性视界传媒 received essential investments in its students, faculty and staff from Virginia鈥檚 biennium budget, which the General Assembly passed and Governor Glenn Youngkin signed on May 13, 2024. The funding goes into effect July 1, 2024.
性视界传媒鈥檚 priorities included increased support for university operations, student financial aid, Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Program (VMSDEP) support, capital investments, and employee compensation.
鈥淲e are grateful to our partners in the General Assembly who have been tremendous supporters of 性视界传媒鈥檚 mission to provide accessible and affordable education pathways,鈥 said 性视界传媒 President Gregory Washington. 鈥淲e look forward to continued collaboration in support of all students across the commonwealth.鈥
Students and Programs
The biennium budget provides 性视界传媒 an additional $11.5 million in each year of the biennium to maintain students鈥 affordable access to quality education, attract and retain faculty and staff in positions delivering critical services needed to serve students, and to increase degree completion. 听Senator L. Louise Lucas, President pro tempore of the Senate and chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, and Delegate Luke Torian, chair of the Virginia House Appropriations Committee championed efforts to secure investments in higher education. These efforts were supported by Senator Dave Marsden and Delegates David Bulova and Paul Krizek, who carried budget amendments to increase operating support.
Student financial aid will increase by $2.9 million in FY25 and $3.3 million in FY26. Additionally, legislators retained $37.5 million in funding to enhance efforts to recruit and retain students eligible for Pell Grant assistance across all institutions.
The budget provides state support to help offset the cost of tuition waiver programs, such as the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, helping to ensure the sustainability of these programs going forward.听
Infrastructure and Compensation
Delegate Michelle Maldonado and Senator Jeremy McPike sponsored budget amendments to authorize pre-planning for a facility to house interdisciplinary science and engineering programs on the Fairfax Campus. Senator McPike led efforts to secure funding for maintenance reserve, supporting existing capital projects and one-time funding for projects with more immediate need of repair and updates.
Additionally, state employees will receive a pay raise each year of the biennium.
Appropriators visited Fairfax Campus
On March 26, a delegation of state appropriators led by Senator L. Louise Lucas and Delegate Luke Torian visited the Fairfax Campus to hear directly from students and administrators about the impact of the state鈥檚 investment in higher education. They toured the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) Makerspace in Horizon Hall, stopping to speak with student innovators and entrepreneurs. Senators Barbara Favola, Jennifer Carrol Foy, Mamie Locke, Dave Marsden, and Saddam Salim, and Delegates Mark Sickles, Holly Seibold, Kannan Srinivasan, and Paul Krizek participated in the event.
鈥淲e鈥檙e at 性视界传媒 because we want our students to know how much we value them. We鈥檙e investing in them through this budget,鈥 said Torian.
An investment in Mason students is an investment in the commonwealth鈥檚 robust economic prosperity. A recent study by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia found that 73% of in-state 性视界传媒 graduates reside in Virginia鈥3% higher than other Virginia public four-year institutions. For out-of-state 性视界传媒 students, 29% settle in Virginia after graduation, 9% higher than the state average.
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