Mason not only leave with degrees but also with job force readiness skills.

“All a degree does is tell you where the door is, it doesn’t open the door for you,” Bluth said. “Students want to know that when they leave Mason, they can navigate their career journeys with purpose, resilience, and satisfaction. Investing in career and professional preparation programs helps students gain the confidence they need to shine in an interview, connect with industry professionals, and seek mentorship—skills they will use for a lifetime.”

Stephanie Bluth, Associate Director for Graduate Professional and Career Development

So what does it take to ensure that when graduate students graduate from Mason, they are prepared to enter the workforce with the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, and attributes required in their respective occupations? Eighteen months into her position, Bluth has made dramatic progress in opening doors for graduate students. Her implementation of a three-pronged professional development approach adapts to evolving demands, helps students remain competitive, and ensures long-term career sustainability through: 1) career planning; 2) communications and research; and 3) teaching skills.

“Graduate students not only learn about alternative careers and how to find potential employers, but also gain confidence in speaking about their work or research and how to sell themselves,” she said. “Specialized training focusing on skill building and communication practices provides essential guidance, support, and resources to help students build confidence, explore career options, and achieve their professional goals. Mastering these skills empowers students to navigate diverse social and professional scenarios with confidence, ensuring that they can effectively share their ideas, goals, and accomplishments and land that first job or promotion.”

Career Planning
By the time students are accepted to graduate school, they know what interests them and are pursuing specialization. What they might not know, however, is how to marry their academic interests with a profession–which is where career planning comes in. Bluth implemented the Accelerate to Industry (A2i) Program, developed by the Graduate School at North Carolina State University and funded through a National Science Foundation Innovations in Graduate Education grant, which helps graduate students and postdoctoral researchers develop business, leadership, and communication skills through a variety of modules by offering networking events, discussion panels, presentations, workshops, team projects, site visits at local companies, and internships—all of which allow graduate students opportunities to gain valuable experience and to tackle global challenges in partnership with researchers and companies.

Mason’s A2i program, which is open to all graduate students and is led by the Graduate Division in collaboration University Life, demonstrates a continued commitment to prioritizing experiential learning through partnerships with industry, federal, and community stakeholders. By participating, students can explore employment opportunities with regional and national industry partners.

“A2i transforms the classroom by creating experiential learning opportunities to use in the community and then translate them into workforce readiness,” Bluth said. “This model emphasizes that students need more than the accumulation of disciplinary expertise—academic preparation needs to be bolstered by experience and opportunities to empower students to apply their learning through structured activities and experiential learning opportunities.”

In partnership with Graduate Student Life and University Career Services, Bluth launched the Graduate Student Career Conference, which was held earlier this month and had over 100 students registered. This groundbreaking conference provides graduate students the opportunity to not just talk with potential employers, but to work with industry professionals on improving their resumes and writing career statements, as well as work on their interview skills and network with fellow students and potential colleagues.

“When graduate students ask what they can do with their degrees or where they will work, this conference tells them how to transition from student to employee, how to find potential employers, and how to sell what they do,” she said.

Saskia N. Campbell, executive director of University Career Services, agreed and noted that the conference is “an important skill-building professional development opportunity for an interdisciplinary group of graduate students to think about and practice communicating the transferability of their degrees to careers outside of academia, which is the path most will pursue.”

Through these continued collaborations with campus partners, University Career Services and Bluth have implemented the Graduate Career Series that includes multiple graduate student career workshops and events. Each covers topics such as creating individual development plans, tailoring resumes for each position, boosting networking skills for the new global job market, as well as translating graduate experience to employers and previous work experience into new fields.

“I realize there are many more skills that you need to succeed than those taught in regular classes, and I appreciate that Mason offers so many opportunities that contribute to our professional development in those areas,” said Cecilia Barriga Bahamonde, PhD candidate in environmental science and policy. “The Communication Academy is an excellent example of a curated workshop that has helped me improve how I communicate my research in a way that sets me up for success in any academic or professional presentation, from conferences to my dissertation defense. The A2i Immersion Week at North Carolina State University was also filled with empowering workshops, panels, and networking events that helped me be more prepared and confident in securing my dream job.”

Communications and Research
Another initiative championed by Bluth is the Communication Academy. This interactive four-part performance workshop series, which launched in January 2024, is a partnership with Mason’s Communication Center and and Writing Center. The series prepares graduate students to share their knowledge, communicate across disciplines, and connect with broader audiences by teaching them techniques used by professionals and speech writers, helping them learn to perform, communicate, improvise, and respond dynamically to an audience. The Communication Academy supports and prepares students to participate in the Mason Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference held each spring and the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition during the fall semester. The 3MT® is a research communication competition where PhD students present their doctoral research to a non-specialist audience using only one single visual—all in three minutes. Through lessons learned in the Communications Academy, graduates incorporate storytelling and body language while talking about their work, ideas, and research.

Bluth adjusted certain aspects to Mason’s 3MT® to ensure that participating students are eligible for all levels of the program competition, including international events. As a result, Steven Zhou, a PhD candidate in the industrial and organizational psychology program and Mason’s first ever regional 3MT® winner, recently participated in the regional competition hosted by the Southern Council of Graduate Schools in Greenville, South Carolina.

“Mason is educating a global workforce, and we need to provide services that directly support that work. Our students are as diverse as the opportunities that a graduate degree from Mason prepares you for,” Bluth said. “A major goal for me is to help students first identify their expansive options and then prepare them to translate all they have learned into the industry position. We don't just produce scholars and thinkers at Mason—we produce doers, creators, and innovators.”

Teaching Skills
Under Bluth’s watch, the Graduate Teaching Academy and Crystal Anderson, associate director for engaged learning in the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, recently launched “SkillCraft: Educating for Impact Community of Practice” which encourages graduate students to develop skills that are crucial to the creation of stimulating learning environments in and beyond the classroom. SkillCraft also provides graduate students with opportunities to document their growth and achievements through certifications at several levels. Workshops introduce the foundations for effective student engagement that can be applied in various educational settings, ranging from small-group recitations for teaching assistants to classroom management for graduate instructors of record, while boot camps help students design teaching materials for courses they teach or hope to teach.

In addition to building partnerships and consortiums within the university, Bluth played a strong role in Mason’s participation in the Graduate Career Consortium which has over 500 members from 220 institutions and organizations across the U.S., Canada, and other countries with a mission to "build a diverse community of professionals and empower them to advance the field of graduate and postdoctoral career and professional development.”

“None of these initiatives were built in a silo, which is what makes them so great,” Bluth said. “Mason is about global education and we have built partnerships that show that the university affects the whole region, not just the students on our campus. And it is through these partnerships that Mason is breaking down walls every day.”

Moving Forward
Bluth’s work, which Senior Associate Provost for Graduate Education Laurence Bray said “has had an invaluable impact on the graduate community”, has only just begun. She is committed to ending the decades-long tradition of graduates entering the workforce alone and instead, outfitting them with a roadmap that will combine their academic learning with work readiness skills and result in individuals who are prepared and can navigate their career journeys with purpose, resilience, and satisfaction.

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Mason’s Salesforce project becomes Patriot Connect

P Shepherd — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 18:27:32 +0000

Mason’s Salesforce project becomes Patriot Connect P Shepherd Sun, 03/17/2024 - 14:27

George Mason University’s Student Lifecycle Transformation initiative, formerly known as “The Salesforce Project,” recently unveiled its new identity and has re-introduced itself as Patriot Connect. This is more than just a program name; Patriot Connect reflects a commitment to student engagement, campus community, and a unified university experience. The name change also represents the student engagement platform that Mason students, faculty, and staff will soon be logging into for student services such as advising and coaching.

Because students are at the center of everything Mason does, it was critically important to gather their input in determining a new name. Throughout January and February, students and project stakeholders participated in surveys and interviews, with approximately 240 voices contributing to the collective decision-making process.

Defining and renaming the program’s identity is more than a formality—it sets the foundation for success as the program moves into implementation. This shift to Patriot Connect will soon be reflected across all communication channels and resources, including the Patriot Connect webpage, stakeholder update emails, and other communications and resources. The evolution to Patriot Connect also marks the beginning of a new era in student engagement at George Mason University.

Patriot Connect is the epitome of what we’re after at Mason—a sense of belonging and connectivity—to each other, to the people who are here to support students, and to the Mason community. It's more than a name; it’s the way we seek to serve and support students in reaching their goals and thriving at Mason. Cultivating connections within our community and empowering students to access essential student support services lies at the heart of the project. I am delighted for our community to engage in Patriot Connect as a space to amplify Mason’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections to support services.

Sally Lorentson, Assistant Vice President, University Life

Questions? Visit the Patriot Connect webpage, check out the FAQs, complete the Stakeholder Engagement Form, or contact the Patriot Connect program management team.

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Term faculty RPT session and community conversation set for April

P Shepherd — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 17:51:11 +0000

Term faculty RPT session and community conversation set for April P Shepherd Sun, 03/17/2024 - 13:51

This April, the Office of the Provost will host two important gatherings for term faculty: a Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) session, and a Term Faculty Community Conversation: Progress, Insights, and Dialogue.

The virtual RPT information session for term faculty is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. Guidance for term faculty appointment and promotion is located on the Term Faculty Information website. RPT information sessions for tenure-line faculty members are held in the fall. Guidance for tenure-line faculty is on the tenure-line RPT website. For any inquiries, please reach out to Faculty Affairs.

The Term Faculty Committee will host a virtual community conversation to discuss its progress since last year’s update and provide an opportunity for questions and input from attendees. The conversation will be held Monday, April 22, from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. via Zoom. Please review the Term Faculty Information page before joining the event.

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RAMP Project to Implement New Tools to Assist in Research

P Shepherd — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:48:18 +0000

RAMP Project to Implement New Tools to Assist in Research P Shepherd Mon, 02/19/2024 - 09:48

To better assist Mason’s expanding research activities and provide enhanced support to faculty, the Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP) project will soon introduce a handful of new, easy-to-use tools. In the coming months, new “modules” will assist with managing research involving human subjects, streamlining payroll reporting, overseeing animal care, and adhering to export regulations.

During the next phase, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) module supporting human subjects research will be implemented. The IRB’s onboarding phase began in October 2023 and is anticipated to go live this July. RAMP IRB will replace IRBNet, which Mason has used since 2013. This new module will allow for improved functionality and usability over the current system, and integration with the other RAMP modules. RAMP IRB will improve collaboration between principal investigators, IRB staff, and committee members through all IRB activities from new protocols to amendments.

The RAMP Payroll Certification (Effort Reporting) implementation will begin onboarding in April 2024. This module will streamline the effort and labor reporting process on sponsored projects, allowing for a standard workflow for payroll certifications routing through the electronic system for review and approval. RAMP Payroll Certification will replace the manual process currently in place for payroll certification allowing for greater efficiency, ease of access, improved functionality, and better reporting capabilities.

Future RAMP implementations include Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Export Control, with a phased roll out through March 2025. The Research Reporting Project continues in conjunction with the full RAMP implementation, with additional reports being made available throughout the duration of the project.

In addition, the current RAMP modules for Grants, Agreements, and Conflict of Interest (COI) will be upgraded to the newest Version 10.5, allowing end users to experience the most updated features of the system. Of note, the RAMP Safety module has already implemented on Version 10.5 and will not require the upgrade.

The overall timeline for the RAMP Project is below:

The RAMP Team will continue to share information regarding the project with the Mason Community through the RAMP website. Email questions to ramp@gmu.edu.

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Join Mason's Term Faculty Committee: Nominations Due March 12

P Shepherd — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:32:24 +0000

Join Mason's Term Faculty Committee: Nominations Due March 12 P Shepherd Mon, 02/19/2024 - 09:32

The Term Faculty Committee is accepting nominations for two openings beginning in fall 2024.

It is important that committee membership is representative of schools and colleges across Mason, in addition to other forms of faculty representation. Given the committee's current composition, there is particular interest in candidates from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Health, and the Schar School for Policy and Government. The committee is looking to appoint at least one term faculty member and another faculty member of any appointment type with interest in term faculty issues. Members appointed to the committee may serve up to two 2-year terms.

Nomination criteria include: 1) At least three years of experience working at Mason; 2) Articulated commitment to improving the work lives of term faculty; and 3) Expressed commitment to and experience with issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence.

Those wishing to be considered for membership on this important university committee should submit their nomination to facaffs@gmu.edu with the subject line “Term Faculty Committee Nomination.” Submissions should include a statement addressing the nomination criteria, academic unit affiliation(s), and a current CV. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12.

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Charting the course for success: Building the roadmap to Mason’s future with Salesforce Education Cloud

P Shepherd — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:08:07 +0000

Charting the course for success: Building the roadmap to Mason’s future with Salesforce Education Cloud P Shepherd Fri, 02/16/2024 - 11:08

Picture this: you’re planning a cross-country road trip and you need to know where you’re kicking off your journey before mapping out the best route forward.

As the team responsible for the strategy and management of project activities, the Salesforce Project Management Office (PMO) is doing something similar to prepare for George Mason University’s journey to Salesforce Education Cloud. Project members are looking closely at how Mason currently uses technology to interact with students to pave the way for a smooth transition to a new system, which will transform how Mason connects with students in the future.

Much like using a compass to stay on course during a journey, the Salesforce PMO has enlisted the expertise of unit liaisons and teams across the university to serve as project guides. Individuals were selected by their leadership to represent user communities at Mason impacted by the transition to Salesforce Education Cloud, and will serve as the bridge between the Salesforce PMO and university stakeholders.

“As one of several unit liaisons, it is my responsibility to ensure that colleagues within my unit remain informed and actively engaged with the ongoing work of the Salesforce project. This structure allows information to be quickly shared among team members and has led to some of the early successes we’ve realized, especially as they relate to the initial blueprint validation sessions to examine the Salesforce technology landscape, which brings Mason subject matter experts together with our partners at Accenture to provide a high-level overview of how we use and interact with Salesforce from multiple perspectives.”
- Andrew Bunting, Executive Director of Enrollment Services

The group’s current task is to conduct discussion sessions—referred to as “Blueprint Validation” sessions—to capture how units operate and engage with students through their systems, address roadblocks they face, and identify alternate routes for improvement. The insights gathered during these sessions will be instrumental in shaping the roadmap for how Mason will use technology to connect with students in the future.

Unit liaisons will be actively involved as expert guides along the Salesforce PMO’s road to success, driving toward the singular goal of designing an engaging, personalized, and efficient educational journey for every Mason student.

___

Questions? Check out the Salesforce FAQs, complete the Stakeholder Engagement Form, or contact the Salesforce Project Management Office at salesfor@gmu.edu. 

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