Patriot Packout 2025 Diverted More Than 17,000 Pounds of Reusable Items
During student moveout this spring and summer, Patriot Packout 2025 successfully diverted over 17,000 pounds of reusable items through reuse and food recovery and provided them to the George Mason and local community partners during, representing 30% growth over 2024 diversion statistics.
Patriot Packout 2025 also piloted new specialty waste reduction and recycling initiatives, in collaboration with the Recycling & Waste team, providing residential students access to specialty recycling streams. Part of George Mason University's year-round waste reduction and educational program, Patriot Packout reduces campus waste generation and provides students, faculty, staff, and alumni with opportunities to participate.
Successful Completion of RAMP Implementation Enhances Research Administration Efficiency and Compliance
George Mason has completed the multi-year implementation of the Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP), a collaborative effort by the Office of Sponsored Programs, Information Technology Services, and the Enterprise Project Management Office. This integrated system streamlines research administration by consolidating critical functions into a single platform, reducing duplication of effort and better supporting faculty and staff.
RAMP enhances compliance with sponsor regulations through automated workflows and reminders and improves reporting and decision-making by capturing research-related data in one system. The portal includes seven modules: Grants, Agreements, Safety, Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment, Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and Payroll Certification. This milestone represents a significant advancement in George Mason’s research infrastructure and administrative efficiency.
Initiated Implementation of institutional Risk Management Information System (RMIS)
George Mason began implementation of a Risk Management Information System application, led by Operational Risk Management. The RMIS will manage and coordinate the university's risk and insurance-related information and will serve as a centralized platform for risk managers to collect, store, analyze, and report data related to business risk and insurance coverage. Having received approval from the university’s Executive Administration Domain Council, this application will facilitate decision-making, streamline workflows, provide better risk visibility, while reducing costs, improving compliance, and increasing efficiency.
Milestone in Canvas Learning Management System Transition with Sunset of Blackboard
George Mason reached a significant milestone in its transition to Canvas, the new Learning Management System (LMS), when access to Blackboard, the previous LMS, was ended on July 15, 2024. Canvas was piloted in summer 2024, with instructors having the option to use either Blackboard or Canvas during the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.
Development of FY26-27 Enterprise Risk Management Priorities
As part of the development of the Enterprise Risk Management priorities for FY26 and FY27, interviews with key university leaders have been completed. The interviews help update the university risk register, gain information about key components of top enterprise risks, and begin the process of identification of key mitigation actions to be taken to address enterprise risks for the next biennium.
Successful Stormwater (MS4) Program Audit
Department of Environmental Quality audited George Mason’s MS4 Program for compliance with state permit requirements. 132 of 155 audit questions were in compliance, with 22 deemed not applicable, and only one corrective action found, which will be addressed promptly. The results of the March 2025 audit were received on July 17, 2025.
Chartwells Higher Education Begins as New Dining Service Partner
After a two-year RFP process—including stakeholder interviews, focus groups, benchmarking, and review by a broad-based voting committee—George Mason selected Chartwells Higher Education to manage Mason Dining, effective July 1, 2025. As Mason’s largest outsourced contract, this 10-year agreement is projected to generate $455M in gross revenue, with a $116M return (25.5%) and $19M in capital investment.
Chartwells, a national leader in campus dining, was chosen for its strong residential dining program that aligns with the needs of our campus community. They succeed Sodexo, Mason’s dining provider for more than 30 years.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment awarded contract to manage EagleBank Arena
Monumental, which has managed EagleBank Arena for the past 40 years, has been awarded a new five-year contract beginning July 1, 2025, with an option for a five-year extension. The new agreement includes priority blackout dates to support Intercollegiate Athletics needs, including basketball practices, special events, and postseason play.
The previous agreement generated $3.1M in university returns in FY24 and $2.5M in FY23. These returns are expected to grow under the new contract, which increases Mason’s minimum guaranteed payment. In 2024, the arena reached a record-high attendance of 623,000 guests, hosting 30 concerts and numerous athletic events—the most concerts since its 1985 opening.
Governor Youngkin announces $2.6 million Investment in Innovation District Anchored by Science and Technology Campus
The 3,800-acre Innovation District, led by George Mason in partnership with Prince William County and the City of Manassas, will accelerate scientific advancement, bolster startups and established employers, and create high-quality jobs.
Supported by a $2.6 Million GO Virginia grant and an additional $1.3 million in funds coming from local businesses, government and higher education partners, the funding will help launch the Innovation District and roll out programs aimed at making Northern Virginia a national hub for research-driven industries.