General Information
About Us
George Mason University is launching the Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) for Virginia students in grades 9-12. ACCESS Academy will provide students with an alternative education path that emphasizes future-ready career skills, innovative teaching and learning methods, and immersive experiences developed with industry partners, researchers, and instructional faculty. The academy will expand access to information technology education and career pathways for students to receive two- and four-year degrees that will help prepare them to enter high-demand, well-compensated information technology careers.
Program
ACCESS Academy is open to all public, private, and home school students in grades 9-12 in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the 2025-26 school year. The academy will provide an enhanced curriculum concentrated on career skills and information technology education.
ACCESS Academy will be based at LCPS’ Potomac Falls High School where students in grades 9 and 10 will focus on completion of high school graduation requirements including English, social studies, math, and science.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will assist students in developing career skills through an innovative curriculum that leverages NOVA’s extensive dual enrollment program with high schools. Students will be immersed in activities designed to cultivate essential skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and research skills.
Students in grades 11 and 12 will attend classes at George Mason University’s Fuse at Mason Square (Fuse), a state-of the-art research hub. Fuse will provide students access to technology labs as well as IT classes focused on preparing students for future success. ACCESS Academy students will work side by side with researchers and industry experts as part of a new Learning Innovation Lab.
Students graduating from ACCESS Academy will have the potential to earn dual enrollment and IT course credits, micro-credentials and industry certificates. They will have a pathway to enrolling and ultimately graduating with a two- or four-year degree in information technology related fields and be well prepared for an IT career and increased earning potential.
For those students in grades 11 and 12 accepted into the program, there will be a Summer Bridge program to prepare students to succeed in ACCESS Academy. This program will support student readiness in problem-based learning, foundational IT skills, career ready skills, and academic success.
The Summer Bridge program will be held on July 7th through August 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Fuse.
To learn more about ACCESS Academy:
- Students from LCPS should reach out to the ACCESS Academy coordinator, Jeremy Shughart.
- Students from other school districts should reach out to the ACCESS Academy director, Dr. Roberto Pamas at access@gmu.edu.