9 news Loudoun campus partners NVCC pathways with Mason
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experiences to Northern Virginia residents in their retirement years. The schedule of classes for fall 2014 includes seven courses ranging from topics such as “Ethics and Leadership” New Century College classes to statistics courses. The size of the courses will range from five to 37 students. Beatriz Cuartas, doctoral fellow in the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and a professor at the Loudoun site, is assisting in shaping the Loudoun campus using her experience at Mason as well as her excitement in the progress she sees the site achieving thus far. “Everyone is so friendly, helpful and cooperative as well as interested in collaborative efforts,” Cuartas said. “We are definitely striving in this new community.” Cuartas currently teaches one course at the Loudoun site. The class, called “Understanding Interdisciplinary Studies,” meets once a week and includes five mostly nontraditional students who already have a career and want to remain current in their field, according to Cuartas. “Most of the students want to retouch their researching methods and know the proper steps on how to craft research,” Cuartas said. “Our class is very small and intimate which facilitates tremendous discussions.” Cuartas said that besides being impressed with the collaboration that Mason and NVCC have achieved in their partnership. She also highly praised the facilities and the resources that have been provided for the students. “The building is top notch,” Cuartas said. “We are benefitting from a wealth of services as Mason has facilitated many things. The Career Center came to speak with the students to help them identify careers and markets that would fit their field of study. Library services came and briefed the students on the many resources available and the Writing Center offered help to the students, as well. The staff is amazing and wants to help with every question. We have been blessed with all the help we have received.” Although there is no specific plan for a Mason shuttle service to the Loudoun campus as of now, there has been exploration into a partnership with NOVA on shuttle service from the Wiehle Avenue metro station to Signal Hill. According to Cuartas, the students she teaches are the most rewarding aspect of her job. “They are so deeply committed and interested in their fields,” Cuartas said. “They care so much and are eager to learn and make themselves the best they can be. I feel at home and am really loving what I’m doing.” As the Loudoun site continues to expand, Murphy asked students to be engaged in its expansion and improvement.
(SUHAIB KHAN/FOURTH ESTATE)
Mason will offer many new opportunities as it moves its location in Loudoun County to partner with the Northern Virginia Community College. Since 2006, Mason has had a presence in Loudoun County with its partnership with NVCC and the Northern Virginia public school systems in the Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program. This program offers students the opportunity for a smooth transition from high school to community college at NVCC to university at Mason. The new location is situated directly across the street from NVCC’s Loudoun Campus. NVCC has leased the space in this building in the past, and through this collaboration joint programming initiatives are expected to follow. Una Murphy, formerly the executive director for advancement of the Prince William Campus, was recently named the director of outreach for the Dulles corridor, Regional Campuses. Her title changed due to the new responsibility of the Loudoun site. “In keeping with George Mason University’s strategic vision of developing accessible pathways for students, co-locating with NOVA in Loudoun was a way to strengthen these pathways while remaining flexible with programming for graduate, continuing and professional education opportunities,” Murphy said. The new campus benefits current and future Mason students who live and work in Loudoun County as well as develop opportunities in the workforce within the business community surrounding it. Although the layout of the campus remains small, currently comprising of only two floors in Signal Hill Plaza, the future plans for the campus include expanding the academic programs offered there. “We are delighted to be partnering with NOVA-Loudoun to share space at Signal Hill with them,” Murphy said. “We are wellequipped with four traditional classrooms, one traditional computer classroom, a classroom devoted to continuing education classes, six breakout rooms/meeting spaces, two student lounges equipped with computers for student use, spaces to charge your phone, tablet or laptop and vending machines video-conferencing capabilities and a new laptop cart, making any classroom a computer classroom.” Murphy said that the campus will also feature drop-in offices and workspaces for faculty and instructors to meet with students. A variety of courses will be offered at the new campus, including those in IT, business, education, leadership studies, nursing and continuing and professional education. In addition, Mason in Loudoun has an innovative program called Osher Lifelong Learning Institute that offers classes and cultural
10.20.2014
GMU CAMPUSES WORLDWIDE 1 Arlington 2 Prince William Since 1979, houses Mason’s law school.
Since 1997, serves Mason students in Manassas and Prince William County.
3 Songdo,
Loudoun 4 Since 2014, serves the
Since 2014, offers students an international educational experience with Mason faculty.
rapidly growing community in Loudoun.
South Korea