GSI/GSSA Onboarding Checklist

Read and Sign Required Paperwork

• • Contingent Offer Letter: This letter explains all of the terms and conditions of your appointment. There are action items required and some important information contained in this letter. 

    1. 1. Please thoroughly read through your offer letter. 

       2. Sign if you accept or do not accept the appointment as described in the contingent offer.

       3. Upload to the Dropbox folder linked in your letter.

  • Fraction Calculation Form: This form is designed to enable departments to assign employment fractions that are consistent with other departments and the University GEO Agreement, which governs the employment of Graduate Student Instructors and  Graduate Student Staff Assistants.

    1. 1. Review the information contained in this form.

       2. Please do not edit the other fields.

       3. If you have questions, please let UMSI HR know and we can work through them.

       4. Sign the form in the box located in section 6.

       5. Upload to the Dropbox folder linked in your letter.

Enrolling in Direct Deposit

Enrolling in health, dental, and vision benefits

Newly hired or newly eligible benefits enrollment is completed online. Here are some quick directions to get you started:

• 1. 1. 1. Go to Wolverine Access Gateway (wolverineaccess.umich.edu)

        2. Enter “Benefits” in the search bar

        3. Click Search

        4. Enter your uniqname and UMICH (Level-1) password; Two-factor (Duo) for Weblogin is required

        5. Click the Benefits Self-Service tile

Complete Tax Forms

• GSAs are expected to fill out any required tax forms. 

  1. 1. Go to Wolverine Access Gateway (wolverineaccess.umich.edu)

     2. Enter “Payroll Tax Forms” in the search bar

     3. Click Search

     4. Enter your uniqname and UMICH (Level-1) password; Two-factor (Duo) for Weblogin is required

     5. Complete both the W-4 Federal and W-4 Michigan tax forms

• For international students only: Tax forms (including the Alien Certificate form) must be completed on paper and there might be additional forms if there is a tax treaty with your home country. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that we apply U.S. withholding and reporting rules consistent with your U.S. tax status -- resident alien or nonresident alien. Complete the following steps:

  1. 1. Send an email to tax.payroll@umich.edu 

     2. Inform them that you are a nonresident or resident alien and need to complete tax paperwork. 

     3. Payroll will set you up in the FNIS system and send you an email to provide you with the next steps. 

     4. If you do not complete this process, Payroll cannot provide you with tax exemptions that might otherwise be applicable.

I-9 Form (if applicable)

• • An I-9 form is a form required by the federal government to show your eligibility to work in the United States. If an employer does not have this form on file, you are ineligible to work.

    1. NOTE: If you have an active appointment with the University of Michigan, you will not need to complete this. If you completed one in the past but your appointment was terminated, you will need to complete another I-9 form. 

    2. Make an appointment with the SSC to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 Form - following the instructions listed here by the start date listed in your contingent offer letter.

    3. Be sure to bring original identifying documents with you to complete the I-9 form.

    4. Copies/scans are not accepted.

Applying for a Social Security Number (if applicable)

• •  The International Center website has a lot of information for you to read about getting the SSN.

    • 1. If you need a Social Security Number (SSN), UMSI HR will need to fill out a Social Security Letter for you. This form requires UMSI HR’s signature on it. 

         1. UMSI HR will leave this letter outside our office door for you (4325 North Quad). It will be in an envelope with your name on it. 

         2. You will need to enter your date of birth but all of the other information on our end will be filled out.

         3. If you do not pick this form up by the end of January, UMSI HR will discard the letter.

         4. Once you have that letter in hand, then you will need to visit the International Center and they will complete the rest of the letter and provide you with more information on how to obtain your SSN.

      2. Once you have your SSN or if you already have a SSN,  you will want to provide that number to the University Registrar's Office.

Tuition Waivers

GSIs/GSSAs are entitled to a full or partial tuition waiver based on their employment fraction and the number of credit hours registered for. For information regarding tuition waiver eligibility please see Article XX: Tuition Waiver of the UM|GEO collective bargaining agreement.

• 1. 1. 1. The GSA tuition waiver will be posted to your student account within a few weeks from when your appointment is set up in the HR system.

        2. UMSI’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs will also post the payment for the mandatory fees if you are a UMSI student. However, we do not pay for any late registration fees, lab fees or penalties associated with the non-payment of fees you are responsible for like housing, cable, etc. 

        3. In the event you receive a full-term GSI/GSSA appointment after you have already paid tuition for the relevant term, please contact umsi.funding@umich.edu and umsi.human.resources@umich.edu about reimbursement of any tuition fees.  Also, visit https://finance.umich.edu/finops/student/refunds

Required GSI Orientation (First-time GSIs only)

• • Complete CRLT The CRLT training will be fully online through Canvas

    1. 1. Visit CRLT GSI teaching orientation and complete the required modules

    2.   For details on which modules UMSI GSIs are required to complete, see the list at the UMSI Orientation Information website.

  • Attend UMSI’s GSI Orientation

    2. 1. You will receive an email from the GSI Coordinators about UMSI GSI training once the date and location has been confirmed.

       2. Up-to-date information regarding orientation can be found on the UMSI Orientation Information website.

Required GSI Training Session (All GSIs)

• • In your fraction calculation form, there are .5 hours per week built into your effort to attend GSI training sessions. These professional development sessions are designed to help you in your employment as a GSI. Building your instructional skill set not only benefits our students’ learning experiences but also enhances skills you can use in future teaching or in any professional setting. You are required to attend these sessions. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.