How to Apply
How to Apply
This is a posting for one Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) at 35% FTE. Please make sure you complete the application on UofM Careers (this website) by clicking the orange "Apply Now" button. You will need to have the following pieces of information combined into one document before you begin:
- a cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
- a resume or curriculum vita
- copy of the undergraduate and graduate transcript (unofficial is fine)
- teaching history (list course and department)
- any available teaching evaluation
Name the .PDF file as follows: LastName.FirstName.CourseNumber. For example: Doe.John.Environ309.
Verify your own course schedule against the schedule for the course to which you are applying as a GSI. All GSIs are required to attend the lecture and discussion times as posted. In Winter 2024, the ENVIRON 309 GSI posting had 38 applicants.
Course Description
This course uses geographic information systems (GIS) to help understand and analyze environmental problems as well as spatial questions in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. A hands-on approach is used to demonstrate GIS principles using a wide variety of examples.
Class will meet 2 hours per day, 2 days per week. Class will combine lecture and computer lab.
Course requirements
- Maps, graphs, or tables will be prepared during each class session, demonstrating GIS concepts, skills, and analyses with examples from a variety of disciplines.
- A term project is required demonstrating the use of GIS to complete an analysis involving spatial data. Students will each present a 10-minute presentation, including maps, images and charts or tables that show the results of their analysis, and submit a digital copy of the project, including metadata descriptions of the derived products.
- There will be one midterm exam and a final exam.
Responsibilities*
- Grade the lab exercises; usually one per week.
- Grade the assignments; usually three per semester.
- Assist the instructor in creating the midterm and final exams.
- Grade the midterm and final exams.
- Provide active technical assistance to individual students on complex but structured lab exercises during each class period.
- Assist students in developing and carrying out group projects
- Hold office hours.
- Meet weekly with the instructor to discuss course progress.
Required Qualifications*
- Applicant must be in good standing as a graduate student at the University of Michigan. If the language of instruction at undergraduate institution was not English, a student must be evaluated by the English Language Institute (ELI) for English proficiency and either pass the GSI-OET or have this test waived by the ELI before they can be eligible for a GSI appointment in LS&A.
- Experience with ESRI GIS software (ArcGIS Pro).
- Completion of a GIS course.
Desired Qualifications*
Completion of a GIS course.
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.
Additional Information
If you have questions about how to apply for the position, please email SEAS Financial Aid at [email protected].
Contact Information
Instructor: Kim Diver, [email protected].
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
Decision Making Process
Faculty will review applications and rank up to four candidates for each GSI position. 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 Faculty Director or his/her designate will review GSI assignments based on faculty and student preferences. Faculty preferences should be heavily weighted in the GSI selection process in order to satisfy course needs.
Where there are similarly qualified candidates, the faculty member and the Faculty Director should be race and gender inclusive in the selection of the final candidates. Additionally, Ph.D. students should be prioritized for selection over master's level students. In the event, that the top-ranked candidate declines the position after accepting the position, an offer will be extended to the next ranked applicant.
Applications are NOT rolling. Faculty will not be provided with any applications until after the application deadline.
In the event that a student is ranked as the number one preference for multiple courses, they will likely receive multiple offer letters and have the opportunity to decide which offer they want to accept. However, the Faculty Director also can choose to work directly with the faculty to resolve any conflicting rankings.
We anticipate all offer letters to be sent by Friday, November 21st, 2025. However, in the event that a position opens back up due to unforeseen circumstances after being filled, applicants information will be kept on file to be contacted with a potential offer letter.
Selection Process
Instructors have access to their position description and selection criteria along with the applications for their course(s). Instructors review their applications and rank the candidates for each position. Once professors have submitted their top candidates, candidates are matched to the professors who selected them and sent offer letters.
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.