Human Resources and Payroll

MASON HORIZONS

Objective of the Program

The Faculty Observership Program is designed for faculty who are contemplating their next career step. Maybe this is where you find yourself. You have been a faculty member for a few years and wonder what your options are for the future. What are your choices? The Faculty Observership Program is designed to assist you in helping to define those choices and gain perspective on your future career path.

By providing a shadowing opportunity for Instructional/Research faculty with diverse academic backgrounds, faculty will be presented with a chance to observe first-hand the development, implementation, and day-to-day management of university administration.

Mason Horizons will provide an opportunity to acquire experience and gain general knowledge of administrative project management as well as an understanding of how the university functions organizationally and operationally. An observership will help increase your understanding of the practices and procedures governing academic and university administration at Mason.

The observership is flexible. To enhance your understanding of university administration you can primarily shadow a senior administrator in an area of interest to you, as well as shadow others in order to receive a broader and deeper understanding of the university administration process. You will be privy to your mentor's decision making, policy development, and day-to-day challenges allowing you to fully understand the role and determine whether your interests and skill set would be enhanced by a career step toward administration.

Description of Mason Horizons

Faculty observership assignments will vary greatly in terms of content. Observers may be involved in the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Office of the Senior Vice President, Development & Alumni Office, the Office of Equity and Diversity or other offices of interest to specific faculty. Tasks that may be performed by the faculty could include conducting research, drafting documents, assisting in the organization of conferences, forums or other collaborative events and/or other relevant projects as assigned. Every attempt is made to match the interests of the faculty observer with the needs of the participating units.

Eligibility Requirement for Internship

Candidates for the Faculty Observership Program will be selected on a competitive basis. Any tenured member of the faculty appointed to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor may be nominated for the program and self nominations are accepted.

The following minimum qualifications are required:

• Be an employee of the university for at least seven years or if joined with tenure 3 years
• Have a demonstrated interest in the field of organizational developments and university administration
• Obtain approval of the Dean/ Chair/Director of the academic unit

How to Apply

Send the documents below to the Observer by October 31 for a Spring Observership and by April 30 for a Fall Observership:

• Completed Observership Request Form
• Copy of the most recent CV

Once the candidate has obtained all approvals, including that of the person to be observed, the form should be forwarded to Human Resources & Payroll for review by the Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Payroll.

Duration of Internship Assignments

Observership assignments will typically be for a semester, but no longer than an academic year depending on the availability of meaningful assignments and the needs and capacity of the department's availability to receive observers.