How to Apply
All positions require that you submit a cover letter and a resume combined into a single PDF file. All GSI applications should be submitted through the graduate student instructors posting on the university careers website. Application materials should be addressed to the faculty noted on the job description or to the chair of the program that you are applying to in cases where the faculty is TBA. The cover letter header must include:
- Name
- Program (MURP, URP PhD)
- Expected date of graduation (MM/YYYY)
- Umich email address
- Student ID #
- Position(s) to which you are applying
Also, complete the course selection form found here.
Applications are due by May 5, 2024
Limited Availability Positions Eligibility
All graduate student instructor positions listed below are limited availability positions. Please note that only students currently enrolled at Taubman College are eligible to apply to become a graduate student instructor (GSI) at Taubman College.
Generally, each program only hires students from within their field. The positions listed here are for urban planning students only.
Dual-degree students must take 75% of their course work and must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours at Taubman College in the term they hold a GSI position.
Only students who have satisfactory academic performance are eligible for a GSI position. Satisfactory academic performance is defined as:
- 3.0 GPA or above
- No more than one outstanding incomplete
- Progress toward degree at the rate of 9 or more credits per semester
Course Description
Course Title: URP 423 - Introduction to Urban and Environmental Planning
Limited Availability Position, up to 1 position available
Required Availability: Lecture: Tue, Thu 10:00-11:00am
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: Larissa Larsen
Course description: This course invites students to explore three organizing questions: Who shapes the urban environment? How? What are the implications? With special attention to the challenges of equity and sustainability, the class introduces the key concerns of the urban planning profession-transportation, land use, housing, economic development, infrastructure, etc.,to better understand a wide array of built environments. Lectures and readings introduce students to a set of central concepts and issues; in discussion sections and homework assignments, students analyze and apply those concepts.
GSI Responsibilities: The GSI attends classes and is responsible for leading weekly discussion sections (4 hours per week). The GSI attends weekly planning sessions with the professor (1 hour per week). Using rubrics generated by the professor, the GSI will independently grade, and evaluate, student work (5 hours per week).
Minimum Qualifications: Student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program.
Desired Qualifications: Strong performance in previous urban planning courses, energetic, and enthusiastic about interacting with undergraduate students; conscientious, well organized, good listening and reading skills; writing skills; some knowledge of and experience with urban and environmental planning issues.
Course Title: URP 510 - Fiscal Planning and Management
Limited Availability Position, up to 1 position available
Required Availability: Tue, Thu 1:00-2:30pm
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: Lan Deng
Course description: This course is designed to provide urban planners and related professionals with the methods of public financial management and analysis used in urban planning and public policy contexts. The course includes topics such as: fiscal planning and management systems, local revenue instruments, budgeting, capital improvement plan, debt financing, fiscal impact analysis, business improvement district, and public investment analysis. The course requires lecture and seminar sessions, independent reading, a short paper and problem sets. The focus is on the practical and professional rather than the theoretical aspects of fiscal planning. The first part of the course is a two-credit module required of students for the master's of urban planning degree. The last part of the course continues with applications of the theories and principles learned in the first part of the course. Students are assumed to have a basic understanding of microeconomics.
GSI Responsibilities: The GSI will hold several review sessions for students whose mastery of fiscal knowledge requires academic support and will hold tutorials for students who are not proficient in Excel (approximately 3-5 hours per week). The GSI may hold office hours to meet with students who need additional assistance in economics and/or Excel, and may conduct various exercises (2 hrs/wk). The GSI will also need to grade several assignments (3 hrs/wk).
Minimum Qualifications: Academic experience in microeconomics and Excel. Must have successfully completed this course at Taubman OR taught this course as a GSI at Taubman.
Desired Qualifications: Energetic and enthusiastic; interested in working with students, conscientious, well organized, good listening and reading skills, skilled in Excel spreadsheet development.
Course Title: UT 201 - Change-making in Cities
Limited Availability Position, up to 1 position available
Required Availability: Lecture: Tue 4:00-5:30pm, Discussion: Thu 2:30-4:00pm or 4:00-5:30pm
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: TBD
Course description: Change-Making in Cities - This course zooms into real-world urban challenges to illustrate what is at stake, and for whom, in urban environments. Case studies present different archetypes of how decisions get made in cities when different types of actors from public sector, private sector, or civil society take the lead. Through this exploration a working familiarity with the social, economic, and political landscape of the city will be developed, including special attention to understanding the many needs of diverse stakeholders and the way that institutions and governance practices shape urban outcomes.
GSI Responsibilities: GSI is responsible for class contact/teaching (2 hrs/wk), office hours (1 hrs/wk), preparation such as lesson plans, class notes, instructional materials, etc. (2 hrs/wk), grading (2 hrs/wk), and meetings (1 hrs/wk).
Minimum Qualifications: GPA 3.0 or above.
Desired Qualifications: Knowledge of urban politics and governance.
Responsibilities*
Specific to each course as described above.
Required Qualifications*
Specific to each course as described above.
Desired Qualifications*
Specific to each course as described above.
Contact Information
Cassie Germain, Human Resources Assistant Intermediate
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
The University of Michigan
2000 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2069
[email protected]
Decision Making Process
After review of the applicants and their materials, the faculty will rank up to four candidates for each GSI position with the applicants preference from the course selection form taken into consideration. In addition to selecting their top applicants, faculty can list those applicants whose qualifications are not sufficient to serve as a GSI in the course. The chair will be responsible for matching faculty and student preferences for final GSI assignments.
Where there are similarly qualified candidates, the preference is for students who have not had an opportunity to be a GSI at Taubman College.
Offers will be extended within six weeks after the application due date and we estimate that all positions will be filled, and the applicants notified by July 12, 2024. As a reminder, applicants may request the status of their application from the appointing unit throughout the process.
The percentage of effort for each position is detailed in the posting. Should enrollment warrant, and the GSI agree, an increase in percentage is possible. GSIs and faculty should check in regularly to ensure that the outline on the fraction calculation accurately reflects the effort.
Number of applications received previous academic year: 33
Criteria for late appointments:
All appointments should be prepared and submitted prior to the beginning of the term or another period of appointment. However, late appointments can happen on rare occasions. A `late appointment' is one that is sent to human resources subsequent to the first pay date of the appointment period involved. Because the specific period of appointment for GSIs and GSSAs has numerous implications for the employee contractual rights and benefits, a written statement affirming that the activities involved in the appointment are, in fact, taking place throughout the designated period should accompany any late appointments.
Selection Process
Taubman College follows the GSI/GSSA hiring procedures from Article IX, Section C. Hiring Procedures in the U-M GEO 2023-2026 (p.39).
Applicants will be reviewed by the faculty noted on the job description; in cases where the faculty is TBA the chair will review applications in consultation with faculty who teach in that subject area. They will review the cover letter and resume submitted as part of the application. Selection criteria will include:
- Relevant academic experience
- Academic standing of 3.0 or more
- Professional and well thought out cover letter stating specific skills, and resume indicating the use of those skills. If the applicant has made email or in-person contact with the faculty member or chair about the GSI position, those communications can be considered as representative of the applicant's communication style.
- Individual faculty may choose to conduct interviews with qualified applicants.
GEO Contract Information
The following information is required to be in all GSI/GSSA job postings per the U-M GEO 2023-2026 contract and applies to all of the courses listed above.
The University will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression (whether actual or perceived), sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, HIV antibody status, political belief, membership in any social or political organization, participation in a grievance or complaint whether formal or informal, medical conditions including those related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, arrest record, or any other factor where the item in question will not interfere with job performance and where the employee is otherwise qualified. The University of Michigan agrees to abide by the protections afforded employees with disabilities as outlined in the rules and regulations which implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Contact information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://ecrt.umich.edu/about-us/contact-us/ and for the University Ombuds at https://ombuds.umich.edu/
Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. In the event that an employee does not receive their preferred assignment, they can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agents(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.
This position, as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.
Standard Practice Guide 601.38, Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Felony Convictions applies to all Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs). SPG 601.38 may be accessed online at https://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 , and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU 10 of your employment contract.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.