George Mason University

Technology & Support

Networking

Facebook	N/A
LinkedIn	N/A
Twitter	N/A

Technology

Usable for classes
Apple Yes PC Yes Unix N/A Linux N/A
Required Internet speed	DSL
Recommended Internet speed	DSL
Delivery modes
Live streaming video No Live streaming audio No Recorded video Yes Recorded audio Yes Software-based readers Yes Application for display on tablet computer Yes Description of application for tablet computer Blackboard for Ipad Application for display on smartphone No Description of application for smartphone N/A Bulletin boards Yes Simulations Yes Online labs Yes
Courses designed by certified instructional designers	Yes
Courses designed by an outside firm	No
Learning management system used	Yes
All courses accessible to students from one learning management system	Yes

Types of Learning Management Systems Used

Blackboard

Yes

Support

Services
Academic advising Yes Bookstore Yes Career placement assistance Yes E-mail address Yes Financial aid office/services Yes Access to digitized library materials Yes Access to live librarian Yes Local area network Yes Mentoring No Technical support Yes Live tutoring No Writing workshops Yes
Instructor response expected within (hours)	N/A
24/7 live tech support	Yes

Structure

Archived classes	All
Classes can be received live	None
Live online/on-campus classes after 5 p.m.	N/A
Percentage of classes with lectures	76-99
Student-student engagement
Online chatrooms Yes Web conferencing (webinars) Yes Skype or other visual software Yes

Requirements

New-student orientation	Optional
Review and sign ethics statement	Yes
Number of times a week students must log in to a typical course	5
Number of times per month faculty evaluate student participation	2
Number of times per month faculty provide feedback to students on participation	2
Courses requiring students to work collaboratively with other students	Majority
Class participation graded	Yes

Assessment

Exams	Yes
Number of settings in which in-person exams are administered	One setting
Anti-plagiarism screening required for essay assignments	Depends
Measures to instill academic integrity (as submitted by school)
Assignments are designed to elicit higher level thinking skills, e.g., synthesis evaluation---which make it more difficult to use other students' work. Individual input is reviewed and monitored. Honor code is part of all syllabi.