George Mason University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
George Mason University

Seal of George Mason University
Former names	Northern Virginia University Center of the University of Virginia (1949–1956) University College of the University of Virginia (1956–1959) George Mason College of the University of Virginia (1959–1972)
Motto	"Freedom and Learning"
Type	Public research university
Established	1949; 76 years ago (1949)
Founder	University of Virginia (original charter) Virginia General Assembly (as independent university)
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	CUWMA ORAU SCHEV Sea-grant
Endowment	$189.2 million (2021)
President	Gregory Washington
Provost	Kenneth Walsh (interim)
Rector	Horace Blackman
Academic staff	2,133 (fall 2023)
Students	40,185 (fall 2023)
Undergraduates	27,160 (fall 2023)
Postgraduates	11,804 (fall 2023)
Location	Fairfax , Virginia , United States 38°49′52″N 77°18′29″W / 38.831°N 77.308°W / 38.831; -77.308
Campus	Large Suburb, 953 acres (386 ha) (Fairfax), 1,148 acres (465 ha) total
Location of Campuses	United States: Fairfax City/Fairfax County Arlington Front Royal Prince William Lorton South Korea: Incheon
Media	Fourth Estate (newspaper) WGMU Radio (radio station)
Colors	Green      Gold
Nickname	Patriots
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – A-10 ECAC EIVA IC4A
Mascot	The Patriot

George Mason University (GMU) is a large public university in Fairfax County, Virginia. It is located close to Washington, D.C.. The university is named after George Mason, who was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

GMU was started in 1949. It became an independent university in 1972. Since then, it has grown to be the largest public university in Virginia by student numbers. It is known as a top research university.

The university was first a part of the University of Virginia. Today, it offers many types of education. Students can live on campus and study a mix of modern job skills and traditional subjects. It also welcomes students who commute from home. George Mason University has four campuses in Virginia and one international campus in South Korea.

The main campus is in Fairfax, Virginia. Other campuses are in Arlington, Front Royal, and Prince William County. There is also a conference center in Lorton. The international campus is in Incheon, South Korea.

Two professors from GMU's economics department have won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. These were James M. Buchanan in 1986 and Vernon L. Smith in 2002.

University History and Growth

Early Years and Independence

George Mason, a Founding Father of the United States and the university's namesake

In 1949, the University of Virginia opened a small center in Northern Virginia. This center helped working adults and other students take classes in the evenings. The first classes included subjects like government, economics, and math. By 1952, over 1,000 students were enrolled.

In 1956, this center became University College, a branch of the University of Virginia. In 1957, 17 freshmen students started classes in a small school building. The college was renamed George Mason College in 1958.

The City of Fairfax gave 150 acres of land to the University of Virginia for a new campus. This is now the main Fairfax Campus. Construction started in 1962, and in 1964, 356 students began attending classes there.

In 1966, George Mason College became a four-year school. It could now grant degrees. Local areas also bought more land, making the Fairfax Campus 600 acres. The goal was for it to become a major regional university. In 1972, George Mason College officially separated from the University of Virginia. It was renamed George Mason University.

Growth and New Campuses

In 1978, George W. Johnson became the fourth president. Under his leadership, the university grew a lot. Mason added a School of Law and a new Arlington Campus in 1979. The university also started offering doctoral degrees.

Later, plans began for a third campus in Prince William County. Many new buildings were built during Johnson's time, including the Student Union Building II and EagleBank Arena. Student enrollment more than doubled, reaching over 24,000 students by 1996.

In 1996, Alan Merten became president. He believed the university should connect with its local and global communities. During his time, GMU hosted a big technology conference in 1998. Another professor won a Nobel Memorial Prize in 2002. The Men's basketball team even made it to the Final Four in 2006. By 2012, Mason had about 33,000 students, making it Virginia's largest public university.

Recent Developments

Decal of George Mason College

Ángel Cabrera became the sixth president in 2012. He helped create a new plan for the university's future. In 2013, Mason joined the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) for sports. This was a big step for the university's athletic programs.

In 2018, the university made changes to how it works with donors. It decided that donors would no longer be part of decisions about hiring professors. This was to make sure academic choices were fair.

Cabrera left in 2019, and Anne B. Holton served as interim president. On July 1, 2020, Gregory Washington became the university's eighth president. He is the first African-American president of GMU.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, George Mason moved to online classes. Later, it offered a mix of online and in-person classes.

University Campuses

George Mason University has four campuses in the United States, all in Virginia. Three are near Washington, D.C.. One is in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. There is also a campus in Incheon, South Korea. The Blue Ridge campus works with the Smithsonian Institution.

Fairfax Campus

The main Fairfax Campus covers 677 acres. It has a large pond and is in a suburban area. Washington, D.C. is about 20 miles away.

George Mason's Fairfax Campus Johnson Center

Important buildings include:

• The Johnson Center, a large student union building.
• The Center for the Arts, a concert hall with 2,000 seats.
• The Long and Kimmy Nguyen Engineering Building.
• Exploratory Hall for science, built in 2013.
• An astronomy observatory and telescope.
• The Art and Design Building.
• The Fenwick Library, which has been expanded.
• The Krasnow Institute.
• Three gyms and an aquatic center for students.
• Sports stadiums for track, baseball, soccer, and more.
• Masonvale, a housing area for staff and graduate students.

George Mason Statue and Memorial

A bronze statue of George Mason stands on campus. It was put there in 1996. The statue shows George Mason holding his first draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. This document later helped create the Bill of Rights. Students often touch the statue's toe for good luck.

In 2021, a memorial was added near the statue. It honors the enslaved people who lived at Gunston Hall, George Mason's estate. The memorial tells stories of two enslaved people, Penny and James.

Arlington Campus

George Mason's Arlington Campus

The Arlington Campus, called Mason Square since 2022, is 5.2 acres. It is in an urban area, about 4 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. It started in 1979 with a law school.

Key buildings include:

• Hazel Hall, home to the Antonin Scalia Law School.
• Van Metre Hall, home to the Schar School of Policy and Government.
• Vernon Smith Hall, which houses the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.
• A 300-seat auditorium.
• A new building, Fuse at Mason Square, is planned for 2025.

Getting Around Arlington Campus

Washington Metro's Virginia Square-GMU campus stop

The campus is easy to reach by public transport. The Washington Metro's Orange Line stops at the Virginia Square–GMU station, which is one block away. There are also campus shuttles and bus services. The campus has places for electric cars, disabled parking, and bike parking.

Science and Technology Campus

This campus opened in 1997 in Manassas, Virginia. It covers 134 acres. Over 4,000 students study subjects like bioinformatics, biotechnology, and information technology here. There are also programs in health and recreation.

Important facilities include:

• The Biomedical Research Laboratory for high-security research.
• Merchant Hall and Verizon Auditorium in the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
• The Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center.
• The SMART Lab, known for its concussion research.

In 2015, this campus was renamed the Science and Technology Campus. The university is also looking into creating a medical school here.

Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

This campus is in Front Royal, Virginia. It is a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution and GMU. It opened in 2012. The main goal is to train students in global conservation.

The campus has:

• The Volgenau Academic Center with labs and classrooms.
• Dining facilities with views of Shenandoah National Park.
• Living quarters for students, an exercise facility, and study areas.

Mason Korea Campus

Mason Korea Korea Campus
University Campus
Songdo Campus Hangul: 송도 캠퍼스
Data Center, Library, Guest House, Student's Hall
Country	South Korea
Region	Seoul Capital Area (Sudogwon)
Metropolitan City	Incheon
District	Yeonsu-gu
International Business District	Songdo
Postal Code	21985

Mason Korea opened in March 2014. It is in the Songdo International Business District in South Korea. This area is designed for many people and businesses. It is about 25 miles from Seoul.

Students at Mason Korea earn the same diploma as students at the Virginia campuses. Classes are taught in English. The first class graduated in December 2017.

Academics and Research

University Rankings

George Mason University offers many degrees. These include bachelor's, master's, law, and doctoral degrees. The university focuses on teaching practical skills for jobs. It also provides a strong education in traditional subjects. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. Most classes have fewer than 30 students.

Student Admissions

In 2023, GMU accepted 90% of its undergraduate applicants. The university does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. For students who do submit scores, the middle 50% had an SAT score between 1140 and 1350. Their ACT scores were between 25 and 31.

Between 2009 and 2013, applications to GMU increased by 21%. The number of new students also went up by 4%. Students come from all 50 U.S. states and 122 other countries. As of fall 2023, 40,185 students were enrolled. This makes GMU the largest university in Virginia by student numbers.

Research Focus Areas

George Mason's Library

George Mason University conducts a lot of research. In 2019, it had $149 million in research projects. In 2016, GMU was classified as a "Very high research activity" university.

Research at GMU focuses on three main areas:

• Health: Researchers study wellness, how to prevent diseases, and new ways to diagnose illnesses.
• Sustainability: This research looks at climate change, predicting natural disasters, and assessing risks.
• Security: Experts study national and international security, as well as cyber security.

Research Centers and Institutes

The university has many research centers and institutes. These groups focus on specific areas of study.

Student Life and Activities

University Traditions

Benches painted by students outside the Fenwick Library

Students at George Mason University have fun traditions. They often decorate the George Mason statue on the Fairfax campus. Some students rub the statue's toe for good luck before exams. Many also take graduation photos with the statue.

Each spring, student groups compete to paint one of the 38 benches on the Quad. These benches are in front of Fenwick Library. Painting a bench helps student groups show off their club and gain recognition.

Student Housing Options

Wilkins Plaza. The Mason Clock was a gift to the university from the Class of 1999.

George Mason University offers many housing options for students. On the Fairfax campus, there are different areas for dorms and apartments. These include President's Park, Liberty Square, and Potomac Heights. Other residence halls are named after Virginia regions, like Northern Neck and Tidewater.

For graduate students and visiting faculty, there is Masonvale. The Science and Technology campus also has Beacon Hall for graduate students. The Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation campus has living quarters. And the Mason Korea campus has Student's Hall and a Guest House.

Student Organizations and Media

The university recognizes 500 different student groups. These groups cover many interests, like academics, sports, social events, and careers.

Mason also has several student-run media outlets:

• Fourth Estate: This is the student newspaper and website, published weekly.
• Phoebe: A journal that publishes original literature and art by students.
• WGMU Radio: A radio station that plays music, talk shows, sports, and news. It is also the main station for George Mason's basketball games.

Greek Life

Mason has 42 fraternities and sororities. About 1,800 students are part of Greek life. While there isn't a special "Greek Row" of houses, these groups hold many events on the Fairfax Campus. This includes recruitment and charity activities.

Athletics and Sports

Division I Teams

Hofstra visits the Patriot Center, now known as EagleBank Arena, in January 2005.

The George Mason Patriots are the university's sports teams. They compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Most sports teams are part of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

About 485 student-athletes play in 22 men's and women's sports. These include baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

Club Sports and Performing Arts

Besides the main sports teams, George Mason University also has many club sports. These are student-run teams that compete against other schools.

The Mason Players is a student group that puts on plays. They produce six shows each season. Some shows are directed by faculty, and others are directed by students. There is also an annual show of short plays written by students. All full-time students can audition for these productions.

Notable People from George Mason University

Faculty Members

• Notable George Mason University faculty include:
• 

  Brett Kavanaugh, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

• 

  Neil Gorsuch, U.S. Supreme Court justice

• 

  Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Prize-winning economist

• 

  James M. Buchanan, Nobel Prize-winning economist

• 

  Vasily Aksyonov, Russian novelist and poet

• 

  Walter E. Williams, economist and author

• 

  Timothy Muris, former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission

• 

  Francis Fukuyama, political scientist and author

Alumni

• Notable George Mason University Alumni Include:
• 

  Anna Escobedo Cabral, former Treasurer of the United States

• 

  Karl Rove, Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush

• 

  Justin Bour, professional baseball player

• 

  Ken Cuccinelli, former Attorney General of Virginia

• 

  Kathleen L. Casey, Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

• 

  Archie Kao, Actor

• 

  Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, former Poet Laureate of Virginia

• 

  Christine Fox, former acting Deputy Secretary of Defense

See also

In Spanish: Universidad George Mason para niños

• George Mason University's historical hoaxes
• Northern Virginia Community College