Category: Announcement

Friday, May 1, 2026

Dear Colleagues, 

We are thrilled to announce that the first wave of graduate applications is officially live in Patriot Connect! Starting today, prospective graduate applicants for the spring 2027 term can begin submitting applications. At the same time, staff and faculty supporting spring 2027 graduate degree applications (Wave 1 users) can now log into Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions. 

Wave 1 users, please review the action items below to get started in Patriot Connect today. Users for all other waves, this message is for your awareness only. 

• Access Your New Workspace: Log into Patriot Connect and update your contact information (use this job aid for guidance). 
  • If you are a Wave 1 user and do not have access to Patriot Connect, you must complete the Patriot Connect Access Request Form (use this job aid for guidance). 
• Update Your Email Signature: Download these templates to add a link to the Patriot Connect portal in your email signature, making it easy for prospective students to apply to George Mason. 
  • For Waves 2 and 3, follow the application start date in Patriot Connect as the guideline for when to update your email signature and begin pointing prospects to the Patriot Connect portal. 
• Review Training Materials: Log into MasonLEAPS to access self-guided training materials and join the Patriot Connect Training Community on MS Teams to be notified of upcoming live, instructor-led training sessions. 
• Get Priority Technical Support: Dedicated live, Patriot Connect technical support is available Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT until Friday, June 12 (closed May 25 for public holiday). 
  • After June 12, technical support will transition to the George Mason Salesforce Center of Excellence (COE) with a focus on addressing defects, enhancements, and ongoing platform stabilization.  
• Use TargetX for Current and In‑Progress Work for Summer/Fall 2026 Terms: Wave 1 users should continue using TargetX for the full cycle of all pre-existing and in‑progress application cycles, cases, and events. This means that working in both TargetX and Patriot Connect will be required.  

 We are proud to share Patriot Connect with you and look forward to seeing incoming applications for future Patriots. 

Sincerely, 

The Patriot Connect Program Management Team 

 

Resources 

• Identify when your unit is scheduled to gain access to Patriot Connect: Milestone Dates for Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions. 
• View Patriot Connect FAQs. 
• Connect with Patriot Connect Release 2 Change Champions. 
• Sign up for Monthly Patriot Connect Updates. 

 

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Dear Patriot Connect Community,

I’m pleased to announce that Wave 1.5 of Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions is just 60 days away from its official launch. 

While Waves 1, 2, and 3 will offer the same core Recruitment and Admissions application functionality, Wave 1.5 is distinct. Wave 1.5 will include functionality for case management and event management, enabling staff and faculty from Admissions, the Mason Student Services Center (MSSC) and associated partner offices, select University Life units, and other groups across the university to collaborate in one unified platform like never before. 

To identify when your unit is scheduled to gain access to Patriot Connect, visit the Milestone Dates for Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions.  

About Wave 1.5

Launching June 5, 2026, Wave 1.5 functionality will include:

Wave 1.5 Functionality and User Groups
Tool/Functionality	User Groups
Vonage Computer Telephony integration to support call handling within Patriot Connect	MSSC (and associated partner offices)
Case management to help track and resolve student inquiries and help-desk tickets	Admissions MSSC (and associated partner offices) Costello College of Business Graduate Student Life Housing and Residence Life New Student and Family Programs Student Success Coaching
Summit Events to support invitations, registration, and attendance for virtual and in-person events for prospective and new students such as college fairs, campus tours, and orientation programs	Admissions Graduate Student Life New Student and Family Programs Student Success Coaching User groups from Waves 1, 2, or 3 who currently use event management capabilities in TargetX

As we prepare for the launch of Wave 1.5, here are a few key things you need to know. 

• Training and Communications: Live, instructor-led training for Wave 1.5 end-users will occur between mid-May and early June 2026. Self-guided resources (job aids, resource guides, infographics, and videos) will also be available in MasonLEAPS. For more details on training phases, please visit the timeline page of the Patriot Connect program website. Please expect emails from [email protected] for further official announcements.  
• TargetX: Continue using TargetX for the full cycle of all pre-existing and in‑progress cases and events. All pre-existing events must be completed in TargetX by August 19, 2026. Starting June 5 (Wave 1.5 user activation), all new events should be created and managed in Patriot Connect Summit Events. This means that working in both TargetX and Patriot Connect will be required as events wrap-up. For example, previously built summer 2026 Orientation events should be conducted in TargetX while winter 2027 Orientation events should be built in Patriot Connect. Access to view data and reports in TargetX will remain available through November 2026. Specific guidance on the transition and the final day(s) to use TargetX will be provided in future communications. 

As we embark on this exciting new chapter together, your dedication and adaptability are essential to our collective success. By embracing Patriot Connect and supporting one another, I look forward to continuing to build a vibrant and connected community for all current and future Patriots. 

Sincerely,

Rose Pascarell

Vice President for University Life

 

Resources

• Sign up for Monthly Patriot Connect Updates. 
• Visit the Patriot Connect program planning website. 
• View Patriot Connect FAQs. 
• Preview the system with Recruitment and Admissions Demo Recordings. 
• Connect with Patriot Connect Release 2 Change Champions. 
• Questions? Share your thoughts through our Let’s Connect form. 

 

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Dear Colleagues, 

Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions is just 30 days away from official launch and Wave 1 user activation. With the first wave of graduate applications being published on May 1, it is important that you are prepared to use Patriot Connect as soon as applications open.  

To review the application go-live schedule (Waves) and to identify when your unit is scheduled to gain access to Patriot Connect, visit the Milestone Dates for Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions. 

If you are in Waves 1.5, 2, or 3 (events management and case management, Mason Korea, WSP, Risepoint, undergraduate/ADVANCE, and graduate populations): This message is for your awareness only, and no action is required at this time. 

Action Required for Wave 1 user-groups (staff and faculty supporting graduate spring 2027 applications): Please review below to prepare for your Wave 1 user activation on May 1.  

As we make our final preparations, here are some important dates and reminders: 

• Important reminder
  • Completion of the “FERPA 101” training (every two years) and “Highly Sensitive Data Custodian” training (annually) in MasonLEAPS is required to receive access to Patriot Connect.
    • Log into MasonLEAPS and ensure both trainings are listed as Completed in your Learning Transcript. Access to Patriot Connect may be delayed if these trainings are not completed. 
• April 6-30
  • Live instructor-led training for Wave 1 users.
    • You must register for training in advance through MasonLEAPS.
    • Multiple virtual or in-person session options are available for each instructor-led training course.
  • Complete the self-guided training in MasonLEAPS. 
• May 1
  • Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions launches for Wave 1 staff and faculty users.
  • First date to apply in Patriot Connect for spring 2027 graduate degree applicants. 

TargetX

Continue using TargetX for the full cycle of all pre-existing and in‑progress application cycles, cases, and events. After Wave 1 activation on May 1, all new work should be managed in Patriot Connect. This means that working in both TargetX and Patriot Connect will be required. For example, graduate summer 2026 and fall 2026 application cycles should be completed in TargetX while graduate spring 2027 applications should be managed in Patriot Connect. 

Access to view data and reports in TargetX will remain available through November 2026. Specific guidance on the transition and the final day(s) to use TargetX will be provided in future communications.

Training

On March 25, an email was sent regarding Wave 1 training registration. If you still need to register, follow the steps below to secure your spot: 

1. Log into MasonLEAPS. 
2. On the Home tab, scroll to Your Action Items. 
3. Click on the Your Action Items heading to view all assigned items. 
4. If you have action items for Patriot Connect instructor-led training, select the Select Session button to see a list of session options and register for your preferred date and time. 

After Wave 1 training is complete, instructor-led training session recordings will be available on MasonLEAPS for ongoing access. In addition to instructor-led training, pre-requisite and post-reading training materials (job aids, resource guides, infographics, and videos) will be available in MasonLEAPS for self-guided learning.

We look forward to sharing Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions with you very soon. To learn more, visit the Patriot Connect program website. 

Sincerely,

The Patriot Connect Program Management Team 

 

Resources 

• Review the Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions Training – Action Required for Wave 1 Users. 
• Sign up for Monthly Patriot Connect Updates. 
• Visit the Patriot Connect program planning website. 
• View Patriot Connect FAQs. 
• Preview the system with Recruitment and Admissions Demo Recordings. 
• Connect with Patriot Connect Release 2 Change Champions. 
• Questions? Share your thoughts through our Let’s Connect form. 

 

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Dear Colleagues, 

Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions will launch this spring. With the first wave of graduate applications being published on May 1, training for the new system will begin soon. 

To identify when your unit is scheduled to gain access to Patriot Connect, visit the Milestone Dates for Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions.  

If you are in Waves 1.5, 2, or 3: No action is needed right now. You will receive more information closer to your start date. 

Action required for Wave 1 user groups (staff and faculty supporting graduate spring 2027 applications): 

• Register for Wave 1 training.
• Complete the self-guided “Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions Introduction Training” in MasonLEAPS.
• Attend live, instructor-led training. You can choose from multiple dates and times offered from April 6-30. 

 Check your email from [email protected] for your assigned training(s). To register: 

1. Log into MasonLEAPS. 
2. On the Home tab, scroll to Your Action Items.
3. Click on the Your Action Items heading to view all training assignments.
4. If you have action items for Patriot Connect instructor-led training, select the Select Session button to see a list of session options and register for your preferred date and time.  

Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions staff and faculty users are assigned to training paths that align with their daily responsibilities within the recruitment and admissions lifecycle and correspond to your access to Patriot Connect system features.  

It is important that you register for and attend the instructor-led training course(s) assigned to you prior to May 1 so that you are ready to use Patriot Connect efficiently as soon as applications open. An additional, optional training, “Patriot Connect: Interacting with Prospects and Applicants”, is also available by searching and registering in MasonLEAPS.

 A few helpful notes: 

• Training is centrally scheduled by the Patriot Connect team and delivered by designated peer trainers.
• You may have more than one Patriot Connect instructor-led training to register for.
• There are virtual and in-person options available for each instructor-led training.
• Instructor-led training session recordings will be available in MasonLEAPS for ongoing access after the Wave 1 application start date.
• If you believe you should be included in Wave 1 training but were not assigned, please complete the following form for assistance: Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions Training Request. 

We look forward to seeing you in training and will continue to provide timely information as the go-live date approaches. To learn more, visit the Patriot Connect program website.  

Sincerely,

The Patriot Connect Program Management Team 

 

February 27, 2026

Dear Patriot Connect Community, 

This communication documents the discussed migration schedule for transitioning decisioned applications from TargetX to Patriot Connect. Below you will find the specific timeline for when each cohort of applications will be available in Patriot Connect.

Approach

We will implement a hard cutover approach for each migration wave. Once applications are migrated to Patriot Connect:

• Patriot Connect will serve as the central location for all updates related to future application actions (deferrals, reconsideration, cloning, and reopening).
• Users will need to access Patriot Connect to work with migrated applications.
• Migrated applications will be hidden from the applicant in TargetX.

Schedule

Applications will be migrated in three waves.

Note: Only decisioned applications meeting the criteria outlined below will be migrated.

Wave 1: May 4, 2026
Category	Terms Included
Undergraduate (including ADVANCE)	2024 – Spring/Summer/Fall 2025 – Spring/Summer/Fall 2026 – Spring
Graduate and transitioned BAM	2024 – Spring/Summer/Fall 2025 – Spring/Summer/Fall 2026 – Spring

Wave 2: August 3, 2026
Category	Terms Included
Graduate and transitioned BAM	2026 – Summer
Undergraduate	2026 – Summer
ADVANCE Non-Degree	Historical terms from Fall 2018 through Fall 2023
ADVANCE Transfer	Historical terms from Spring 2019 through Fall 2023

Wave 3: October 5, 2026
Category	Terms Included
Graduate and transitioned BAM	Fall 2026
Undergraduate (including ADVANCE)	Fall 2026
BAM W3	All terms from 2024 forward

Thank you for your continued collaboration and patience as we work together to modernize our admissions technology platform.

Best regards,

The Patriot Connect Project Team

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Dear Patriot Connect Community, 

I’m pleased to announce that Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions is just 60 days away from its official launch. The platform will debut with a technical go-live on April 24, 2026, with the first wave of applications able to be published in Patriot Connect on May 1, 2026. 

Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions will enhance engagement between the university and applicants through streamlined application management, a dynamic applicant portal, case management for applicant and student support, and event management for prospective and incoming students such as college fairs, tours, and orientation. 

As we prepare for the launch of Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions, here are a few key things you need to know.

• Phased Roll-Out: Following the technical launch on April 24, staff and faculty will gain access to Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions in a series of activation waves* based on George Mason’s application lifecycle. To identify when your unit (and applicant population) is scheduled to gain access to Patriot Connect, visit the Milestone Dates for Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions. 
   
  *GRAC and OGAL liaisons in each college, in partnership with faculty and staff content creators, should continue collaborating within weekly GRAC meetings to coordinate creation of marketing and communications campaigns leading up to Wave 1. 

• Training and Communications: Training will be provided in a series of waves based on when each group is scheduled to gain access to Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions. Resources will also be available to refresh skills and knowledge afterwards. For more details on training phases, please visit the timeline page of the Patriot Connect program website. Please expect emails from [email protected] for further official announcements.  

• TargetX: Continue using TargetX for the full cycle of all in‑progress applications, cases, and events until the start of your activation wave in Patriot Connect. After activation, all new work should be managed in Patriot Connect. Specific guidance on the transition and the final day(s) to use TargetX will be provided in future communications. 

As Recruitment and Admissions joins Student Success in the Patriot Connect platform, George Mason will be able to support every stage of the student journey within one unified system—from students’ first interactions with the university through graduation. I’m excited to see how Patriot Connect helps us better understand, support, and stay connected with our students. 

Sincerely,

David Burge 

Vice President for Enrollment Management, Office of the Provost 

Resources 

• Sign up for Monthly Patriot Connect Updates.
• Visit the Patriot Connect program planning website.
• View Patriot Connect FAQs.
• Preview the system with Recruitment and Admissions Demo Recordings.
• Connect with Patriot Connect Release 2 Change Champions.
• Questions? Share your thoughts through our Let’s Connect form. 

 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Dear Colleague,

As we continue preparing for the launch of Patriot Connect Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions, we remain committed to sharing important updates with you.

This year, George Mason is in the process of bringing together our recruitment and admissions systems—from TargetX to Patriot Connect—which requires moving large amounts of applicant data into the new platform. Because that transition is still underway, minor changes are needed for two key applications.

The spring 2027 graduate degree-seeking application will open in Patriot Connect on May 1 and the fall 2026 undergraduate non-degree application will open as usual in TargetX.

Additional information and resources are provided below.

Patriot Connect Release 2 Timeline Adjustment
After careful consideration, the Salesforce Executive Committee voted to move the technical launch of Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions by two weeks, to April 24, 2026, with the first wave of applications able to be published in Patriot Connect on May 1, 2026. As a result, the following application timelines and systems will apply:

• Undergraduate non-degree (fall 2026): The application will open on April 1, 2026 as planned, but applications will be submitted through TargetX rather than Patriot Connect. These applications will remain in TargetX through the end of the cycle in September 2026, prior to TargetX’s retirement. The fall undergraduate non-degree application will move to Patriot Connect for the next academic year, opening on April 1, 2027.
• Graduate degree (spring 2027): The application start date has moved from April 15, 2026, to May 1, 2026, and applications will be submitted through Patriot Connect. Enrollment Management will work directly with schools and colleges to help mitigate any impact on deferred applications and reporting.

This adjustment allows extra time to integrate and migrate data, while still leaving enough time for user acceptance testing (UAT) and training. It also avoids the costs and complications of extending TargetX or using two systems at once while the fall 2026 undergraduate non-degree program finishes its final cycle in TargetX.

Phased Roll-Out
Patriot Connect: Recruitment and Admissions will continue to follow a phased user activation approach in which staff and faculty end-users will gain access to the system in a series of waves as outlined in the Application Milestone Dates for Release 2: Recruitment and Admissions.

For more information, including timelines for the UAT and training phases, please visit the Timeline page of the Patriot Connect program planning website.

We will continue to provide timely information as the go-live date approaches.

Questions? Share your thoughts through our Let’s Connect form.

Sincerely,
The Patriot Connect Program Management Team

 

Dear Colleague,

We are thrilled to announce that Patriot Connect is officially live!

To facilitate students receiving the best support possible at George Mason, all (undergraduate and graduate) staff and faculty academic advisors as well as select units in University Life are required to use Patriot Connect for advising and student support services appointments. Collaborating within one platform will enable us to provide informed, personalized support.

Take action today:

1. Log into Patriot Connect!
   1. The URL for staff, faculty, and student employees is masonconnect.my.salesforce.com.
   2. Once there, select “Log in with shibboleth.”
2. If you meet with students for academic advising or student support services, confirm that the appointment (“shift”) availability you set up during training is accurate in advance of students logging in for the first time tomorrow, May 1. If it is not accurate or you were unable to set it up, students will not be able to book time with you. If you need guidance, use these step-by-step instructions.*
   1. If you use third-party tools like Bookings or Calendly to book appointments with students, remove your appointment scheduling availability for those systems and transition to using Patriot Connect.
   2. Navigate users—look out for messages with specific guidance on how to close out your activities in the system.
3. To begin logging emails to Student Accounts in Patriot Connect from Outlook, download the Salesforce Web App from the Microsoft Office Store (use these instructions* for support).
4. Enable bi-directional calendar sync between Patriot Connect and your Outlook calendars (use these instructions* for support).
5. Update your email signature to include Patriot Connect and, if applicable, your “Personal Meeting Link” using our templates (see the template for instructions).

*Note: To access the instructions linked above, you will first need to log into MasonLeaps.

Take action this month:

1. Review Training Materials: Log into MasonLeaps to join the Patriot Connect Community. As you adapt to using Patriot Connect, instructor-led training (ILT) session recordings, job aids, resource guides, videos, and eLearnings are available for self-paced learning and continued support.
2. Get Technical Support: Starting April 30, support is available for staff, faculty, and student employees Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT until Wednesday, May 28. It is focused on resolving access or IT-related issues and can be reached via:
   1. US Time Zone Support – 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT (Closed May 26 for public holiday)
      1. Microsoft Teams: Virtual Meeting Link
         1. Meeting ID: 282 373 035 216 3
         2. Passcode: KB2NY98N
      2. Microsoft Teams Dial in by Phone: +1 571-397-2084,,423312748# United States, Washington
         1. Phone Conference ID: 423 312 748#
   2. We are providing targeted support to Mason Korea staff and advising users until May 28.

Notes:

• General student users who are not student employees will be directed to contact the Mason Student Services Center (MSSC) for Patriot Connect support.
• Work is currently underway to ensure accessibility for all students. However, some students may encounter difficulties tied to assistive technologies with a known issue that is under construction. Students encountering this issue will not be able to schedule an appointment using Patriot Connect and are advised to reach out directly to their success team member to schedule. Should you encounter a student impacted by this known issue, please use your scheduling functionality to schedule the appointment for the student directly.

Navigate will remain available for current and graduating students until shortly after Spring Commencement:

• May 1
  • Patriot Connect (connect.gmu.edu) is available for all students.
  • New undergraduate students participating in pre-orientation advising should be directed to use Patriot Connect.
  • Navigate will remain available for current and graduating students only.
• May 22
  • Last day staff and faculty should show as available for appointments in Navigate.
  • Last day current students can make an appointment (same day) in Navigate.
• May 23
  • Last day staff and faculty can actively use Navigate. Navigate will become read-only after 5 p.m. on this date.

We are proud to share Patriot Connect with you and look forward to enabling student success together.

Sincerely,

The Patriot Connect Program Management Team