Admissions and Financial Aid

Mason Student Services Center expands locations, partnerships to improve student access

Jonathan Nichols — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:41:43 +0000

Mason Student Services Center expands locations, partnerships to improve student access Jonathan Nichols Wed, 08/20/2025 - 11:41

��'s Mason Student Services Center (MSSC), the comprehensive solution for student assistance, is expanding operations through new locations and partnerships in the 2025-26 academic year.

Since it was established in 2019, the MSSC has served as a convenient hub where students can access help with financial aid, billing, registration, and academic records.

The interior of Fuse, where Mason Square students will now be able to access MSSC services in Suite 1200. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Now students at Mason Square will have access to a fuller range of MSSC services. In July, the MSSC’s Arlington team moved into Suite 1200 of the new Fuse building, adding additional capacity for staff and breakout rooms for consultations that have already resulted in increased traffic for the center. This office joins the continued operation of the primary location on the ground floor of SUB I on the Fairfax ��.

The MSSC will also add Housing and Residence Life as a partner office this year, beginning with email communications in October and phone and virtual services in the spring and summer.

“With these expansions, we’re bringing even more resources together in one centralized, convenient location—making it easier for our students to take care of the ‘business’ of being a student,” said MSSC Director Kim Shumadine. “This is just the beginning, and we’re excited for what the future holds as we continue to expand and evolve in response to student needs."

The center has achieved major engagement and assistance milestones.

In the 2024–25 academic year, the MSSC resolved more than 211,000 student cases, bringing its all-time total to more than 630,000 resolved. When including work with its current partner offices—the Office of Admissions, Student Financial Aid, the Registrar, and Student Accounts—that number now exceeds 1 million cases.

The center also maintains a comprehensive Knowledge Community, a database of frequently asked questions that provides students detailed answers and links to further resources.

Last year the center also saw improvements to case resolution times across all formats. In-person visits averaged three minutes per case, down from seven the year before, while virtual inquiries were resolved in an average of three hours, an improvement from the prior five-hour average. All together, more than 91% of all cases were resolved without escalation to another office, and most were closed within 24 hours.

With its track record of rapid service and upcoming improvements, the MSSC is setting the standard for student support at George Mason.

Check out virtual services from MSSC

Last Day to Apply for Summer Aid: August 13

Jonathan Nichols — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:56:23 +0000

Last Day to Apply for Summer Aid: August 13 Jonathan Nichols Wed, 08/13/2025 - 07:56

The last day to apply for summer 2025 financial aid is August 13.

Topics

Financial Aid

The Enrollment Freeze for Fall 2025 is Sept 16

Ashleigh Sterling — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:58:37 +0000

The Enrollment Freeze for Fall 2025 is Sept 16 Ashleigh Sterling Thu, 07/31/2025 - 12:58

The enrollment freeze date for the fall 2025 semester is September 16, 2025. After this date, no adjustments or increases will be made to your financial aid unless it is to correct an over award situation and all financial aid payments will be final, with the exception of any Part of Term classes that begin later in the semester. Dropping a Part of Term course that begins later may result in a reduction of your aid.

If you completely drop or withdraw from all your classes at ANY point, the Financial Aid Office will determine how much aid you can keep and how much has to be returned to the US Department of Education. This is called a Return to Title IV calculation.

Topics

Financial Aid

Last Day to Accept a Loan for the Summer Semester: August 14

Jonathan Nichols — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 19:44:59 +0000

Last Day to Accept a Loan for the Summer Semester: August 14 Jonathan Nichols Fri, 07/18/2025 - 15:44

The last day the Office of Student Financial Aid processes loans for the summer semester is August 15, 2025. Students who want to receive direct loans should accept them by 11:59 p.m. on August 14, 2025.

Topics

Financial Aid

Verification Updates: The Deadline to Submit is September 1

Jonathan Nichols — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:22:24 +0000

Verification Updates: The Deadline to Submit is September 1 Jonathan Nichols Thu, 06/26/2025 - 20:22

The deadline to submit verification documents is September 1.
Documentation submitted through the DHS SAVE system is subject to external processing timelines which may vary and are not within the institution’s control.
Schools are no longer able to make changes to a student’s biographical or demographic information on the FAFSA. This includes information like name, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, address, and other personal details. Students must make these updates themselves.

Topics

Financial Aid

The Enrollment Freeze for Summer 2025 is July 22

Jonathan Nichols — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:21:23 +0000

The Enrollment Freeze for Summer 2025 is July 22 Jonathan Nichols Thu, 06/05/2025 - 11:21

The enrollment freeze date for the spring summer 2025 semester is July 22, 2025 at 12:01am.

After that, no adjustments or increases will be made to your financial aid unless it is to correct an over-award situation and all financial aid payments will be final with the exception of any Part of Term classes that begin later in the semester. Dropping a Part of Term course that begins later may result in a reduction of your aid. If you completely drop or withdraw from all your classes at any point, the Financial Aid Office will determine how much aid you can keep and how much has to be returned to the U.S. Department of Education. This is called a Return to Title IV calculation.

Topics

Financial Aid

SAP Appeal Deadline for Summer 2025: June 30

Jonathan Nichols — Wed, 28 May 2025 20:20:54 +0000

SAP Appeal Deadline for Summer 2025: June 30 Jonathan Nichols Wed, 05/28/2025 - 16:20

Students who wish to submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal for the summer 2025 term must do so by June 30, 2025.

Fall 2025 SAP appeals will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis starting no earlier than July 1, 2025.

All appeals for the fall 2025 semester must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid no later than three weeks before the end of the semester. Any appeals received after that deadline will be considered for the spring 2026 semester instead.

Topics

Financial Aid

Last Day to Accept a Loan for the Spring Semester: May 13

Jonathan Nichols — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:51:14 +0000

Last Day to Accept a Loan for the Spring Semester: May 13 Jonathan Nichols Fri, 05/02/2025 - 13:51

The last day the Office of Student Financial Aid processes loans for the spring semester is May 14, 2025. Students who want to receive direct loans should accept them no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 13, 2025.

Topics

Financial Aid

Last Day for Spring SAP Appeals: April 23

Jonathan Nichols — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:40:22 +0000

Last Day for Spring SAP Appeals: April 23 Jonathan Nichols Tue, 04/08/2025 - 15:40

The last day the Office of Student Financial Aid will take Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals for the spring 2025 semester is April 23, 2025.

Topics

Financial Aid

The Enrollment Freeze for Spring 2025 is February 11

Jonathan Nichols — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 19:17:13 +0000

The Enrollment Freeze for Spring 2025 is February 11 Jonathan Nichols Fri, 01/17/2025 - 14:17

The enrollment freeze date for the spring 2025 semester is February 11, 2025.

After this date, no adjustments or increases will be made to your financial aid unless it is to correct an over-award situation, and all financial aid payments will be final with the exception of any Part of Term classes that begin later in the semester. Dropping a Part of Term course that begins later may result in a reduction of your aid.

If you completely drop or withdraw from all your classes at any point, the Financial Aid Office will determine how much aid you can keep and how much has to be returned to the U.S. Department of Education. This is called a Return to Title IV calculation.

Topics

Financial Aid

Admissions and Financial Aid

Mason Student Services Center expands locations, partnerships to improve student access

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Last Day to Apply for Summer Aid: August 13

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The Enrollment Freeze for Fall 2025 is Sept 16

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Last Day to Accept a Loan for the Summer Semester: August 14

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Verification Updates: The Deadline to Submit is September 1

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The Enrollment Freeze for Summer 2025 is July 22

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SAP Appeal Deadline for Summer 2025: June 30

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Last Day to Accept a Loan for the Spring Semester: May 13

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Last Day for Spring SAP Appeals: April 23

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The Enrollment Freeze for Spring 2025 is February 11

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