Job Title: Environmental Law & Policy Instructor
Classification: Faculty, Online May Session
Duration: Three weeks (May 17 – June 4, 2027); one-session appointment
Applications: Review begins immediately; open until filled
Location: Online / Remote
About Au Sable
At Au Sable, we believe Christians should be leading the way in solving the earth’s toughest environmental challenges. Through hands-on learning in the outdoors, engaging professors who integrate faith into their instruction, and a supportive community of friends, we inspire and educate students to serve, protect and restore God’s earth. Our university-level courses emphasize scientific rigor, professional preparation, and Christian stewardship through field-based and online instruction.
Environmental Law & Policy Faculty Position
We seek applicants to teach ENVST 310: Environmental Law & Policy during the online May Session (May 17 - June 4, 2027). This three-credit course (75 equivalent contact hours) examines environmental policymaking at local, national, and international scales, with attention to climate and energy, resource management, relationships between scientific evidence and policy, environmental ethics, justice, and advocacy. Environmental Law & Policy is the required Category 1 course for Au Sable’s Environmental Policy & GIS Practitioner Certificate and may also be taken by students as an elective requirement for the Forest & Land Management Practitioner Certificate.
The course has an established, primarily asynchronous online structure with recorded lectures, assigned readings, frequent low-stakes quizzes, substantive discussion-board participation, and a small number of scheduled live meetings. Its major assessments have included analysis of a current policy, a policy proposal, and reflection on a Christian framework for environmental policymaking. The selected instructor will be expected to preserve course learning outcomes, provide regular substantive instructor-student interaction and timely feedback, and facilitate respectful analysis of politically-contested policy questions. Course delivery and grading are managed in Populi, with administrative and technical support available from Institute staff.
Because this is a short-term appointment in an established course, the faculty member will coordinate with the Institute to ensure continuity in the syllabus, materials, assessment design, and student learning expectations. The instructor will implement the Institute’s designated signature-assignment process, review course evaluations, and submit a short faculty assessment/reflection following the session. The ability to communicate Christian principles of creation care while engaging diverse perspectives with academic rigor and intellectual hospitality is essential.
Course Description (2026–2027 Academic Catalog): EnvSt 310 Environmental Law & Policy. 3 cr; 75 equivalent contact hrs. Analysis of the policy making process at local, national, and international scales with examination of environmental policy challenges including climate change, resource management and energy development. Students will interact with policy-makers, researchers, and land managers to consider linkages between policy and science and ways for science to inform the policy-making process. Environmental ethics, environmental justice, and environmental advocacy will also be considered. Interdisciplinary.
Online Setting
The course is offered entirely online through Au Sable’s learning-management system, Populi. Institute staff provide course-administration and technical support. The instructor is responsible for regular student engagement, instructional delivery, assessment, and coordination of access to course-specific learning resources.
Faculty Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
· Relevant graduate degree (Master’s, JD, PhD, or equivalent; ABD considered where appropriate) in environmental law, public/environmental policy, political science, environmental studies, public administration, or a closely related field, with demonstrable subject expertise.
· Experience teaching university students and substantive knowledge of U.S. environmental policy and law, including the policy development process and its scientific context.
· Documented training in online teaching (or commitment to complete approved preparation before the course begins), and ability to provide regular instructor-student interaction, feedback, and effective use of a learning-management system.
· Ability to integrate Christian stewardship and ethics into instruction while facilitating respectful engagement with contrasting policy perspectives.
Preferred Qualifications
· University-level teaching in environmental law, policymaking, environmental justice, sustainability, or related interdisciplinary coursework.
· Professional policy or regulatory experience with agencies, advocacy organizations, consulting, or policy development.
· Documented online-teaching training, course design experience, and assessment of online student learning; experience using Populi or a comparable learning-management system.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Au Sable Institute is committed to combating racism, sexism, and other systems of oppression. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and all individuals who will contribute to the excellence of the Institute. Au Sable Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures.
Salary and Benefits
Stipend is $4,050 for a 3-credit course (prorated from $5,400 for a 4-credit course). The appointment is fully remote; housing and travel are not required.
Application Process
Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Interested applicants should email heath.garris@ausable.org a current CV and brief letter describing relevant graduate training or professional expertise, teaching experience, and approach to the course outcomes and Christian integration described above. The Institute may also invite faculty to apply following a preliminary review of their academic and professional qualifications. Finalists may be asked for references, transcripts, or teaching materials as needed; materials already substantiated through documented prior experience or other reliable evidence need not be requested again. All candidates will receive a documented course-specific qualifications review before appointment.
Applicants should additionally describe their relevant online-teaching training or experience, strategies for regular instructor–student interaction and assessment, and familiarity with course-delivery technology. Finalists may be asked for a brief example of an online lesson or assessment and documentation of distance-education preparation.
Questions regarding the position or requests for assistance from persons with disabilities may be directed to:
Dr. Heath Garris
Au Sable Institute
7526 Sunset Trail NE
Mancelona, MI 49659 USA
Phone: 864-630-8884
Email: heath.garris@ausable.org