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How to ApplyInterested applicants must apply for GSI through the UM Jobs portal at careers.umich.edu   Applicants who have never taught in Michigan?s Dept. of Political Science, must also submit a cover letter and their CV as a single document.      Please address your cover letter to the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science.Interested applicants must submit their application by August 26, 2025    Job Summary

The Department of Political Science seeks one Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for the Fall 2025 semester. This position is a 0.5 appointment, and as posted, are 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. This is a limited availability position.

Course Description

Introduction to Political Theory --- Inquiry into our assumptions about politics and the words we use to  express them. Persistent political questions, such as the nature of power, authority, freedom, and justice, will be discussed in classic and modern contexts.

The course is taught through active learning that engages students in teaching themselves and each other and asks faculty members to focus more on posing questions, creating activities, and sparking dialogue than on dispensing eloquent wisdom (or droning on) from behind a lectern. Course assignments include: weekly reading quizzes; three short (500 to 750 word essays); editorial board exercise; active participation in lecture and sections.

Responsibilities*

The GSI will be expected to provide general pedagogical support for the course, which may include, but is not limited to: attending lecture, teaching discussion sections, grading and commenting on papers and exams, and meeting with enrolled students during office hours.  The number of sections a GSI with a full appointment (a 0.5 position) will be asked to teach depends on the structure of a course. Most appointments for undergraduate courses include two or three hour-long sections of 20-25 students per week in a full 0.5 appointment.

GSIs are expected to be on campus and available to work no later than Monday, August 25, 2025, the first day of classes. 

First-time GSIs teaching an LSA course are required to attend CRLT GSI Teaching Orientation.

Students who are holding a GSI position for the first time in Political Science are required to concurrently enroll in POLSCI 993 GSI training course, which will meet on selected Fridays throughout the Fall semester.

Required Qualifications*

All applicants must be graduate students enrolled at the University of Michigan in good academic standing.

Desired Qualifications*

LSA student enrolled in a graduate program.

The most successful applicants will have completed a graduate course in political science, have previous experience as a GSI with favorable student evaluations, and/or previous experience teaching in political science.

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

All applicants are welcome to request the status of their application at any time by contacting the Political Science Office at [email protected] or (734)764-6313.

Decision Making Process

All employment decisions will be made by the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science. GSIs from outside the department will be selected based on the quality of their past teaching experience, the strength of their references, and also on how well their past coursework and teaching experiences have prepared them to teach the course topic of the open position.

Selection Process

External applicants can expect to hear about initial decisions on or around August 20, 2025.  While we do our best to maintain original placements, sometimes the need arises to move GSIs from one assigned course to another.  Assignments may change up to the first day of classes.

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 his or her preferred assignment, he or she can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agent(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.

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.