Jefferson and Mason partnership advances in 2006

There have been major advances in the long anticipated partnership between George Mason University and Jefferson. In the new pilot program that has been proposed, Jefferson students would take courses at George Mason and participate in research in collaboration with Mason professors. The pilot program is slated to begin in January of 2006.
Jefferson administrator Douglas Tyson is playing a main role in orchestrating the program. He is very enthusiastic about the opportunities it will provide to both faculty and students here at Jefferson.
"The faculty at George Mason is first rate, very high caliber," said Tyson.
The program will consist of between 15 and 20 students from Jefferson and the Chantilly Academy. Tyson sees this combination of students as an advantage. "[This is a chance] to show George Mason the extraordinarily talented students in Fairfax County."
Students will apply to participate in the program. George Mason will then look over the applications and faculty members will interview candidates.
Once admitted, the participants will go to George Mason periodically throughout the week.
"Our vision is that students would be there for the majority of a day… at least one day a week," said Tyson.
In addition to taking classes, students will work on research projects with George Mason faculty.
Ann Palkovich, parent of a Jefferson graduate and professor in George Mason's Department of Sociology and Anthropology, is the liaison between Jefferson and George Mason. She described the pilot program as an extension of the long-held practice of pairing Jefferson students with George Mason faculty through the Mentorship program.
"We're looking to include students at an earlier point," said Palkovich.
Palkovich said that participants will enroll in a university course. George Mason is currently deciding between having the students take one specific course or enroll in courses that relate to their research topic.
The pilot program is going to be an intermediate step in the long talked-of plan to build a new facility for Jefferson "Our hope is that this will continue to grow and be a major stepping stone to having a facility on the George Mason campus," said Tyson.
Currently, students participating in the pilot program will work on math, science and technology projects. However, the Humanities Division is hoping to join in. Cathy Colglazier, division chair, mentioned George Mason's creative writing program as one possibility for a humanities collaboration.
"We want this not to be just a science and technology [program]," said Colglazier. "We have well rounded scientists! We think there's a real role for humanities teachers."
Tyson is enthusiastic about the opportunities the program opens up. "We hope it will be a prelude to bigger and better things."