Fall 2024 - GSI for ENVIRON 360 (Prof. De Young) 35%

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How to Apply

Fill out the application here on UM jobs by clicking the Apply Now button below. Make sure you have the following materials combined into ONE PDF document before applying. Name the .PDF file as follows: Last Name.First Name.Course Number. For example: Doe.John.Environ360.

a cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position

a resume or curriculum vita

a copy of the undergraduate and graduate transcript (unofficial is fine)

teaching history (list course and department)

any available teaching evaluations

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 Fall 2023, the ENVIRON 360 GSI posting had 17 applicants.

This posting is for TWO GSI positions at 35% FTE.

Course Description

Thinking is evolved for doing, as William James famously asserted (James, 1890), and because doing affects the future, never the past, our mental capabilities are focused on what we call prospection, the mental navigation of our future possibilities.

This course examines human-environment interactions from the perspective of environmental psychology. The course develops an information-processing model of human nature, one evolved for envisioning and prospection, and then uses this model to study human behavior, the environmental settings in which humans function best, how they cope with non-preferred settings, and psychological well-being from an information-processing perspective.

The objective of the course is for students to leave with a model of human nature that they can apply to a wide variety of environmental, conservation, and social situations.
Three recurring and integrating themes are the psychology of human-environment interaction, the psychology of human well-being, and the psychology of environmental stewardship. This course (ENVIRON 360 and PSYCH 360 - Fall term) builds the foundation for, and discusses relationships among, these themes, all of which are explored in more detail in ENVIRON 361 and PSYCH 362 (Winter term).

Responsibilities*

• Attend required training sessions and contact CRLT as needed.
• Design and maintain the course Canvas site.
• Acquire readings and post on Canvas.
• Prepare lesson plans, class notes, and instructional materials.
• Prepare, administer and grade course quizzes, exams and tasks.
• Prepare, administer and grade term research projects.
• Prepare lecture handouts and attend lectures
• Attend weekly meeting
• Hold weekly office hours
• Prepare discussion section lesson plans, session notes and instructional materials.
• Hold special tutoring and/or exam sessions if needed.
• Wrap up course (e.g., debrief instructor, feedback to future GSIs)

Required Qualifications*

• Experience with PowerPoint and Canvas.
• Knowledge of research literature in the field of environmental psychology (e.g., course work, work related experience). Particularly that with an emphasis on human information processing, including:
  • Knowledge of research literature on Attention Restoration Theory (ART) (e.g., course work, work related experience).
  • Knowledge of research literature on the Environmental Preference Theory (EPT) (e.g., course work, work related experience).
• Knowledge of psychological literature on the notions of envisioning and prospection as core organizing principles in human cognition and behavior.
• Knowledge of research and practice literature on Supportive Environments for Effectiveness framework (SEE framework) (e.g., course work, work related experience).
• Successful prior completion of EAS 560 or its direct equivalent from another university.
• 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*

• Previous teaching experience is desired.
• Successful prior completion of EAS 561 or its direct equivalent from another university.
• Knowledge of behavior-environment research methods (e.g., course work (EAS 641), work related experience).
• Knowledge of or experience with such efforts where significant, rapid, and durable behavior change is required (e.g., Ecovillages, Transition Town initiatives, community re-skilling events, civic agriculture, urban homesteading). 
• Knowledge of research literature on the psychological effect of time spent in natural settings and/or with sustainable agriculture/household provisioning activities.
• Knowledge of research literature on mind-body modalities (e.g., mindfulness-based techniques) used for the promotion of psychological and physical well-being, environmental awareness, and mental restoration.
• Knowledge of the A2Zero Carbon Neutrality Plan or a similar community-based climate action plan. 
• Experience helping students conduct field-based research projects.
  

Contact Information

If you have questions about how to apply for the position, please email [email protected] .  Please contact instructor for questions about job responsibilities- Raymond De Young, [email protected]

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.

We anticipate all offer letters to be sent by Friday, April 19th, 2024. However, in the event that a position opens back up due to unforeseen circumstances after being filled, applicant information will be kept on file to be contacted with a potential offer letter.

Selection Process

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.

You can contact the Office of Institutional Equity for accessibility and equity concerns at [email protected] and the University Ombuds for anonymous personnel support at [email protected] .

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 agent(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 on line at https://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 , and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU X of your employment contract.
 

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.