George Mason University
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

In George Mason University's (Mason) Strategic Plan 2014-2024, Goal 6 is to be a Community Building. To help fulfill the components of Goal 6, a Community Engagement Council (CEC) has been established. The CEC provides a coordinating body to support and enhance the many varied community engagement and outreach activities at the university. Mason provides a valuable role as a hub and convener for the community in lifelong learning, cultural activities, community partnerships, and alumni activity. The presence of a campus- wide coordinating infrastructure is a key element of the Carnegie Community Engagement classification, as the university must be able to demonstrate institutional commitment across the entire spectrum of activities, with appropriate resource commitment and campus-wide, systematic assessment and documentation. The CEC comprises key members from units across the university and reports to the university’s Executive Committee. The initial charge for the CEC (based on the current Community Engagement task force) is to provide recommendations on membership, mission, vision, and core principles. The CEC has primary responsibility as the institution-wide coordinating body that fulfills the expectations of Carnegie Classification for a “campus-wide coordinating infrastructure” that includes “systematic campus-wide assessment mechanisms” with clear expectations for institutional outcomes. The CEC works closely with the provost and the senior vice president to provide recommendations to help support implementation of community engagement initiatives. CEC members are ambassadors for community engagement to internal and external stakeholders, thereby creating a supportive framework and umbrella for fostering and enhancing com m unity engagement activities. The CEC has responsibility for producing an annual work plan and summary of activities.

More than 3,000 members of the Mason community (both external and internal) provided input into Mason’s strategic plan. Friends, groups, and advisory boards work extensively with the faculty and staff to engage community volunteers and business leaders for volunteer activities, fund raising, student mentoring, and employment opportunities for students. The Mason Board of Visitors comprises industry and community leaders from across Virginia who are charged with oversight and policy formation for the university. Numerous school and college advisory boards have been formed with the express task of giving voice to the Mason community related to community engagement. The Fairfax Campus Advisory Board, made up of Mason, City of Fairfax, and Fairfax County members is tasked with identifying and promoting partnerships in support of joint university-community initiatives, including but not limited to, research projects, contracts, general support, and economic development; providing advice and counsel to the university administration concerning community-university issues and relations; and addressing and resolving issues of community and university concern at the earliest possible time.

Fairfax Campus Advisory Board: An advisory board comprised of five City representatives, five Braddock District representatives, and three University representatives established to share information among the parties on issues of mutual concern and provide advice and recommendations on those issues from varying perspectives. The group meets three to four times per year. University/Community Forum: A town hall collaboration with the City of Fairfax and the Braddock District to share with the community happenings at the university and throughout the surrounding area that may interest or impact them, including construction and events. Town halls alternate location between the City and the Braddock District.

With multiple community members and local government representatives participating on the Board of Visitors, they represent different perspectives and communities to ensure that the opinions of the public are part of Mason's decision-making. These board members took part in the 2011 presidential search committee and hiring process for the current university president. They also contributed to the development of the 2014-2024 Strategic Plan.

Data for FY14