Board of Visitors Sets Priorities for 2002–03 Academic Year -- Mason Gazette

October 2002

Board of Visitors Sets Priorities for 2002-03 Academic Year

Preserving a quality university in a time of financial constraint is the top priority of George Mason University's Board of Visitors (BOV) this academic year. The university's $110-million comprehensive campaign, maintaining a strong technology base, and George Mason's overall advancement efforts, including marketing efforts and the recruitment of top-flight students, round out the BOV's top priorities for 2002-03.

The BOV will be working closely with the administration and campus leaders to ensure that the university continues moving forward despite both the extremely tight budget and the university's limited space, says Tom Hennessey, chief of staff and liaison to the BOV. "There's no question this year has its own set of challenges," he says, "but the campus community should remember that, despite this, in many ways the university has never been stronger. The Board of Visitors is aware of this and wants to do what it can to help us maintain the positive momentum that we have generated over the past few years."

On Sept. 20, at the governor's request, George Mason and all other state agencies submitted plans for budget reductions of 7, 11, and 15 percent for fiscal years 2003 and 2004. As of this writing, the governor has not yet announced which option will be imposed upon each agency. Depending on which option is selected for George Mason, the university will be faced with a budget reduction of $7.3 million, $11.5 million, or $15.7 million. Despite the daunting size of even the smallest of these possible budget reductions, the BOV is committed to doing all that is necessary to help maintain the integrity of the university, Hennessey says.

The BOV reiterated its strong support of and interest in the university's comprehensive campaign, which is now in its eighth month. At present, $84.2 million has been raised, and the campaign is to continue through June 2005.

The BOV also expressed its wish to assist with the university's advancement efforts. "Generally, the university has been successful in recent years in marketing itself to a higher quality of student and in promoting itself to the region," says Hennessey. "The BOV wishes to work more closely with those offices that direct these efforts. Its hope is to enhance the overall effectiveness of what's already being done."

In addition to its list of priorities, the BOV also created a watch list of areas that it will monitor. These include faculty rewards and incentives, general education, and several aspects of student life: housing, security, and parking.