How to Apply
This is a posting for one Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) at 50% 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:
1) a cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
2) a resume or curriculum vita
3) copy of the undergraduate and graduate transcript (unofficial is fine)
4) teaching history (list course and department)
5) any available teaching evaluations
Name the .PDF file as follows: LastName.FirstName.CourseNumber. For example: Doe.John.Environ444
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 2025, the ENVIRON444 GSI posting had 55 applicants.
Course Description
Concurrent food, energy, water, climate, and biodiversity crises, and a global rise in obesity amidst widespread hunger and undernutrition, have focused public attention on the deficiencies and complexities of the global food system. Yet, a diversity of emerging `alternative? food systems demonstrates their potential to be nutritionally productive and socially and environmentally sound. Transforming food systems will require coordinated efforts across disciplines and scales, drawing upon diverse academic and practical perspectives, and understanding how value systems shape food and agriculture. Linking theory and practice is essential, involving the full range of actors moving food from farm to fork.
The Food Literacy for All course offers a unique opportunity for students to gain an interdisciplinary introduction to the food system through a weekly lecture series bringing high-profile speakers to campus from policy, academia, and grassroots movements. Designed by the Sustainable Food Systems Initiative (SFSI) as an academic-community partnership, the course is co-led by a UM faculty member from the Program in the Environment, a Community Co-Instructor and local food systems leader (Julius Buzzard, Executive Director of Growing Hope), and the Food Literacy for All Coordinator and former SEAS Master?s student (Sami Maldonado), and course support from Associate Professor Lesli Hoey. Students in the class will develop competencies in food-systems sustainability, including systems thinking, community engagement, creativity, and analytical abilities.
Students will write regular reaction postings in response to the lectures. They will also complete short quizzes and several short essay assignments over the term. These are essays based on the lectures and additional scholarship by the students. The course may have between 180 and 220 students (based on enrollment since 2020). Students will be evaluated based on attendance, participation, and writing assignments.
Responsibilities*
- Provide feedback on content and writing quality and grade other student exercises, with instructor oversight
- Meet with students as needed throughout the semester (specific weekly office hours not required)
- Attend all Zoom lectures
- Help facilitate Zoom lectures
- Be the on-the-ground point person to support logistics for two in-person events at the start and end of the semester
- Complete all readings
- Manage student attendance and participation through online polls
- Attend weekly planning meetings with instructors
- Monitor emails from students/instructors and respond in a timely manner
- Upload the recorded lectures to Canvas and the SFSI Youtube Account
Required Qualifications*
- Basic competency in Word and Excel as well as in using Canvas
- Applicants must be in good standing as a graduate student at the University of Michigan. If the
Language of instruction at a student?s undergraduate institution was not English, he/she 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 gaining eligibility for a GSI appointment in LS&A.
Desired Qualifications*
- Experience in evaluating and critiquing writing
- Experience in courses about the US and global food system
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: TBD
Decision Making Process
Faculty review applications for positions in their courses and indicate their ranked preferences. They are also asked to indicate whether they regard any applicants as unqualified and why based on the Required and Desired qualifications listed above. Faculty may look at previous teaching experience as a positive, but will not view a lack of teaching experience as a negative on an application.
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 receive multiple offer letters and have the opportunity to decide which offer they want to accept.
All applications must be submitted by November 18, 2025. We expect to have all position offers out to students no later than December 3, 2025.
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.