George Mason University
Mason Topics
Address: MSN 1F4, 4400 University Drive
City: Fairfax
State: Virginia
Zip or Postal Code: 22030
Country: USA
Program Director (or best person to contact): Teresa Michals
Email: masontopics@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-1193
Fax: 703-993-1323
Web Address:
Brief Program Summary
Mason Topics is a learning community program that fosters a small college atmosphere at a large public university. The program's goals are both social and intellectual. Our students make connections across linked classes and feel a sense of community with both peers and faculty, enabling them to participate more fully in intellectual inquiry. Mason Topics students choose one of four course sequences related to a theme: The Global Village, The American Experience, The Information Society, or The Classical Presence. Each semester, the students in each sequence live together (if they live on-campus), take two general education classes together, and participate in about three academic extracurricular activities: films, talks, field trips, study sessions, tours. Faculty from a range of academic departments plan these linked classes and out-of-the classroom activities together to explore central ideas from different perspectives.
Sources of funding
College of Arts and Science, George Mason University
Office of Housing and Residential Life, George Mason University
University Life, George Mason University
Program Reports To:
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Are students charged an additional fee: No
The number of persons in each of the following categories are teaching academic credit bearing courses
Fulltime Tenured Faculty: 0
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 0
Fulltime Instructors: 0
Fulltime Retired Faculty: 0
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Fulltime Graduate Students: 0
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Parttime Tenured Faculty: 4
Parttime Probationary Faculty: 2
Parttime Instructors: 7
Parttime Retired Faculty: 0
Parttime Adjunct Faculty: 4
Parttime Graduate Students: 0
Parttime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Academic staff involved in the program that weren't included as faculty above
(Academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing academic services to students such as advising.)
Fulltime Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Academic Staff: 1
Non-academic staff involved in the program
(Non-academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing services that do not directly involve academics such as residence hall staff or staff who organize social activities that are not tied to academics.)
Fulltime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 9
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 0
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 85
Second Year: 15
Third Year: 0
Fourth Year and above: 0
Graduate Students: 0
Total Number of Students: 200
Year the Program Began:2000
Academic Courses Offered In The Community
Students choose from one of four sequences and then take the courses required by that sequence. All courses fulfill university-wide general education requirements for all students.
Courses required for students in The American Experience sequence:
1st semester: Communication 104: Presenting with Technology (3 credits) and Government 103: Introduction to American Government (3 credits)
2nd semester: English 201: Reading and Writing about Texts (3 credits) and History 120: U.S. History (3 credits)
Courses required for students in the Ancient Studies/Modern Frames sequence:
1st semester: History 100: History of Western Civilization (3 credits) and either Communication 101: Interpersonal Communication (3 credits) or English 101: Composition (3 credits) 2nd semester: English 201: Reading and Writing about Texts (3 credits) and Art History 102: Symbols and Stories in Art (3 credits) Courses required for students in The Global Village sequence:
1st semester: English 101: Composition (3 credits) and History 100: History of Western Civilization (3 credits) 2nd semester: English 201: Reading and Writing about Texts (3 credits) and Geography 103 : Human Geography (3 credits)
Courses required for students in The Information Society sequence:
1st semester: English 101: Composition (3 credits), English 209: Enhancing Digital Texts (1 credit) and Philosophy 112: Ethics and the Cybersociety (1 credit)
2nd semester: English 201: Reading and Writing about Texts (3 credits) and Art & Visual Technology 180: Computers in Creative Arts (3 credits)
Other Academic Offerings
See extracurricular activities below.
Classrooms in hall
Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget Students and faculty have access to shared lounge spaces in the residence halls for extracurricular activities such as formal and informal study sessions, film screenings, etc. One central lounge includes a large screen TV and VCR.
Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
none.
The Role of Community Partnerships
The Role of Leadership Development
We encourage strong students in the program to consider becoming Resident Advisors on Mason Topics floors in the Residence Halls in their sophomore, junior, or senior years. Students also help recruit and orient the next year's entering class in the program.
The Role of Research
Students are guided through the process of a substantial research project during their first semester in the program; their second semester may or may not involve research depending on different linked courses' content and goals.
Summary of Assessment Activities
All students complete a written survey at the start and end of each semester. They answer questions about their reasons for beginning/continuing/ending their participation in the program and their satisfaction with the courses offered, faculty, extracurricular components, residential community, etc. Retention is correlated with residence on or off campus and method of recruitment. High school GPA and SAT scores are collected for entering students. We plan to begin collecting data on college GPAs of students in the program and track the program's effect on their retention and graduation rates.
Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
Students participate in a minimum of three classroom-related extracurricular activities per semester. These vary according to sequence and from year to year, but commonly include the following: guest speakers, often combined with a reception and/or attendance of a live performance on or off-campus, screening of a class-related film, often with supper and/or a guest speaker, poster sessions to present class projects to the wider university community, field trips related to a class topic (visits to Washington D. C. to see Congress in action and meet personally with members of Congress, a tour of a commune, various museums, walking tours, etc.)
The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
Mason Topics works with a range of courses developed and staffed by traditional academic departments. The program encourages students and faculty to develop connections between some key concepts and skills examined in these courses through shared readings, writing assignments, and other activities in and outside of the classroom.
How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
The Global Village sequence, in particular, was developed to take advantage of student and faculty interest in the diverse cultures of the Washington D.C. area, and these cultures' origins.
How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
Student Demographics
Mason Topics Demographics (estimates based on student self reporting in Fall 2001 with approximately 70% of students participating in the survey): Race/Ethnicity:
African American: 7%
Asian American: 20%
Hispanic American: 6%
American Indian/Pacific Islander: 2%
White American: 62%
Other: 7%
Gender: 42% male, 58% female
US citizens: 90% Native speakers of English: 80%
number of AP courses taken in High School:
none: 39%
1-3: 53%
4 or more: 9%
Additional results from this survey available at: http://assessment.gmu.edu/infocusreports/infv7_2.pdf
SAT and High School GPA (exact data)
2000 SAT: 1060 GPA: 3.14 2001 SAT: 1074 GPA: 3.21 2002 SAT: 1100 GPA: 3.23
Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time: yes
Salary Supplement: yes
Travel Funds:
Other:
Description of Other Rewards
Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
English, Geography, Art and Visual Technology, Theater, Philosophy, Music, Government, History and Art History, Communication, Psychology. (Varies somewhat from year to year).
Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
yes
Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:
Maintaining a high level of faculty commitment, and becoming fully integrated in the university's recruitment and admissions cycle.
Suggested Bibliography
Shapiro and Levine, Creating Learning Communities