George Mason University

The meeting included discussions and voting on a resolution opposing the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education and any settlement of OCR or DOJ investigations that compromises institutional autonomy. The original resolution, which was tabled previously, was amended to include shared governance language from a substitute amendment and subsequently passed. Committee reports covered initiatives on faculty roles and rewards, revisions to the Faculty Handbook regarding term faculty transitions, completion of bylaw and standing rules transitions, and ongoing work on transfer of credit revisions and active student definitions. The Budget and Resources Committee noted that finance and land use items are posted for the Board of Visitors meeting, with a budget update expected in January. Action items included continuing work on credit transfer, providing a budget update, and ensuring faculty participation in the Provost search process.

The Faculty Senate meeting addressed several significant items. Provost Wu provided updates regarding the establishment of working groups for the School of Computing design and the Institute for Digital InnovAtion, and mentioned progress on the Faculty Compensation Study. The Academic Policies Committee sought input on two options for the 2019-2020 academic calendar concerning 7.5-week sessions in the Spring semester, clarifying that it would not impact the standard 15-week sessions. The Budget and Resources Committee reported on tracking faculty salary data, budget model figures following a FOIA request, and faculty attrition analysis. The Executive Committee reported ongoing work concerning university-affiliated units using university resources and deliberations on online education. New business focused on discussing draft changes to the University's Gift Acceptance Policy, specifically regarding the composition of the Gift Acceptance Committee, escalation procedures, and public access to gift information, with motions deferred to the next meeting. The meeting also included a presentation on the construction plans for the Wilkins Plaza Project, which will serve as the GMU Enslaved Persons of George Mason Memorial.

The Faculty Senate meeting addressed several critical operational and policy matters. Key discussions included an update from the President on university performance metrics such as strong online rankings, research expenditure growth, and graduate enrollment trends. Significant time was dedicated to Q&A concerning the Pell Grants shortfall (confirmed to be unaffected), the federal investigation regarding anti-Semitism policy and Title VI violations, and the ongoing judicial and criminal processes related to student activists given exclusion orders. Further discussion covered institutional measures to protect foreign national scholars, the commitment to free speech, and plans to assist displaced federal workers. Several committee reports resulted in approved actions, including the approval of the Senate allocation for the 2025-2026 academic year, changes to standing rules regarding meeting recordings to protect free speech, and formalizing the Budget and Resources Committee charge to post annual faculty salary data. Proposed revisions to the Faculty Handbook were discussed, including changes to term appointments, department chair procedures, study leave programs, and grievance procedures. A significant first read concerned streamlining the process for awarding tenure upon hire, which generated concerns about maintaining scholarly rigor and confidentiality.

The Faculty Senate meeting addressed several significant topics. The Executive Committee reported on the Board of Visitors' decision to review the Faculty Handbook holistically rather than piecemeal, specifically declining approval of amendments related to presidential searches and housekeeping items, while approving tenure and promotion appeal process changes. The Senate approved a resolution recommending that the hiring committee for the next Provost be composed of at least 55% faculty, with significant faculty input opportunities. Discussions also covered the timing of annual faculty evaluations to potentially align with a prospective 3% raise from the General Assembly, and the process for faculty input on criminal background checks, which were implemented universally the previous year. Furthermore, committee reports included updates on the allocation of Senate seats for 2013-2014, which remained unchanged, and an update from the Faculty Representative to the BOV Development Committee regarding fundraising strategies and endowment management. Finally, an overview of the Strategic Planning Process outlined the timeline for developing an umbrella strategic plan based on seven university commitments, alongside academic and facilities planning efforts.

The Faculty Senate meeting covered several key areas. President Ángel Cabrera provided an overview of higher education trends, noting state funding reductions, federal sequestration impacts, and the importance of recruiting international students. He emphasized the need for George Mason University to become more self-reliant through private fundraising and entrepreneurship, moving away from reliance on state funding. Key discussions also included a resolution to modify English proficiency scores (TOEFL from 88 to 80, and setting minimum IELTS subsection scores) for undergraduate admission, with associated concerns about providing adequate language support services. Committee reports addressed the status of Mason Korea, noting challenges in recruitment and staffing, and provided annual reports on faculty salary data, faculty evaluations, and the results of a survey regarding course evaluation forms.