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Student fees to increase 2.5%, DEI debated once more

BY SAM DOUGLAS, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The Mason Board of Visitors met on May 1 for their final meeting of the 2024-2025 school year. Many topics that had been heavily discussed throughout the year in committees and around campus were scheduled to be voted on or talked about, including a resolution targeted at diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that will affect the university’s Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (OACC), the tuition for the 2026 fiscal year, and a policy regarding Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) deals for student athletes.

The budget for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year had been discussed throughout the school year, most recently at the April 1 board public comment session and the April 10 Finance and Land Use Committee meeting. 

Visitors stressed the need for more funding, but expressed hesitation, especially at the idea of raising tuition.

“We have dealt with this issue on the backs of students for too long,” Visitor Reginald Brown said.

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“We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” Visitor Lindsey M. Burke added.

Visitor Jeffrey A. Rosen felt that there were better ways to deal with the university’s financial needs. “Every dollar counts, I am not minimizing that, but that money can be found in other ways,” he said.

The proposal, motioned by Visitor and Chair of the Finance and Land Use Committee Robert Pence, would see no tuition increase for in-state students, but a 2.5% increase in student fees for all students. Out-of-state students would have their tuition increase as normal.

Visitor Burke and Visitor Jon M. Peterson made motions for revised versions of the proposal.

Burke proposed a 0% increase for in-state tuition as well as out-of-state tuition, with a 2.5% increase in student fees. Her motion failed 6-7-1, with Visitors Horace Blackman, Brown, Anjan Chimaladinne, William Hansen, Maureen Ohlhausen, Peterson and Nancy Gibson Prowitt voting against. Secretary Armand Alacbay abstained.

Peterson proposed a 2.5% increase for both in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition, including a 2.5% increase in student fees. His motion failed 7-7, with Secretary Alacbay and Visitors Brown, Burke, Hansen, Pence, Charles Cooper and Jeffrey A. Rosen voting against the proposition.

However, Pence’s proposal passed 10-4, with Visitors Blackman, Chimaladinne, Peterson, and Prowitt against.

A policy regarding Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) was also discussed and voted on. NIL allows student athletes to make money through endorsements and promotions and has swept across college sports since its introduction in 2021. The court case House v. NCAA, which would allow up to $20 million to be distributed by schools to student athletes, is set to be ruled on soon.

George Mason University Policy 4030 would allow third parties, NIL collectives, or boosters to negotiate NIL deals with student athletes and for the university to enter NIL deals directly with student athletes.

Regulations include all deals being disclosed to the university and deals over $600 being disclosed to a clearinghouse for review to make sure they follow NCAA rules.

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marvin Lewis discussed the policy with the Board, who voiced some anxieties with the proposition, fearing the effect it would have on the athletic department’s success if it were not passed.

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“If we opt in, we basically have an athletic program. If we opt out, we do not,” Visitor Blackman summarized.

“We are competing with a little bit of our hands tied behind our back and with half the money we need to compete,” Blackman said, “I do not think we have a choice, to be quite honest with you.”

The Visitors stressed the need for oversight on NIL deals involving the school and its student athletes, with President Gregory Washington and Visitor Rosen suggesting the formation of a BOV subcommittee.

Lewis said that the amount of NIL money being paid to student athletes from the university right away would be in the millions, but that it would be crucial in getting and retaining players.

“If we don’t pass this today… are we going to lose signing opportunities for recruits?” Rector Cully Stimson asked.

“Yes,” Lewis responded.

The motion to approve the policy passed unanimously.

A previous action item that detailed the “RESOLUTION OF GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY REGARDING THE PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION” was discussed further by the full board. It had previously been discussed April 17 by the Academic Programs, Diversity, and University Community Committee, which will soon be renamed to the Academic Affairs Committee.

Outside of Merten Hall, Mason’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors held a press conference protesting against the resolution. On April 17, Faculty Representative Solon Simmons estimated that 90% of faculty were against the resolution.

Vice President of OACC, Sharnnia Artis, gave a presentation on what her office has done recently in regards to DEI. 

Graduate Student Representative Carolyn Faith Hoffman did not believe the proposed resolution was necessary.

“I think we wasted a lot of time this academic year talking about things we did not need to talk about. We could have gotten so much achieved for the students with all the passion that is here on this board, all the intelligence that is here on this board,” Hoffman said.

“I hope going forward next year we can focus on the classic issues that students really need taken care of.” Hoffman continued.

Earlier in the meeting, President Washington gave his annual president’s report. He highlighted some of the successes and troubles Mason has faced during the school year, citing increased uncertainty with the federal government, which has caused graduate enrollment to slip and caused some of Mason’s 2024-2025 Presidential Performance Metrics not to be reached.

“What started off as a stellar year is running into some real challenges,” Washington said.

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Washington mentioned recent executive orders that have affected Mason, including the revoking of 15 students’ visas. He said the executive orders have cost Mason $16 million and that there is a significant drop in government opportunities for graduating seniors. 

Because of this drop, Washington unveiled the “Mason Career Academy,” which includes a set of programs that can give Mason students certificates and credentials from companies such as Amazon, Google, and IBM. Washington said that it will be available in a few weeks.