Glossary of Mason Terms
Glossary of Mason Terms
Although you will become a pro in no time, here are a few Mason-specific words that might be helpful to know.Systems, Websites, & Portals
BlackboardDuo two-factor authentication - Mason uses Duo Security to deliver Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) when using applications protected by Mason's Central Authentication Service (CAS) and Shibboleth (Blackboard does NOT require 2FA at this time), and the Cisco AnyConnect VPN. This second layer of protection makes your personal information and Mason’s information less vulnerable.
At this time, 2FA is optional for students.
*Additional Resource -
Activate your Handshake account and complete your profile to find on-campus jobs, workstudies, and internships!
- Browse through 450+ on-campus student organizations
- Discover university-sponsored events
- Connect with other Patriots!
- Create a personalized profile to connect with and find other students who share similar interests through directory suggestions
myMason portal gives you access to commonly-used Mason resources, including the ones below, in one convenient location.
Learn more about myMason.
- Blackboard Courses
- Corporate Time
- Patriot Web
- MasonLive email
Patriot Web
- Check their registration status
- Register for, change, and drop classes
- Display their class schedule
- Check grades
- Update your chosen name
- Update your pronouns
- Order transcripts
- View account summaries and tax information
*Additional Resources -
- View List of PatriotWeb Tutorials
- Learn more about Patriot Web
- Information on Updating Your Chosen Name and Pronouns
StarRez
- Sign-up for on-campus housing
- Apply for Living Learning Communities (LLCs)
- Enter maintenance requests.
VPN
Course Registration Terms
Degree Works- Pre-requisite courses – courses you are required to complete BEFORE signing up for the course that requires it. May have a minimum grade requirement
- Co-requisite courses – courses you can complete before OR concurrently with the course that requires it
IMPORTANT
After receiving an override, students must still register into the course.
- Capacity override – allows enrolling in a course section that has reached capacity, regardless of a waitlist option or the student’s waitlist status
- CRTL/RESTR – allows enrolling in a class that is restricted to certain colleges, majors, or student classification
- PQTEST – overrides the prerequisite and/or test score error
*Additional Resource - Go to Patriot Web to verify your registration time and to make sure you have a record free of holds that prevent registration.
- New Undergraduate students (Freshman and Transfer) will be assigned a time ticket after registering for an orientation
- Continuing students are assigned a time ticket for their class code (GR, SR, JR, SO, FR, ND) that allows access to registration based upon the number of completed hours from most to least. This registration time ticket indicates the first available time a student may begin to register for the term.
When you Waitlist a class, you are indicating your intent to register for a class that is already full. Once you are on the waitlist, the waitlist shows your position on the “backup” list of students attempting to get into the course. As students drop from the course, students on the waitlist will advance on the list to fill vacated seats.
IMPORTANT
- You are NOT automatically registered from a waitlist into the class you are waiting for
- Waitlist overrides (see definition above) are issued when seats become available and remain on your account for 48 hours
- The overrides are removed if you do not use them within the 48 hour period
How To Register for a Class That is at Full Capacity
- Waitlist the Class
See the Registration Process PDF (pages 1-7) for instructions on how to waitlist a class.
*Notes
- Not all courses offer a waitlist
- The system will recognize you as “registered” for that specific time and day even if you are only on the waitlist. You cannot register for another section of the same class, or an alternate class occupying the same day and time as a waitlisted course.
- Check your position on the waitlist in PatriotWeb. If/when a spot opens up and it is your turn, you will receive a Waitlist Override Notice via email and in Patriot Web.
- When you receive an Override Notice, move yourself from the waitlist to the class roster.
See the Registration Process PDF (pages 8-11) for instructions on how to use your Waitlist Override to signup for the class.
IMPORTANT
- You are NOT automatically registered from a waitlist
- Waitlist overrides are issued when seats become available and remain on your account for 48 hours
- The overrides are removed if you do not use them within the 48 hour period
University Offices
Academic Affairs- Coaching
- Advising
- Transition courses
- Physical access of all campuses
- Online accessibility of programs and services
- Student advocacy
- Direct student support
- Strengthening equity and inclusion at George Mason University
- Identity development
- Cross-cultural engagement
- Inclusive learning communities
- Student Access and Equity (SAE)
- Student Engagement for Racial Justice (SERJ)
- LGBTQ+ Resources
- Is home of undergraduate research and creative activities at Mason
- Connects students who want to pursue a research or creative project with faculty mentors
- Promotes George Mason University’s research and creative mission
- Is located in the Johnson Center room 228
- Funding student research and creative projects
- Supporting student travel to present their projects
- Helping students find research and creative opportunities
- Undergraduate Research Scholars program
- Summer Team Impact Projects
- Undergraduate Student Travel fund
- Mini-Grants
- All research-based courses
- Accounts and Loan Management (Collection)
- the Cashier’s Office
- Refunds
- Student account information
- Student billing
- Student tax reporting
- Third-party billing
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- Disability Services
- Housing and Residence Life
- International Programs and Services (OIPS)
- Learning Services
- the Mason Care Network (MCN)
- Mason Recreation & Sports
- New Student and Family Programs
- Student Health Services
- Student Involvement
- the Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)
- the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) & LGBTQ+ Resources
Financial Aid Terms
CARES ActThe COVID-19 CARES Act is part of federal government COVID-19 emergency grants provided to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus.
CARES Act Eligibility:Incoming students are not eligible for CARES Act because they were not enrolled at George Mason University at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak (Spring 2020).
*Additional Resources
- Federal government aid (grants, work studies, and loans)
- State grand funds
- Institutional grant funds
The Federal Pell Grant:
- Is awarded to undergraduates earning their first bachelor’s degree
- Eligibility is determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and your enrollment status
- Maximum award is set annually by the US Department of Education. A minimum of 12 credits each semester is required to receive full eligibility, with pro-rated amounts for less than full time enrollment
Types of Federal Direct Loans:
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan: based on financial need. The federal government pays the interest during in-school, grace and deferment periods, for a maximum of six years if you borrowed your first loan in 2013 or later. Once you have exhausted your 6 years of interest subsidy on your Federal Subsidized Loan, interest will be begin accruing on this loan.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: not based on financial need. The federal government does not pay the interest for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The accrued interest is automatically capitalized into the loan principal.