Graduate Student Instructor

Winter 2027 - 1 GSI for ENVIRON 475 (Kim Smith) 50%

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 the undergraduate and graduate transcript (unofficial is fine)
• teaching history (list course and department)
• any available teaching evaluations

Name the PDF file as follows: LastName.

FirstName.

CourseNumber. For example: Doe.

John.

Environ475

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 2026, the ENVIRON 475 GSI posting had 30 applicants.

Responsibilities

• Lead 3 discussion sections as the primary (only) instructor in the discussion

• Help students revise several short writing assignments

• Help students research and prepare group presentation

• Attend lectures and answer questions re: lecture in discussion and otherwise

• Hold office hours and answer questions of students

• Help Dr. Smith administer the class (updating Canvas, etc)

• Required Qualifications

• Applicant 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, 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.

• Other: It would be difficult to teach this class without having attended law school for at least a year. It also helps to have taken this class or other environmental law related courses.

• Course Description

• Environmental Law provides an introduction to the history and current structure of American environmental law. It addresses the constitutional foundations of environmental law and judicial interpretation of major federal environmental regulatory statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. We will delve into current debates over governmental management of the environment, including: federal authority over public land and water, tribal authority over natural resources, how to ensure environmental justice, and whether and how federal or state government can address climate change. There will be no exams; grades will be based on written work, participation and a group presentation.

• 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

• Instructor: Kimberly Smith

• Application Deadline

• Job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the fifteenth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

• 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.

• 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 and for the University Ombuds at

• 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 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 Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

• Job Detail

• Job Opening ID

• 284152

• Working Title

• Winter 2027 - 1 GSI for ENVIRON 475 (Kim Smith) 50%

• 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

• 10/12/2026 - 10/26/2026

• Career Interest

• Graduate Students

• Graduate Student Instructors (GEO)