Job Description

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:

a cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
a resume or curriculum vita
copy of undergraduate and graduate transcripts (unofficial is fine); if transcripts are long or difficult to read, a list of relevant courses (number and title) and grade achieved should also be included to expedite the review process. 
teaching history (list course and department) 
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 2024, the ENVIRON 444 GSI posting had 56 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 as an academic-community partnership, the course is co-led by a UM faculty member (Benedicte Boisseron), a Community Co-Instructor and local food systems  leader (Shiloh Maples), and the Food Literacy for All Coordinator and SEAS Master?s student  (Sami Maldonado).  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*

Required Qualifications*

Desired Qualifications*

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

Contact Information

Instructor: Benedicte Boisseron [email protected]

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 22nd, 2024. 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/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

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