George Mason University

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"
TypePublic research university
Established1949; 75 years ago (1949)[1]
FounderVirginia General Assembly
AccreditationSACS
Academic affiliations
Endowment$189.2 million (2021)[2]
PresidentGregory Washington[3]
ProvostJames Soto Antony
RectorCharles "Cully" Stimson
Academic staff
2,133 (fall 2023)[4]
Students40,185 (fall 2023)[5]
Undergraduates27,160 (fall 2023)[5]
Postgraduates11,804 (fall 2023)[5]
Location
George Mason
,
Virginia
,
US

38°49′52″N 77°18′29″W / 38.831°N 77.308°W / 38.831; -77.308
CampusLarge Suburb, 953 acres (386 ha) (Fairfax / George Mason, Virginia), 1,148 acres (465 ha) total
Location of Campuses
[6][7]
MediaFourth Estate (newspaper)
WGMU Radio (radio station)
Colors  Green
  Gold[8]
NicknamePatriots
Sporting affiliations
MascotThe Patriot
Websitegmu.edu

George Mason University (GMU) is a public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., the university is named in honor of George Mason, a Founding Father of the United States.[9]

George Mason was founded in 1949 as a northern branch of the University of Virginia and became an independent university in 1972. It has since grown into the largest public university by student enrollment in Virginia.[10][11][1] The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".[12] Since the university's founding, two of its economics professors have received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics: James M. Buchanan in 1986 and Vernon L. Smith in 2002.[13]

The university has expanded into a residential college for traditional students with an emphasis on combining modern practice-based professional education with a comprehensive traditional liberal arts curriculum while maintaining its historic commuter student-inclusive environment at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.[14][15][16] The university operates four campuses in Virginia.

The university's flagship campus is in Fairfax, Virginia. Its other three campuses are in Arlington, Front Royal, and Prince William County. It also operates a retreat and conference center in Lorton[17] and an international campus in Incheon, South Korea.

  1. ^ a b Finley, John Norville Gibson (July 1, 1952). Progress Report of the Northern Virginia University Center (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2017. "The report that follows is a progress report on the Northern Virginia University Center since its beginnings in 1949 by its Local Director, Professor J. N. G. Finley." George B. Zehmer, Director Extension Division University of Virginia
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2021. "George Mason University Foundation Endowment Report, Fiscal Year 2021" (PDF). George Mason University Foundation. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "George Mason selects dean of UC-Irvine engineering school as its next president". Washington Post. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Mason Facts and Figures 2023-2024: Faculty". George Mason University. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Mason Facts and Figures 2023-2024: Fall 2023 Enrollment and Student Profile (US Campus Only)". George Mason University. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Sang, Youn-joo (May 14, 2015). "IFEZ Rises as Global Investment Center". The Korea Herald. Seoul, Korea. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  7. ^ Kim, Rahn (February 11, 2015). "8 in 10 International School Students in Korea Are Koreans". The Korea Times. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "Color". The George Mason University Brand Profile. George Mason University Office of Communication and Marketing. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Rich, Colleen Kearney. "From the Archives: What's in a Name?". Mason Spirit.
  10. ^ "A History of George Mason University | Commonwealth of Virginia: House Joint Resolution #5, February 24, 1956". ahistoryofmason.gmu.edu. February 24, 1956. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "A History of George Mason University | About George Mason University: A History". ahistoryofmason.gmu.edu. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Carnegie Classification". Indiana University. 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  13. ^ Another Nobel Laureate Walter E. Williams, GMU, Department of Economics, October 14, 2002
  14. ^ Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Charles III University of Madrid) and George Mason University. "George Mason University - Guide to International Students" (PDF).
  15. ^ Fonseca, Ed., James W. "Higher Education for Adults: Non-Traditional Paths" (PDF). United States Department of Education.
  16. ^ Steele, Clarence A. (April 4, 1949), Clarence A. Steele to Colgate W. Darden, Jr., April 4, 1949
  17. ^ "Retreat Facility". Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Retrieved May 26, 2023.