Mason's Board of Visitors votes to withdraw from Ras Al Khaimah partnership

The students presently enrolled in classes at George Mason University in Ras Al Khaimeh (GMU-RAK) will be allowed to complete the semester. The university will provide support to help students either continue their studies at Mason's campuses in Northern Virginia or transfer to another institution of higher learning in the region. The BOV's decision is the result of procedural and budgetary changes made in the operations of the campus by the partner foundation in RAK.

Peter Stearns, provost of George Mason University, said:

"George Mason University is deeply disappointed to be withdrawing from this partnership, but we feel this decision is in the best interest of our students and the institution."

He stated, "It has been our desire from the beginning to offer undergraduate and graduate classes of the highest caliber in one of the most vital regions of the world. Given the fact we reached an impasse with our partner over budget and control issues, we feel this is no longer possible."

Mason, Stearns added, remains committed to its international endeavors and has reciprocal agreements with other universities and colleges around the world, including the Sino-American 1+2+1 Dual Degree Program with several major universities in China. Later this month Mason will announce a new partnership with Moscow State University that will result in an exchange of both faculty and students with that prestigious institution.

"Mason remains committed to international collaborations. However, our first commitment is to our students. The changes in our agreement, which were sought by our partners in RAK, would have put the university's accreditation in jeopardy, and that is unacceptable under any circumstances," said Stearns.

Educational agencies in RAK intend to develop a new institution, the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, and have asked George Mason University to play a consultant role in the school. The new arrangement would be different from the current operation. George Mason University administrators will soon be discussing this new opportunity with higher education leaders in RAK to see if a mutually beneficial agreement can be negotiated.

"This development underlines the amicable relationships that continue despite some admittedly challenging discussion in recent weeks," said Stearns.