Training Payment Benefits Appointment and Evaluation GEO Cards Important Contacts Training Orientation The Program in the Environment provides a mandatory one and a half-hour orientation session at the beginning of the term for all GSIs, regardless of whether or not they have taught in previous terms. This workshop covers a variety of topics relevant to your teaching appointment. New GSIs will be required to attend additional training sessions including the CRLT New GSI Orientation held before classes begin. CPR and First Aid Training GSIs who will be teaching a lab or accompanying students on field trips must be trained in CPR and First Aid. Those who need to complete this training will be notified. CRLT Guidebook for UM GSIs One of CRLT's most popular publications, "A Guidebook for University of Michigan Graduate Student Instructors" is available to all GSIs. It is a useful publication that contains information and articles designed to assist GSIs in fashioning a successful teaching experience at UM. In addition to sections on preparing to teach, creating an environment of active learning, and improving teaching through feedback, it contains an exhaustive list of UM resources and information on UM policies (e.g., cheating and plagiarism, code of academic conduct, gender and respect in the UM community). If you would like to obtain a copy, please contact: CRLT (Center for Research on Learning and Teaching) 1071 Palmer Commons 100 Washtenaw Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2218 Phone: (734) 764-0505 Email: crlt@umich.edu Back to the top Payment Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) are paid on the last working day of each month. Whenever a payday falls on an official University holiday or on a weekend, payment will be made on the last working day preceding such an occurrence. Back to the top Benefits Group Health, Life, and Dental Insurance A. Health and Life Insurance Eligibility: GSIs with a one-quarter (25%) or greater appointment fraction for four or more consecutive months are eligible to participate in the University's group health care programs and life insurance plans consistent with the terms of each plan. Some health care options are available at no cost to the appointee. B. Coverage is not automatic GSIs should make application for group health care programs (BC/BS, major medical and HMOs) and life insurance to the Office of Staff Benefits within sixty (60) days of the effective date of an eligible appointment. C. Dental Option 1 Coverage Eligibility: Group Dental Assistance coverage is effective with the beginning of a term in which an appointee has a 25% or greater appointment fraction if the appointee has had two cumulative terms of employment within a two-year period. During any term of employment at 25% or greater that falls within a waiting period, a GSI/RA may elect to participate at the same buy-in rate as other instructional staff. Coverage is not available during any period in which an individual does not have a 25% or greater appointment fraction. A lapse of eight months or more between appointments will require that an individual again begin to qualify for coverage as described in the previous paragraph. D. Travel and Accident Insurance Eligibility: GSIs who travel on University business (other than trips to and from their regular work site) are covered by the University's Travel Accident Insurance Plan. Contacts More comprehensive information concerning insurance benefits is available by contacting the Office of Staff Benefits (615-2000); e-mail: benefits.office@umich.edu, or their website: www.umich.edu/~benefits. Inquiries concerning specific coverage, cost, terms, limitations, etc. should be directed to that office. Tuition Waiver GSIs with a 25% or greater appointment fraction throughout an entire term receive a full-tuition waiver for that term if they register for, and maintain, a minimum of six credits for the entire term. NOTE: Audit or Visit credits do not count. The tuition grant is typically credited to your student account during the second month of the term (October in Fall and February in Winter). The tuition grant does not pay for other fees, such as registration or lab fees, assessed during the term of appointment. Sick Time Eligibility: GSIs may be absent from their teaching, research or staff activities due to illness for up to three weeks in a consecutive twelve-month period without any decrease in their stipend. Jury Duty Eligibility: GSIs responding to a subpoena may serve on jury duty or as a witness without loss of compensation. Parking Graduate students are eligible for student parking permits, which are available via application to the Parking Operations Office, 508 Thompson Street, call 764-8291 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit their website: www.parking.umich.edu. Under the Parking Option section, select Student Parking. Computing Services In the Dana Building, GSIs may seek assistance with GSI desktop computers in Dana GSI offices; computer accounts (required to login to GSI computers); secure, backed-up network file storage; access to SNRE networked printers (black-and-white and color); access to a plotter/poster printer for printing course-related maps, posters, etc.; classroom technology; and loans of audio-visual equipment for classes from the SNRE Information Technology Services Office, G110 Dana, (734) 647-4342, snre.consultants@umich.edu. In the Undergraduate Science Building and other LSA classroom buildings, GSIs may seek assistance from LSA Instructional Support Services, G353 Mason Hall, (734) 615-0100, iss-help@umich.edu. Copying Services and Supplies Access to the photocopy machine in the Dana Building mailroom is available for course-related copying. You should obtain the appropriate access code from PitE or the faculty instructor you are assisting. Back to the top Appointment and Evaluation Appointment Fraction Once hired, you will receive a copy of your Fraction Calculation Sheet. This form documents how your time will be spent as anticipated by the instructor. It is the responsibility of both you and the instructor (keep time-logs and meet regularly) to make sure that you do not exceed the maximum number of work hours for the authorized appointment percentage. Duration of Appointment Fall appointments begin on September 1 and end on December 31; Winter appointments begin on January 1 and end April 30. At the end of your appointment period, you should turn over all grading materials (grade books, etc.) and student assignments to the instructor in charge of the course. Your responsibility to the course, the enrolled students, and the instructor ends on the last day of your appointment period. Evaluations Mid-term The "Early Feedback Form" can be a constructive assessment of your strengths and how students respond to you as a GSI. Evaluations during the term are extremely useful in that they provide feedback from students while the course is still in progress. These evaluations are strictly for your benefit. The Early Feedback Form may be used any time during the term, though it is recommended that this be used sometime between weeks 5 and 7 of the term. End-of-term Evaluations are completed at the end of each term for all GSIs teaching in the Program. Back to the top GEO Cards This card, available from PitE or on-line, authorizes the payroll deduction to meet a GSI's obligations to the GEO union and to designate the deduction as either "union dues member" or as a "representation-service fee non-member". If the payroll deduction election is selected, the dues/fees will be deducted from the third paycheck (November for Fall GSIs and March for Winter GSIs). If the payroll deduction option is not selected, payment must be made directly to the GEO in order for the student to be eligible for reemployment at the UM. Back to the top Important Contacts Benefits, G-405 Wolverine Tower 1278, 615-2000 Graduate Employees Organization, 527 E. Liberty, Suite 205, 995-0221 Parking Services, 508 Thompson Street, 764-8291 Payroll Office, G-395 Wolverine Tower 1279, 615-2000 Student Financial Operations, 2226 Student Activities Building 1316, 764-7447 Back to the top