This platform posted at http://www.mason2009.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=61

gotMason?

“Student News On Demand”

-The student website will consolidate all information that affects the student population. –Currently, Mason students are forced to click on multiple links and go through various webpages in order to find relevant information that affects their day-to-day college experience. However, with the advent of the new website, this will no longer be the case.

-Information regarding: Parking, Goods Online Marketplace, Dining, Books, Organizations, Activities, Sports, Campus Life and other aspects of student life will be readily accessible for students.

Extended Hours During Mid-term Period & Finals

“Study til dawn”

– Extended Hours will apply to the Johnson Center Printing area, Convenience Store and Fenwick Library. Currently a significant number of students study on campus during finals week. However they are inconvenienced by the early closing of essential venues that are vital during stressful exam time. These three establishments will further bolster student convenience and allow for munchies, that paper to be printed, a computer lab…..at the very least a designated 24 hour place for students.

-Extended Hours will also apply to a designated Mid-Term period that will be in the middle of the semester and last 3 weeks.

Parking Forgiveness Act

“Sh_t happens”

-Implement a policy in which first-time offenders of parking are not penalized but given a warning to what their violation was and a suggestion on how not to commit it next time. Often time students feel targeted or victimized by Mason Parking Services and parking forgiveness can allow students to not only be educated on parking but to have a fair warning as to what is valid and invalid parking conduct and be better prepared.

Providing Consulting for New Clubs and Funding/ Jump Start also applicable to current clubs

“Our group went to Nationals and we aren’t getting reimbursed for what seems like 8 months”

-An issue many student organizations run into revolves around funding for trips and events. Often times, organizations go out of pocket in order to fund events. Moreover, many of the organizations who do understand the process are faced with a tremendous amount of red tape and must wait months until they receive any money from the school.

-The goal for this initiative is to generate a better, more streamlined process that student organizations can go through in order to receive funds. Furthermore, the initiative will also push for the creation of new clubs at Mason so individuals will more easily be able to share their diverse interests with like-minded students.

Financial Aid

“Where my refund check at?”

-Lobby for financial aid to be disbursed earlier so students have the opportunity to purchase supplies and books prior to coming to school. This will offer lower income students the opportunity to order books at cheaper prices online, instead of having to rely on the university bookstore for overpriced purchases.

College is more than studying…Let’s throw down!

“I guess spending 4 years in my cinder block dorm room is the way college is supposed to be.”

-One of the biggest issues facing student satisfaction at Mason is the lack of on-campus activities for students. This in turn, generates dissatisfaction toward the overall perception of George Mason. The sentiment is that those who live on campus leave as soon as the weekend comes.

-Student Government needs to work closely with Program Board and Student Activities in order to plan and market events to students. It needs to help change the culture at Mason and encourage block parties for sporting events, field days in the park, and more concerts/bar-b-ques that promote student interaction and generate a greater sense of belonging on campus.

Get involved!

“I have no idea how to join clubs”

-Creating the goMasonEvents listserve will allow students the choice to receive messages about events sponsored by student activities and other campus organizations. This allows clubs to reach out to students and in turn promote student involvement at the same time.

-The George Mason Student government will have kiosk in the JC two times a week outlining all events and programming occurring that week. Members representing student government will man the desk during optimum hours and also have a display detailing the activities. In order for student government to be legitimized in the eyes of the student body, they need to be proactive and find innovative ways of branching out. The Campus Announcements space on blackboard.com can be used to advertise programming events to all students at Mason. Guerilla marketing campaigning tactics will be formulated specifically for the Mason campus

Greek Housing

“Where the row at? You aint Greek”

An exploratory initiative into Greek housing that will look over the possibilities of opening residence halls to fraternities and sororities on campus and an analysis on Greek Row and school sponsored housing.

Posted on April 2nd, 2009 by Aram Zucker-Scharff
Filed under: Mason Learns