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Winter 2026 - 1 GSI for Environ 391 (Jennifer Brenton) 35%

How to Apply

This is a posting for one to two Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) at 35% FTE. Effort for the position(s) may increase to 50% if enrollment allows. 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.Environ391

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 ENVIRON 361 GSI posting had 32 applicants.

Course Description

This interdisciplinary, capstone course explores environmental (and, to a lesser degree, social and economic) sustainability in higher education generally and at the University of Michigan specifically in a dynamic, interactive way. The course draws upon theory and practice in environmental management, organizational change, systems thinking and social advocacy. Students conduct a substantial, hands-on group project in conjunction with a university sponsor as the core component of the course. Through site visits, guest lectures, discussions, lectures and this project, this course aims to address the real life challenges of campus environmental sustainability, using the campus as a microcosm of larger society. This course focuses on active, participation-based learning, and students should leave the course with an understanding of the campus as a lever for environmental change and the complexities of management for sustainability as well as with the personal tools to act as change agents.

Responsibilities*

+ Attend all lectures and discussions

+ Complete all readings

+ Meet with instructor once per week (1 hour)

+ Assist with preparation of course materials, including updating lecture and discussion material

+ Lead course discussion section each week (1 hour)

+ Assist with all small group discussions/role plays

+ Meet with student teams throughout the semester, providing feedback prior to and after meetings

+ Communicate with 6-12 project sponsors 1-2 times per month

+ Design and implement student feedback surveys (twice during semester)

+ Lead evaluation of course participation

+ Create and manage content on course website, including the return of graded materials

+ Manage needs/contact with 3- 6 guest speakers

+ Hold at least one office hour per week

+ Grade individual and team assignments

In addition to the GSI role, selected candidates will have an opportunity to be hired in November 2025 on a temp-hourly basis to support the solicitation of project sponsor and preparation of the research projects for the Winter 2026 students.

Required Qualifications*

+ Coursework in Organizational behavior & management; Sustainability theory; Social advocacy; Campus Sustainability

+ Intermediate competency in Word & Excel as well as in using Canvas

+ Applicant must be in good standing as a graduate student at the University of Michigan. If the language of instruction at a students undergraduate institution was not English, they 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.

Desired Qualifications*

+ Strong preference and priority given to applicants with experience in campus sustainability. Professional experience in this area preferred to volunteer experience. Ability to provide a unique and valuable perspective in this field during the course is highly valued.

+ Although previous GSI teaching experience is NOT required, experience is successfully instructing and mentoring students in traditional or non-traditional settings is desirable.

+ Demonstrated experience in student project management or professional consulting project management preferred in order to provide professional guidance to student project teams

+ Demonstrated experience in social advocacy/change that is applicable to campus sustainability

+ Experience in evaluating and critiquing student writing

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 thework modes (https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/my-employment/ways-we-work-resource-center/ways-we-work-implementation-group/modes-work) .

Additional Information

If you have questions about how to apply for the position, please email SEAS Financial Aid at [email protected] .

Contact Information

Instructor: Jennifer Brenton; [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 Associate Dean 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. Faculty who wish to appoint a master's student in favor of SEAS Ph.D. students who have applied for the position must provide a brief justification for the choice. The Associate Dean or designated administrator will be responsible for matching faculty and student preferences. If such matching materially changes the rank of students being selected (especially for courses with multiple GSIs), then the faculty member responsible for the course will be consulted about these changes. After this, a final review of allocations will be made by the Associate Dean.

Where there are similarly qualified candidates, the faculty member and the Associate Dean 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 Associate Dean also can choose to work directly with the faculty to resolve any conflicting rankings.

We anticipate all offer letters to be sent by Monday, December 1st, 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 athttps://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 (https://spg.umich.edu/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.

Job Detail

Job Opening ID

269739

Working Title

Winter 2026 - 1 GSI for Environ 391 (Jennifer Brenton) 35%

Job Title

GRAD STU INSTR

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work

Hybrid

Full/Part Time

Part-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

School Nat Res Envir

Department

Program in the Environment

Posting Begin/End Date

10/20/2025 - 11/03/2025

Career Interest

Graduate Students

Graduate Student Instructors (GEO)