Sen. Chap Petersen’s Bill Establishing GMU Campus In Korea Becomes Law

(Thursday) July 29, 2010

On Thursday, Governor McDonnell signed Sen. Chap Petersen’s Senate Bill 712, which establishes the legal framework for a George Mason branch campus in the Republic of Korea.

The South Korean GMU branch campus will be built in the Songdo area on reclaimed land by Inchon International Airport.  The project is endorsed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and gives GMU students the opportunity to study abroad where they can interact with various Asian cultures, Korean universities and the Asian Global University system.  Korean students will also have the opportunity to transfer to the Fairfax, Virginia campus.

“It’s an exciting project, with the campus right next to the main airport, within a two-hour flight of about a third of the population in the world.  For Mason also, the chance to provide educational experiences for American students, concerning Korea and Northeast Asia generally, is a vital aspect of the project,” said GMU’s Provost, Peter N. Stearns.  Stearns also added that the creation of the branch campus, which is one of the most ambitious international education projects thus far mounted anywhere, could attract upwards of 2,000 students and that the programs would focus on social sciences and policy.

Dr. Young-chan Ro, Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies and Director of GMU’s Korean Studies Center, has stated that South Korea has already pledged $1 million in project capital and according to Betty Jolly, Director of State Government Relations at GMU, no general fund money will be used to finance the building and operation of the branch campus.

“This partnership will establish a long-term alliance between GMU and South Korea, and will result in a positive economic impact in Virginia,” said Petersen. Delegate Mark Keam (D-35) who sponsored the bill in the House of Delegates during the General Assembly session added that this project will expose the Commonwealth as an ideal place to do business.

Senator Chap Petersen represents Virginia’s 34th State Senate district, which includes Fairfax City and much of Fairfax County.