Parent and Family Council Membership

Mission
The George Mason University Parent and Family Council strives to foster student success and enhance the campus community by actively engaging the parents and families of undergraduate students in support of the University through events, programs, and fundraising. 

The purpose of the George Mason University Parent and Family Council is to: 

  • Serve as ambassadors for George Mason University among the parents and family members of undergraduate students; 
  • Represent Mason families to the Office of New Student and Family Programs, Division of University Life, and the larger Mason community; 
  • Serve as an ongoing forum for building and maintaining a strong bond with the University; 
  • Distribute Parent and Family Fund finances by awarding scholarships and grants; 
  • Promote programs and initiatives to encourage other families to make gifts in support of the University. 

About the Parent and Family Council
The Parent and Family Council is a group of diverse, dedicated parent and family volunteers who serve as ambassadors for George Mason University among the parents and family members of undergraduate students and provide feedback to the Office of New Student and Family Programs on issues of particular interest to parents and families. The Parent and Family Council meets two times each year to discuss issues; learn more about University developments affecting students; plan programs and events to involve parents and families in the life of the University; participate in broadening and deepening relationships in support of the University; and allocate finances through the Parent and Family Fund. 

The Parent and Family Council is made up of parents and family members of current undergraduate students. The Council consists of approximately 20 people representing a diverse spectrum of students’ degree programs and academic/class standing. Council membership is comprised of a Leadership Board who each oversees a committee, and the remaining Council members serve on one of these committees, working to advance family-focused initiatives. The Parent and Family Council is appointed by the Associate Director of Family Programs, and all members must serve a one-year term. The one-year term is renewable at the invitation of the Office of New Student and Family Programs and volunteers may serve until their student’s graduation from Mason. 

A member of the Parent and Family Council serves on the Parent and Family Fund allocation committee and helps distribute finances by awarding scholarships and grants. Past recipients of Parent and Family Fund scholarships and grants include, but are not limited to, the Patriot Pantry, Unpaid Internship Scholarships, Alternative Breaks Need-based Scholarships, and Gowns for Grads. To view the full list of programs and initiatives supported by the Parent and Family Fund, visit MasonFamily.gmu.edu/Parent-and-Family-Fund. Contributions made to the Parent and Family Fund directly impact the lives of students and enhance their academic and co-curricular experience at the University.  

As part of their commitment to the Parent and Family Council and the University, Council members support the Parent and Family Fund and/or other programs in the Division of University Life with annual gifts throughout their appointed term. The Council also promotes programs and initiatives to encourage other families to make gifts in support of the University. 

Expectations

  • Attend the Spring and Fall meetings of the Parent and Family Council;
  • Participate in a minimum of two volunteer opportunities throughout the year; 
  • Serve on one Council committee; 
  • Provide input and ideas at meetings and on a regular basis, and contribute knowledge of your student’s experience to help inform practices; 
  • Represent the interests of all Mason families and serve as an ambassador, working to engage other parents and families in supporting University efforts; 

Benefits of joining the Parent and Family Council
In addition to providing leadership and guidance in our efforts to engage Mason families, Council members receive many benefits.  

  • Meet two times a year with University leadership to hear first-hand, timely news and information about George Mason; 
  • Attend Family Weekend and Spring Family Fling annually free of charge; 
  • Receive Council-branded apparel and name badge to wear while volunteering; 
  • Featured on the Family Programs website at MasonFamily.gmu.edu/Parent-and-Family-Council. 

About the Leadership Board
The members of the Leadership Board are selected each Fall and serve for a maximum term length of two years. Two Council members currently serve on the Leadership Board and each oversees a committee – one focused on internal and external communication and the other focused on virtual and in-person programming. The Leadership Board is expected to meet monthly with both the Associate Director of Family Programs and the committee they lead. 

The Leadership Board works in conjunction with the Associate Director of Family Programs to organize meeting agendas, identify topics of interest for the Council, as well as maintain regular communication with Council members throughout the year. During monthly meetings with the Associate Director of Family Programs, the Leadership Board provides committee updates, input and ideas that represent the interests of all Mason families, contributes knowledge of the student experience to help inform practices, and advises of important issues facing Mason families. 

Each Leadership Board member oversees a committee and works with the Council members on their designated committee to advance their specific focus. During the initial committee meeting, the Leadership Board member works with the Council members to set committee goals for the year and determine who is going to work on which pieces. The Leadership Board member creates meeting agendas and shares them in advance of each meeting with the committee. Between monthly meetings, Council members are expected to work to advance their respective pieces. At each monthly meeting, the Leadership Board member shares any relevant updates, and Council members share progress reports and next steps. At the end of each monthly meeting, there is a time to ask questions and raise concerns. Any urgent concerns are shared immediately with the Associate Director of Family Programs. 

Questions?
Please contact Rebecca McCrory, Associate Director of Family Programs, at rstauffa@gmu.edu.