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Mason President Gregory Washington thanked the university community at the Board of Visitors (BOV) meeting on Thursday for its efforts to manage the pandemic and shifted focus toward the goals he announced in July to “transform the campus and move it from a good campus to a great one.”

�������� is disbursing millions of dollars in CARES Act funding to more than 14,000 eligible students this fall, with the latest funds to be awarded in early September.

�������� President Gregory Washington and a host of Mason student, faculty and staff representatives welcomed the largest incoming class in the university’s history at two convocations Friday, Aug. 20.

A key component of ��������’s return to campus this month is addressing the mental health of students and employees and providing additional resources for those who might feel anxious about coming to campus or who are struggling to deal with the ongoing pandemic.

As �������� strives to be a national leader in anti-racism and inclusive excellence, a few changes in line with that goal have been implemented for the fall semester.

Mandatory vaccinations and a return to wearing masks indoors on campus are two of the primary tools �������� will use this fall to provide a safe living, learning and working environment.

�������� President Gregory Washington last week outlined his goals for the coming academic year, including the establishment of the Mason Virginia Promise to “be the institution for all Virginians” and implementing a five-year plan for Mason to climb more than 40 spots in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam last month appointed a new member to the �������� Board of Visitors and reappointed three others. All will serve four-year terms on the 16-member body.

Mason is launching a brand awareness called “The Secret’s Out,” which aims to reintroduce Mason to Northern Virginia and to remind the on-campus community, alumni and supporters how Mason has emerged as an educational, cultural and economic driver over the past half-century.

�������� grew its number of Pell Grant-receiving students by the fifth-largest total in the country over the past five years, the American Talent Initiative announced last week in a progress report that tracks enrollment of lower-income students at the ATI’s 130 member institutions.