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The purpose of a university is to promote learning, an opportunity that should be accessible to all members of a campus community. Not only is the provision of this opportunity consistent with a university’s mission, but it makes good business sense. Employees who are in a position to improve their basic academic and language skills are happier and more effective workers. It is in pursuit of this goal that Mason Links came into being.

2001-2002 Ed Jones of GMU Office of Adult Learning and Professional Development established a small employee education program on the Mason campus, funded by a small Verizon grant. Mason’s (HR) polices were then modified to allow supervisors to grant their workers permission to attend ESOL and basic skills classes during their normal working hours.

2003-2004 ESOL and basic skills instruction was re-organized under a “learning center” model, giving individualized instruction at agreed upon times two afternoons each week.

2004-2005 Dining Services (Sodexho) made the commitment to fund a program for its own employees. This was implemented as an ESOL classroom program with the assistance of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia.

2005-2006 A tutoring program with student volunteers in successfully initiated to augment the ongoing classroom efforts.

2006-2007 A credit option for student volunteers is offered through New Century College. Mason Links becomes a recognized program of George Mason University funded through the cooperation of the University and the contractors who employ many of the service workers.

…and Mason Links begins to bloom!

for more historical detail, click here.