The University of Mary Washington and George Mason University have renewed existing partnerships designed to accelerate student success and open the door to additional agreements between the two schools beginning as early as 2025.
A signing ceremony to reconfirm the universities’ accelerated degree pathway programs in computer science, engineering and law was held in UMW’s Dodd Auditorium foyer, with provosts, deans and other administrators in attendance.
“A lot of work has gone into the efforts to make today what it is,” said UMW Provost Timothy O’Donnell, who signed the official document along with George Mason Provost James Antony. “It’s really a prelude to more work to come, ultimately work that will be good work because it will benefit our students, our faculty and our programs.”
The UMW-Accelerated Mason Program graduate pathways permit dual enrollment, allowing Mary Washington students to combine undergraduate and graduate degree requirements, and reduce the time it takes to earn a master’s degree and unlock increased earning potential. The pathways also allow participants to roll tuition and fees into existing financial aid packages, facilitate data sharing between the two schools and ultimately improve student outcomes at both universities.
“In other words, it gives your talented students and our talented students a chance to gain a competitive edge in a field of study by exposing them to advanced skills and knowledge earlier and allowing them to complete their degrees hopefully more quickly. And I think that’s what we all really want,” Antony said.
During senior year, approved Mary Washington students may enroll in a master’s program at George Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing and earn as many as nine credits of graduate-level coursework. Participants can apply the credits toward both their bachelor’s degree at UMW, as electives, and their master’s degree at George Mason, allowing them to complete a master’s in as little as one additional year. Programs include Applied Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Analytics Engineering, Operations Research, Statistics and Systems Engineering.
An accelerated “3+3 program” permits undergrads who have completed three years of study at UMW entrance to George Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School as full-time, first-year law students, saving a year’s worth of tuition and time.
The signing ceremony follows a visit to Mary Washington the previous day by George Mason Graduate Recruitment Coordinator Rachel Cameron, who spoke to computer science students and presented an information session in James Farmer Hall. Ali Fakhry, a UMW data science major with a minor in computer science, stopped in to learn more about the UMW-Accelerated Mason Program graduate pathways and how they might help him pursue a master’s degree and a career in machine learning.
According to the provosts more pathways are in the pipeline. The pathway renewal agreement allows for evolution and future connections, with potential for additional partnerships between the two schools in programs like English, history, geography and psychology.
“We certainly welcome these conversations and look forward to continuing to stay engaged with our partners to the north,” O’Donnell said.
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Rebecca Barnabi
