The Virginia General Assembly will convene its 2014 legislative session on January 8^th. The session, which only lasts until the beginning of March, is a whirlwind of policy debate that affects all Virginians. As a public university, George Mason University is heavily influenced by decisions made by state policymakers. This year, there are a number of bills that could impact Mason and its students. Here is a brief roundup of some of those bills:

1. Restrictions on out-of-state enrollment

Recent budget cuts have had a severe impact on scientific research conducted at Mason. The National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Molecular and Microbiology failed to receive a grant from the National Institute of Health in May because of the NIH’s tight budget.

With ongoing forums and discussions about Mason's budget, here is everything you need to know about faculty pay at Mason:

Earlier this week, a state report showed that the rising costs of public higher education in Virginia are largely due to increased spending on non-educational expenses. According to the study, “student housing, dining, and intercollegiate athletics – through auxiliary enterprises – has been the largest driver of spending increases at Virginia institutions.” At the same time, financial support from the state has declined 22 percent over the past 20 years, putting more financial strain on students.