Graduate Student Instructor: ELI 994 College Teaching at the U-M

Apply Now

How to Apply

A cover letter is required to apply for this position and must be attached as the first page of your CV as a single PDF document. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills, education, and experience related directly to it. If you have experience in ELI 994, in your cover letter please describe your role in 994, including when you had this experience. If you have served as a GSI at U-M, please provide the course title, number, term, and faculty instructor for each course taught. Please include the names and email addresses of at least two professional references. 

To be considered, applicants must submit an application through the U-M Careers system.

Who We Are

The English Language Institute was established in 1941 as the first university-based English language research and teaching program of its kind in the United States. The ELI is a unit of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts which provides language, academic, and intercultural instruction to members of the University of Michigan community.

The core of ELI?s offerings consists of a full range of credit-bearing English for Academic Purposes courses for international graduate students. We also offer a comprehensive program of language and pedagogy courses for prospective and current graduate student instructors (GSIs), ESL/EFL teacher education courses for undergraduates interested in teaching English in local communities or abroad, and full-time summer intensive programs for students who have been accepted into degree programs at the University of Michigan or other US institutions of higher education.

Additional ELI support services include writing and speaking clinics which provide international graduate students and GSIs with one-on-one language and academic support; courses for visiting scholars, researchers, faculty, staff, and post-docs; and a volunteer Conversation Circles program which provides opportunities for international students to practice speaking English in an informal setting and for domestic U-M students to learn about other cultures.

Course Description

ELI 994 is a 10-week,  two-credit course designed to prepare graduate students for teaching as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) at U-M. The course is for students who do not have a four-year English-medium undergraduate education and who have been or will be nominated for GSI appointments in a department in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA). The course is offered jointly by the English Language Institute (ELI) and the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT). The course includes sessions on pedagogy, classroom discourse, and practice teaching.

Responsibilities*

The GSI will have direct interactions with enrolled students and course instructors and will work an average of 20 hours per week of the semester. Responsibilities will include co-teaching sections, holding office hours, meeting with and assisting the course instructors, providing feedback during and after practice teaching sessions. The GSI will also meet with students who miss class to review material. Pre-course planning and meeting attendance will also be required, as determined in consultation with the ELI 994 course coordinator.

Required Qualifications*

  • Graduate student in good standing at the University of Michigan. 
  • Prior GSI or other relevant teaching experience with favorable teaching evaluations  
  • For students who did not complete all four years of their undergraduate education at an English-medium undergraduate institution, a passing score on the GSI-OET or a waiver from the GSI-OET

Desired Qualifications*

  • Priority will be given to current LSA graduate students
  • Prior experience in ELI 994 and prior experience as a GSI in LSA are also preferred

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Contact Information

Send inquiries to [email protected]

Decision Making Process

The ELI 994 course coordinator will review applications and recommend qualified candidates to the department. The ELI Director makes the final offers. Anticipated Decision Making Date: December 13, 2024.

Selection Process

Selection criteria include prior GSI or other relevant teaching experience, and other training or experience relevant to the content of ELI 994. Estimated date for an offer to be extended: December 13, 2024. Applicants may request the status of their application from the program at any time.

GEO Contract Information

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.


Information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://oie.umich.edu/ 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.