Originally published on April 28, 2020
Since early in the academic year, ceremonies have been on the schedule to induct students into prestigious honor societies that recognize high achieving Schar School students. When university leaders announced in March that all of George Mason University’s on-campus activities would be cancelled for the rest of the year, the Schar School’s Student Services team began looking for another way to celebrate student excellence.
Each honor society sets rigorous standards for student achievement. The Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA) National Political Science Honor Society was founded in 1920 and has had a chapter at Mason since 1983. This spring, 38 students in the top third of their government classes joined the PSA Xi Lambda chapter.
The global honor society for public affairs and administration, Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA), requires a 3.8 GPA and completion of at least half of all coursework for invitation to the organization. PAA welcomed 23 new graduate students from Mason for the 2019-2020 school year.
Associate Professor James Burroughs is the former director of the Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program and helped found PAA at Mason. “What impresses me is that most of our PAA members are balancing jobs, families, and school,” said Burroughs. “They have performed consistently well in a variety of subjects and with professors who all have different standards and expectations. Still, in each class they have risen to the top.”
Faculty share similar admiration for students in the Xi Lambda chapter of the political science honor society. Robert J. McGrath, director of the Schar School’s two bachelor’s programs—Public Administration and Government and International Affairs—noted, “PSA students stand out in the classroom for their willingness to lead: to lead discussions, to help their peers with problem sets, and to take their book knowledge and apply it in internships.”
For all Mason students, and especially for those graduating this spring, the coronavirus has brought a jarring end to on-campus life. Mason’s response to the global health challenges, along with the governor’s stay-at-home order, is critical to flatten the curve and keep students and families safe. However, it also involves losses for deserving students.
Cancelled inductions notwithstanding, honor society students will still be able to enjoy the benefits of membership. Inductees join large international networks of honor society members. They will have opportunities in the future to take part in conferences and events hosted by their respective organizations.
Samantha Brien, Master’s in Public Administration student in her final semester, appreciated the opportunity to join a prestigious group. “Starting the MPA program, I felt a sense of stability—this is what I was meant to do,” Brien said. “Being inducted into PAA really reinforced that I could excel in this type of career. To be inducted into PAA means I have accomplished more than I thought I could within this program.”
Faculty and staff remained committed to a public recognition of these deserving students’ achievements. The Schar School as a whole has found innovative ways to provide continuity of learning in using Blackboard Collaborate and other videoconferencing tools. In March, the Schar School Student Services team pivoted quickly to new formats to ensure robust student support. Advisors have been using Webex meetings for PhD defenses and for virtual advising appointments. Webex Teams complements email and phone for efficient communication among staff. Paul Nooney, Associate Director of Student Services, has taken the lead in mastering various online platforms, and shares his knowledge with colleagues.
Nooney became familiar with Webex Events, a platform designed for presentations. For the first time ever, the PSA and PAA advisors joined forces, and a joint virtual honor society ceremony was scheduled for mid-April. During the planning process, Nooney and this author (I am a PSA advisor and Director of PhD Student Services) learned that a master’s student had joined the chapter of one of Mason’s smaller honor societies, Nu Lamda Mu—the international honor society for nonprofit management. Including this student in the ceremony was a natural fit, made easier by the flexibility of the virtual platform and the team.
Thirty participants attended the April 17th virtual ceremony to induct members into all three honor societies. Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell spoke, as did five Schar School faculty members. The Executive Director of Pi Sigma Alpha, Sean Twombley, was also on hand to welcome the members.
“I thought the virtual ceremony was an innovative way to acknowledge our academic accomplishments in our degree programs,” said Brien. “During a time of uncertainty, where it felt like we may not get any acknowledgement, George Mason made it possible. I am graduating in May and it felt like a nice way to cap off my program. Since we may not get a graduation or it may be late, it was nice to have something to look forward to.”
Ann Ludwick, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, helped induct new members to PSA during the event. “Over the years, Mason’s Pi Sigma Alpha chapter has hosted speakers, career talks, and other events,” she said. “One thing has remained consistent: Members have been class leaders and engaged scholars. I appreciate the contributions of this year’s inductees and am so pleased we were able to recognize their outstanding accomplishments in such a unique way.”
The April 17th ceremony struck a balance between celebration and solemnity. In today’s world, these emerging leaders in government and public administration are called to serve the common good, which can be a tall order.
“There is no more important time to be studying and preparing for a career in public affairs,” said Bonnie Stabile, director of the Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) program. “The pandemic has made clear that well-thought-out responses at every level of government are required to save lives and reduce suffering, and that designing and implementing such solutions is exceedingly complex. Our students of public policy and public administration are honing their skills to meet such challenges.”
It is fitting that the Schar School’s Student Services team is adapting in response to a changing higher education landscape. This is exactly what students studying policy and government are learning to do as they look towards public service in a rapidly changing world.
“We are proud of their dedication to public service and their academic accomplishments,“ said McGrath. “We wish that we could have celebrated them in person, but it was an honor for me to read their names in recognition of how they have enriched us all at the Schar School
