How to Apply
- Interested applicants must apply for GSI through the UM Jobs portal at careers.umich.edu
- Applicants who have never taught in Michigan?s Dept. of Political Science, must also submit a cover letter and their CV as a single document. Please address your cover letter to the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science.
- Applicants who have never taught in the department must also request to have a single page letter of recommendation emailed to [email protected]
- Interested applicants must submit their application by August 8, 2025
Job Summary
The Department of Political Science seeks one Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for the Fall 2025 semester. This position is a 0.5 appointment, and as posted, are 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. This is a limited availability position.
Course Description
In this introduction to American politics we will explore the foundations of government in the US, the political institutions that govern our society, and the ways in which people interact with the government.
Course Requirements:
Evaluation will be based on a variety of activities, including quizzes, papers, exams, and participation in discussion sections.
Class Format:
Lectures will be in-person. In addition to two lectures per week, you will meet once a week in person in a discussion section led by a GSI. In these sections you will have the opportunity to discuss the readings, ask any questions you might have about lectures or readings, and address topics in more depth than the lectures permit.
Responsibilities*
The GSI will be expected to provide general pedagogical support for the course, which may include, but is not limited to: attending lecture, teaching discussion sections, grading and commenting on papers and exams, and meeting with enrolled students during office hours. The number of sections a GSI with a full appointment (a 0.5 position) will be asked to teach depends on the structure of a course. Most appointments for undergraduate courses include two or three hour-long sections of 20-25 students per week in a full 0.5 appointment.
GSIs are expected to be on campus and available to work no later than Monday, August 25, 2025, the first day of classes.
Required Qualifications*
All applicants must be graduate students enrolled at the University of Michigan in good academic standing.
Desired Qualifications*
LSA student enrolled in a graduate program.
The most successful applicants will have completed a graduate course in political science, have previous experience as a GSI with favorable student evaluations, and/or previous experience teaching in political science.
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
All applicants are welcome to request the status of their application at any time by contacting the Political Science Office at [email protected] or (734)764-6313.
Decision Making Process
All employment decisions will be made by the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science. GSIs from outside the department will be selected based on the quality of their past teaching experience, the strength of their references, and also on how well their past coursework and teaching experiences have prepared them to teach the course topic of the open position.
Selection Process
External applicants can expect to hear about initial decisions on or around August 12, 2025. While we do our best to maintain original placements, sometimes the need arises to move GSIs from one assigned course to another. Assignments may change up to the first day of classes.
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 his or her preferred assignment, he or she can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agent(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon 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 Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.