About

The Fellows Seminar brings together graduate student instructors (Graduate Fellows) and faculty (Faculty Fellows) from multiple disciplines who share a commitment to integrating writing in their courses. The program is supported by the College of Literature, Science & the Arts, the Rackham Graduate School, and the Sweetland Center for Writing.

All seminar participants share an interest in helping students become better writers; integrating writing in their courses; and discussing critical issues in the teaching of writing with colleagues.

In the winter term, Graduate Fellows:

  • meet on Fridays from 1-3 PM;
  • confer with visiting speakers;
  • discuss approaches to incorporating writing across the disciplines; and
  • begin preparing a First-Year Seminar (English 125) that meets the First-Year Writing Requirement.
  • receive a $1,000 stipend during the winter term for participating in the Seminar.

In the spring and summer terms, Graduate Fellows:

  • meet with Sweetland’s Director to refine their syllabus and discuss other course materials and approaches for teaching in Fall term;
  • receive up to $5,000 stipend during the Spring/Summer term for this work, determined by each student's spring/summer funding from Rackham.

In the Fall term, Graduate Fellows:

  • teach one section of English 125 (a four-credit writing course on a topic related to their discipline)
  • are supported by a .50 GSI fraction

Applying for a Graduate Fellowship

Application materials include:

  • A letter (maximum two pages) describing your previous teaching experience and interest in teaching
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of candidacy status, number of years in program, and expected date of degree completion
  • One teaching recommendation letter from a faculty member
  • Teaching evaluation summaries (where available)

Criteria for selection:

  • Interest in and commitment to integrating writing into courses
  • Achievement of candidacy (preferred)
  • GSI experience (teaching in a course meeting the Upper-Level Writing Requirement is highly desired)

The deadline to apply for Winter - Fall 2024 is March 6, 2023. 

Selections will be announced via email in early April.

Contact Laura at schuyler@umich.edu or 936-3144 with questions.

What previous Graduate Fellows have said:

The Sweetland Podcast Series: Topics in Writing features interviews with guests at the Sweetland Fellows Seminar about current topics in the teaching of writing. Each of these guests, an expert in the field, is interviewed by T Hetzel, a member of the faculty at the Sweetland Center for Writing.