Costello Student Expectations

This page outlines the expectations, responsibilities, and outcomes associated with being a student in the Costello College of Business. 

A successful college experience requires active engagement, professionalism, and mutual respect among students, faculty, staff, and advisors. Please review the following carefully.

Email

• Check your official George Mason email regularly. This is the only way advisors and university offices can communicate with you. 

• Use a clear, descriptive subject line and professional greeting. 

• Keep your message brief and include relevant course and/or student ID information. 

• Sign your name and include your Mason G# at the end of every email. 

• Please allow up to 2 business days for a response. If your advisor is out of office, email masonbus@gmu.edu. 

• Avoid slang, text abbreviations, emojis, ALL CAPS, or excessive punctuation. 

• Additional email information is available on Costello Career Services site here under the “Communication Guidelines” drop-down. 

Social Media

• Content you post online is public and reflects on you as a student and member of the Mason community. Always represent yourself professionally. 

Privacy

• Never share your password or personal information with others. 

• Do not share private messages, grades, or student records. 

• Contact faculty and classmates only through approved course channels unless they have explicitly provided alternate contact information. 

Virtual Interactions

• Join on time and test your technology before class or advising meetings 

• Mute your microphone unless speaking and use the raise hand or chat features when appropriate. 

• Participate from a quiet, professional setting. If needed, use a blurred or virtual background to limit distractions and protect your privacy. Students participating from unsafe or highly distracting environments (such as while driving) may be asked to leave and rejoin the meeting or class when it is safe to do so. 

• Students are expected to dress in attire appropriate for an academic or professional setting when attending class or meetings. If attire is deemed inappropriate, you may be asked to leave and return when appropriately dressed or, in the case of an individual meeting, to reschedule. 

• Use an appropriate name (first and last name) and profile image. 

Advising Meetings

• Review your degree audit/evaluation before every advising session. Students who arrive unprepared may be asked to reschedule after completing their review. 

• Review all prerequisites for courses you plan to register for prior to your appointment. 

• Familiarize yourself with your major requirements and create a long-range degree plan with your advisor. 

• Schedule a formal advising appointment (rather than a drop-in) if you anticipate needing more than the standard 10–15 minutes allotted for drop-in visits. 

• Honor your scheduled appointments. If you need to cancel or reschedule, provide as much advance notice as possible 

• Always be courteous and respectful to advisors and front desk staff, even when dealing with sensitive matters.  

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries in interactions with advisors, faculty, staff, and fellow students, and use university resources and relationships in a respectful and professional manner. 

• To be respectful of time and availability, students 5+ minutes late to their advisement meetings will be marked as a no-show and asked to reschedule.  

• For virtual advisement meetings, please have your Mason ID at hand, as you will be asked to show your ID before beginning.  

• Students are expected to engage respectfully and professionally at all times. Our office reserves the right to adjust advising services or interactions if the above expectations are not met. 

Classroom and Academic Community

• Follow your instructor’s guidelines for assignment length, format, deadlines, and citations. 

• Contribute meaningful, respectful comments that connect to course material. 

• Challenge ideas, not people. Use inclusive and professional language in all academic settings. 

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries in interactions with advisors, faculty, staff, and fellow students, and use university resources and relationships in a respectful and professional manner. 

Staying Informed

• The Business Buzz Blog: Always available on the Costello website with important announcements and updates from the Costello College of Business. 

• The Registrar’s Website: key deadlines, registration windows, and class schedules. 

• The University Catalog:  a complete listing of all courses and program requirements at George Mason. 

Your academic advisor is an integral part of your academic journey and can serve as a tremendous resource in the planning and support of your academic goals. When working with your advisor, you can expect the following:  

• Guidance and support to help you make informed academic decisions while recognizing that you are responsible for your own academic pathway. Advisors can guide you, but do not tell you what classes to take.  

• Clear and effective communication regarding Costello College of Business curriculum requirements and policies. 

• Help identify your strengths and develop realistic, achievable goals for academic success. 

• Accurate and detailed records of all advising contacts in the University’s advising system. 

• Confidentiality while keeping in mind mandatory reporting requirements 

• Support of your efforts to build strong, productive relationships with your professors 

• Referrals to appropriate university resources that can support your success and well-being throughout your time at Mason. 

Learning Outcomes from Academic Advising

• Understand resources and services available to Costello College of Business students
• Develop analytical and critical thinking skills to enable students decision making
• Utilize and adapt strategies for success as you move toward degree completion
• Articulate the value of your degree and its various components
• Behave as engaged citizens holding yourself to the highest ethical standard

What type of advising do I need?

How to Schedule an Appointment

• Access Patriot Connect
• If you encounter difficulties accessing any of the resources offered through this office, please contact the Office of Student Success and Academic Services at masonbus@gmu.edu or by calling (703) 993-1880.
• For more information about George Mason's commitment to accessibility, please visit Accessibility @ Mason