SI 320/520 - Graphic Design and Visual Communications

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF INFORMATION (UMSI)

FALL 2024 GRADUATE STUDENT INSTRUCTOR POSITION(S) AVAILABLE

LIMITED AVAILABILITY JOB POSTING: FOR A UMSI MASTER’S STUDENT

SI 320/520 - Graphic Design and Visual Communications

Lectures: Monday, Tuesday 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Laboratory: 

Monday, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm 

Tuesday, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Tuesday, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Thursday, 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Number of available GSI positions:

Up to 2 positions at .50 fraction, pending enrollment

A .50 fraction GSI position offers a monthly stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance. The expected work commitment is roughly 20 hours per week. This appointment runs from August 26 through December 31, 2024 (from an employment/health benefit perspective). There could be prep time before the employment start date and all work for this course will be completed by the end of December (or slightly earlier). All of the work hour details will be spelt out in the fraction calculation form for the person hired for this position. At the time of application, please include your availability for teaching all currently scheduled sections so that all GSI assignments can be made with everyone’s availability in hand. This information can be included in your cover letter.

Course Description: 

Graphic Design and Visual Communications --- This course supports students' professional development by exploring principles and practices of visual communication. The conceptual part covers the graphic design theory discourse. Students will reinforce the practical application of critical thinking and analysis and master conceptualizing and making. They will learn to "read" designs and apply them to broader cultural, technological, and social contexts. In the hands-on part of the course, students will gain software skills necessary for practical application, learn how to follow or establish brand/identity guidelines, prepare work for production, and select the right tool for their projects. Students will improve their aesthetic sensibility and design skills by mastering visual language vocabulary, understanding ways of establishing effective visual communication, solving multifaceted problems, and developing analytical thinking and promoting, thus responding professionally to the modern world's rapidly changing needs. Students will learn how to organise or enhance their portfolios while studying the elements and principles of layout, typography, illustration, colour, and UI design. Many students incorporate the best projects they work on for the class into their portfolios. 

More information about this course can be found on U-M’s Course Catalog via Wolverine Access.

Duties include:

Assisting with course planning assignment preparations, attending the course lectures and laboratory meetings, and having office hours to help the students as they work with the hands-on assignments. to meet with students, attend weekly staff meetings, and grade assignments and exams. The duties also include monitoring and answering the class communications channels (Slack or Chats)

Minimum qualifications include:  

• UMSI Graduate student in good standing;

• Must meet eligibility criteria as defined in the GEO contract;

• Applicants must be lawfully able to be employed in the United States, sponsorship to obtain such status is not available at this time; 

• Completion of at least one year at the School of Information;

• Previous success as an SI 520 and/or SI 616 student. 

Desired qualifications include:  

Experience in teaching a course that combines theory and hands-on work with visual design; strong communication and analytical skills; experience with Adobe tools.

Selection criteria will include:  

Relevant academic preparation for teaching the course material; extent of prior instructional/work experience; relevance to graduate training; student evaluations if applicable; availability for course time requirements. Provide an example of prior instructional/work experience; relevance to graduate training; and student evaluations, if applicable. 

Decision Making Process:

The application due date is May 19, 2024. All applications will be submitted for review to the faculty member teaching the course. After review of applications and possible interviews, decisions will be made by the faculty member teaching the course.  It is anticipated that decisions will be made by early August.

Contact Information:

Please do not contact the faculty member who is teaching the course. Any questions should be directed to umsi.human.resources@umich.edu. 

How to Apply:

Please indicate your interest by submitting a cover letter and resume electronically using the umjobs.org website. Below are some instructions to help you through this application process.

1.       Go to http://www.umjobs.org

2.       Click on "Login"  (upper right corner).  Use your umich uniqname and password.

3.       Click on "U-M Graduate Student on the Ann Arbor campus" identifying yourself as a UM Graduate Student (fourth option)

4.       Click in the "Search for Jobs" box at the top of the page

5.       Enter the Job Opening ID # 246838

6.       You are now in the standard application. Answer all questions and proceed through the application process as prompted.  Upload your application as one document (preferably a Word or PDF document) including your cover letter with information on availability, your resume, and any teaching evaluations*

7.       Click "Submit" when you are finished.

*Having trouble uploading your document? 

The most common cause of upload and display issues can be attributed to an unsupported operating system or internet browser. Internet Explorer is the browser of choice when using the site, however, if one browser doesn't seem to be working properly, switch to a different browser and/or clear your cache and cookies.

Double check your document type. The system accepts resumes/cover letters created in a .DOC, .DOCX, .PDF, .TXT .HTML or .RTF. Uploading your resume/cover letter as a Microsoft Word document is the recommended format. File names are limited to 35 characters or less and cannot contain punctuation marks or special characters.

The University will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, 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, 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.

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. Upon request, any applicant denied employment will receive, within fourteen (14) calendar days, a written explanation of the reasons for denial of employment, and/or an in-person interview with the hiring agent(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time. In the event 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.

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/601.38, and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU X of your employment contract.

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.

The Office of Institutional Equity can be reached by phone at 734-763-0235 (V) or 734-647-1388 (TTY) or by emailing UniversityHR@umich.edu. The Ombudsman’s Office can be reached by phone at 734-763-3545 or by emailing Ombuds-DSA@umich.edu.

Background Screening:

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

U-M EEO/AA Statement:

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.