Teaching Assistant - Program on the Environment

https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/eng/candidates/default.cfm?szCategory=jobprofile&szOrderID=62742&szCandidateID=0&szSearchWords=&szReturnToSearch=1

Program on the Environment has an outstanding opportunity for a Teaching Assistant, ENVIR 480 Sustainability Studio: FYI.

Autumn 2010, 9/16/2010 to 12/15/2010
Winter 2011, 12/16/2010 to 3/15/2011
Spring 2011, 3/16/2011 to 6/15/2011

Course Information:
ENVIR 480 Sustainability Studio: FYI is designed to teach students about the disciplinary roots, definitions, and theories of sustainability, while concurrently engaging them in a hands-on exploration of the sustainable - or not - practices at the UW.

In the first part of the course, readings, lectures, and guest lectures are used to provoke discussion. In the second half, students analyze a pre-selected “sustainability sector” on campus using a conceptual input-output model that traces the movement of materials into, through, and out of campus. Previous sectors have included water, electricity, interior space, and food.

Sectors are selected by the FYI team (including the FYI instructor, the PoE Director, and the sustainability lead for Housing and Food Services) and always incorporate 3-4 operations members of the UW campus (e.g., grounds, purchasing, maintenance, housing) as well as experts from the larger Seattle community (e.g., City of Seattle, U.S. Green Building Council) collectively known as the “Ops experts”.

During the studio portion of FYI, students learn about the sector from the Ops experts, form into teams of 3-4 students each, select individual projects, and create an integrated written report (in the form of a memo to the UW Seattle campus administration) and public presentation. The course is limited to 15 students per quarter, drawn principally from the junior and senior class standing ranks of Environmental Studies majors, with additional enrollment from majors with a relevant interest in the particular sustainability sector.

Teams are tasked with critically evaluating current practices at the UW and how these might be made more sustainable given best available practices, realistic budget constraints, the need for specific costed suggestions, and the need for both top-down (i.e., institutional) and bottom-up (i.e., individual) change.

Example individual projects within a sustainability sector have included:
# water usage at the IMA
# storm water management at the UW
# vampire energy use in the undergraduate library

For more information, see: http://depts.washington.edu/poeweb/students/fyi.html

TA Position:
PoE is looking for a graduate student to serve as the FYI instructor. Qualities of the ideal instructor include:
# Demonstrated experience mentoring undergraduate students and/or leading student teams.
# Demonstrated experience lecturing and facilitating active class discussions.
# Highly organized, able to arrange and facilitate upcoming FYI quarters, student team work, and class presentations.
# Highly creative, able to think outside of the box with respect to interdisciplinary and studio-based teaching.
# Outgoing, with a particular ability to recruit students, operations experts, and guest lecturers to participate in FYI.
# An excellent editor, able to provide both copy-editing as well as guide the written vision of student work. Inspirational, able to gather together and lead each class by facilitating the best work of all students.

TA responsibilities include:
# Work closely with the Director of the Program on the Environment, Julia Parrish, and with the UW Sustainability Manager, JR Fulton, to select specific sustainability sectors for class research.
# Lead class lectures and discussions.
# Arrange lecture and discussion logistics and activities.
# Prepare course materials.
# Grade course assignments and evaluate final course grades.
# Additional course-specific duties as required by Program on the Environment Director.
Requirements:
# Academic standing as a UW Graduate Student and eligibility to hold a Graduate Student Assistantship.
# Availability for full appointment timeframe.
# Previous college teaching experience.
# Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
# Ability to bring interdisciplinary experience and perspective to environmental education context.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Condition of Employment:
# Currently registered UW graduate student
# Compensation: Based on standard UW rates determined by student standing

A satisfactory outcome from a criminal background verification may be required prior to hire.

Terms:
Salary information: http://www.grad.washington.edu/students/fa/salary-schedules.shtml
This job classification is governed by a negotiated labor contract and is subject to union shop provisions. For more information about union shop provisions, visit: UW/UAW Contract Preamble.

Application Process:
Part of the application process for this position includes completing an on-line cover letter assessment as well as the Employment Eligibility Assessment to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. The assessments will appear on your screen for you to complete as soon as you select "Apply to this Position" on this job announcement. Once you begin the assessment, it must be completed at that time. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until the assessment is complete.

Applicants should submit:
Applicants should submit:
(1) Current CV/resume, no more than 2 pages worth of text;
(2) Two to three references (name, title, phone, email) familiar with your teaching abilities;
(3) Cover Letter Assessment, no more than 2 pages worth of text, stating what strengths you would bring to serving as a Teaching Assistant in an interdisciplinary environmental studies course, as well as your strengths and background relevant to the specific activities outlined in the course description for ENVIR 480.

Application Timeline:
Application review begins immediately. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

For priority consideration, apply by: April 14, 2010
Notification: April 26, 2010
Acceptance: April 30, 2010