UPDATE: The posting has closed. Thank you to everyone for your interest in the position. I've had an overwhelming number of applicants and the posting is now closed.
Happy New Year! I have received generous funding from Vancouver Island University’s Faculty Association (VIUFA) to host a symposium on Academic Freedom at VIU. The funding will allow me to hire a student to support this day, and I’m looking for someone with project management interest/acumen, and marketing prowess.
The project: Academic Freedom continues to be a hot topic in Canadian post-secondary, especially now with the sector experiencing crisis after crisis, leading to inevitable restructuring and redesign. In order to maximize academic freedom protections at universities, especially now, it is important to enable university employees to engage in dialogue and discussion related to this topic. I am committed to supporting our colleagues and our institution to develop a deeper understanding of what academic freedom is, and what it means to us.
To that end, I have invited Dr. Shannon Dea to VIU to help host a day of discussion and engagement around academic freedom. Dr. Dea is the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and a Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Classics at the University of Regina. She is an established expert on academic freedom, and has written a column in University Affairs called Dispatches on Academic Freedom.
The Academic Freedom Symposium, hosted for all employees at Vancouver Island University, will be run like a mini-conference on May 12, 2025. The project has funding to support a student to do research related to academic freedom, event planning and management, and marketing.
The candidate: I am looking for a highly organized and responsible student with project management and event planning experience, or keen interest in gaining experience in those areas. Marketing this event will be a key, so the ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience and understanding in marketing strategies. Effective and professional communication skills is also key.
Tasks include:
Creating and implementing a marketing plan/strategy for the event
Supporting travel logistics for Dr. Dea (airfare, hotel, per diems, etc.)
Creating a system for tracking and communicating with participants attending the event
Ordering catering and ensuring it is delivered on the day
Booking rooms at VIU for various events
Greeting and supporting participants on the day
Keeping the day running smoothly behind the scenes
Light research on academic freedom
This opportunity pays $25/hour. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Kathleen Bortolin: kathleen.bortolin@viu.ca.
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