Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program Celebrates 40 Years of Adult Learning Opportunity

by Anne Reynolds

Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program Celebrates 40 Years of Adult Learning Opportunity
Dean Deborah Beohm-Davis and BIS Director Ken Thompson listen to the night's guest speaker, Tuan Nguyen BIS '12

Mason’s diverse student body is a source of pride, something that sets us apart from many other colleges and universities. But did you know how far back that commitment to diversity goes?

In the early 1970s, at about the same time that Mason split from its former parent institution, the University of Virginia, the Commonwealth mandated that every region develop a non-traditional adult education program. Mason made its first proposal for such a program in 1973, and after some adjusting, it was approved in May 1975. 

Mason’s Bachelor of Individualized Study program was born.

BIS Director Ken Thompson and event attendeeFrom the start, the program has brought adult learners the opportunity to connect knowledge gained from life’s experiences to more traditional coursework, with a commitment to intensive advising all the way from admission to degree completion.  The approach has been a real success, with over 3000 graduates proudly bearing BIS degrees from George Mason.

Current and former students, faculty, and families gathered on November 7, 2015, to celebrate BIS’s first 40 years. Program director Kenneth Thompson related the history of the program and welcomed alumnus Tuan Nguyen, BIS ’12, who described how the program was a part of his personal success story. Guests enjoyed an evening of music, food, and drinks, and Thompson described new innovations within BIS, such as the Saturday Transfer Transitions classes. These classes bring new students, faculty, and staff together twice a semester and include an alumni panel at the second meeting that give students an opportunity to learn from BIS graduates’ experiences.40th Anniversary Event Attendees

The university's growth from 478 students in 1957 to more than 33,000 students today is one of the great success stories in the recent history of higher education, says Thompson. “From the beginning,” he adds, “providing educational opportunities for the adult population in the area was a key part of Mason’s mission. With over 3,000 graduates, the BIS program is rigorous but flexible and prepares students for a world where people draw on the knowledge and skills of specialists from different fields to answer questions and solve problems. We are proud of the myriad contributions our graduates have made to Virginia and the region and grateful for the students who have made the program what it is today.”

The Bachelor of Individualized Study program is a proud element of Mason’s role in the community, and it continues to grow and serve degree seekers throughout northern Virginia. Are you interested in becoming a partner in this growth by making a financial gift to the program? You can do so here.
40th Anniversary Attendees Enjoying the PartyBIS graduates enjoying the party