Faculty Leader Role and Responsibilities
The following guidelines will help clarify your Faculty Leader responsibilities and outline specific conditions for your role. These guidelines will enable you to develop and teach a successful Global Seminar.
Collaboration with the Bing Overseas Studies Program
The Faculty Leader works in collaboration with BOSP to deliver the a high quality and cost-effective program. The BOSP Program Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for all program-related correspondence. The Faculty Leader should be prepared to adhere to the provided administrative timeline, participate in all required meetings and orientations, and maintain regular and timely communication with BOSP. This includes setting up a clear academic focus and objectives, creating a course syllabus and daily itinerary, and developing any activities/assignments that have academic relevance to the program. While in country, the Faculty Leader will participate in all scheduled program activities.
Logistical Arrangements and Coordination with a Program Provider
To ease the logistical burden on the Faculty Leader, BOSP will contract with a dedicated program provider to coordinate logistical arrangements. BOSP will request bids from providers based on the program proposal. Faculty Leaders may also suggest providers based on their professional contacts abroad. BOSP staff and campus partners will review submitted provider bids and determine which provider can deliver the highest quality and most cost-effective services.
These outside providers generally provide comprehensive in-country support including arranging classroom space and housing, in-country transportation, setting up guest speakers and site visits, and serving as an onsite contact for student emergencies. During the bidding process, BOSP will be the primary contact with on-site program providers. Once the provider is selected, the BOSP Program Manager and Faculty Leader will work with the provider to finalize on-site arrangements. While the provider can handle a significant portion of the on-site logistics, the Faculty Leader will share responsibility for the overall logistical plan for the program and is responsible for program activities not arranged by the provider.
Supervision of Seminar Assistant
The Faculty Leader will nominate one Seminar Assistant for their program. In selecting the Seminar Assistant, the Faculty Leader should consider the individual’s prior experience in the program location, proficiency in the local language, understanding of the local culture, and experience working with undergraduate students. Seminar Assistants must be Stanford graduate students and must be returning to Stanford the following academic year. The Seminar Assistant must live with students to serve as a resident advisor and accompany all activities throughout the program. During the program, BOSP Seminar Assistants perform three different types of duties – logistical support, teaching assistance (TA), and residential assistance (RA).
Student Outreach and Selection
BOSP will post the program description on its website and conduct general outreach and may work with the Faculty Leader to coordinate an information session before the application deadline. The Faculty Leader will review student applications and select program participants.
Orientations
The Faculty Leader and Seminar Assistant will be required to attend two orientations before the program. The orientations will be organized and run by BOSP staff in collaboration with other relevant campus partners.
BOSP will collaborate with the Faculty Leader and the Seminar Assistant to host a pre-departure orientation for students in Spring or Summer Quarter. The program will also have an on-site orientation shortly after arrival. The on-site orientation offers an essential opportunity for Faculty Leaders and Seminar Assistants to establish group norms, review course objectives and clarify program expectations and health and safety concerns. The on-site orientation may be held in conjunction with an on-site provider.
Student Supervision and Mentoring
The Faculty Leader will serve as a primary responder for students in need of guidance on academic, cultural, personal, health, safety and other matters prior to and during the program following the University’s established policies and procedures.
Health, Safety, and Emergencies
The Faculty Leader, in conjunction with the on-site provider, should be prepared to respond to health and safety issues overseas and be available to address emergencies throughout the program. At orientation meetings, the Faculty Leader will use knowledge of the program location to inform students about local customs and practices that may impact personal and group health, safety and security.
Accompanying Family Members
Faculty Leaders are discouraged from bringing family members because their primary responsibility is to be available for all program activities, including emergencies or serious incidents for the duration of the program. However, assuming that those responsibilities can be met and the Faculty Leader plans to bring a family member or guest, there will be no reimbursement for travel expenses incurred on behalf of any persons not teaching or enrolled in the program. If additional or larger lodging becomes necessary to accommodate family members, the faculty member will be required to pay the difference and may need to coordinate the accommodation on their own. Minor children accompanying Faculty Leaders must be adequately supervised at all times by someone other than the Faculty Leader. Accompanying family members or other persons not enrolled in the program should not participate in any program activities including orientations, class and guest lectures, etc. They are permitted to join cultural events and group meals if such participation is allowed by the on-site provider. Some providers have policies forbidding the participation of guests on excursions for liability concerns.
Please be aware that pets cannot be accommodated under any circumstances; no requests to accommodate pets will be considered by BOSP.
Post-Program Evaluation
Upon return to campus after the program, the Faculty Leader will present the proper documentation including necessary receipts to clear all program expenses with BOSP. The Faculty Leader also evaluates student academic performance and submits grades for their work. The Faculty Leader will also meet with BOSP after their program to discuss the logistical aspects of the program, including evaluation of the on-site provider, and describe successes and challenges as well as make recommendations for future programming. This debrief is critical to the evaluation process and planning of subsequent program. Students will also evaluate academic and logistical components of the program.
Faculty Leader Compensation
Faculty Leaders will receive $8,500 supplemental pay for leading a seminar. BOSP and VPUE HR will work with the Faculty Affairs Office and faculty home department to process the supplemental pay. Roundtrip airfare (lowest non-refundable upgradeable economy class) to and from the program location within a day of the program dates, accommodation for the duration of the program, and meal expenses are reimbursed to faculty following the BOSP's guidelines and standard Stanford business travel procedures.
Program Cancellation
Stanford reserves the right to cancel or modify the Program before or during its operation for any reason, including natural disasters, emergencies, low enrollment, unavailability of facilities or personnel, or compliance with the University's International Travel Policy.