George Mason University (247)

Authority: Title 23, Chapter 9.1, Code of Virginia.

A. This Item includes general and nongeneral fund appropriations to support institutional initiatives that help meet statewide goals as described in the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act of 2005 (Chapters 933 and 945, 2005 Acts of Assembly). 

B. Out of this appropriation, an amount estimated at $289,614 from the general fund and $124,120 from nongeneral funds the first year and $289,614 from the general fund and $124,120 from nongeneral funds the second year is designated for the educational telecommunications project to provide graduate engineering education, subject to a plan approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

C. Out of this appropriation, $459,125 the first year and $459,125 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Institute for Conflict Analysis.

D. As Virginia's public colleges and universities approach full funding of the base adequacy guidelines and as the General Assembly strives to fully fund the general fund share of the base adequacy guidelines, these funds are provided with the intent that, in exercising their authority to set tuition and fees, the Board of Visitors shall take into consideration the impact of escalating college costs for Virginia students and families.  In accordance with the cost-sharing goals set forth in § 4-2.01 b. of this act, the Board of Visitors is encouraged to limit increases on tuition and mandatory educational and general fees for in-state, undergraduate students to the extent possible.

E. Out of this appropriation, $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to support the Potomac Bay Science Center.

F.  Out of this appropriation, $19,894,643$20,073,636 the first year from nongeneral funds is provided to support educational and general programs and student financial assistance.  The source of the nongeneral funds is the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  This funding is intended to moderate the general fund reductions to the institution, as well as moderate the need for tuition and fee increases and increase student access.  The institution is authorized to spend this funding in either the first year or the first quarter of the second year.  Prior to release of this funding, the institution shall provide a plan to the Governor delineating the respective portion of this funding to be used for educational and general program funding and financial assistance, and the year it will be spent.  In addition, the plan shall include anticipated tuition and fee increases for the first and second year of the biennium.  The amounts appropriated are an estimate, and may be modified by the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, depending on final budget reduction actions taken to higher education and public education in the final budget bill enacted for the 2008-2010 biennium.

G. Out of this appropriation, $2,864,461 the second year from the general fund is designated to support operations and maintenance of new buildings which support the goals of the Governor's Higher Education Commission of access, affordability, quality and increased degrees.

H. Out of this appropriation, $850,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to support a public-private partnership between George Mason University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and CISCO Systems, Inc., to utilize emerging technologies to increase access, reduce time to graduation and reduce unit cost while maintaining and enhancing quality.  Instructional talent across the four institutions will be leveraged in the delivery of programs in foreign languages, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.