Virtual Open House MHA Health Systems Management Transcript

George Mason Online Admissions: So first introduce myself here. My name is Mackenzie Kehoe. I am an enrollment counselor in the online admissions department on behalf of George Mason. So I’m really excited to have everyone here tonight. Thank you to everyone who’s taking the time to join us.

George Mason Online Admissions: It’s such a great opportunity to learn more about the program and ask questions as you’re making really important decisions about the next steps in your education. So thank you, everyone and thank you to our faculty members for helping to provide such great information for our prospective students.

George Mason Online Admissions: so I will start us off by quickly, just going through the agenda for tonight’s presentation. And then I will pass it off to Dr. Shangle, then, Dr. Real? So first we will meet our presenters. Everyone will have some chance to to go over your background. And what brought you, Mason. We’re gonna go through the program details. The learning outcomes, course details, curriculum details.

George Mason Online Admissions: We’ll talk through the capstone project and then the opportunities that everyone has outside of the classroom which is really excited.

George Mason Online Admissions: And then we’ll wrap up by going through the admissions requirements, and you’ll have a chance at the end there to ask any questions that you have about the program. So there’ll be a good QA. Session at the end. Please use this as an opportunity to ask any questions that you have definitely take advantage of us all here today. In any way that we can help.

George Mason Online Admissions: And then I do wanna quickly. Just go through basic zoom functions. If anyone is not familiar with zoom, pretty user friendly. Everyone is using the chat really? Well, so that looks good. So any questions you have you can pop right in the chat.

George Mason Online Admissions: You can use the raise your hand function if you wanted to come off mute and ask your questions, live or you can use the QA. Function

George Mason Online Admissions: which should show up as a button on the the sidebar on your zoom screen. And the questions will come right over to us. If you don’t see it, you can use the little 3 dots which say more, and it should show up so it should show some more applications for you there.

George Mason Online Admissions: So we’ll do questions and answers at the end, if you can save your questions for them.

George Mason Online Admissions: and then we’ll go through everything there.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alrighty, and I’m gonna pass it off

George Mason Online Admissions: to Dr. Shangold and, Dr. Rio, if you guys wanna take a moment to introduce yourself.

Brenda Sheingold: Sure. So I I’m Dr. Brenda Shingold and the program director of the Mh. At George Mason. I’ve been there since 2018 in that role. And my background prior to going into academics was in trauma nursing and

Brenda Sheingold: thrilled to have such a good partner and colleague and Dr. Yurio, we work together with the on campus students and the online students all the time, and as Dr. Yurio mentioned. We also endeavor to offer a lot of extracurricular activities for Mhas. As a team. So welcome tonight.

Brenda Sheingold: Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: Yes. Hi, good evening, everyone. My name is Dr. Maria Urio. I’m the assistant professor in the department as well as the online program coordinator.

Maria Uriyo: I work really closely with Shanghold on this Mh. A program

Maria Uriyo: prior to coming to George Mason. I was at Johns Hopkins, and I did analytical type research for their claims.

Maria Uriyo: department within the Mcco. And then I also was I over. I oversaw the the insecure accreditation as well.

Maria Uriyo: So I really encourage you to take a part in this program. And actually, you know.

Maria Uriyo: apply for the program because it will really be influential in your career.

Maria Uriyo: So yeah.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alrighty!

Maria Uriyo: Oh, okay, so in terms of what makes up Mhf program unique is that we are also coming accredited. And that is a requirement that many employers look for. That you are taking, that you have your Master’s degree in healthcare administration from a accredited program.

Maria Uriyo: Not only that we’re also ranked number 32, nationally in the by the Us. News and World report

Maria Uriyo: a recent

Maria Uriyo: us, I mean ascent up towards Number one that’s our eventual goal is the

Maria Uriyo: the work that we, the award that we got from Canon for how we approach our

Maria Uriyo: our curriculum, our program, and how we make it flexible and sustainable, so that our students are able to manage life as well as learning as well as work.

Maria Uriyo: So our students are very diverse.

Maria Uriyo: and reflecting the community that they come from the the community where the Judge Mason is at

Maria Uriyo: so with that being said, you would feel welcome, and we will acclamatize to the culture of the program and be able to and be able to do very well in in your coursework.

Maria Uriyo: and then, of course, we have opportunities outside the classroom that was mentioned before. Different clubs, different organizations, different events on campus, both in person as as well as virtual. The only thing stopping anyone from you know attending those is yourself in terms of engaging and taking action.

Maria Uriyo: I don’t know if, Dr. Shango you have an additional

Maria Uriyo: points you want to add.

Brenda Sheingold: this is a network, intensive degree. And we try to give you as many opportunities as we can through the program, but encourage you to begin that networking process wherever you are. Wherever you’re working, or wherever you live. We’ll. We’ll establish a model for you through the events that we have. But we we want that to continue outside of our program as well.

Brenda Sheingold: So with the first one that’s gonna be coming up as a big meet and greet with the Anova executives. To have resume reviews, lightning talks. That’s gonna be the one of our biggest kickoff events of the year. I see that the 3 of you are somewhat local, so it’s possible that you could come to campus for that, and we would love to see you. We often have on

Brenda Sheingold: online students that live local attend that event. And we had 300 people there last year. That we provided meals for, and you know that had that this included nursing and social work and bioengineering as well as health informatics. So it wasn’t just 300 Mha. Students. But throughout the College of Public Health

Brenda Sheingold: we have a spring symposium in March

Brenda Sheingold: that’s hosted by our Student Association. There’s a lot of opportunities through the student, the Mha Student Association, that’s all live streamed for the online students. And we have recruit panelists. Last last year we had I wanna say 16 no. No. 12 that were recruited, 3 panels of 4. Then we had a keynote speaker on top of that. So

Brenda Sheingold: it’s a very rich learning experience. We also invite Gw. And Georgetown Mhja students. So you’re networking, not just with executives, but also with your colleagues on other campuses.

Brenda Sheingold: So that’s that’s just 2. I could go on and on. But I’m gonna stop with 2.

Brenda Sheingold: You want me to talk about this Dr. Here.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah.

Brenda Sheingold: We have. We’re competency driven in our curriculum. And that’s because of our cami accreditation. And there’s 5 buckets that are competencies fall under it, and they’re identified in every single class. What? What 5 domains are in your class, and then what competencies are covered in your class.

Brenda Sheingold: and we’re required to report those outcomes to Cami in order to retain our accreditation. We’re gonna come up for reaccreditation in 2026 and

Brenda Sheingold: you know. So that’s something that you’re gonna be seeing on every single syllabus. And you’ll hear us talk about competencies frequently throughout the program.

Maria Uriyo: Okay? So in terms of the curriculum. It’s it consists of 45 credits, and the left side shows you the required core classes that you have to take.

Maria Uriyo: Because we’re in the College of Public Health.

Maria Uriyo: All our incoming new students will take a class in in the foundations of Public Health Gch 500

Maria Uriyo: and and then on the right side you’ll see. Have the ability to have a concentration in healthcare quality, or just have a concentration in executive con, the executive concentration. So this is a recent development and

Maria Uriyo: before our our students would have graduated with what would now look as a executive concentration. You are the Mha Executive, but now we’re giving you the option of saying, Well, I would like to go. The healthcare quality route. So you have that option to determine what it is that you would like, what path you would like to take.

Maria Uriyo: And these are available for online and on campus students. So our program is whether you’re online or traditional, everything is

Maria Uriyo: everybody’s getting the same

Maria Uriyo: learning. Yes.

Brenda Sheingold: Same curriculum. I would just add that the healthcare quality concentration is new for us, as Dr. Yorio mentioned. But it’s market driven. That’s where it came from. We have an advisory board, and we interviewed employ, you know, over 30 employers stakeholders in the Mha. Program in order to come up with. What? What was

Brenda Sheingold: what employers really wanted. And they want skills and knowledge and value based purchasing in healthcare quality. That’s the wave of the future. And so that’s why this particular concentration has been added. It’s because of the employment value. After you graduate.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah. And then, towards the end of the program, the last class that everybody takes is a capstone practicum in healthcare quality and healthcare systems management, the 7 90 class. So whether you’re online or traditional, you take 7, 90.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: we’ll talk more about it. I think.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: So this is the capstone.

Maria Uriyo: issue I was talking about and what it is is typically our students become part of of a team or

Maria Uriyo: and an entity. And typically, you are working on a project that addresses an issue that the preceptor has or the organization has, and it is something that will be of value to the organization. And when we say you’re going to be doing a project, it is a non-pesis project.

Maria Uriyo: and it’s more of of a more of like an executive type level project that gives you that you’re doing within 8 weeks. If you’re online and more than 8 weeks, maybe 13 weeks. If you’re a traditional student.

Maria Uriyo: at the end of the project, you’re going to be generating a report and a and a poster presentation. And the poster presentation for those who are able. We present it on campus in in the Public Health building

Maria Uriyo: in Pittison. What you become very familiar with it, and many people within the within the college attend, and sometimes preceptors come and attend, and so that you’re able to show what it is that you did their vast number of projects that students have done ranging from telehealth market research

Maria Uriyo: like shadowing, looking, working in the or looking at show times different things like that er looking at working with revenue cycle management. So it all depends what it is that you’re interested in, and if you’re able to find a preceptor, and sometimes we come in, not sometimes we do come in and help guide you in in obtaining that perceptor that you need.

Maria Uriyo: Dr. Shango, you would. Would you like to add anything to that.

Brenda Sheingold: Yeah. That this is where your networking skills will come in really handy. We don’t locate preceptors for you. We you have one foot out the door by the time this last class you know, comes into the curriculum, and we wanna make sure that you’re able to navigate networking on your own. So we give you the skills we give you tools to network with. In the class. And

Brenda Sheingold: we, you know, you live all over the nation, really. And so we we want you to network with people in your area, like I mentioned, mainly so that you can end up with this capstone project and employment. After. I’ll just give one example of of a capstone project that was just recent. We had a student who was working. It’s called the High Reliability

Brenda Sheingold: Center with in Nova Fairfax, where we live in Northern Virginia, they have 5 hospitals, and this was a Central Command center it’s also called a bunker, where they monitor all 5 Icu patients and their rhythms and

Brenda Sheingold: with, you know, a a whole cadre of physicians like like probably I would say, 25 physicians that are monitoring this. They have, you know, multiple monitors in front of them. They also, arrange transfers, if patients need to be transferred to a different facility or a higher level of care, and all of the bed management in every single of those 5 hospitals. They manage that, too.

Brenda Sheingold: So, and there’s eyes on cameras in the icu with the patients

Brenda Sheingold: to help give nurses a second set of assessments with a nurse that’s monitoring a patient live in icu at at all times. So that’s 5 different Icus and 5 different hospitals, where all of the functions of that I just mentioned are are managed remotely in the command center.

Brenda Sheingold: So that’s where she did. Her project, which was really an off the charts opportunity that that almost no hospital system has that kind of infrastructure. So.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah. So in terms of opportunities to get outside of the classroom Dr. Shangold mentioned the rising health care leaders of Mason. That’s the group of students that responsible for for putting together that meet and greet event that is taking place in the fall as well as the symposium that takes place in the spring.

Maria Uriyo: And there are many other thing, other events that they take part in. All these events are opportunities for you to network and get to know the executives in the area, and also not only that getting to know your own peers, because eventually are going to be working with them

Maria Uriyo: in one way or another.

Maria Uriyo: and then another opportunity is getting to interact with the national capital healthcare executives nche, which is part of the Sc. As you join as you become part of the Mh. Program, there are various other associations that you become aware of that would encourage you to

Maria Uriyo: become part of the student membership, and, and, you know, gain the benefits of being part of those. But of that body. One of them is the Academy Health Student Chapter.

Maria Uriyo: And then, of course, there are many other health policies, seminars that the Department Healthcare Administration and Policy Department provides and gives.

Maria Uriyo: and our chair of the department, Luca, Pj. Maddox Maddox also sometimes gives some seminars and brings visitors or guest speakers on campus, so you may.

Maria Uriyo: you should take advantage of those. And then, of course, this this last one is not the least, but it’s actually one of the opportunities that you have that you could become part of the various case competitions that students are able to take part in. Do the Shangberg. Would you like to add

Maria Uriyo: some.

Brenda Sheingold: Yeah, I would love to. We have a case competition coming up for first year students. That would be you. In November. That’ll be positioned at George Washington University. This is a small regional competition, where you have just a day and a half to spend with students from 5 other Universities, Hopkins, Gw. Uniform services.

Brenda Sheingold: Georgetown and Vcu along with George Mason. So this is a competition where you’re given an actual case to analyze, present it to a team of judges

Brenda Sheingold: and the judges decide first, second, and third place, winners and and cash prizes are awarded to students on every team. So the this past one, we just piloted it for the first time. We’re and the first, the first place team $1,000 each second place was 7, 50, and third place was $500 each, and that’s for a day and a half of of work and time learning all 5 program directors.

Brenda Sheingold: From those schools that I mentioned participated in education. During that time Dr. Yurio gathered phenomenal data after that which built a solid case of why we’re doing it again this year.

Brenda Sheingold: So that’s you know, that’s one example. And then we also participate in Nasi, the National Association for Health service executives, which is has been designed and has one of the oldest associations for health services executives. It’s designed to promote black leadership. And to make sure there’s mentorship.

Brenda Sheingold: That competition is a national one. We just we’re so lucky we registered a team. It opened on Monday. The registration opened on Monday. This is gonna be held in October. They only took 30 teams, and we got in. So there’s a lot of schools that did not make the, you know, make it.

Brenda Sheingold: But we were right there, you know, on the phone as soon as they opened and and we got one of the spots. So it’s very coveted. It’s a very prestigious competition, and we feel the team there every year and pay for everything hotel airfare, the fees, the food, everything. So those that’s just a little bit about the competitions.

Maria Uriyo: so I think this is for you.

George Mason Online Admissions: Yeah, I was. Gonna say, I’ll I’ll take over this slide and then, of course, feel free to jump in and add anything else that that you have on your end, that you’re looking for with applications to but the admissions process is is pretty straightforward. Everything is going to be housed right on our application portal.

George Mason Online Admissions: and we’ll provide that information toward the end. So everyone has access to the application. But what we’ll need is copies of your transcripts from your bachelor’s degree. You have to have your bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. So we’ll grab those transcripts.

George Mason Online Admissions: We’ll need your professional resume. You’ll also provide a brief statement of purpose. Essay about why you’re pursuing your Mha. Degree what you’re hoping to achieve with your degree what you’re hoping to contribute to the classroom as well, and why? You’re a good candidate for the program. You will need 2 professional references. And then you will wrap up with a video interview. The nice thing about the interview is that you’ll be interviewing with

George Mason Online Admissions: an enrollment counselor like myself.

George Mason Online Admissions: and you should at that point in time you would have had contact with your counselor through the whole application process.

George Mason Online Admissions: So you should know them. It’s it’s a really nice way. To go through just some basic questions about what it is, about your background that makes you a good fit for the program and why you’re pursuing it. And we’re usually able to get candidates. Their interview scheduled within the week. So it’s a nice quick process for everyone to get all taken care of.

George Mason Online Admissions: and then Dr. Shingold drio, if you’re able to provide some information about the work experience that you like to see in the backgrounds of applicants. Specifically. And and what you look for there.

Maria Uriyo: Okay, I guess I’ll start end of the Shango. You can add, yeah, so I would say, the Mh,

Maria Uriyo: program is open to individuals of diverse backgrounds. The only I mean the only thing that we you should have is the desire to learn, the willingness to learn, and being open-minded. And

Maria Uriyo: the other thing is the ability to network and desire to network in order to, you know, be able to get the work opportunities that you’re applying for this in this program for

Maria Uriyo: so we’re looking for. Well, your transcript, of course, will show us you know, your the caliber of student you are

Maria Uriyo: the Gpo 3 is good. That’s what we’re looking for. If your Gpa. Is lower than that, the other routes of how you can eventually get into the program by

Maria Uriyo: finding ways of getting your Gpa up.

Maria Uriyo: so I would. There’s so many.

Maria Uriyo: I guess so many examples of the type of students we’ve brought into the program those who have have some

Maria Uriyo: experience working in healthcare, those who have who don’t have that experience, those who are coming straight from undergrad into the program. So it’s vast. Those who are actually have worked so many years in healthcare, and and some who are also transitioning from you know, working X number of years, and they want to change career path.

Maria Uriyo: So it’s vast.

Maria Uriyo: So, Dr. Shanko, do you want to add anything.

Brenda Sheingold: I do. You said it so? Well? I I think the only thing I could possibly add is some a examples of degrees. You know, sports. We have. People have actually had an undergrad degree in team sports, and they’ve been some of the best students we’ve had because of their ability to quickly navigate problems and solve them. And they’re competitive and their leaders and you know, physicians.

Brenda Sheingold: We’ve had attorneys. We’ve had dentists. We’ve had nurses.

Brenda Sheingold: We’ve had, Dr. Yurio said. No experience. We’ve had an accelerated program where people aren’t even finished their bachelor’s degree in health administration, and we take them. And we’re actually expanding that program to other bachelor’s degrees, external to the Bachelors and Health Administration. So it, we have. We have a big 10,

Brenda Sheingold: and there’s room for everybody in it, and we we look forward to reviewing. I hope, what’s going to be your application after after tonight?

Maria Uriyo: Yeah.

George Mason Online Admissions: Great alrighty

George Mason Online Admissions: think

George Mason Online Admissions: alright. This last slide is for everybody to jot down the contact information for the Admissions department. And so there’s our phone number, email, the link to our website, and then the link to the application here, too. So you can always feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions beyond tonight, too. Or if you wanted to talk one in one

George Mason Online Admissions: with an enrollment counselor to review your background, specifically talk through the program details again, and we can make sure that this is the right fit for you and help you with the next steps of the application process.

George Mason Online Admissions: So please please feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help you with those next steps.

George Mason Online Admissions: And now I’ll open up to question and answer. So any any questions you have, please feel free to utilize the chat, the QA. Session, or the QA. Function again? And we will pass those over.

Maria Uriyo: Oh, of

Maria Uriyo: on yeah. June.

Brenda Sheingold: Do you wanna talk to that like when you get in an an application? In? What? How long does it take before you would forward that to us, to review that you.

George Mason Online Admissions: Doesn’t really.

George Mason Online Admissions: yeah, absolutely. And so you will be working alongside enrollment counselor, basically from your initial start of an application. Or if you call in to get some basic information. You’ll be linked up with an enrollment counselor to help you throughout the process. Once you’re able to get everything completed for your application, meaning your online application is submitted.

George Mason Online Admissions: Your interview is done. That’s when we wrap up every everything and send it over to faculty Admissions committee for review.

George Mason Online Admissions: And typically from that time where your application is submitted, and until you have your decision, it’s 3 to 4 weeks. Total. So you’ll have your decision. It everything’s reviewed on a rolling basis. So once we get it, we send it through. So we can get decisions as soon as possible, and you can get your spot secured for the upcoming term absolutely.

Brenda Sheingold: That the rolling basis is very important. A lot of programs don’t have that. They only admit one time a year with a cohort, and we admit you know, all year, except for during the summer. So so for summer, you know, to start in the summer. But you know, spring and fall we admit. Throughout the academic year for that.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: So there’s another question about choosing a concentration.

Maria Uriyo: So you can.

Maria Uriyo: If you already know, you can choose a concentration like right at the beginning. When you apply.

Maria Uriyo: If you don’t, you can wait until maybe your second semester

Maria Uriyo: or your second session, and then select your concentration.

Maria Uriyo: so you have time to determine what concentration you want.

Maria Uriyo: However, there’s some people who already know, and they decide.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alrighty. It looks like Sandra has her hand raised. So I’m gonna see if we can get unmuted.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alright, Sandra, you should be able to unmute yourself if you wanna come and ask your question.

Sandra Arcoraci: Hi, can you hear me? Okay.

Brenda Sheingold: Deaths.

Sandra Arcoraci: Great. Ha!

Sandra Arcoraci: Thank you so much for

Sandra Arcoraci: putting this this seminar on. It’s so interesting.

Sandra Arcoraci: and it and very exciting. Because I was not aware of all of the

Sandra Arcoraci: extra

Sandra Arcoraci: wonderful things. That come with a program like, for example, when you were talking to me about talking to us about the networking and about

Sandra Arcoraci: the

Sandra Arcoraci: seminars, and that that the fall and spring seminars and stuff, I mean. That’s that’s really exciting. But I would be an I would be an online student. So I don’t know how I would be able to

Sandra Arcoraci: participate with that. But actually the the main. The main reason why I raised my hand. Sorry I’m kind of jumping around here is how long is the program?

Sandra Arcoraci: The Mha program? How long does it take from beginning to end.

Brenda Sheingold: It’s 2 years and one semester. 6 credits are taken every every semester, including the summer. Do you take 6? The summer one class at a time for 8 weeks. It’s accelerated in that way, because, as Dr. Yorio mentioned it, mirrors the on campus program. But they have a longer semester, and they don’t take one at a time.

Brenda Sheingold: So that’s one difference. I can circle back and answer your question about how do you participate as an online student because we we put everything possible on zoom that we can. We just did a value based purchasing boot camp that was zoomed.

Brenda Sheingold: We did a

Brenda Sheingold: black African American heritage month panel. That was very well received. It’s the second year in a row. We’ve done that that was zoomed, and and we also allow for questions and interaction with the Zoom participants

Brenda Sheingold: for the spring symposium. That’s an all day event. So you can drop in. Drop out. We post signs. So you know, when the next panel is gonna start and we monitor the questions. You know, in real time at the symposium. So you can get your answers immediately from the executives that are fielding them on the stage.

Brenda Sheingold: So we we go out of our way to be inclusive like that.

Sandra Arcoraci: That’s good.

Brenda Sheingold: We also do something called the Dome experience at a Nova very unusual. One of the few places on the east coast that has an operating room theater to watch open heart surgery. We’ve had a number of online students. Attend that experience.

Brenda Sheingold: And we’ve we had one that flew in for it. So so we we don’t. We’re constantly seeking new ways, Sandra, to be inclusive of the online program. I think we’ve made pretty good headway but we’re always looking to improve. So so if you come, we’ll be looking for your suggestions

Brenda Sheingold: how to make sure that that you are a part of our community.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah. And I was just like.

Maria Uriyo: yeah, I would just like to add that even though you’re online, any of the university services are also available to you. So like a Korea office like, the what? What’s the other one? The yeah.

Brenda Sheingold: Mental health caps, the counseling, counseling, and professional services.

Maria Uriyo: Yes.

Brenda Sheingold: Yeah, you’re right. That’s that’s really good to mention.

Sandra Arcoraci: That’s wonderful. So.

Brenda Sheingold: We preferred students there. On campus. And and you know, online with with all the post pandemic fall out. It’s really nice to have that resource. We have an app for your phone that you can download. You’re a George Mason student. You have access 24, 7, literally to mental health services at no charge. So you know, we we take student wellbeing very seriously for for online students.

Brenda Sheingold: Nevis.

Sandra Arcoraci: That’s wonderful. And what is really exciting is that it’s not just okay. I’m going through these.

Sandra Arcoraci: or we’re we’re going through these classes. It seems like

Sandra Arcoraci: there’s a plan, B, you know, like, like, or or there’s a plan after you graduate. Because, you know, a lot of times people are like, okay, I’ve graduated. I’ve put through all the all this effort and everything. Now, what? But it seems like you have so many resources. And there’s so much support. It sounds like there’s a lot of support, you know, with the with the program to where you’re like, Hey, you’re graduated. So you know.

Sandra Arcoraci: you know. Look, look, look into this avenue, or you know that kind of thing. So and I think that that’s

Sandra Arcoraci: that’s so important. So it’s not like, just.

Sandra Arcoraci: you know, rubber stamping that you know you got your your master’s degree because you wanna do something with it. You know, you, wanna.

Sandra Arcoraci: you know, be

Sandra Arcoraci: a productive

Sandra Arcoraci: yeah member of

Sandra Arcoraci: healthcare, you know, and and help.

Sandra Arcoraci: and you know, help others. And

Sandra Arcoraci: you know, work with, you know your colleagues. And you know? So I think it’s wonderful, actually.

Brenda Sheingold: Oh, glad you brought this up, Sandra again. You’re bringing up some really good points. We have a 93% placement in the field of choice, which is healthcare. Within 3 months of graduation we track very carefully, and we are required to report those outcomes

Brenda Sheingold: to our accrediters, which is why we attract why we keep such careful track of it. Because we. This is not a a decorative degree. This, this is a meaningful degree. We expect you to

Brenda Sheingold: to become employed when you’re finished with this degree. And we, you know, everything we do is designed to make that happen. This is a lot of your time. It’s a lot of your money and we don’t waste any of it. So

Brenda Sheingold: you know, we we take that piece of it that you mentioned very seriously. I also wanna circle back about what you said about resources. George Mason is the largest public university in Virginia and we do have a lot of resources, and we spend the money that we have on students.

Brenda Sheingold: And we’re we’re accountable for that. So I’m very proud to say that that we put students first in every way.

Sandra Arcoraci: Wonderful.

Sandra Arcoraci: So, Bob, do. Do you have, like like a

Sandra Arcoraci: a career center or

Brenda Sheingold: Huge. Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: Yes, there is a career center. And also when you’re talking about careers one of the things that we we we as a department have is we make, we have we make available to our students

Maria Uriyo: the individual development plan, like at the beginning, where students work with like a designated faculty to determine where it is that they want to go, what it what it is that they’ll kind of like weaknesses in that they need to augment. And then what do they need to do now

Maria Uriyo: to get to Point Z where they wanna go? So

Maria Uriyo: we so you don’t want to arrive like you’ve gotten the degree. And then you’re asking yourself now what.

Sandra Arcoraci: Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: We don’t want that. We want you to know where you’re going. Yeah.

Sandra Arcoraci: That sounds my gosh! That sounds so wonderful!

Brenda Sheingold: One of the few programs in the country, if not the only program in the country that has an executive in residence.

Brenda Sheingold: and he meets one on one with students for career counseling and a. Among many other things he leads that dome experience for students as a graduation gift. I spoke about earlier. So having an executive and residence as part of our program and on our faculty is very unusual and unique and and just adds to employment after after you graduate.

Sandra Arcoraci: Yes, what? That sounds wonderful. So

Sandra Arcoraci: I used to live in Northern Virginia. So and now now I’m in Charlottesville. So

Sandra Arcoraci: I work at uva right now.

Sandra Arcoraci: So it’s not directly related to

Sandra Arcoraci: healthcare. I do have 4 4 years of

Sandra Arcoraci: healthcare related experience. But then my husband got very sick

Sandra Arcoraci: and so I had to change gears a little bit. But I’m trying to get

Sandra Arcoraci: I’m trying to recenter and get back to

Sandra Arcoraci: this big goal that I’ve had for a long time, and I’m just I’m ready to go for it. So.

Brenda Sheingold: That’s great. So.

Sandra Arcoraci: Yeah.

Brenda Sheingold: I don’t know if anybody else that Sandra, look forward to your application. Wanna make sure we cover all the.

Sandra Arcoraci: Of course. Yeah, I didn’t mean to take all the all the.

Brenda Sheingold: Oh, you didn’t tell. I think you brought up really good points.

Sandra Arcoraci: Thank you so much.

Maria Uriyo: But look up.

Maria Uriyo: There’s a question here about if you’re working part time, can you move through the program more than one class at a time

Maria Uriyo: the answer is, you take one class at a time, we don’t we? We don’t allow

Maria Uriyo: like doubling, you know, 8 weeks, for one class is a lot.

Maria Uriyo: and 2 classes in 8 weeks is is is a huge lift.

Maria Uriyo: and it’s likely drinking from a water hose. So no, we don’t allow that. And it’s also Cami based on our cami application. We have stated that we’re doing one class at a time. So for online students. So that’s why we don’t do that

Maria Uriyo: very part time online.

Maria Uriyo: And I think Vanessa had a hand up.

Maria Uriyo: She still does. Yeah.

George Mason Online Admissions: Let me go ahead and allow

George Mason Online Admissions: Vanessa you should be able to come off mute. Now.

Vanessa Wright: My name is Vanessa Wright. I’m already admitted into the program.

Vanessa Wright: Yes, I had a delay because I am a veteran, so navigating the va from my tuition was a little challenging. But with that, so I’m a 30 year veteran. I have 0 experience in healthcare. However, I’m very interested in the program because my masters is an organizational management.

Vanessa Wright: and you spoke about networking, and I I must give myself a pat on the back. I’m very. I do a really good job at that. Just because of wearing a uniform and having to coordinate and communicate with different people. With various backgrounds. But one of my major concerns is, what will I do with this degree? The first thing that comes to mind for me personally is

Vanessa Wright: because of my interactions with the Va. I would love to take this degree, and the experiences that I have and just utilize that to make the Va. System better than what it is right now. Can you please give me your thoughts on that idea?

Brenda Sheingold: But yeah, that’s a great point that you brought up. And we have a course in leadership and organizational development. Actually, one of the very first that you’ll take Vanessa and in that class.

Brenda Sheingold: One of the case studies. But and it’s a case study based. Course, because that’s the best way to learn ethics and to, you know, to learn leadership oftentimes is from some of the worst examples. The Va scandal that you know, occurred several years ago. I guess it’s I think it’s been about 10 years ago now.

Brenda Sheingold: Is one of the cases that is analyzed in detail by students and presented to the class. So I, the Va is still struggling to rebound from that scandal.

Brenda Sheingold: So you know, you would have the skills that are that they need. And they’re recruiting. And and you, you know, you would be in a good position to make a difference, especially with your military service, so

Brenda Sheingold: I don’t know if that answers your question, Vanessa. But

Brenda Sheingold: really triggered, triggered some kind of baby.

Vanessa Wright: Well, it does, just because partly some of my concerns is because my masters is in organizational management with the concentration and leadership. And I 30 years of service. So I retired in a leadership role.

Vanessa Wright: So that part of the program doesn’t concern me at all. It’s the healthcare which I feel that will be a little challenging for me. But at the completion my real concerns were, how do I take this degree and merge it with the experiences and the education that I already have

Vanessa Wright: to ensure, that I’m doing something that I love and that’s beneficial and personally rewarding to me.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah. So I I think. I think one of you

Maria Uriyo: potential peers. Renee Tatum says she works at the Va, so right now you can see there’s already opportunities for you to network within your own peers.

Maria Uriyo: So for each class that you take in this program, I would encourage you to look at the whatever materials being covered, and and kind of like. Look at what? Where is your interest? And how does it?

Maria Uriyo: fit the Va. And then, if you’re able to, I don’t know if you’re working now, but if you’re not, maybe find some part time opportunities at the Va.

Maria Uriyo: So we can start

Maria Uriyo: fine tuning where it is that you want to eventually land.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah. And then you always tweak.

Vanessa Wright: I. You know what I’ve noticed. So I I spent 2 years. Because I retired

Vanessa Wright: December 2019, right before Covid and I spent some time being a governmental contractor not rewarding at all. I did make a lot of money, but personally not rewarding or fulfilling, and I’ve had a lot of negative experiences with the Va, so I feel like, that’s my focus area. And a lot of it is just

Vanessa Wright: the structure and a lot of the red tape when you’re a veteran seeking services.

Maria Uriyo: Okay. So then I would encourage you. Since you’re already enrolling the program is I’ll look for you in the. I don’t know if you have the the Edu the Gmu email, you do so, then I’ll find a way of introducing you to the executive in residence, so that you do your

Maria Uriyo: your idp.

Maria Uriyo: and then

Maria Uriyo: find opportunities within the va

Maria Uriyo: whether it’s an internship or kind of like determine what areas you need to

Maria Uriyo: you know, improve on or focus on.

Vanessa Wright: Yes.

Maria Uriyo: Delete.

Vanessa Wright: Oh, that’d be great! Thank you.

Maria Uriyo: Okay.

Maria Uriyo: you are muted. Dr. Shango.

Brenda Sheingold: The best thing to do is just send an email so that we have yours.

Brenda Sheingold: And then Dr. Yurio, like, she said, can steer you towards the executive and residence.

Brenda Sheingold: So, so, please, you know. Please feel free to do that.

Brenda Sheingold: ma’am.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alrighty. Any other questions. Feel free to keep using the chat, or we can always take you off mute.

George Mason Online Admissions: Good question so far.

Vanessa Wright: And I bet you were the beyonce.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alrighty. I think that might.

George Mason Online Admissions: Oh, I think, Josh.

George Mason Online Admissions: I’m gonna go ahead, Josh, I’m gonna take you off mute. Here, Joshua, go ahead.

Joshua Walton: Hi! Can you hear me?

George Mason Online Admissions: Yep.

Maria Uriyo: Yes.

Joshua Walton: I don’t know if you had a chance to see my QA. Just yet.

Joshua Walton: but I am a recent registered nurse, graduate from Old Dominion University.

Joshua Walton: and I was potentially looking at this program for spring of 2025.

Joshua Walton: But I just wanted to kind of get your opinion like, do you think this program is a good program for a nurse who’s looking to go into leadership compared to like? Let’s say a master is assigned to nursing.

Brenda Sheingold: Absolutely. I I I can answer that unequivocally. Joshua. We actually have masters of nursing students and doctor of nursing students in our 7 90 capstone class that you heard Dr. Yurio talk about, and they they both. This. The nurses are the ones the students vote to give awards to they. It’s happened twice

Brenda Sheingold: where nurses have been voted by their peers as as Nh. Students

Brenda Sheingold: to receive awards for their capstone projects. This is an excellent fit for a nurse. I highly recommend it

Brenda Sheingold: in terms of leadership, and advancing in the field. And I I can honestly say I don’t think you’d regret it, and I’m speaking to that as a you know, as a nurse myself.

Joshua Walton: Okay?

Joshua Walton: And then I’m another question. So cause I’m looking to apply in the springtime. Do you know when the deadline is for that

Joshua Walton: for a springtime application.

Brenda Sheingold: Not.

Brenda Sheingold: Not really sure. I think

Brenda Sheingold: you. Yeah.

George Mason Online Admissions: It’s the spring deadline isn’t locked in yet. It’s typically the first week of December. So we’ll and we, if you can always connect with your enrollment counselor, and they can give you some reminders. And then we always send reminders as we’re approaching deadlines, too. Just in case you don’t have your application submitted.

George Mason Online Admissions: But the spring applications are open now, so you can always get it submitted. And remember, it is that rolling basis review. So if if you think you are interested and and you might want to start in spring, we always recommend to apply sooner versus later. So absolutely.

Joshua Walton: Okay? And I’m I have a question about that, too, because I basically have, like my whole application completed already.

Joshua Walton: But I have kind of limited work experience, because I actually just graduated last year. And then I just got my nursing license in March.

Joshua Walton: So do you think that I would, I guess, still be a competitive applicant, or like, would you wait until closer to the spring, when I have, like more work, experience.

Maria Uriyo: As, as I said before, we have admitted students who have just graduated from their bachelor’s degree

Maria Uriyo: to those who have X number of years of experience. So the issue is, if you’ve completed the packet, then apply you shouldn’t let that hinder you. Yeah.

Brenda Sheingold: Yeah, we have rolling admissions, Joshua. It’s rolling admissions. So as soon as you apply, the application would be reviewed. The other advantages that, if you know, apply and you’re accepted. Then you can start taking advantage of the activities that we’ve already talked about tonight

Brenda Sheingold: as a applicant. We’ve had several a admitted students from the online program. I shouldn’t say several because it it. It’s also rolling where they where they keep coming to activities. And that’s how, you know, if they live in the area, we we meet them for the first time in person.

Brenda Sheingold: because they’re at that meet and greed. And they’re they’re at the capstone presentations. And so even before you start.

Brenda Sheingold: you can be included. Cause we want you to hit the ground running. We’re very serious about that.

Brenda Sheingold: So new applicants come to our functions all the time.

Joshua Walton: Okay, well, thank you. That answers my questions.

Maria Uriyo: There’s a question from me. I hope I’m pronouncing your name correctly

Maria Uriyo: about application being declined. Can we apply again, and how.

Maria Uriyo: if it is declined, because maybe

Maria Uriyo: Gpa. Is an issue. There is a way of rectifying that, and you can either take some additional classes to bring the Gpa. Up, and then you can reapply.

Maria Uriyo: I think that that is probably many of the reasons why some are declined.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah.

Brenda Sheingold: So those are courses that you would take as a non degree student, not admitted to the program, but they would be courses that would are required in our program. So we would tell you, steer you to the right ones.

Brenda Sheingold: get your Gpa. Up

Brenda Sheingold: and then reapply, and those are some of our highest performing students.

Brenda Sheingold: So don’t let that stop. You. Just get that Gpa up so we can review the application.

Maria Uriyo: Okay, the required Gpa. The one that would would get you admission immediately. I mean, not immediately will get you admitted with everything else is the Gpo of 3?

Maria Uriyo: so that’s the answer to that one. How many classes do? Would I need to take?

Maria Uriyo: Well, they are 40. The whole thing is 45 credits. So that is

Maria Uriyo: is it 15 classes altogether? Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: yeah.

Maria Uriyo: there is no minimum or maximum. It’s 45 credits. You can go maximum for sure you can go over.

Maria Uriyo: But the what you need to finish is 45 credits.

Maria Uriyo: Yeah.

Maria Uriyo: you’re welcome.

George Mason Online Admissions: Give it a moment to see if any other questions pop up.

George Mason Online Admissions: So Renee asked if she wanted to take an extra class. Could she.

Brenda Sheingold: You you could, Rene. That’s that’s unusual question, I must say, because usually people wanna get their degree and you know, and graduate, so you wouldn’t be able to take an extra class in tandem with your required class, because you can’t take more than one at a time.

Brenda Sheingold: But if you wanted to take something extra before you graduated, you could for sure.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alrighty. I’m gonna throw this out for a last minute questions as we’re approaching the hour, Mark. And then, of course, if if any follow up questions. Come up after tonight’s meeting. Please reach out to us, and we’re we’re happy to to help you with the next steps of everything.

George Mason Online Admissions: but yes, use the chat or the QA. Or

George Mason Online Admissions: any last minute questions throughout.

George Mason Online Admissions: Alrighty. I think that is everything.

George Mason Online Admissions: Well, I wanna thank everyone again tonight for taking the time to join us and and thank you to Dr. Shine gold and Dr. Oyo for your time tonight. This is just always such a valuable resource for students. So we we really really appreciate it.

George Mason Online Admissions: So yes, make sure to save the information that’s on the screen here. There’s the application. There’s our contact information reach out to us. If there is anything else we can do to help

George Mason Online Admissions: and thank you. Everyone. Thank you for your time tonight. Have a great evening.

Maria Uriyo: Thank you.

Maria Uriyo: Bye, everyone.