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