University Studies

Faculty Information

UNIV 100-level faculty play a crucial role in helping first-year students succeed at George Mason University in regards to both their academic and social transition.

University 100-level Teaching Expectations

  • Co-teach University 100 with a peer advisor (PA); attend all classes 
  • Prepare syllabus and lesson plans (in collaboration with PA) 
  • Faculty will abide by the terms of the PA-Faculty Agreement (if applicable) 
  • Address specific student concerns in and out of class (via e-mails, phone calls, meetings) 
  • Serve as a resource for transition to Mason for students in your class 
  • Serve as a liaison between University Studies, peer advisor, and students by sharing communication or events pertinent for the students 

Administrative Tasks

  • Complete all feedback forms and surveys provided by University Studies staff.  
  • Attend all University Studies faculty meetings 
  • Meet all deadlines, such as grading, provided by University Studies.  

University 100-level Peer Advisor Mentoring Expectations

  • Foster a mentoring relationship with peer advisor to include regular meetings, goal setting, feedback and modeling teaching techniques as guided by the PA program learning outcomes (will be provided).  
  • Provide University Studies with a formal, written mid-semester PA evaluation 
  • Communicate as needed with University Studies staff regarding PA performance 
  • Support and encourage PA professional development 

Faculty Requirements & Qualifications

  • Must have a master’s degree OR have at least 18 credits and actively pursuing the degree 
  • If a current Mason employee, you must have approval from a supervisor 
  • Full-time employees can only teach one course during a semester at Mason 
  • Wage employees and graduate students must comply with 1500 hours rule 
  • Classified non-exempt employees are ineligible to teach 
  • If you are a full-time current Mason employee, and you are hired as a UNIV faculty member, if you leave your employment at Mason, per HR policies, you will also have to leave your UNIV faculty position  

Compensation & Time Commitment

  • Time commitment includes approximately 5 hours per week for UNIV 100 (including two hours of class time, one-hour meeting with a Peer Advisor and one hour of planning and grading). Additional commitments include New Faculty Training. 
  • Complete all required faculty trainings before the semester and attend faculty meetings (please contact the University Studies staff in case of scheduling conflicts). 
  • Faculty will be paid according on a bi-monthly basis over the course of each teaching semester. Total pay for the semester is $1275 for faculty in their first 1-3 years of service, and $1500 for faculty with 4+ years of working with University Studies. 

If interested in teaching a ‘UNIV 100-Introduction to Mason’ course, contact University Studies at [email protected].