Download Faculty Mentor Brochure (pdf)
Download Tips for advising students on contract development
The Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) is George Mason University's adult degree completion program. The program is designed to meet the varied needs of mature students, providing them the opportunity to develop a course of study that complements their individual needs and interests. BIS students design their own concentrations (the BIS term for major), choose courses, and develop concentration titles with the guidance of BIS staff and faculty mentors. The concentration must be multidisciplinary and may not duplicate a traditional GMU major.
The primary role of the BIS faculty mentor is to provide academic guidance to BIS students in the design of the BIS concentration and in the supervision and grading of the BIS 490 project. The BIS faculty mentor may also assist students in ways advisors generally assist students, e.g., give general guidance in academic matters; refer students to appropriate university services; monitor progress; and discuss post-baccalaureate opportunities.
A BIS mentor must be a full-time or adjunct GMU faculty member (research, teaching, or administrative, with at least a Master's degree) and have relevant expertise and appropriate academic credentials (or significant professional experience) relative to the student's concentration.
Mentor Responsibilities
Mentor Opportunities and Rewards
Student Responsibilities
When working with an mentor, it is the student's responsibility to obtain and provide the mentor with all appropriate paperwork:
How can you find a faculty mentor?
A student should begin to identify a faculty mentor soon after the proposed concentration is approved. Consider professors that teach courses in your concentraion. **An approved contract should be in place before the student takes BIS 390.**
Most departments/programs across campus have designated a BIS Liaison. After all other routes have been exhausted, the Liaison is the point of contact for a BIS student needing assistance identifying a faculty mentor in a specific department.
A student should research possible faculty members in a department via a library search for publications (books, journal articles, special projects, etc.) concerning a particular area of interest (our library has reference librarians on staff that can assist you in finding these publications). The BIS Liaison will attempt to provide suggestions of possible faculty mentor.
Please note that certain departments that are not able to provide faculty mentors at this time. (i.e., Clinical Psychology)
How should you contact a BIS Liaison?
Send an e-mail to the appropriate BIS Liaison requesting an appointment to meet and discuss potential faculty mentors. Include a cover letter and send it as an email attachment to the BIS Liaison; keep the letter short, but tell the Liaison who you are and what you are interested in studying
What materials might you bring with you to your meeting with the Liaison?