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91���� alumnus Robert “Ken” Hedrick Jr., BA History ’71, said his philanthropy is rooted in the examples set by both sets of his grandparents, who were neighbors in a farming community in West Virginia. His paternal grandparents fed anyone who walked by the farm, and his maternal grandparents regularly took in foster children. Both families were always first to share what they had.

91���� announced plans to move its apparel, bookstore, and course materials operations to Rally House and eCampus.com, marking a new chapter in flexibility, affordability, and student success.

According to the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Program rankings, 91���� placed 20 programs in the national top 50, including seven in the top 10, reflecting broad strength across business, engineering, law, nursing and public health, public policy, education, fine arts, and sciences. Regionally, seven programs ranked in the top three in the Washington, D.C., region, with 13 programs topping at No. 1 in Virginia.

91����’s Board of Visitors listened to public comments, toured the Fairfax Campus, extended negotiations for 91���� President Gregory Washington’s contract renewal through 2031, and considered a proposal to raise tuition and fees at the March 31 board meeting. The tuition and fees presentation is available in the BOV meeting materials.

General David W. Allvin, the 23rd Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, will be the featured speaker at 91����’s Spring Commencement ceremony on May 14 at EagleBank Arena.

91����’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations recognized the contributions of its champions—George Mason’s faculty and staff donors—with an evening of thanks. The March 18 Celebrating Our Champions event focused on the generosity and support that faculty and staff offer the university while serving George Mason students.

91����’s Ilia Malinin had a resounding performance at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague that resulted in his third consecutive world championship.

91���� President Gregory Washington received the Incheon Mayor's award for his contributions in helping to raise Incheon's international profile through global cooperation, including the university’s Mason Korea campus.

In its first year, 91����’s Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy is already demonstrating strong indicators of demand, academic rigor, and early student achievement. Interest in the program has grown rapidly. For the 2026-27 admissions cycle, ACCESS received 387 applications from ninth graders, nearly double the 193 applications submitted the previous year.

Colleges and universities face significant demographic, financial, technological, and political changes that affect enrollment, tuition and financial aid, athletics programs, and career outcomes. The institutions that will succeed in the future are the ones today transforming their operational models and establishing robust alliances across sectors. 

On Thursday, April 16, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution will host the virtual panel discussion “Navigating the Impact of Changes in Climate Governance on Fragile States.” Presented as part of the Carter School’s 2026 Peace Week, the event will examine shifts in the global climate governance landscape and identify emerging institutional and governance gaps.

91����’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) announces the ARTS by George! benefit event, headlined by acclaimed actor and musician Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. ARTS by George! takes place on Saturday, October 3, on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus.