Dear Patriot:

As the fall semester concludes, I write to tell you how proud I am of our Mason students, and our outstanding faculty and staff, for adjusting and adapting so successfully to the many personal and professional challenges required as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, it has been another semester unlike any other. I hope that this Fall semester, although different than any of us expected, has been inspiring and enriching.

I also am pleased to congratulate our students who successfully have completed their academic programs and will graduate from George Mason University this semester.

In addition, I am pleased to inform you about important information pertinent to our academic programs.

Optional Alternative Grading Structure for Fall 2020
As you know, and I communicated to you in November, last spring and again this fall, Mason instituted an optional alternative grading policy that supports our students during this most unprecedented time. Detailed information about the optional alternative grading policy can be found on the website of the university registrar.

Dean’s List for the Fall 2020 Semester
I also am pleased to announce that for the fall 2020 semester, we again will have a Dean’s List that recognizes and honors undergraduate students who have excelled in their classes. As students have the option to receive their course grades in the traditional letter (A-F) format or an alternative “credit or no credit” option, the requirements for the Dean’s List will be different than previously. This semester, the threshold for the Dean’s List will be that undergraduate students must:

The Dean’s List will be calculated and applied to eligible undergraduate students in mid-January following the winter break. If you have questions regarding the Dean’s List, please visit the Registrar’s website. 

Optional Alternative Grading Structure Extended for Spring 2021
I also am pleased to inform you that following extensive dialog, careful deliberation and a recommendation by the university’s Faculty Senate and parallel consideration by the university’s Graduate Council, the University has decided to extend the same alternative grading policy for undergraduate and graduate students that was implemented for the spring and fall 2020 semesters for the spring 2021 semester.

Specifically, this optional alternative grading structure that students may select includes:

Early in the spring semester, the Office of the University Registrar will communicate with eligible students, through their official Mason-issued e-mail address, instructions with information on how to select an alternative grade for a spring 2021 class. Information on the model for alternative grades, and the specific grading categories, will be provided in the same communication and will also be posted on the Registrar’s website.

Students are encouraged to make careful and informed decisions regarding the grading categories that will be used to evaluate their coursework. It is important that students consider the potential impact of opting for the alternative grading system on financial aid, admission to graduate and/or professional programs, professional licensure and other possible implications. 

For those students who have questions about opting for an alternative grade in any of their courses, undergraduate students should consult with their Academic Advisor and graduate students should consult with their Program Coordinator and/or Mentor.

Spring Semester Plans
We have planned carefully for the upcoming spring 2021 semester that again will include a mix of courses provided in virtual format and a larger catalog of on-campus and hybrid classes that were available during the fall 2020 semester. Most spring 2021 classes will begin on January 25.  

We also plan to continue on-campus linked research and expand our portfolio of on-campus activities in support of our students. 

All of this will be done in accordance with the advice of public health and medical professionals, the guidance of local, state and federal authorities and if conditions allow.

Mason nation has done a remarkable job this fall of maintaining our university’s operations and keeping coronavirus cases very low on our campus. I’m confident we will continue to do so again this spring. Still, we are concerned that COVID-19 cases are rising nationally, in Virginia and across our region. Please know that our faculty will be ready, if necessary, and are preparing contingency plans rapidly to transition to all-virtual instruction as the spring semester begins should condition require such a shift.  Our faculty, staff and students did a superb job of transitioning to virtual instruction when necessary last spring. I am confident we will do so again, should circumstances warrant a temporary change from our current plans.

Mason’s leadership closely will monitor conditions and consult regularly with public health and medical professionals as well as local, state and federal authorities. If a change in course delivery modality becomes necessary for the beginning of the spring 2021 semester, we will strive to inform the Mason community by January 15.  For the very small number of spring semester classes that are scheduled to begin prior to January 15, students should consult with the Office of their Dean with respect to any necessary contingency in course delivery.

I wish you much success as you continue your studies at George Mason University. And, as the fall semester concludes, and the break for the holidays and between semesters takes place, I hope that you will remain healthy, stay well and enjoy time with your friends, family and significant others.  

All the best for a joyous holiday season.

Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President