Job Description

How to Apply

All positions require that you submit a cover letter and a resume combined into a single PDF file. All GSI applications should be submitted through the graduate student instructors posting on the university careers website. Application materials should be addressed to the faculty noted on the job description or to the chair of the program that you are applying to in cases where the faculty is TBA. The cover letter header must include:

Also, complete the course selection form found here.

Applications are due by December 3, 2024

Limited Availability Positions Eligibility

All graduate student instructor positions listed below are limited availability positions. Please note that only students currently enrolled at Taubman College are eligible to apply to become a graduate student instructor (GSI) at Taubman College.

Generally, each program only hires students from within their field. The positions listed here are for architecture students only.

Dual-degree students must take 75% of their course work and must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours at Taubman College in the term they hold a GSI position.

Only students who have satisfactory academic performance are eligible for a GSI position. Satisfactory academic performance is defined as:

Course Description

Course Title: Arch 212 - Understanding Architecture
Limited Availability Positions, up to 1 position available
Required Availability: Mon, Wed 9:00-10:00am. Recitations are on Fridays between 9:00 and 11:00am
Estimated FTE: 18.7%
Faculty: Keith Mitnick

Course Description: This course examines visual, cultural, historical, and philosophical aspects of the built environment using examples from the field of architecture and the allied arts. The intent of the course is to provide a general view and a rudimentary understanding of the profession and the discipline of architecture. Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to demonstrate an understanding of the ideation context and the formal attributes of the built environments of various eras. The format includes two weekly lectures, weekly discussion sections, and several basic design problems.

GSI Responsibilities: GSI will lead a discussion section (1hr/wk), grade weekly assignments (4hrs/wk), and give one lecture (1hr/wk).

Minimum Qualifications: M.Arch student 

Desired Qualifications: Strong history/theory coursework (or similar).

Course Title: Arch 326 - Theories & Methods II
Limited Availability Positions, up to 1 position available
Required Availability: Mon, Wed 10:30-11:30am
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: Joy Knoblauch, Craig Wilkins

Course Description: Through the examination of exemplary buildings, this course considers techniques and strategies of architectural design. Lectures present analyses of individual buildings relating their form and conceptual ambitions to relevant theoretical premises and historical contexts. The works examined range from the early part of the last century through the present and trace the diverse trajectory of developments in twentieth century architecture. Lectures and readings examine structuring principles of design including programmatic organization, material construction, formal syntax, and type. The course aims to reveal and make available to students design strategies found in historically significant and varied examples of architecture while instilling a critical understanding of all these approaches.

GSI Responsibilities: GSIs will run discussion section, assist in drafting assignments and exams, and grade student work for their section. The GSI must attend all lectures (2 hrs/wk), run discussion section (1.5 hrs/wk), assist with the grading assignments with commentary that aims to improve and enhance students? critical thinking and analysis skills in relation to understanding design fundamentals (3.5 hrs/wk), provide assistance and clarification on issues related to course to students via e-mails and in-person in meetings as necessary (1.5/hrs wk).  

Minimum Qualifications: GPA 3.0 or above, acute coursework knowledge of theory; strong writing and thinking skills. Please include in cover letter the courses taken relevant to this course. 

Desired Qualifications: GPA above 3.5, skilled at managing a diverse discussion, interested in working with students, conscientious, well organized, good listening and reading skills; writing skills. Experience leading oral discussions. Master of Architecture students, and Master of Urban Design students are eligible.

Course Title: Arch 357 - Architecture, Sustainability, and the City
Limited Availability Positions, up to 2 positions available
Required Availability: Mon, Wed 10:00-11:00am
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: Jen Maigret

Course Description: Architecture, Sustainability and the City: Ideas, Forces and People Shaping the Built Environment ? An introduction to the design of the build environment, society?s largest investment and biggest consumer of energy, the course?s focus will range from the room to the building to the city to the metropolis, including spaces and places that are consciously planned and intentionally designed, as well as ones that are vernacular and organic.  In addition to the fundamentals, history, theory and practice of design and urban planning, case studies of buildings and cities of different periods and cultures will be presented to deepen the student?s understanding of the environmental, economic, sociocultural and aesthetic impacts of architecture and urbanism.  Contemporary problems and opportunities in sustainable building and community design will be considered, including energy and water conservation, waste management and recycling.  Livability, walkability, bikeability and transit, as well as the importance of a vibrant and diverse public realm, will also be studied.

GSI Responsibilities: Prior to class: Training Session (CRLT) 2 hours + 4 hours preparation. Weekly time: Class contact (lecture attendance, 2 hours + discussion section 1 hour) , office hours 1 hour, GSI prep meeting 1 hour, weekly preparation 1 hour and grading 2 hours.

Minimum Qualifications: Academic experience in architecture and/or urban design and/or urban planning, sustainability, and urbanism. The GSI must demonstrate strong verbal communication skills (especially experience or promise in leading oral discussions), strong writing assessment skills, and enthusiasm for teaching.

Desired Qualifications: Previous teaching experience is desirable. Previous urban and/or sustainability courses in architecture, urban design and planning are desirable, as is completion of Arch 515 ?Sustainable Systems?, URP 532 ?Sustainability and Social Change?, or equivalent graduate coursework.

Course Title: Arch 411/509 - Becoming Digital 
Limited Availability Positions, up to 2 positions available
Required Availability: Tue, Thurs 10-11:30am  
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: Ellie Abrons

Course description: This course introduces students to the histories and principles that structure digital technologies and the ethical dilemmas they often pose, and together, we will endeavor to more deeply understand the benefits and risks of the digital for the built environment. Students will gain digital literacy ? characterized by a broad understanding of how technology works, its inherent biases, and its effect on people ? with a commitment to a more healthful, equitable, and just world strengthened by design.

GSI Responsibilities: GSI is responsible for attending class each week (3 hrs/wk), attending periodic meetings to coordinate teaching (avg 0.5 hrs/wk), and providing weekly assistance to students (avg 1 hr/wk). GSI will prepare for and lead weekly reading discussions (2 hrs/wk prep time), grade weekly reading responses (2 hrs/wk), grade end-of-term papers, and assist with course administration (e.g. setting up Miro boards, class announcements to students, etc.) (avg 0.25 hrs/wk).

Minimum Qualifications: Master or Doctoral students in Architecture, and Master students in Urban Design; Knowledge of and interest in digital culture and technology, including software, art, culture, urban tech, etc. (i.e., not limited to fabrication and hardware); Strong writing and critical thinking skills; Strong verbal communication skills (including experience or promise in leading class discussions); Enthusiasm for teaching (including enthusiasm for and experience in leading reading discussions); Strong organizational skills; Facility with online teaching platforms such as Zoom and Miro.

Desired Qualifications: N/A

Course Title: Arch 425 - Environmental Systems
Limited Availability Positions, up to 1 position available
Required Availability: Thu 8:30-11:30am
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: Lars Junghans

Course Description: This course is to study building thermal, lighting and acoustic systems. Upon introduction of the basic physics of heat, light and sound, methods of designing building thermal, lighting and acoustic control systems will be discussed. Speci?c topics include: thermal properties of matter, psychrometrics, thermal comfort, heat transfer, passive and active heating and cooling, daylighting and electric lighting, water services, and architectural acoustics. Enhancing the quality of human well-being in built-environments through appropriate incorporation of environmental technologies is the principal theme of the course.

GSI Responsibilities: Instruction of sustainable design content to undergraduate students. The GSI will be responsible for holding desk critics. Topics will be light in architecture and sustainable passive design. 4 hrs/week, providing recitations on topics like R-value calculation, Sun Path, and other related topics. 6hrs/term, grading of class design projects and exercises. 4hrs/week, be responsible for the class recording, attendance, and other minor administrative tasks 0.5 hrs/ week.

Minimum Qualifications: Knowledge in sustainable architecture design and light in architecture. Strong pedagogical skills to provide instructions to undergraduate students.

Desired Qualifications: Applicants who took an elective class with the instructor or with Prof. Navvab are preferred.

Course Title: Arch 572 - Architectural Theory & Criticism
Limited Availability Positions, up to 5 positions available
Required Availability: Wed 1:00-3:00pm
Estimated FTE: 23.7%
Faculty: Enrique Ramirez

Course Description: In 2020, the simultaneous crisis of white supremacy, environmental collapse, and the global pandemic prompted profound changes in how we understand what architecture is and what it does. These events brought to the foreground the role of architecture in the production of wealth, racism, patriarchy, land disposession, labor struggle, and environmental disaster. In this course we will examine how architecture operates to further these processes and how it might contribute to counter them. Witnessing the overwhelming reach of the pandemic, novelist Arundhati Roy argued that the tragedy was long-coming, the result of economic, social, and environmental crisis. Roy invited us to consider our own agency in shaping the aftermath of this event by concluding: ?the pandemic is a portal?. This course invites students to take ownership of the discipline they are studying, and to collaborate in producing new definitions of ?architecture?: definitions that propel us through this portal and on to better futures.

GSI Responsibilities: GSI's will attend lectures (2 hours) and be responsible for maintaining discussion sections (1 hour) and grading weekly assignments (2 hours). GSI's will also present the Instructor with weekly reports describing progress in their respective section (1 hour) and be available for consultation, online or in person (1 hour) with individual students or with the Instructor. GSI's will also grade the required capstone assignments when turned in (3 hours).   

Minimum Qualifications: Having enrolled in ARC 572 in the past; or, if the course has been waived, demonstrate good baseline knowledge of theory and criticism either in studio work or surveys/seminars.

Desired Qualifications: In addition to having taken ARC 572 in the past, past experience as a GSI is desired. I am also interested in working with GSI's with prior coursework in architectural history, theory, and criticism, whether at Taubman College at the Master's or PhD level or elsewhere.

Responsibilities*

Specific to each course as described above.

Required Qualifications*

Specific to each course as described above.

Desired Qualifications*

Specific to each course as described above.

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

Cassie Germain, Human Resources Coordinator for Staff and Students
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
The University of Michigan
2000 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2069
[email protected] 

Decision Making Process

After review of the applicants and their materials, the faculty will rank up to four candidates for each GSI position with the applicants preference from the course selection form taken into consideration. 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 chair will be responsible for matching faculty and student preferences for final GSI assignments.

Where there are similarly qualified candidates, the preference is for students who have not had an opportunity to be a GSI at Taubman College.

Offers will be extended within six weeks after the application due date and we estimate that all positions will be filled, and the applicants notified by January 7, 2025. As a reminder, applicants may request the status of their application from the appointing unit throughout the process.

The percentage of effort for each position is detailed in the posting. Should enrollment warrant, and the GSI agree, an increase in percentage is possible. GSIs and faculty should check in regularly to ensure that the outline on the fraction calculation accurately reflects the effort.

Number of applications received previous academic year: 229

Criteria for late appointments:

All appointments should be prepared and submitted prior to the beginning of the term or another period of appointment. However, late appointments can happen on rare occasions. A `late appointment' is one that is sent to human resources subsequent to the first pay date of the appointment period involved. Because the specific period of appointment for GSIs and GSSAs has numerous implications for the employee contractual rights and benefits, a written statement affirming that the activities involved in the appointment are, in fact, taking place throughout the designated period should accompany any late appointments. 

Selection Process

Taubman College follows the GSI/GSSA hiring procedures from Article IX, Section C. Hiring Procedures in the U-M GEO 2023-2026 (p.39).

Applicants will be reviewed by the faculty noted on the job description; in cases where the faculty is TBA the chair will review applications in consultation with faculty who teach in that subject area. They will review the cover letter and resume submitted as part of the application. Selection criteria will include:

GEO Contract Information

The following information is required to be in all GSI/GSSA job postings per the U-M GEO 2023-2026 contract and applies to all of the courses listed above.

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.

Contact information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://ecrt.umich.edu/about-us/contact-us/ 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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