News & Events

The University of Michigan Board of Regents voted unanimously Tuesday to elect C. Cybele Raver as the university’s 17th president, making official the choice announced Aug. 18. Raver will take office Dec. 1.

RELATED STORIES

• Get to know C. Cybele Raver
• What other leaders are saying about Raver’s appointment
• Raver’s biographical information

Raver currently serves as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Vanderbilt University, a role she has held since 2021. During her tenure, she has guided Vanderbilt past $11 billion in annual research expenditures, recruited eight new deans, launched the College of Connected Computing — Vanderbilt’s first new college in more than 40 years — and expanded the university’s academic footprint to New York City, San Francisco, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Vanderbilt Chancellor (Daniel) Diermeier described her impact during her tenure there as profound,” said Board of Regents Chair Michael Behm. “Her national reputation for excellence, her transformational accomplishments, and her collaborative approach will benefit us all together as we face numerous challenges and opportunities ahead.”

A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Raver holds an appointment as the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Psychology and Human Development at Peabody College. Her research on children’s development, education policy and poverty has attracted more than $24 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation and others. Before joining Vanderbilt, she served as deputy provost at New York University and held faculty roles at the University of Chicago and Cornell University. She holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Yale University.

In her acceptance remarks, Raver said, “This moment means so much to me. Throughout my career, I have been profoundly inspired by the impact that universities can have, bringing talented people together across disciplines and supporting them to pursue bold ideas. Michigan does this better than many other universities that I can name, and it’s at a truly remarkable scale. My vision is for us to build on that vision, mission, and those values. We have the opportunity to make clear to the world all that Michigan can offer to this great state and to our nation through education, patient care and discovery.”

Raver’s appointment follows a national search led by the university’s Presidential Search Committee, with the assistance of executive search firm Spencer Stuart.

President Domenico Grasso will continue serving in the leadership role through Nov. 30, and the two leaders will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition.

“When the search began, we were looking for the very best, and we found her in Cybele. She has impressive accomplishments as a scholar and an academic leader and is an alum of what JFK called the Michigan of the East,” President Domenico Grasso said of Raver, who received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. “Please know that the Michigan community, across all three campuses and beyond, is here to support and cheer for you in the months and years ahead.”

Board of Regents statements on C. Cybele Raver’s appointment:

Regent Jordan Acker

“Thank you to my colleagues for this process and for finding a candidate that was in a really talented pool and rose to the top. In a world where we have lots of leaders, some better than others, it’s so important to have role models and people who are great, especially great female leaders. And I think about for my own daughters and I see Cybele and I say, ‘This is a person that is not just a leader, but as someone that we can be proud of and proud to have as our president.’”

Regent Mark Bernstein

“All around us, our mission is never more visible as we see our students beginning their journey here. It is, indeed, a moment of transformation for our students, and that is why it is so fitting that this meeting marks a moment of transformation for our university. Today, I’m so very proud to elect Dr. Cybele Raver to serve as our next president because she understands how a great university changes lives and impacts our society.

All of us on the board, during this process, were struck by her clear vision and sense of purpose, her success as a leader in higher education, her appreciation for the unique challenges and opportunities at Michigan — and I would say of equal and maybe greatest importance, her decency and her integrity. Dr. Raver’s journey has led her here to this very moment. She is more than ready to be a university president, and most importantly, she’s ready to be our president.”

Regent Paul Brown

“To Cybele, first, your family. Thank you so much for having raised such an amazing daughter in a house of artists. I think that is an important aspect of your background, which we’ll all be able to benefit from. I grew up in northern Michigan, a long way from the Ann Arbor campus, but I can tell you the passion and the importance of the University of Michigan is just as important in the U.P. as it is in Downriver.

When we did one of our interviews up in my hometown, it was particularly poignant for me and I could see the difference in the focus you’re going to have to do what I think is the role of this university, which is purely to support humanity, and particularly the people of the state of Michigan, and you understand that responsibility. … We had an amazing group of qualified candidates, but it was obvious you were the brightest and the best. And you will continue to make this university the leaders and the best.”

Regent Sarah Hubbard

“I’d say to Dr. Cybele Raver, she really understands the scale and complexity of a university like ours, one with a world-class academic core, major research enterprise, academic medical center, and a public mission that extends well beyond Ann Arbor. Her background in developmental science, her experience at NYU, Cornell, and Chicago, before Vanderbilt, all of that has demonstrated her ability to build strong teams and gives me real confidence in her ability to lead Michigan through this moment.

It’s a pivotal time for our university. We need a president who can unite our campus community, strengthen our research standing, and protect what makes Michigan the best public university in the country. I am delighted and thrilled to help elect Dr. Raver to be our next president. Welcome.”

Regent Denise Ilitch

“Our new president is a very trusted individual and will continue to build trust in our community. She is a strong listener. She wants to hear everybody’s viewpoints, and that will be a key, I think, to her success. She’s well-rounded. She’s a team builder. One of my most favorite qualities of hers is that she’s a collaborator, and she gets everyone talking to everyone. And since we’re such a large community, it’s really going to be a gift and a skill to keep us unified in our same goal.

She’s a collaborator. She finds how to solve problems by collaborating. She’s an excellent scholar, that goes without saying. Another of my favorite things about her is her strong inner strength, and we all need that as Michigan personnel. She’s a change agent, too, and so she’s going to be very good at keeping up with what’s going on in our world and adapting when it’s appropriate. I really want to encourage the Michigan community to give her a warm welcome, let her have a honeymoon, and give her time and patience to learn our community, to learn the traditions of our community and to learn the Michigan way.

Her goal is to make an impact and change the world, and that’s what we do here at Michigan. We change the world, and we train leaders, and that is her ultimate goal. She passed up other opportunities to be the president of the University of Michigan. One added bonus, she’s really fun to be around. So you all are going to love that. So welcome. We are ecstatic that you’re here.”

Regent Carl Meyers

“As we gather here today, at this moment, right now, as we welcome Dr. Raver, Cybele, and now Madam President, as our 17th president of the University of Michigan. This has only happened 17 times, so all of you in the audience know that this is a special moment, and this is a special moment for the University of Michigan. This is a transformative moment. We have the right leader for this moment to move us forward. Cybele, I’d like to welcome you to the Michigan family, and I’d like to welcome Cybele’s family to the Michigan family as well. You are now officially all Wolverines.”

The University of Michigan will add 2,300 student beds to Central Campus this month with the opening of Wolverine Village, a new residential community developed around the idea that where students live impacts how well they connect, study and succeed on campus.

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the new complex, which includes five residence halls and a dining hall, is that it was shaped directly by students.

More than 2,600 undergraduates contributed to the planning through surveys, town halls and design sessions on everything from room layouts to dining and gathering spaces. Even the name — Wolverine Village — came from student input.

community tours

• Michigan Housing will offer daily tours of Wolverine Village beginning Sept. 2. The tours will highlight the residence halls, gathering spaces, and artwork. Tour capacity is limited, and registration is required.

“Wolverine Village is the direct result of listening to our students,” said Martino Harmon, vice president for student life. “Every space was designed to foster community, support learning, and keep student success front and center.”

Wolverine Village is the first U-M housing built specifically for first-year students since Oxford Houses opened in 1963, addressing a longstanding shortage of undergraduate housing on Central Campus.

The 2,300 additional beds increase U-M’s undergraduate housing capacity by about 25%, meaning every first-year student who applies for university housing by the spring deadline can live on Central Campus if they choose. The expansion also creates more affordable opportunities for returning and transfer students to live in university housing.

Early move-in is scheduled for Aug. 22-23, followed by general move-in Aug. 24-30.

Incorporating student input

The residence halls range from five to seven stories and include doubles, singles and suites, as well as a new “tripleable double,” a larger double that can be converted to accommodate three students if needed to meet demand.

Based on the student feedback, the halls boast abundant natural light, a mix of individual and collaborative study areas, flexible community spaces, varied dining options and visible sustainability features.

Some of those features are firsts for U-M. Wolverine Village is the first housing facility to combine geo-exchange heating and cooling, solar panels and an all-electric dining hall. It is also the first undergraduate residence hall to offer covered bicycle parking, a bicycle repair room, and a rooftop courtyard.

Other firsts include a designated pet relief area for residents with support animals and a centralized package room in Building 3 where students can retrieve packages from lockers 24/7.

Laundry rooms are also located in each residence hall, and machine use is now included in the student room rate, so no coins or credit cards will be required.

Honoring a U-M difference maker

Buildings 1-4 are currently unnamed, but Building 5 carries a name with significance: Dr. E. Royster Harper Hall.

The residence hall honors Harper, vice president emerita for student life, who played a key role in expanding and renovating U-M’s residence hall system and advancing efforts related to inclusivity and student well-being. It is the first building on the U-M campus named for a Black woman.

“Dr. Harper was a transformative force for countless students during her four decades of leadership,” Harmon said. “Naming Harper Hall in her honor celebrates that legacy and reinforces just how vital a sense of belonging is to student success.”

Harper Hall will also be home to Bridge Scholars Plus, a yearlong living-learning community for first-year students who participated in the Summer Bridge Scholars Program.

Dining designed for broad dietary needs

Building 1 houses an all-you-care-to-eat dining hall with more than 800 seats, double-height windows, and a living green wall designed to bring a piece of the outdoors inside year-round.

The dining hall will typically be open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m., and its food stations were designed with flexibility in mind.

“We have woks, we have flat-top grills, we have chargrills, we have ovens,” said Steve Giardini, senior director of Michigan Dining.

That equipment, he said, allows the staff to prepare a wide range of cuisines, as well as meals free of gluten and the nine major food allergens.

On the second floor are private dining and event rooms, a rooftop courtyard and a teaching kitchen developed through a partnership between Michigan Dining and LSA.

The new dining hall is also the first all-electric culinary space on campus.

“If you look at the history of Michigan Dining, we have a long history of leading the campus in sustainability initiatives, and moving from natural gas to electricity is something we’ve wanted to do for the environment,” Giardini said.

Making shared spaces feel like home

The interiors of Wolverine Village draw inspiration from the state of Michigan, with white pines, apple blossoms, robins and other state symbols appearing throughout the design.

Each residence hall also takes inspiration from one of the five Great Lakes, with its own color palette and original artwork:

• Building 1, Lake Superior
• Building 2, Lake Huron
• Building 3, Lake Michigan
• Building 4, Lake Ontario
• Harper Hall, Building 5, Lake Erie

“These buildings are our students’ homes, and we want the spaces to feel comfortable,” said Rick Gibson, U-M’s director of housing. “So we were very intentional with the selection of artwork throughout the complex. Most of it is from local artists or artists with a connection to the university.”

Signs next to the artworks will tell visitors more about the artists and pieces, and art guides will be available at the front desks later this fall for those who want to explore all five buildings.

The emphasis on belonging extends to four dedicated spaces throughout the complex too. The Grace Lee Boggs Multicultural Lounge is in Building 1, and Building 3 houses the Mino-bimaadiziwin Multicultural Lounge. Harper Hall includes the Origins Multicultural Engagement Space, while Building 4 has a Reflection Room for meditation, prayer and personal reflection.

Creating connections outside

Michigan-inspired details continue outside as well. On the exterior tower of Building 1, there are four figures carved in Indiana limestone that feature wolverine “grotesques.” Each figure represents one stage of the U-M undergraduate experience: first-year reader, second-year athlete, third-year chemist and fourth-year leader.

Finally, there is a tree-lined pedestrian walkway known as “Wolverine Way” along the western edge of Wolverine Village that connects the development with Revelli Hall and Elbel Field, where the Michigan Marching Band practices.

In 2024, the original Elbel Field was moved one block north to make way for Wolverine Village. The relocated field includes markings that match those in Michigan Stadium, a taller instructional tower, an upgraded sound system, a video board and an additional turf field.

Plans for a potential second phase of Wolverine Village remain under development and will be presented to the Board of Regents for consideration at a later date.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor ranks among the nation’s best — and is the top hospital in Michigan — according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings for 2026-2027.

In this year’s adult hospital rankings, U-M Health was the only hospital in the state named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll, which recognizes the top 20 among more than 4,000 nationwide.

The rankings are based on each hospital’s patient outcomes, as well as factors such as patient experience and volume, procedural complications and nurse staffing.

“This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our teams across Michigan Medicine to delivering exceptional care for every patient who comes through our doors,” said David Miller, M.D., M.P.H., CEO of Michigan Medicine and Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs for the University of Michigan.

“This honor belongs to our physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, researchers, learners and staff. Their expertise, compassion, and commitment to continuous improvement are what make Michigan Medicine one of the nation’s leading academic health systems and enable us to provide the highest quality care to the patients and families who place their trust in us.”

U-M Health is the clinical division of Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s statewide academic medical enterprise.

U-M Health’s Ann Arbor-area hospitals and health centers ranked among the nation’s best in more specialties than any other Michigan hospital.

U.S. News ranked U-M health in the top 20 nationally in four specialties: ophthalmology (No. 8), rheumatology (No. 10), pulmonology and lung surgery (No. 16) and urology (No. 16). Additional U-M Health specialties were also ranked among the nation’s best:

• Cancer
• Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Surgery
• Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology and GI Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Neurology and Neurosurgery

University of Michigan Health-Inpatient Rehabilitation at Chelsea Hospital, a joint venture between U-M Health and Trinity Health, was also ranked No. 44 nationally for rehabilitation care.

“These rankings recognize what matters most: delivering safe, effective and high-quality care that leads to the best possible outcomes for our patients,” said Hitinder Gurm, MBBS, Chief Medical Officer of U-M Health.

“While we are proud to be recognized across so many specialties and clinical services, we remain focused on continually improving quality, safety and the patient experience throughout our health system.”

U.S. News & World Report also evaluates hospital performance across 23 common procedures and conditions. U-M Health, UM Health-Sparrow and UM Health-West earned “high performing” in the following.

U-M Health high performing

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
• Aortic Valve Repair or Replacement
• Back Surgery / Spinal Fusion
• COPD
• Colon Cancer Surgery
• Ear, Nose and Throat
• Gynecological Cancer Surgery
• Heart Arrhythmia
• Heart Attack
• Heart Bypass Surgery
• Heart Failure
• Hip Fracture
• Hip Replacement
• Kidney Failure
• Knee Replacement
• Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma
• Lung Cancer Surgery
• Pacemaker Implantation
• Pneumonia
• Prostate Cancer Surgery
• Stroke
• TAVR

UM Health-Sparrow high performing

• Heart Arrhythmia
• Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma
• Prostate Cancer Surgery

UM Health-West high performing

• Back Surgery
• Hip Replacement
• Prostate Cancer Surgery

To learn more about other U-M clinical care honors, visit Michigan Medicine Honors & Awards | Michigan Medicine.

About Michigan Medicine

At Michigan Medicine, we advance health to serve Michigan and the world. We pursue excellence every day in our 12 hospitals and hundreds of clinics statewide, as well as educate the next generation of physicians, health professionals and scientists in our U-M Medical School.

Michigan Medicine includes U-M Medical School and University of Michigan Health, which includes the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, University Hospital, the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Health-West, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow and the Rogel Cancer Center. The U-M Medical School is one of the nation’s biomedical research powerhouses, with total research awards of more than $800 million.

More information is available at www.michiganmedicine.org

The Board of Regents approved a $3.1 billion fiscal year 2027 general fund budget for the Ann Arbor campus on June 25, investing in research and student support services, while also increasing financial aid to ensure that students with need see no increase in the cost to attend the university.

“This proposed balanced budget reflects disciplined stewardship in a challenging environment,” said Provost Laurie McCauley, who presented the budget at the regents meeting. “It protects our most financially vulnerable students, invests strategically in our academic and research mission and positions the university to remain resilient as external conditions continue to evolve.

“This budget is a result of a true campus-wide partnership to steward our resources and advance our mission,” she added.

RELATED STORIES

• UM-Dearborn budget approved at regents meeting
• UM-Flint budget grows 9.6% on strength of enrollment gains
• Michigan Medicine reports positive financial performance
• Athletics projects balanced budget for FY ’27

Leaders across campus worked to shield students from the effects of state and federal budget cuts while preserving investments in the university’s core teaching, research and service missions. As part of these efforts, U-M schools, colleges and units carefully reviewed their spending and identified more than $38 million in cost-savings and reallocations so the university could minimize the impact on tuition and fees.

As a result, the proposed increase in tuition and fees for resident undergraduates is just 3%. Non-resident undergraduate students and most graduate programs will see an increase of 4.9%, with housing rates increasing by 6%, which supports the long-term plan for improving student housing.

The budget for the Ann Arbor campus is part of a university-wide budget package that includes spending plans for Michigan Medicine, UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint, Athletics, Michigan Housing and supplemental student fees.

Access and affordability: A commitment to Michigan families

In crafting next year’s budget, which goes into effect July 1,  university leaders prioritized support for the Go Blue Guarantee, U-M’s signature program that ensures that high-achieving Michigan residents can access a world-class undergraduate education, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Established in 2018, the program initially offered free tuition for students on the Ann Arbor campus from Michigan families with annual incomes up to $65,000. Over the years, the program’s budget has grown by $191 million and the Guarantee expanded to include students on the Flint and Dearborn campuses and families with up to $125,000 in annual income and $125,000 in assets. Today, the University of Michigan’s Go Blue Guarantee is the most generous public-university tuition guarantee program in the country.

Nearly three-quarters — 72% — of resident undergraduates receive financial aid, with more than a third of them paying zero dollars in tuition. Most Michigan residents graduate from U-M with no debt, giving them greater financial flexibility as they launch their careers.

President Domenico Grasso said expanding access to higher education is one of the university’s most important investments in Michigan’s future.

“This is how we remain an economic engine for our state, making the most prestigious education also the most accessible,” Grasso said. “This is how we invest in social mobility and in our collective future.

“The true health of a democratic society is reflected in how the bottom 50% fare at the supermarket rather than in how the top 10% fare in the stock market,” he said.

Overall, university leaders assigned more than $335 million to undergraduate grant aid in the FY ’27 budget, an increase of 3.8%, or $12.3 million. Because the rate of increase in aid is greater than the rate of increase in tuition (3.8% vs. 3%), resident undergraduates with financial need will see no change in their cost.

When adjusted for inflation, families with annual incomes up to $120,000 will pay a net price today that is less than families of similar means paid a decade ago.

Research to serve the world

The FY ’27 budget also protects the university’s core research mission, enabling U-M research laboratories in Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn to continue pursuing ideas that can become new technologies, therapies or innovative solutions to everyday challenges.

In the last year, the university launched 10 Impact Institutes that promote interdisciplinary collaboration and include researchers from 17 U-M schools and colleges — including units that don’t traditionally engage in research, such as MDining and Michigan Recreation.

These new institutes are already working to develop new materials to meet rising electrical demand, while also advancing policy solutions for nutrition insecurity and creating sustainable plant fibers for textiles and building materials.

With $200,000 in seed funding from the Strategic Initiative Fund, the institutes are translating research into action that will improve lives in Michigan and around the world, and are well-positioned for long-term sustainability and external funding. In the next year, 10 additional Impact Institutes will be selected to receive university seed funding.

Investing in every student

Every August, students come to U-M from every county in the state, every state in the U.S., and dozens of other countries. The university budget is designed to offer holistic support to each one of these students by investing in physical and mental well-being, in addition to their academic success.

In FY ’27, U-M will continue to expand innovative services and programs in support of student mental health.

“Students want support that meets them wherever they are and whenever they need it, and that access is critical to helping all of our students thrive,” said Martino Harmon, vice president for student life.

This year, students also will be able to play, train and relax inside the new Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center — a 200,000-plus-square-foot facility that opened June 17. The state-of-the-art center offers space for basketball, volleyball, racquet sports, indoor rock climbing and bouldering, as well as a mind and body studio.

To strengthen the connection between students and their academic advisers, U-M is also creating a user-friendly, one-stop shop called the Student Success & Advising Technology Platform that makes communicating and tracking academic progress easier. LSA will pilot the platform in FY ’27, laying the groundwork for broader implementation across the university the following year.

Financial stewardship

Like many universities across the country, U-M is navigating rising costs and uncertainty surrounding state and federal funding. Those challenges were compounded this year because the university needed to develop its FY ’27 budget before the state legislature finalized the appropriations bill that determines funding for Michigan’s public universities.

U-M leaders made plans as if the state appropriation would remain the same as last year, which in a time of inflation effectively means a budget cut. Even in this challenging environment, the FY ’27 budget continues to invest in the priorities that matter most: expanding access, supporting students and advancing research.

Michigan Medicine’s clinical enterprise reported projected positive fiscal year-end results at the Board of Regents meeting June 25, with an anticipated 1.9% or $181.4 total million operating margin, on forecasted operating revenues of $9.5 billion.

The results reflect fiscal year 2026 performance from U-M Health, which includes 12 hospitals, hundreds of clinics statewide, the U-M Medical Group and the regional health network, which includes UM Health-West in Grand Rapids and UM Health-Sparrow in Lansing.

RELATED STORIES

• U-M’s FY ’27 budget invests in research, student support services
• UM-Dearborn budget approved at regents meeting
• UM-Flint budget grows 9.6% on strength of enrollment gains
• Athletics projects balanced budget for FY ’27

Regents approved a budget that sets clinical enterprise financial performance targets for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The fiscal year 2027 plan aims for a 0.6% operating margin based on pending changes in the health care reimbursement and the overall operating expense landscape.

Julie Ishak presented the projected results for the fiscal year that ends June 30, along with the FY ’27 plan, to the Board of Regents during its regular meeting.

Ishak, who is chief nurse and operations executive for Michigan Medicine’s academic medical center, said enhanced access and patient volumes across Michigan Medicine’s statewide network, combined with robust demand for unique expertise and therapies in specialty pharmacy, drove the positive financial results in fiscal 2026.

“We are happy to present results that reflect our team’s commitment and dedication to our Strong BASE and Bold Future goals, which include our commitment to Belonging, Access, Safety and Quality, and Experience,” Ishak said in a statement ahead of the meeting.

“That strategy helps us achieve goals that contribute to a successful, integrated, cost-effective and high-quality health care system,” Ishak said. “We are grateful to our teams who every day deliver the high standard of care for our patients and communities. Their efforts allow us to fulfill our mission of research, education and clinical care that advances health to serve Michigan and the world.”

In FY ’27, Michigan Medicine anticipates more than 97,000 inpatient admissions and 5 million outpatient visits across more than 200 locations.

Ishak also updated the board on how Michigan Medicine is contributing to health improvement for Michiganders, reporting progress to reduce disparities in adult blood pressure control and improving well-child visit completion rates. She highlighted additional quality and safety wins in three key areas: improvements in adult mortality; fewer catheter-associated urinary tract infections; and fewer patient safety indicator events.

Ishak also shared that U-M Health safely reduced inpatient and observation lengths of stay, increased new patient visits and met access targets across 14 specialties.

“Our focus continues to be on providing patients across Michigan with safe, high-quality care, close to home. We are committed to continuous improvement in patient care and experience while increasing access,” Ishak said.

Michigan Medicine has enhanced access through expansion into new communities. After opening in June 2025, its Ypsilanti Health Center now manages 53,127 primary care and specialty care visits.

Michigan Medicine opened the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion in November 2025. The Troy Medical Campus in Oakland County, which will consist of three unique facilities on one shared campus, is under construction. One building will contain the Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Troy Center for Specialty Care, expected to open in spring 2027. The other two buildings — the Sidney and Madeline Forbes Advanced Imaging Center and the Samuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center — are expected to open in fall 2027.

Michigan Medicine is also expanding access to care in mid-Michigan with a new health care center in Grand Ledge and a new behavioral health hospital and a new surgery center in Lansing.

“In fiscal 2027 and beyond, we will continue to build on our foundation of clinical excellence and innovation, while we strengthen connections with communities across the state,” Ishak said.

The University of Michigan is once again recognized as a leading global research institution in the QS World University Rankings 2027 edition released June 18.

Placing 51st overall among 1,504 universities worldwide, U-M ranks in the top 3.4% of institutions globally and 15th among the 184 institutions in the United States included in the rankings. This positions U-M as the third highest ranked public university nationwide. The University of California, Berkeley, was the top-ranked public university.

MORE INFORMATION

• 2027 QS World University Rankings

U-M earned its highest marks for academic excellence, followed by graduate employability and its extensive international research partnerships. The university’s strong results in academic reputation, employer reputation and employment outcomes are consistent with data demonstrating the value of a U-M degree.

The rankings are based on a total of nine factors:

• Academic reputation (30%)
• Employer reputation (15%)
• Employability (5%)
• Faculty-student ratio (10%)
• Citations per faculty (20%)
• Proportion of international faculty (5%)
• Proportion of international students (5%)
• International research collaboration (5%)
• Sustainability (5%)

Internationally, U-M’s global impact is demonstrated by its consistent recognition as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars, the U.S. government’s premier international academic exchange program. U-M has received over 600 U.S. scholar awards and more than 1,000 U.S. student awards since the Fulbright Program’s inception, according to the International Institute Fellowships & Grants Office.

The university’s global impact is reflected in its ability to attract students from around the world, including 2,658 international undergraduate students enrolled in fall 2025. In the state of Michigan, U-M serves nearly 19,000 in-state undergraduates representing all 83 Michigan counties, with more than 60% of local students now graduating entirely debt-free. Michigan residents with family incomes and assets of $125,000 or less may be eligible for support from the Go Blue Guarantee, which covers full undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees.

U-M graduates play an essential role in Michigan’s economic growth. Over 124,000 alumni are actively supporting the state’s economy, with many working at Fortune 500 companies and other leading organizations throughout Michigan.

For the second year in a row, U-M Health has earned Practice Greenhealth’s Top 25 Environmental Excellence award, the highest sustainability honor granted to hospitals and health systems by the nation’s leading healthcare sustainability organization.

Based on a rigorous scoring system, the Top 25 award honors success and performance in a range of environmental sustainability programs, which include topics like leadership, waste, chemicals, greening the operating room, food, sustainable procurement, energy, water, climate, transportation and green building.

“Each year, the competition for this top award increases as hospitals and health systems across the nation continue to innovate and expand their sustainability efforts to address the growing threat of climate change. Receiving the award two years in a row is truly an honor and welcome validation of the hard work our entire team has put into making our health system and communities more sustainable and resilient. I am very proud of everyone who helped make this happen,” said Chip Amoe, U-M Health sustainability officer.

“However, the negative health and economic impacts of climate change and environmental exposures continue for our patients and communities. So, we will take a moment to celebrate this significant accomplishment today, and tomorrow we will get right back to the important work of improving the health of the patients, employees and communities we serve.”

U-M Health also earned a new health system record of five Circle of Excellence awards, which recognize the top 10 performing facilities (out of over 430 eligible applicants) in each of the 11 scoring categories.

The award categories include waste, food, greening the OR, green building and water.

To receive recognition in the Circles of Excellence, winners must achieve Greenhealth Partner for Change award status and demonstrate outstanding performance and leadership through advanced actions in that sustainability impact area.

“Environmental sustainability success is critical to advance our mission of improving the health of our patients, employees and communities we serve,” said Tony Denton, senior vice president and chief environmental, social and governance officer for U-M Health.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see our sustainability initiatives garner national recognition from Practice Greenhealth once again. Of course, we are only able to achieve this recognition with the consistent and active participation of our dedicated team members across U-M Health. I am tremendously proud and grateful of our teams  for being resilient and committed to elevating our planetary health initiatives and leadership year after year. We are making a real difference.”

When the Board of Regents approved purchasing the former Concordia University campus on May 21, it followed a successful blueprint for serving the public good that has been honed since the 1800s:

Take advantage of land opportunities when presented, and then thoughtfully grow the university’s capacity to educate, heal and improve society.

U-M will buy the approximately 140-acre parcel at 4090 Geddes Road from Concordia for a negotiated price of $60 million. The tentative closing date is June 30, subject to environmental review and completion of due diligence.

“We do this to fulfill our mission and envision a future for the university and society,” President Domenico Grasso said during the May regents meeting. “We are confident that this development will amplify the university’s many contributions to Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County.”

The property includes administration buildings, classrooms, residence halls, athletic facilities, the historic Earhart manor, and a chapel.

Leadership has said it doesn’t have immediate plans for the space — and that is intentional.

“Our job is to protect the future from the present, and that includes thinking proactively in the long term,” Regent Paul Brown said May 21. “We’re an institution that thinks in centuries.”

Examples of how U-M followed similar paths throughout its history:

• In 1919, the university bought the property that now contains its existing main hospital. It was not constructed until 1925.
• The foundation of the property that was to become North Campus was purchased in 1949. North Campus was developed into the 1960s, and continues to grow.

“We don’t know what we’ll do with (the Concordia campus), but we know that we are an institution that is here to do the public good,” Brown said. “On North Campus, for instance, we just put in an amazing robotics building. In 1949, we had no idea that would be a necessity.”

Brown said the university is interested in preserving public access to parks, the Huron River and providing athletics facilities for local K-12 schools. Any future plans for the property will follow careful review and due diligence, including coordination with local officials, neighbors and community stakeholders as this process moves forward.

A more recent example of U-M stepping in to benefit the community was in 2007, when pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced it was leaving Ann Arbor after 50 years of developing new medicines in the northeast corner of the city.

Its sprawling 174-acre campus, with 2 million square feet of research labs and offices, and 2,000 employees, would have closed during the height of the recession. But by summer 2009, U-M bought the property for $108 million and renamed it the North Campus Research Complex.

Today, the North Campus Research Complex is anything but an empty campus; it’s a major source of innovation and research.

More than 3,500 U-M faculty, staff and students use the facilities daily. The Medical School, the College of Engineering and the Office of the Provost have invested more than $300 million to transform the space and operate it — at a tenth of the cost it would have taken to build similar facilities from the ground up.

• Scientists from medical and engineering fields explore the interaction of living tissue and manmade surfaces in the labs of the Biointerfaces Institute.
• Advancement for well-being grows at the Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation and the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.
• Researchers from the Frankel Cardiovascular Center and Rogel Cancer Center move their fields forward from their labs at NCRC.
• Michigan Medicine’s clinical pathology space that handles the testing of blood, tissue and other specimens from patients at U-M Health hospitals and clinics and other hospitals statewide.

“This is a unique and unexpected opportunity presented to our university by Concordia officials, who asked us to consider buying the property and to continue an educational mission at a location that has served students for more than 60 years,” Grasso said.

DETROIT AND ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The top executives from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Michigan Medicine announced today they have reached a new, long-term contract that will continue in-network status for Michigan Medicine’s academic medical center and affiliated facilities, clinics and physicians.

The two organizations will continue meeting over the coming weeks to finalize details of the new agreement, in anticipation of a June 30 renewal date. Final terms of the contract will remain proprietary between the two organizations.

“Blue Cross is pleased to reach this long-term agreement with our partners at Michigan Medicine – ensuring continued access to the system’s medical care services for our members, while advancing the affordability of their care and coverage,” said Tricia A. Keith, President & CEO of BCBSM.

“On behalf of our physicians, nurses and all of our team members, we are grateful to have reached an agreement that ensures continued access for our patients and for Blue Cross members across the state to the world-class care available at Michigan Medicine,” said David Miller, M.D., Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs for University of Michigan and Chief Executive Officer of Michigan Medicine.

About Michigan Medicine: At Michigan Medicine, we advance health to serve Michigan and the world. We pursue excellence every day in our 12 hospitals and hundreds of clinics statewide, as well as educate the next generation of physicians, health professionals and scientists in our U-M Medical School.

Michigan Medicine includes the U-M Medical School and University of Michigan Health, which includes the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, University Hospital, the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Health-West, University of Michigan-Sparrow and the Rogel Cancer Center. The U-M Medical School is one of the nation’s biomedical research powerhouses, with total research funding of more than $800 million.

Thanks to robust need-based aid and the Go Blue Guarantee, the state’s most prestigious university is also one of its most affordable, often costing less out of pocket than most other public universities in Michigan.

When comparing the net price — the average out-of-pocket amount a family pays for a student’s first year after grant and scholarship aid is applied — the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers either the lowest cost or the second lowest cost among 15 public institutions in Michigan for the majority of Michiganders.

Because U-M pledges to meet the full demonstrated need for in-state undergraduate students, the university helps ensure that Michigan families have access to a  world-class education, regardless of family income.

The Go Blue Guarantee, U-M’s signature aid program, provides free tuition for Michigan families with annual incomes up to $125,000 and assets of no more than $125,000. Tuition is one part of the total cost of attendance. U-M’s comprehensive need-based financial aid also provides resources to help cover the cost of room and board for students whose need extends beyond tuition.

While the sticker price for the cost of attendance at UM-Ann Arbor is higher than other Michigan public universities, the net price (full cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship financial aid) is the lowest in the state for Michigan families with annual incomes below $48,000.

And for families with incomes between $75,001 and $110,000, UM-Ann Arbor remains accessible with an average net price below $11,000 a year. In that income bracket, only UM-Flint is more affordable, with an average net price below $10,000.

The University of Michigan has once again earned a Gold rating through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, or STARS, in recognition of universitywide sustainability efforts spanning academics, operations, planning, and community engagement.

STARS, which is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE, is one of the most widely used frameworks for measuring sustainability performance in higher education institutions worldwide.

MORE INFORMATION

• AASHE STARS report
• AASHE Outstanding Case Studies
• Planet Blue

The university’s latest submission highlights sustainability-related work across the Ann Arbor campus, including Michigan Medicine, on progress related to renewable energy, campus infrastructure modernization, sustainable food, waste reduction, research, and student engagement.

“This recognition reflects the collaborative work happening across the university to advance sustainability through research, education and community engagement, campus operations and innovation,” President Domenico Grasso said. “From academic programs and student engagement to campus energy transition projects and infrastructure improvements, our university community continues to demonstrate service to communities near and far.”

U-M earned 179 points out of 250 in the latest STARS reporting cycle under AASHE’s updated framework. More than 1,200 institutions in 52 countries participate in the STARS program. U-M first participated in STARS in 2012 and previously earned Gold ratings in 2015, 2018 and 2022.

Because the assessment evaluates sustainability performance across areas including academics, operations, engagement and leadership, institutions must demonstrate coordinated progress across many sectors of the university.

At U-M, that work is supported through collaboration across campuses, schools, colleges, and units, including the Sustainability Leadership Council, launched in 2025 to help align strategy and coordinate action across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, as well as Michigan Medicine.

“We’ve seen a growing culture of sustainability across the university over time, from academics and research to operations and student engagement,” said Drew Horning, interim director of Graham Sustainability Institute. “The STARS framework helps reflect the breadth of that work and the strong collaboration happening across the institution.”

Among the efforts highlighted in U-M’s submission were sustainability-focused academic and research programs, community partnerships, student engagement initiatives, and operational efforts connected to long-term campus planning and infrastructure modernization.

Examples included the Maize Rays initiative, which expands renewable electricity both on campus and across Michigan, geoexchange deployment, and waste-reduction efforts connected to student move-out, zero-waste events, and composting.

The submission also highlighted programs designed to strengthen sustainability awareness, participation, and culture across the university community, including Planet Blue Ambassadors, Sustainable Workplace, and educational experiences connected to the Campus Farm and Farm Stand.

In addition, the report highlighted the university’s growing use of campus operations as a learning environment, connecting students, faculty, and staff with real-world sustainability work through initiatives tied to energy systems, waste reduction, sustainable food efforts, and programs such as the Campus Farm, Farm Stand, and Planet Blue Ambassadors.

In addition to participating in STARS, U-M collaborates with peer institutions and higher education networks through AASHE and other partnerships to share sustainability strategies and leading practices across academics, operations, and campus engagement.

Several university initiatives also recently received national recognition through the 2026 AASHE Sustainability Awards. The Lab Swap Shop, Maize and Blue Cupboard, and Returnable Shelves programs were recognized as Outstanding Case Studies for efforts related to waste reduction, reuse, and student support.

In a message to the U-M community May 4, the U-M Board of Regents said it has re-engaged in the search for the 17th president of the University of Michigan.

“We remain committed to identifying and hiring a visionary, dynamic leader who embodies our core values and has a proven record of excellence leading complex organizations,” the message said.

The regents will continue working with executive search firm Spencer Stuart, which brings extensive experience in higher education leadership searches. Search consultants are Mary Gorman, partner, education and social impact practice, and Alexis Stiles, global leader, healthcare practice.

“Only a few months have passed since Kent Syverud was announced as president. Therefore, we will continue with the exact same Presidential Search Committee in order to maintain continuity of the process with individuals who have benefited from insights gained during listening sessions convened across our campuses,” the message said. “Additionally, the same committee will have the benefit of a common evaluative experience that will inform this new phase in the search.”

The board expressed appreciation to the members of the Search Advisory Committee for continuing to support the process and their willingness to serve.

Additional information about the committee, including member bios, is available on the Presidential Search website.

As the 16th president of the University of Michigan, Domenico Grasso joins a lineage of leaders dating to the 1800s.

The Board of Regents named Grasso the 16th president after Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud, who was expected to become Michigan’s next leader, announced last week that he could not accept the job because he is battling brain cancer. The regents removed the “interim” title from Grasso and made his presidential appointment retroactive to May 2025, when they first named him to the position following the resignation of President Santa J. Ono.

“When we asked Domenico Grasso to step in and serve as president last year, he did so knowing it was the right thing to do for his university. He has now accepted the call to serve for a second time,” said Regent Carl Meyers. “We are grateful not only for his willingness to continue but also for all he has accomplished over the past year to provide stability and true leadership at a time when we needed it most.”

Michigan was founded in 1817 in Detroit and moved to Ann Arbor in 1837. In its early years, the young institution was governed by its faculty. It wasn’t until August 1852 — two years after state of Michigan voters adopted a state constitution creating the role of president of the University of Michigan — that the Board of Regents appointed Henry Philip Tappan, a philosophy professor from New York, as the first president.

Grasso is the first Michigan alumnus to serve as president since Alexander Grant Ruthven, who earned a Michigan PhD in zoology and led the university from 1929 to 1951. Grasso holds a Michigan doctorate in environmental engineering, making him the second engineer to be president; James J. Duderstadt, president from 1988 to 1996, trained as a nuclear engineer.

Grasso serves as professor of civil and environmental engineering at UM-Ann Arbor and holds a secondary appointment as professor of sustainable engineering at UM-Dearborn.

President Emerita Mary Sue Coleman, the 13th president and the only woman to hold the position, praised Grasso’s work.

“President Grasso has provided strong, stabilizing leadership this past year, and I am confident he will continue to move Michigan forward as a great research university,” Coleman said. “I am gratified to see he is being recognized as the university’s 16th president, adding to his service as chancellor of UM-Dearborn.”

Grasso is the first Michigan leader to have served as both chancellor of a regional campus and president.

Grasso has said he considers Tappan, Coleman, Duderstadt, and President James B. Angell to be iconic Michigan leaders. One of the many reasons he said he admires Angell — Michigan’s third president — is because they share roots at the University of Vermont; Angell came to Ann Arbor from the Vermont presidency, and Grasso once served as a dean of engineering and mathematical sciences and a vice president for research there.

Angell served as Michigan’s president longer than any other, from 1871 to 1909. “The life of the president of a college or university is often spoken of as a hard and trying life. A laborious life with its anxieties it is,” he wrote at the end of his career. “But I have found it a happy life. The satisfactions it has brought to me are quite beyond my deserts.”

Grasso will continue to reside with his wife, Susan, and their dog Nola, at the historic president’s residence on campus — first occupied by Tappan and his wife, Julia, and their dog, in 1852.

Kent Syverud will begin his tenure as the University of Michigan’s 16th president on May 11, returning home to U-M’s Ann Arbor campus and marking the start of a new chapter in the university’s leadership.

Syverud, currently chancellor and president of Syracuse University, was selected in January following a national search. A distinguished legal scholar and experienced higher education leader, he brings more than a decade of presidential leadership experience and deep ties to U-M.

After earning a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Syverud came to Ann Arbor, where he earned a juris doctor from the Law School and a master’s degree in economics from U-M.

He later returned to the university as a faculty member, serving as assistant professor of law, then professor and associate dean for academic affairs at the Law School.

As the university prepares for Syverud’s arrival, President Domenico Grasso will conclude his service on May 8. Grasso has led the university since May 2025, re-establishing stability and engaged leadership during a tumultuous period. Provost Laurie McCauley will serve as acting president on May 9 and 10.

The University of Michigan remains a top choice for incoming first-year and transfer students from throughout Michigan, across the United States and internationally as undergraduate applications to the UM-Ann Arbor campus reached a record high, with 115,125 prospective students applying to attend the university beginning in fall 2026.

This follows several consecutive years of record highs related to application volume, and a 29% increase in applications in the past five years.

A total of 108,666 prospective first-year students submitted applications to attend the university, with 6,459 transfer applications.

“We are proud to offer an educational experience that, year after year, appeals to so many students from across our state, our country and around the world,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management.

“The volume of applications shows that prospective students see U-M as a great place to acquire the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to propel them forward toward realizing their dreams. And we agree, a U-M education will empower them to achieve their full potential.”

Total applications to the Ann Arbor campus have increased 29% over the past five years. For the 2026 fall term, first-year applications were down slightly from 2025, but increased among:

• First generation in-state students by 4%.
• African American in-state students by 3%.
• Students of Color by 1%.
• International students by 5%.

Among potential transfer students, applications increased 5% overall, and increased among:

• First-generation students by 9%.
• Students of Color by 7%.
• International students by 3%.
• Low-income students by 7%.

Nearly two-thirds of all applicants — 71,893 students — applied for early consideration. And this year, for the first time, prospective students interested in applying for early consideration could choose between Early Decision, which provided an initial admissions decision in December, in exchange for a binding commitment to enroll in the fall if admitted, and the nonbinding Early Action, which U-M has offered for years and provides a January release of admissions decision.

“Providing two options for early consideration allows high-achieving students to affirm their commitment earlier in the application process so they can focus on their senior year of high school,” said Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We’re encouraged to see that so many students acknowledge that UM-Ann Arbor is where they want to be and chose to apply early.”

Students who applied by the Regular Decision application deadline on Feb. 1, as well as those postponed during Early Decision and Early Action, will learn of their admission decision by early April and, if admitted, have until May 1 to accept by paying the enrollment deposit.

Through the admissions cycle, admitted students who completed the required financial aid application received their financial aid package within a week of learning they were admitted.

“As a public institution, U-M is committed to expanding access and addressing affordability for students of all backgrounds,” said Tammie L. Durham Luis, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid. “U-M’s Ann Arbor campus is the only public university in Michigan that meets the full demonstrated need for in-state students.”

With the Go Blue Guarantee, and other institutional funding, U-M provides free tuition for in-state students from families with an annual income up to $125,000 and assets up to $125,000, and full cost of attendance for qualified students in the School of Nursing and those pursuing teacher preparation programs in the Marsal Family School of Education, and the School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

“The undergraduate admissions team is partnering with campus colleagues to showcase the U-M experience to admitted students with events on-campus and throughout the state and country,” said Erica L. Sanders, assistant vice provost and executive director of undergraduate admissions. “These events, and our ongoing outreach efforts, serve to provide students and families with the information needed to finalize their college choice.”

The fall term begins Aug. 31 on the Ann Arbor campus. Detailed fall 2026 enrollment numbers will be released in October.

The University of Michigan leads the list of public universities in the U.S. in TIME’s new ranking of the world’s top universities, which was released Jan. 28. U-M was ranked ninth overall among the world’s top 500 universities, including both public and private institutions.

In comparing universities from around the world, TIME sought to emphasize the extent to which students achieve extraordinary success and contribute the most to society by patenting new inventions, rising to leadership roles in business, or otherwise influencing world events.

Institutions that were at least 3 years old, offered bachelor’s degrees and enrolled more than 2,000 students were eligible for inclusion in the rankings.

Each was evaluated and scored on three specific pillars:

• Academic capacity and performance (60%).
• Innovation and economic impact (30%).
• Global engagement (10%).

MORE INFORMATION

• TIME article announcing the rankings
• Methodology

U-M scored especially well in the innovation and economic impact category, which analyzed the quantity and value of an institution’s intellectual property portfolio and assessed how the success of top-performing graduates compared to their counterparts at other universities.

In reporting the findings, TIME wrote, “U.S. and U.K. universities continue to lead in academic performance, while China’s universities are catching up in innovation and economic impact.”

Among public universities worldwide, U-M is fourth, behind the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and the Imperial College of London.

Kent Syverud, chancellor and president of Syracuse University, has been named the 16th president of the University of Michigan — the first U-M alumnus in nearly a century to be appointed president.

The Board of Regents voted unanimously to appoint Syverud, an accomplished legal scholar, during a special session Jan. 12 at University Hall in Ann Arbor. Syverud is expected to assume the position by July 1.

Syverud returns to lead U-M following a robust legal and higher education career. He spent the last 12 years as chancellor and president at Syracuse, where his incumbency produced record enrollment, academic and research breakthroughs and a significant influence on the economic health of upstate New York.

“The University of Michigan proudly welcomes President-elect Syverud,” said Mark Bernstein, chair of the Board of Regents and co-chair of the presidential search committee.

“President-elect Syverud is an experienced and trusted leader who has guided higher education institutions — and their students — to new levels of success. The Board of Regents is eager to bring his experience and passion back to U-M, where he is uniquely qualified to grow our impact across the state, nation and world.”

MORE INFORMATION

• Learn more about Kent Syverud on the president-elect website
• Kent Syverud’s full remarks
• Regents remarks on Kent Syverud appointment
• Photo gallery

Prior to Syracuse University, Syverud was dean at the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis and the Ethan A.H. Shepley Distinguished University Professor. Before Washington University, Syverud was dean at Vanderbilt University Law School.

A native of Irondequoit in upstate New York, President-elect Syverud earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, his juris doctor from Michigan Law (1981) and master’s in economics from the University of Michigan (1983).

“I do believe Michigan has been, is now, and must remain the best public research university anywhere,” Syverud said. “That has been my experience of Michigan. This university gave me everything I have become.

“These are challenging times for Michigan, for higher education, and indeed for the whole world. We at the university have a choice how to respond. We can curl up in a ball … or, we can do what Michigan has always done when it’s at its best. We can lead. We can lead not by arrogantly lecturing others, but by modeling each day, in small ways and in big ones, the values and the ideas and the innovation and the civil engagement that this world so badly needs.

“I want to help us to do that, and I want to help us do that always remembering our special obligation to the people of the state of Michigan — all the people of the state of Michigan, who created this institution and who merit our priority.”

After graduating from Michigan Law, Syverud spent several years practicing law in the public and private sectors, including clerking for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor shortly after she became the first woman named to the Supreme Court.

In addition to earning two degrees at U-M, Syverud’s University of Michigan roots run deep. After practicing law he returned to U-M in 1987 as assistant professor of law, moving to professor in 1992 and then professor and associate dean for academic affairs for Michigan Law from 1995-97.

A recipient of numerous legal and academic awards, Syverud has held visiting professorships at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, University of Tokyo, Cornell Law School (as the Goldberg Distinguished Visiting Professor) and University of Pennsylvania.

Syverud has dedicated his expertise to numerous regional and national appointments. He was co-chair of the Regional Economic Development Council for Central New York and chair of the Law School Admissions Council. From 2010-16, he served as one of the two trustees of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust, the $20 billion fund created by BP and the White House to manage claims related to the Gulf oil spill.

Regents Vice Chair Michael J. Behm, co-chair of the presidential search committee, said Syverud understands the current challenges facing universities and has created successful environments for innovation and learning.

“During the search process, we learned that President-elect Syverud is a fearless listener,” Behm said. “He’s extremely talented at imagining and implementing goals for the future, and a gifted collaborator with students, faculty, and statewide stakeholders. These qualities will benefit all Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint.”

During his time, Syracuse has grown its faculty, many in targeted interdisciplinary research centers, and has created innovative new learning opportunities such as one of the first online J.D. degree programs in the nation in 2019.

Syverud’s success in philanthropic support comes as U-M is in the midst of the most ambitious campaign in public higher education, Look to Michigan, with a $7 billion goal and mission to take on society’s most pressing challenges. At the close of FY ’25, more than 230,000 donors have given $4.02 billion toward the campaign — 57% of that goal. During Syverud’s leadership, Syracuse University more than doubled its endowment to over $2 billion in 2025 and raised more than ever before in its history, including $1.59 billion for the Forever Orange Campaign, which came to a successful close in December 2024.

Syverud has deep experience with major athletic programs. While at Syracuse he led an update of the governance of the Atlantic Coast Conference, serving as chair of the Board of Directors from 2019-21 and as chair of the 2020 search for the new commissioner, James Phillips.

Syverud’s appointment follows a comprehensive search that began in July 2025. A presidential search committee, composed of students, faculty, staff, alumni and regents, worked with executive search firm Spencer Stuart to identify and review candidates.

The committee hosted seven public listening sessions in fall 2025 and collected input from nearly 600 community members about their hopes and expectations for a new president. An online survey collected additional thoughts from an additional 900 respondents.

Syverud’s five-year term will begin by July 1. He succeeds President Domenico Grasso, who has been serving on an interim basis since the departure of former president Santa J. Ono on May 4. Ono was appointed 15th president in 2022. Grasso will continue in the role until Syverud begins.

“As a university chancellor, you already know you’ll encounter bright, dedicated, creative, and opinionated faculty, students and staff,” Grasso said Jan. 12. “Michigan will amplify those encounters. I sincerely believe the collective dedication to the University of Michigan is unmatched in higher education. We all want the best for this jewel of academic excellence, transformative research, and public service.”

Grasso is one of several U-M alumni who have served as president in an interim capacity. The last alumnus to be appointed president was Alexander G. Ruthven in 1929.

“To President Grasso: Thank you for stepping up to lead,” Syverud said. “I also thank you as well and your wife, Susan, for helping embody the servant leadership that this university has so badly needed.”

As president, Syverud is responsible for general oversight of the university’s teaching and research programs, as well as the libraries, museums and other supporting services. His duties also include overseeing the general welfare of the faculty and staff, health and order among students, and the university’s financial stability. Under the Michigan Constitution, the board is responsible for electing the university president.

Syverud will receive a base salary of $2 million annually, subject to annual increases at the Board of Regents’ discretion. He also will receive regular university benefits and supplemental contributions to a retirement plan, housing in the President’s House, an expense allowance, use of an automobile and a driver, all in accordance with university policies.

President-elect Syverud is married to Dr. Ruth Chen, an environmental toxicologist and professor of practice at Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, who holds two U-M degrees. They are the parents of three grown sons, Steven, Brian and David; and they have five grandchildren.

Leaders from U-M and Syracuse expressed praise for Syverud’s appointment.

“Kent Syverud leads with integrity, which I’ve experienced first-hand for the past 12 years,” said Mike Tirico, vice chair of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, NBC Sports commentator, and an Ann Arbor resident. “I know how much the University of Michigan means to him and Dr. Chen. His experience, skill set and passion for Michigan will be a great fit. While I will miss working with Kent at my alma mater, I am thrilled to welcome him as a neighbor.”

“President-elect Syverud is a leader who understands both the structural complexity and the human dimensions of universities. An award-winning teacher and an effective champion of research excellence, he brings a student-centered perspective and a thoughtful, steady approach to stewarding complex academic institutions, with a clear commitment to ensuring that universities contribute meaningfully both locally and globally,” said Celeste Watkins-Hayes, search committee member and dean of the U-M Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. “With deep ties to the University of Michigan, he demonstrates a strong appreciation for the university’s history and strengths, alongside an engaged and forward-looking view of its evolving opportunities.”

“We were looking for a leader who shares our morals, listens to our voices, and champions the diverse perspectives that make U-M a world-class leader. We found that leader,” said Eric Veal Jr., search committee member and Central Student Government president. “President-elect Kent Syverud doesn’t just understand the Michigan Difference, he embodies it. Beyond his credentials, he is a dynamic leader who leads with empathy and a genuine heart for the people he serves. He is profoundly student-centered, and I have no doubt he will show a tireless dedication to fostering authentic relationships across every corner of our campus.”

The University of Michigan advanced measurable progress toward its campus operations and carbon neutrality goals over the past year, according to a new Campus Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality Update, released by the Office of the Associate Vice President for Campus Sustainability.

MORE INFORMATION

• Campus Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality Update
• Planet Blue
• Office of Campus Sustainability

The annual update highlights progress across renewable energy, campus energy systems, building efficiency, transportation, waste reduction, and healthy environments, including foundational work to address indirect (Scope 3) emissions, while also reflecting the university’s continued growth in facilities, research and academic activity.

“We are making steady, tangible progress across our campuses while modernizing the systems that support our academic and research mission**,**” said Shana S. Weber, associate vice president for campus sustainability. “These investments fundamentally strengthen our energy resilience, reduce polluting emissions, and advance our campus as a globally-relevant and trusted demonstration site for action and problem-solving.”

Expanding renewable energy; modernizing systems

A signature milestone this year was the launch of Maize Rays, the university’s solar initiative designed to expand renewable electricity both on campus and across Michigan in support of the university’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions from purchased electricity (Scope 2) by 2027.

U-M is pursuing approximately 25 megawatts of on-campus solar capacity across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, including Michigan Medicine and Athletics. The first two solar arrays on North Campus are now commissioned and generating renewable electricity. Maize Rays also pairs campus installations with Michigan-based off-campus renewable energy and includes a community benefit supporting local solar projects on buildings that house community-serving organizations.

In parallel, the university continued advancing heat pump and geoexchange heating and cooling systems, an all-electric and highly efficient technology that leverages stable underground temperatures to reduce fossil fuel use. In 2025, crews drilled a 1,200-foot closed-loop test bore on Central Campus to assess the potential of deeper geoexchange systems.

Additional geoexchange systems are completed or underway at the Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building, Wolverine Village (Central Campus Residential Development), and the Edward and Rosalie Ginsberg Building, and all new building and major renovation projects are designed to be compatible with renewable-energy-driven heating and cooling systems.

Improving efficiency across campus buildings

U-M invested $1.1 million through its central revolving energy fund to support energy-efficiency upgrades across campus in FY ’25. Projects focused primarily on lighting and HVAC improvements, building on earlier LED upgrades spanning more than 13 million square feet of building space.

“These projects make good business sense and reduce energy use today while positioning the university for deeper efficiencies over time,” Weber said.

Advancing low-carbon transportation

The university expanded its low-carbon transportation portfolio by adding four additional battery-electric buses, bringing the total in service to 12 electric vehicles, which have collectively logged more than 52,000 miles and avoided 159,000 pounds of CO₂-equivalent emissions compared to conventional buses.

Campuswide electric vehicle infrastructure also continued to grow, with 230 EV charging stations now available and 56 university-owned electric vehicles in service. U-M also continued exploratory planning for a potential Automated Transit System, which is being considered alongside Campus Plan 2050 goals to expand multimodal transportation, including walking and biking connections across campus.

Reducing waste and strengthening campus environments

Waste reduction efforts expanded in partnership with research, event and student life teams. The Lab Swap Shop, launched with LSA, supported reuse of laboratory equipment and contributed to more than 17,500 pounds of lab diverted from landfills in 2025.

The Office of Campus Sustainability Zero Waste Program supported more than 1,000 events across campus in FY ’25, including major gatherings, and a new partnership with the Campus Farm enabled compostable waste from Michigan Stadium to be processed locally.

Campuswide compost infrastructure grew to 1,300 bins, while student move-out efforts diverted more than 12 tons of reusable materials. During the year, U-M also refreshed its campuswide waste-reduction goals, adopting updated targets and metrics to better reflect the full scope of waste prevention, reuse, composting and diversion efforts underway across campus.

The university also advanced work to strengthen campus ecosystems. U-M maintained its designation as a Bee Campus USA, installed new native landscapes including a 1,500-square-foot urban prairie near the Life Sciences Institute and adopted refreshed Resilient Grounds goals to guide long-term approaches to land management, biodiversity, stormwater and chemical reduction.

Advancing Scope 3 emissions work

The update also highlights continued foundational work to address Scope 3 emissions, which include indirect impacts associated with activities such as purchased goods and services, business travel, commuting, and construction materials.

During FY ’25, the Office of Campus Sustainability worked with external experts and campus partners to strengthen data quality, develop consistent tracking approaches, and synthesize feedback from  more than 350 community members. In collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Systems in the School for Environment and Sustainability, the university advanced targeted analysis in four priority areas: business travel, food, capital goods (construction), and purchased goods and services.

As part of this work, U-M renewed a three-year partnership with Delta Airlines to advance the use of sustainable aviation fuel, a certified alternative jet fuel that can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. The partnership supports efforts to address emissions associated with university-related air travel and complements broader Scope 3 analysis underway.

This phased work established a strong analytical foundation for future goal setting. Following recent senior leadership transitions, the university plans to complete Scope 3 goal-setting work in 2026.

Operations as learning opportunities

The update also reflects how major operational investments support U-M’s commitment to life-changing education. In FY ’25, the associate vice president for campus sustainability, the vice provost for sustainability and climate action, and the Office of the Vice President for Research established cross-functional campus as living learning lab working groups to better align campus energy, infrastructure, and resource-management projects with research priorities and educational opportunities.

“These efforts reinforce Michigan’s long-standing commitment to using the campus as a living-learning lab,” Weber said, “where operational systems are envisioned to intentionally support interdisciplinary research, applied learning, and real-world problem solving.”

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, the university will continue implementing on- and off-campus solar through Maize Rays, advancing geoexchange systems and energy-efficiency projects, expanding low-carbon transportation, and completing Scope 3 goal-setting work.

A more comprehensive update will be released this spring through the Sustainability Leadership Council.

The University of Michigan has consistently ranked as the nation’s top public university for study abroad, reflecting its commitment to international education and historic growth in student participation, according to newly released data.

Recognized during International Education Week 2025, U-M was named the No. 1 public university—and No. 2 overall—in the latest Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education, based on participation during the 2023-24 academic year.

“Maintaining our position as the No. 1 public university for education abroad for the second consecutive year—and ranking No. 2 nationally—reflects the university’s deep commitment to preparing students for a global future,” said Valeria Bertacco, U-M vice provost for engaged learning. “Whether through study abroad, international internships, research collaborations or service programs, we continue to expand pathways for students to engage meaningfully with the world.”

Business in Milan

For Peter Parlagreco, a senior majoring in business, the study abroad experience offered an inside look at the heart of the global luxury industry.

“I traveled to Milan, Italy; an immersive academic experience centered on luxury, culture and brand management. We explored the city’s major cultural and historical sites, visited luxury fashion houses, toured production facilities, engaged with industry speakers and studied how the Italian lifestyle and country-of-origin effects shape global perceptions of craftsmanship and luxury. The trip blended academic learning with firsthand exposure to brands like Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Maserati and Bottega Veneta.”

Parlagreco joined the Milan program through an application process designed to provide students with high-impact experiential learning. With a deep interest in international business, he was eager to connect classroom theory with hands-on exposure to global markets.

“From the moment I landed, Italy immediately expressed its identity through design, beauty and luxury; from advertisements at the airport to the architecture, boutiques and streets of Milan,” Parlagreco said.

The trip also sparked a personal reflection for Parlagreco, providing insight into how luxury connects deeply to individual psychology and global culture.

“Coming from a lower-income background, I was always curious about why people desire luxury. After seeing the industry up close, I realized how deeply luxury is tied to human psychology: status, identity and aspiration. I also learned how much of luxury pricing is driven not by materials but by intangible elements: brand history, storytelling, global cultural awareness and craftsmanship narratives.

“The trip also showed me how global culture shapes design and how Italian identity has been built through centuries of absorbing influences from around the world. It broadened my understanding of globalization and the responsibilities companies have when localizing their brands internationally,” Parlagreco said.

Participation and impact

According to the most recent Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education, 3,966 U.S. students from U-M participated in education-abroad programs during the 2023–24 academic year. Students traveled to 121 countries, with Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy among the top destinations.

The Open Doors survey, funded by the U.S. State Department, is the nation’s most comprehensive measure of study abroad, but does not include all U-M students. Non-U.S. citizens and those participating in noncredit educational activities such as internships and volunteer work are excluded.

When including these groups, U-M’s total rises to 5,462 students abroad in 2023–24—an increase of 1,496 over the Open Doors count. These students participated in 5,827 trips, with many engaging in multiple experiences.

Nearly 19% of these students were from underrepresented racial minority backgrounds and 12% were first-generation college students.

One canvas at a time

As a first-generation college student and art major, Maria Isho had never traveled overseas before her summer in South Korea.

“The biggest reason I wanted to travel abroad was because I had never been abroad before and I wanted to experience a different culture and setting than what I am used to,” Isho said.

Because her class schedule ran from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., she had to use the rest of her days wisely and “often crammed as much as I could, so moments like sitting alone by the river were the best way to sit and take in everything you’ve done,” she said.

Locals made her feel welcome and appreciated; “I did not know much about any Korean prior to the trip, but I did my best to learn before going places and it led to many pleasant interactions,” Isho said.

She had access to art materials and worked with “genuinely brilliant professors who taught me about traditional Korean craft. The skills I learned from them I plan to carry into my work and explore further,” she said.

Grateful for support from U-M’s First-Gen Education Abroad Scholarship, Isho encourages future students.

“Try to learn the language when you can; it is respectful and people will appreciate your effort. Don’t spend all your time in your dorms! There is so much more to do than just attend your classes. Try to explore as much of the culture as you can and make the most of your trip there.”

Finding community in Morocco

Mahmuda Chowdhury from the Ford School of Public Policy saw studying abroad as the chance for a fresh start. “I can read Arabic, but not understand it or speak it so I thought studying abroad would be a good opportunity,” Chowdhury said.

“During my study abroad in Morocco, I met many other first-generation students in my cohort and Moroccan peers. Our discussions flowed naturally because we could easily relate to each other’s experiences, from navigating unfamiliar academic and cultural settings to balancing the expectations of our families. This shared understanding created a strong sense of community and made the experience even more meaningful.”

Chowdhury hadn’t always planned to go to Morocco. “I had intended to go to South Korea, but a friend convinced me to join her for the Morocco program. When she canceled, I decided to go on my own, despite feeling anxious about going to a country where I didn’t speak the language,” she said.

What began as an uncertain journey turned into one of the best experiences of her life. She made new friends, embraced the language and found the program at U-M “so well thought out; everything they do is intentional and considerate of their students and I would recommend it 1,000 times over,” Chowdhury said.

One core memory was an overnight trip to see the Moroccan national football team play Zambia—a journey that summed up the excitement and camaraderie she found abroad. “It was an incredible adventure,” she said.

Chowdhury’s host family and friendships made leaving Morocco difficult, but she treasures the unforgettable experiences, personal growth and lifelong connections she gained. Financial support from the First-Gen Education Abroad Scholarship, she added, made it all possible by allowing her to “fully immerse myself in the experience without constantly worrying about money,” Chowdhury said.

“We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum, amplified by our Global Engagement Strategic Plan,” Bertacco said. “In the first two years of the plan, we have broadened and deepened our global footprint—launching key initiatives that increase and diversify student participation in international experiences. These efforts reflect our unwavering dedication to global engagement across every corner of the university.”

Delivering his State of the University address, President Domenico Grasso celebrated significant organizational victories while underscoring a priority of his presidency: As leaders, the University of Michigan must continue to innovate, invest and educate.

RELATED STORY

• Look to Michigan comes alive during State of the University

In front of 200 leaders and invited guests in University Hall — and more than 1,000 Michigan community members watching via a livestream — Grasso acknowledged numerous highlights from 2025 and unveiled several ambitious projects intended to strengthen U-M’s responsibility to serve the public good through research and dialogue.

Grasso focused the address through the lens of U-M’s strategic visioning plan, Look to Michigan, which launched this summer from the foundation of Vision 2034. Following Grasso, teams of faculty, staff and students presented on each of the vision’s five main pillars.

“Our university’s progress is impressive, and our ambitions bold,” he said. “Our legacy of impact and service is not defined by individuals but by the long and devoted line of staff, students and faculty who advance humanity through their intellect, passion and skills.”

Grasso touched on several milestones as evidence of the university’s health:

• Record applications of nearly 116,000 students hoping to become Wolverines this fall.
• Surpassing $2 billion in research expenditures.
• Reaching $4.2 billion toward U-M’s $7 billion comprehensive campaign goal.

He referenced generational facilities coming online, including the state-of-the-art D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, the Central Campus Residential Development, the new College of Pharmacy building and the Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center.

Grasso then introduced a major new investment in biomedical research, announced updates to the civil discourse and dialogue center and reaffirmed the university’s support of ambitious Look to Michigan programs.

Biomedical advancements

A $250 million investment will develop a Michigan-based “Skunk Works” for biomedical research. The biomedical innovation institute will make U-M a global leader in life science innovation by launching companies to accelerate research breakthroughs.

“We are establishing a biomedical innovation institute that will be one of the most ambitious investments in years,” Grasso said. “We will merge our research strengths with entrepreneurial speed to bring discoveries from the laboratory to patients faster than ever before.”

The high-risk, high-reward institute is grounded in bio-AI, clinical trials and commercialization. The result will be serving humanity more effectively with faster and more advanced healthcare.

Grasso cited the recent success of HistoSonics as an example. Twenty years ago, U-M researchers pioneered a non-invasive method to destroy liver cancer tumors using ultrasound pulses. Their technology — histotripsy — grew into the company HistoSonics. Two years ago, it received FDA approval to treat liver tumors and this summer, it sold for $2.25 billion. HistoSonics now plans to apply its technology to other cancers.

“This is a powerful example of how Michigan is saving lives. We aim to replicate this success, but at a significantly faster pace,” he said.

The five-year, $250 million investment will launch the institute and recruit top scientists and entrepreneurial talent from across campus and throughout the world.

Dialogue center next steps

Grasso provided more information on the $50 million civil discourse and dialogue center, first announced in September, to bridge today’s societal differences and strengthen our social fabric.

“Some may find it ironic that a university, already the marketplace of ideas, would establish such a center,” Grasso said. “But at this moment in history, when division too often drowns out discourse, Michigan must lead.”

The university will begin campus town halls in January and February, leading to an April preview event that will showcase what true dialogue can achieve. Grasso said the discourse center will reach out to the broader society and model how to listen, communicate and connect across our differences in a thoughtful manner.

“We may not always succeed. But we will always strive for mutual respect, humility and a commitment to consequential outcomes,” he said.

Looking to Michigan

Grasso concluded by reaffirming U-M’s commitment of $1 billion over 10 years to Look to Michigan initiatives.

“I have been a department chair, a dean and a provost, and some may wonder how we can make this vast investment while also addressing budget challenges,” Grasso said. “The answer is we must think differently. We must not compromise the potential of the future for the exigency of the present.”

Grasso said the university will soon call for proposals from the university community for ideas.

“The world’s brightest minds in the world surround us on all three campuses, and together we can be more strategic and disciplined than ever before,” he said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. –  University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital has once again earned national recognition in the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings and been named the No. 1 children’s hospital in Michigan.

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital – part of Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center – was recognized for top performing care in cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, urology and pediatric and adolescent behavioral health.

“This achievement reflects the dedication of our extraordinary doctors, nurses, and team members who put children and families at the center of all we do,” said Luanne Thomas Ewald, M.H.A., FACHE, chief operating officer of U-M Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.

"We’re honored to serve as a destination for families seeking world class care for the most complex, rare and life-threatening pediatric conditions.”

Rankings are based on a combination of clinical data, patient outcomes and a national survey of thousands of pediatric specialists. This marks the 19th year Mott has been the top ranked children’s hospital in Michigan.

"We’re incredibly proud of our talented teams whose commitment to clinical excellence continues to earn the trust of families from across the state and beyond,” said Kimberly Monroe, M.D., M.S., chief clinical officer at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Mott is among 85 children’s hospitals ranked by U.S. News out of 118 evaluated nationwide.

“This recognition reflects the depth of expertise across our medical teams and the strength of our research and innovation in delivering new solutions for some of the most challenging pediatric conditions," said Donna Martin, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Michigan Medicine and physician-in-chief for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

"We’re advancing care across specialties because every child deserves access to the best possible outcomes.”

Learn more about why C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is ranked among the nation’s best: www.mottchildren.org/usnews

About C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital: As a not-for-profit organization, University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States, providing comprehensive, specialized health care for children since 1903. Its mission is to integrate clinical care, education, research and advocacy to advance the health status of children, their families and communities in the state, region and beyond.

Ranked Michigan’s No.1 children’s hospital for 19 years in a row by U.S. News and World Report, Mott offers nationally-ranked, specialty care in a 1.1 million square foot, 348-bed facility in Ann Arbor, Mich. The hospital is also home to Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, a dedicated pediatric emergency department, an on-site Ronald McDonald House and specialty services not offered anywhere else in Michigan for newborns, children and pregnant people.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor remains the largest and most sought-after public research institution in the state, with record total enrollment this fall of 53,488 students.

Total enrollment increased 1% from 2024, with undergraduate enrollment up nearly 3% from 34,454 undergraduate students last year to 35,358 students this year.

RELATED STORIES

• UM-Dearborn welcomes second-largest class in history
• UM-Flint fall enrollment climbs for third consecutive year

“U-M is recognized around the world for providing a life-changing education,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management. “Through innovative partnerships, groundbreaking research, and deep community engagement, we’re expanding educational access and opportunity across Michigan and beyond.”

Among the 9,711 incoming undergraduate students, the university welcomed 8,178 first-year and 1,533 transfer students, a nearly 10% increase from last year. These students hail from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., five U.S. territories, and 62 countries.

Most incoming students, however, are from the state of Michigan and represent 76 of 83 counties, with the majority, 67%, coming from southeast Michigan. The west side of the state and the mid-Michigan region account for 28% of incoming first-year students — proportions mirroring the state’s population.

Graphic showing where incoming University of Michigan undergraduate students come from who hail from the state of Michigan.

With a record 115,957 applicants, interest in UM-Ann Arbor from first-year students continues to grow. The university had 109,112 first-year applicants, an increase of 11% over 2024, while transfer applicants remained stable, with 6,845 this year, compared to the 6,832 from the previous year.

Overall graduate and professional student enrollment declined slightly this year, from 18,401 students last year to 18,130 this fall. The enrolled cohort includes 9,515 master’s students, 5,814 Ph.D. students, and 2,562 students pursuing professional doctorates. There are also 239 non-degree seeking graduate and professional students. Among graduate and professional enrollees, 12,652 are domestic students, an increase of 1% from last year, and 5,478 are international students, a decrease of 7%.

“University of Michigan graduate and professional degree programs have seen strong growth over the past five years,” said Mike Solomon, vice provost for academic affairs – graduate studies and dean of Rackham Graduate School. “The university continues its leadership as a place where students can pursue advanced education and training for careers in a comprehensive range of disciplines and professions.”

A look at the fall 2025 incoming undergraduate class

“As a public institution, we strive to expand the boundaries of learning for everyone,” said Erica Sanders, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of undergraduate admissions. “Throughout the recruitment process, we encourage students from all backgrounds and all regions of Michigan and around the world to consider what a University of Michigan education will mean for their future, and we let them know that we have programs to support all students so they can fully immerse themselves in the U-M experience.”

OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PLANNING REPORTS

• Fall Enrollment
• First-year Class Profile
• Transfer Class Profile

Among the nearly 10,000 first-year and transfer students, more than 1,500 are the first in their family to attend a university.

Enrollment among students whose families report less than $50,000 in annual income increased slightly this year to 1,057 students from 1,033 in 2024.

This year’s group of first-year and transfer students also continues to reflect the diversity that’s existed in the campus community in recent years. The 9,711 incoming students include 4,128 students of color, which is an 8% increase from last year. The number of Black or African American students increased 6% and the number of Hispanic and Latino students increased nearly 2%. Overall, the number of students of color has increased 36% from five years ago.

Despite challenges and delays for the international student population, the university saw a 3% increase in incoming international undergraduate students from 755 last year to 781 this year.

U-M’s continued focus on affordability

The university continues to recognize the importance of being accessible and affordable to students through its commitment to financial aid.

The university annually distributes more than $1.55 billion in institutional, federal and state aid and is committed to meeting full demonstrated need for in-state students. This fall, preliminary data shows that more than $617.9 million in financial aid — including federal, state, institutional and private funds — was disbursed to more than 32,800 undergraduate and graduate students.

With initiatives like the Go Blue Guarantee, which this year expanded to support students and families with assets and incomes under $125,000, annually, the university supports more than 4,900 undergraduate students.

“The university is committed to providing generous financial resources to allow more students to choose U-M and thrive once they’re here,” said Tammie L. Durham Luis, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid. “We work to ensure that prospective students and families know they are welcome and can succeed at U-M.”

U-M’s final enrollment data is based on data from the Sept. 16 fall census date.

The University of Michigan remains the No. 3 public university in the country for undergraduate education — a ranking it has held every year since 2019 — according to the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges list.

U-M moved up one spot from last year’s rankings to 20th overall among public and private institutions in the list released Sept. 23. The only other public institutions among the top 25 are the University of California, Berkeley at No. 15 and the University of California, Los Angeles at No. 17.

MORE INFORMATION

• U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges
• How U.S. News calculated its rankings

U.S. News evaluated more than 1,700 four-year, bachelor’s degree-granting institutions in compiling its annual list for 2026. The rankings are based on an overall score calculated from weighted measures across various categories including peer assessment, graduation rates, financial resources per student and faculty salaries.

U-M’s high rankings reflect the value of the university’s expertise across academic disciplines and its ability to leverage that excellence at scale to educate students and prepare the next generation of leaders.

U.S. News & World Reports’ measurements do not consider extracurricular offerings — including access to the arts, clinics, studios, athletics, recreational sports, clubs and civic organizations — which are an essential part of what makes a U-M experience special.

U.S. News also ranks undergraduate programs in business, computer science, economics, engineering, nursing and psychology.

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business maintained a No. 4 ranking on the overall list of undergraduate business programs. Five specialties within the Ross School were ranked in the top five of their disciplines: management (No. 1), marketing (No. 1), production/operations management (No. 2), entrepreneurship (No. 3) and finance (No. 3).

The College of Engineering maintained a No. 5 ranking on the overall list of undergraduate engineering programs. Three specialties ranked in the top five in their disciplines: environmental/environmental health (No. 3), industrial/manufacturing/systems (No. 3) and aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical (No. 4).

The School of Nursing was ranked No. 6 on the overall list of undergraduate nursing programs, up three spots from last year’s ranking.

In addition, several U-M undergraduate programs were highly ranked among the more than 1,700 schools evaluated. U-M ranked:

• No. 5 for psychology.
• No. 6 for undergraduate research and creative projects.
• No. 12 for computer science.
• No. 14 for economics.
• No. 15 for teaching programs.

U-M also maintained a No. 7 ranking on the U.S. News list of best colleges for veterans and earned a No. 13 ranking among its list of most innovative schools.

UM-Dearborn was ranked No. 14 best Midwest regional university, up two spots from last year.

Philanthropic activity at the University of Michigan was strong in fiscal year 2025, with donors giving $886 million, up 13% from the previous fiscal year. This generous support made FY ’25 the university’s second-highest fundraising year ever.

Giving was buoyed by U-M’s launch in October of the most ambitious campaign in public higher education, Look to Michigan, with a $7 billion goal and mission to take on society’s most pressing challenges. At the close of FY ’25, more than 230,000 donors have given $4.02 billion toward the campaign — 57% of that goal.

“This year has provided opportunities to reinforce our shared commitment to the university, the value of a Michigan education, and our vision for the future,” said Thomas Baird, vice president for development. “We are grateful to our generous supporters for their constant support and dedication to advancing Michigan and its profound impact on our state and our world.”

Notably, Michigan Medicine had a record-setting year, representing 40% of the total funds raised by the university in FY ’25. Gifts helped expand access to care, revolutionize pancreatic cancer research, bolster pediatric care and more.

A $40 million gift supported Michigan Medicine’s new Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Troy Center for Specialty Care, a first in Oakland County, and mental health research. A $50 million gift created the Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer and provides support for clinical care and translational research. C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital received a $10 million gift to bring additional beds to the Brandon Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Reese Partlow Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.

Donors continue to enthusiastically and generously support student access, opportunity and success. Among the examples:

• $10 million to support the Blavin Scholars Program, which offers a community of support, including mentors and coaches, for undergraduates who have experienced foster care, kinship care or are without the support of parents or guardians.
• $1 million to establish the Holberg First-Generation Scholarship Fund in LSA, to provide need-based support for first-generation, low-income students from Chicago.
• $1 million to provide crucial support to students struggling with hunger and food insecurity through the Maize & Blue Cupboard from the Murray C. and Ina C. Pitt Charitable Trust.

Additional FY ’25 highlights included U-M’s university-wide giving days, Giving Tuesday and Giving Blueday.

On Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, more than 4,000 donors gave a total of $1.2 million to fully support nearly 50 projects across the university, from Adaptive Sports and Fitness to the Army ROTC Training Battalion and UM-Dearborn’s student food pantry to the Michigan Mock Trial club.

In March, the university’s 11th Giving Blueday united the university community to support students, research, the arts, sustainability programs, health and well-being initiatives, and other causes. More than 11,000 donors gave $4.7 million to U-M in 24 hours, supporting all three campuses, Athletics and Michigan Medicine.

“In this critical time for higher education, it is especially heartening to know we can rely on the extraordinary support from our community to help us address the most urgent needs of today and invest in a future where Michigan continues to lead and serve,” Baird said.

The University of Michigan continues to invest in infrastructure and building construction and remodeling across campus and beyond. Here is a look at major projects as U-M starts the 2025-26 academic year.

More information can be found at umaec.umich.edu/projects/major-projects/.

Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center

• Location: Central Campus
• Budget: $165 million
• Construction start: Fall 2022
• Estimated construction completion: Winter 2026
• Project at a glance: Where the Central Campus Recreation Building once stood, the new facility will contain 200,000 gross square feet and include modern gymnasiums, a track for jogging and walking, spaces for weight and cardiovascular training, group exercise rooms, aquatics, climbing areas, courts for squash, and racquetball, locker rooms, support, and administration spaces. The project will allow greater access and opportunity for students, faculty and staff to improve their health and well-being.

College of Pharmacy

• Location: Central Campus
• Budget: $141 million
• Construction start: Winter 2023
• Estimated construction completion: Fall 2025
• Project at a glance: To address its need to modernize and increase its physical space for academic, research and student support functions, the College of Pharmacy is building a 142,000-gross-square-foot home at the corner of Glen Avenue and East Huron Street. The structure will house active learning-style classrooms, laboratories, associated support spaces, faculty and administrative offices, and student-focused areas.

Central Campus Residential Development

• Location: Central Campus
• Budget: $631 million
• Construction start: Summer 2023
• Estimated construction completion: Summer 2026
• Project at a glance: To meet the needs of U-M’s growing student body and ensure excellence in the overall undergraduate experience, the university is constructing a 2,300-bed undergraduate student residence and 900-seat dining facility on the former Elbel Field site, between Hoover Avenue and Hill Street. The project will showcase the university’s deep commitment to sustainability through the use of geothermal technology, an all-electric design for both the housing and dining facilities, green roofs, a photovoltaic system, and the achievement of LEED Platinum certification.

Lorch Hall

• Location: Central Campus
• Budget: $190 million
• Construction start: TBD
• Estimated construction completion: TBD
• Project at a glance: This project proposes to renovate the existing Lorch Hall building and construct an addition in the existing exterior courtyard to accommodate the current and projected growth needs for the LSA Departments of Economics and Linguistics. The proposed addition is approximately 90,000 gross square feet and would infill the existing exterior courtyard. Approximately 73,000 gross square feet of existing space will undergo a deep renovation to address deferred maintenance. In keeping with sustainability goals, the building will be designed to be carbon-zero ready; the building will be all-electric and once the electricity supplied to the building is 100% renewable, the building will be carbon neutral.

University of Michigan Center for Innovation

• Location: Detroit
• Budget: $250 million
• Construction start: Fall 2023
• Estimated construction completion: Summer 2027
• Project at a glance: Included within the 200,000-gross-square-foot building is shelled space that will provide flexibility and expansion opportunities in the future. UMCI will be a world-class research, education and entrepreneurship center designed to advance innovation and talent-focused community development to propel city, region and statewide job creation and inclusive economic growth by stimulating economic development in the city of Detroit. The program will offer a mixed-model approach that includes both masters’ degrees and workforce development programs that will focus on technology and innovation. The new building will have a basement and six stories above grade. The lower floors will contain public-facing programs while the upper floors will be dedicated mostly to graduate programs.

College of Innovation & Technology Building

• Location: Flint
• Budget: $10 million
• Construction start: Winter 2024
• Estimated construction completion: Winter 2026
• Project at a glance: The UM-Flint College of Innovation and Technology proposes constructing a new academic teaching facility that promotes technology, flexibility and collaboration. The proposed project will construct a 15,000 gross-square-foot building located north of the William S. White building on the north end of the Flint campus. The new building will house various instructional dry lab teaching spaces along with areas to encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary research.

U-M Health Rogel Cancer Center

• Location: Medical Campus
• Budget: $10.4 million
• Construction start: Spring 2024
• Estimated construction completion: Winter 2026
• Project at a glance: The Rogel Cancer Center was constructed in 1997 and most of the major mechanical and plumbing systems are original to the building. This project will refurbish eight air handlers and associated equipment, replace a backup air handler and replace booster pumps. The project also includes a renovation of approximately 9,800 gross square feet of the main entrance patient drop off canopy ceiling, replacement of the infrared heaters and the fire suppression system.

• Location: Central Campus
• Budget: $60 million
• Construction start: Winter 2025
• Estimated construction completion: Fall 2026
• Project at a glance: This project will renovate approximately 134,000 gross square feet of existing space by replacing end-of-life infrastructure, addressing deferred maintenance such as replacement of the majority of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems within the facilities and bringing the building up to current safety and accessibility codes. In addition, the extensive nature of the infrastructure work will allow for the Ross School to undertake a needed modest renovation for the guest rooms and other administrative, operational and meeting spaces.

— Compiled by Jeff Bleiler, The University Record

Recognizing University of Michigan’s unique ability to serve the public good, President Domenico Grasso has announced an ambitious evolution to U-M’s vision.

First launched as Vision 2034, the sharpened strategic vision is now known as Look to Michigan and is expanded to include a new pillar: advanced technology, an objective vital to the growth and well-being of the state, nation and world.

Look to Michigan defines dynamic objectives and guides the university’s historic fundraising campaign, growing from foundational core pillars shaped by more than 25,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and local community members in 2024.

“As the most comprehensive and distinguished public university in the world, the University of Michigan bears a profound responsibility not only to lead in scholarship and innovation but also to serve as a thoughtful compass in challenging times,” Grasso said.

“Universities, by their nature, are bold. What sets Michigan apart is a determination driven by the intellectual depth and expanse of our world-class faculty, the curiosity and energy of our students, and the myriad talents of our staff, all with a deep commitment to serving the public good,” he said. “This is our opportunity to move into the passing lane with clarity and purpose —  leading our peers in reaffirming our indispensable role in society and enduring commitment to work in the public interest.”

In an era marked by growing challenges toward higher education, U-M’s new vision will further boost its capacity to develop exemplary students and graduates, produce innovative research discoveries, provide engaging and thought-provoking cultural offerings, and deliver life-changing health care to millions of residents.

The Look to Michigan vision is inclusive of the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, and Michigan Medicine.

Look to Michigan recommits to four crucial impact areas:

Life-changing education – U-M will become the institution where others turn to see what revolutionizing education can look like. The university will continue to leverage its robust expertise across education, academic innovation, research, technology, athletics, and the arts to educate the next generation of leaders who one day will redefine their fields by pushing the boundaries of research, education and clinical care.

Human health and well-being – By combining the breadth of disciplines across the university with our academic excellence in health education and our inherent collaboration that supports our interdisciplinary strength, we will create the ideal conditions for pioneering approaches in healthcare delivery and education.

Democratic, civic and global engagement – U-M will model what it means to convene and engage across ideological viewpoints, restore and elevate free inquiry, civic discourse and engagement, and strengthen democratic institutions through education and action.

Energy, climate action, sustainability and environmental equity – The university will pioneer solutions and approaches that demonstrate an understanding of the seemingly insatiable need to fuel our society. U-M will do this while also considering the consequences of environmental harm on various communities, as well as being accountable to future generations and those communities disproportionately affected.

Working with other senior leaders, Grasso has expanded Look to Michigan to encompass “energy” in the fourth impact area above and added the advanced technology impact area.

“We will develop and harness innovation responsibly, ensuring that breakthroughs in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, data science, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and digital and urban infrastructure, among many others, serve the common good and improve the human condition,” Grasso said. “We will develop these technologies with transparency and public input.”

To achieve the Look to Michigan goals, U-M will continue longstanding partnerships with federal and state governments, as well as donors, and wisely use the resources they provide to make the world safer, healthier and more equitable. The university will also identify internal strategic investment funds, including returns on endowment, investment dividends and financial reserves.

Grasso said the university will continue to invest in the strategic vision.

“Our $1 billion commitment, launched in 2024, will be sustained through a renewable yearly investment of $100 million,” Grasso said.

Board of Regents Chair Mark Bernstein said Look to Michigan exemplifies the relentless spirit that makes the university a leader in education and research.

“Since 1817, the University of Michigan has taken bold steps to challenge the definition of excellence,” Bernstein said. “Look to Michigan represents the thousands of students, faculty and staff who today and in the future will break the molds of greatness and reimagine what a public university can achieve.”

Launched in April 2024 after a year of gathering input from the campus community, Vision 2034 pledged to make U-M the defining public university, “boldly exemplified by our innovation and service to the common good.” Look to Michigan takes that audacious goal and elevates expectations.

The vision is consonant with the university’s most ambitious and innovative fundraising campaign to date, a goal of raising $7 billion — the largest effort in its history and the largest known campaign goal of any public university. That campaign launched in October 2024 as Look to Michigan.

Adult hospitals named to prestigious Best Hospitals Honor Roll, recognized as among the top 20 in the U.S.

University of Michigan Health’s Ann Arbor adult hospitals were ranked best in Michigan and in the top 20 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings for 2025-2026.

U-M Health is the clinical division of Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of U-M.

Out of more than 4,400 hospitals evaluated, U-M Health’s Ann Arbor hospitals earned a spot on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll, ranking among the top 20 hospitals nationwide. This distinction reflects U-M Health’s high performance across a wide range of specialties, procedures and conditions.

U.S. News based its rankings on key quality measures, including mortality rates, preventable complications, and nursing care.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among the best in the country for innovation and exceptional patient care,” said David Miller, CEO of Michigan Medicine and executive vice president of medical affairs for U-M.

“This recognition reflects the amazing teams that provide the highest standard of care for our patients every day. I remain grateful to each and every person at Michigan Medicine for their dedication and commitment to our mission of advancing health care to serve Michigan and the world.”

The organization had three medical specialties ranked in the nation’s top 10 and three medical specialties ranked in the nation’s top 20.

“These newest U.S. News & World Report designations are another confirmation of the high-quality services our patients expect and deserve,” said Hitinder Gurm, chief medical officer of U-M Health.

“We are deeply proud of the care our teams provide, and their dedication to continuous improvement in all that we do. The care within our walls is world-class.”

U-M Health’s Ann Arbor hospitals are ranked No. 8 in the country for ophthalmology; No. 9 for ear, nose & throat; and No. 10 for rheumatology. It also received national rankings in the following specialties:

• Cancer (No. 32)
• Cardiology, Heart and Vascular Surgery (No. 21)
• Diabetes and Endocrinology (No. 25)
• Gastroenterology and GI Surgery (No. 29)
• Geriatrics (No. 20)
• Neurology and Neurosurgery (No. 29)
• Pulmonology and Lung Surgery (No. 14)
• Urology (No. 19)

U.S. News & World Report also evaluates performance regarding several specific procedures and conditions. They awarded U-M Health in Ann Arbor as  “high performing” in the following:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
• Aortic valve surgery
• Back surgery (spinal fusion)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Colon cancer surgery
• Diabetes
• Gynecological cancer surgery
• Heart arrhythmia
• Heart attack
• Heart bypass surgery
• Heart failure
• Hip fracture
• Hip replacement
• Kidney failure
• Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
• Lung cancer surgery
• Pacemaker implantation
• Pneumonia
• Prostate cancer surgery
• Stroke
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement

For detailed data about the safety and quality of care at U-M, far beyond what is available from rating agencies, visit uofmhealth.org/quality-safety.

The University of Michigan is once again ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States in the QS World University Rankings 2026 edition released June 19.

U-M ranked 45th overall among 1,501 universities across the globe, and 14th among the 192 institutions in the United States included in the rankings.

MORE INFORMATION

• 2026 QS World University Rankings

U-M is ranked second among all U.S. public universities and is one of only three public universities in the U.S to be ranked in the top 50. The University of California, Berkeley, was the top-ranked public university.

The rankings are based on nine factors:

• Academic reputation (30%)
• Employer reputation (15%)
• Employability (5%)
• Faculty-student ratio (10%)
• Citations per faculty (20%)
• Proportion of international faculty (5%)
• Proportion of international students (5%)
• International research collaboration (5%)
• Sustainability (5%)

Among those categories, U-M scored highest for academic excellence followed by the employability of its graduates and its comprehensive international research partnerships.

The university’s strong performance in academic reputation, employer reputation, and employment outcomes aligns with recent data proving the value of a U-M degree. Internationally, U-M’s global impact is demonstrated by its consistent recognition as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars and U.S. Students — prestigious awards that support study, teaching, and research abroad.

At home, U-M serves 18,000 in-state undergraduates representing all 83 Michigan counties, with nearly two-thirds graduating debt-free. More than 116,000 U-M Ann Arbor alumni are contributing to Michigan’s economy, including many employed at Fortune 500 companies and other major organizations across the state.

The University of Michigan is expanding its investment in student programs and services over the coming year, dedicating funds to enhance the accessibility and affordability of a U-M degree.

The Board of Regents approved the 2025-26 fiscal year budget on June 12, reaffirming the university’s commitment to removing financial barriers for students so they can focus on academic success.

U-M’s general fund budget for FY ‘26 totals $3.0 billion for the Ann Arbor campus, with investments centered around providing life-changing education, enhancing human health and well-being, and staying true to the university’s mission while acknowledging economic and legislative uncertainty.

The final numbers reflect careful planning and targeted investments to sustain academic excellence in an uncertain funding landscape.

“We move forward with the confidence that whether we consider research funding, state support, or our students’ tuition dollars, an investment in the University of Michigan offers high return,” said Provost Laurie McCauley during her budget presentation. “In fiscal year ’26, we will broaden our investment in programs and services that enrich the U-M experience and promote student success.”

The budget for the Ann Arbor campus is part of a university-wide budget package that includes spending plans for Michigan Medicine, UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint, Athletics, Michigan Housing and supplemental student fees.

Financial aid

The Go Blue Guarantee will increase eligibility to families making up to $125,000, expanding access for middle-income families. Additionally, the university will fully cover the cost of attendance for GBG-eligible students in the fields of teacher education and nursing, and for those GBG graduates enrolled in the MSW program at the School of Social Work.

“Over the years, U-M has expanded eligibility, and we are proud to be a leading public institution in this arena,” McCauley said. “We thank the Regents for their unwavering support for this guarantee. The fiscal year ’26 budget funds our recently announced expansion of eligibility and increased awards to cover full cost of attendance in critical workforce areas.”

Currently, 59% of resident undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid and 33%, or 5,730 resident undergrads, pay no tuition at all. The FY ‘26 budget increased undergraduate aid by 4.5%, greater than the rate of increase for in-state tuition and fees, and it is anticipated that in-state students with financial need will not experience any change in out-of-pocket tuition and fees.

The university will also broaden opportunity by allocating additional support for Wolverine Pathways, allowing this successful college preparation program to serve more college-aspiring students. Wolverine Pathways graduates who enroll at U-M also enjoy a free tuition guarantee.

With these increased investments, the FY ’26 budget funds $409 million in central financial aid, with schools and colleges adding additional support.

Cost containment

Cost containment remains at the forefront of U-M’s financial strategy, with a continued focus on operational efficiency and strategic investments. Units across campus underwent a rigorous exploration of cost-saving measures and reduced general fund spending by over $33 million for FY ‘26.

These efforts enable U-M to expand financial aid and make other strategic investments while implementing a modest tuition increase that is consistent with inflation.

Tuition and fees

In-state tuition and fees for the most common lower-division rate for undergraduates will increase by $610, or 3.4%, for an annual rate of $18,346. Tuition and fees for nonresident undergraduate students will increase by $3,016, or 4.9%, for an annual rate of $63,962.

The University Health Service fee will increase by $16, or 3.9%. This fee is a required component of tuition and supports increasing staff and operational costs. A new student recreation and wellness fee of $150 per year will support operations of the new Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center, scheduled for completion in fall 2025.

Tuition and fees are based on full-time enrollment, defined as 12-18 credit hours per term for undergraduate students. Rates for most graduate programs will increase 4.9%.

Housing rates will increase $881 per year, or 6.0%, as part of a 10-year plan to enhance the student residential experience and build capacity. Under the new rates, a standard double room will cost $15,568 annually.

State support

The university awaits information on state appropriations, which account for approximately 12% of the general fund budget. State funds are essential for the university to meet its mandatory and inflationary cost increases, and McCauley noted the importance of this partnership.

The state, which operates on a different fiscal calendar, is expected to approve the budget before the end of September.

Life-changing education investments

The budget includes substantial investments in new and continuing academic programs designed to keep U-M at the forefront of higher education. In FY ’26, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and Marsal Family School of Education will each launch online master’s programs, offering professionals in these fields a flexible way to expand their skills, accelerate their careers, and lead boldly in public service.

LSA is deepening its investment in the Program for Computing in the Arts & Sciences, preparing students to analyze, critique, design and invent with technology, regardless of their chosen fields.

The budget enhances academic advising, increases the capacity of the Testing Accommodations Center, and launches robust new platforms for course scheduling, degree planning and other key supports that help students attain their goals.

Human health and well-being

The budget includes targeted investments in medical research, adaptive sports and fitness, and support for nursing education. The Biointerfaces Institute, which focuses on the juncture between physical and biological systems to generate high-impact biomedical innovations, will receive funds for new equipment upgrades.

“This collaboration between Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Dentistry leverages our world-class strength in interdisciplinary research,” McCauley said. “Since 2012, Biointerfaces has earned 119 patents and launched 25 companies. We commit funds to renew equipment for this ongoing endeavor.”

The budget continues to grow U-M’s Adaptive Sports and Fitness program, increasing participation in adaptive sports and fitness among people with and without disabilities.

The FY ’26 budget also invests essential resources to support strategic enrollment growth in top-ranked programs in the School of Nursing, whose students graduate well-positioned to provide excellent patient care and fill gaps in Michigan’s nursing workforce.

Democracy, Civic, and Global Engagement

“The Ross School recognizes business as a powerful force for change,” McCauley said in remarks about the Business + Impact initiative. The initiative connects faculty, students and staff with southeastern Michigan communities through action-based partnerships.

The FY ’26 budget expands this key investment, engaging more students from across campus to make a positive impact in Detroit.

The budget continues support for the non-partisan UMICH Votes initiative, recognizing that the work of voter engagement extends beyond election cycles.

Sustainability

Investments in sustainability across campus are reflected in university operations and research programs. In FY ’26, the budget expands investment in the fleet of electric buses and their long-term upkeep and maintenance. Education is also a focus; the budget supports additional cross-campus curricular activities in sustainability.

Faculty, staff and infrastructure support

The FY ’26 budget includes a modest merit program to recognize the contributions of world-class faculty and dedicated staff whose work keeps U-M strong as it navigates uncertain times.

Another high priority is digital infrastructure. This budget makes investments in the required technology, software and related services to conduct operations securely and efficiently, and to support research, instruction and innovation.

Federal considerations and future planning

The university continues to assess the potential budgetary impacts of federal actions. To ensure the university’s strength and resilience, the administration has been monitoring expenditures, modeling budget reduction scenarios, and discussing strategy with leadership at every level of the university.

McCauley noted that the university projects indirect cost recovery revenues will decline in FY ’26, the result of federal actions and a slowdown in research awards. The university’s commitment to research remains steadfast, because of its value in fueling the innovation and discovery that is vital to the world and the shaping of the future.

As higher education faces the year ahead amid economic and legislative uncertainty, McCauley emphasized that the FY ’26 investments deepen the strengths that allow the university to weather challenging periods. The approved budget enables the university to meet its mandatory costs, provide crucial incremental resources in academic programs, research, and operations, continue its commitment to affordability, and make meaningful investments in ongoing academic excellence.

The University of Michigan will add 25 megawatts of renewable energy across campus through the new Maize Rays solar expansion initiative, marking a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to sustainability and climate action.

University leadership unveiled the initiative during a ceremony May 13 at the North Campus Facilities Services Building, the site of the first phase of construction.

The Maize Rays solar power expansion initiative includes the on-campus solar project and will incorporate additional projects to enhance solar capacity across all University of Michigan campuses and at off-site locations that boost Michigan-based renewables.

At the facilities services building, U-M is adding a solar power system featuring both a rooftop array and a carport installation. This construction is the first of a three-year effort and plays an important role in U-M’s goal of eliminating Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by early 2027.

During the kick-off event, several key leaders addressed the attendees, including Shana Weber, associate vice president for Campus Sustainability; Kim Kiernan, co-interim associate vice president for Facilities and Operations; Brian Hall, assistant vice president of Utilities; Victoria “Torrie” Jacobs, incoming president for Students for Clean Energy; and John Bates, chief executive officer of Radial Power, the energy and sustainability solutions firm managing the solar installations.

The on-campus 25-megawatt component of Maize Rays will eventually generate power equivalent to the annual usage of around 3,000 homes. University buildings will directly utilize the power generated, reducing Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, which are linked to purchased electricity.

By the end of 2025, Ann Arbor is expected to have more than 10 megawatts of on-campus solar power online, with future expansions planned for the Dearborn and Flint campuses.

Weber emphasized the initiative’s role in the broader Campus Plan 2050.

“The Maize Rays initiative is one component of our broader vision to be a global beacon of resilience, innovation, efficiency and inspiration for our campus community, always with an eye on scalable impact and broader community engagement,” Weber said. “It’s not just about installing solar panels, it’s also about re-imagining big projects like this to explicitly enhance engagement, community benefits, education, and research opportunities.”

Kiernan welcomed attendees by highlighting the excitement surrounding the initiative.

“The entire campus community will be able to see these installations in places all across campus. Our goal is to maximize visibility and awareness,” Kiernan said.

At the heart of the initiative is the technical expertise of the Office of Campus Sustainability alongside Facilities & Operations. Both units and external partners such as Radial Power collaborate with student groups including Students for Clean Energy and EcoData to engage the campus community, track the project’s progress and provide peer-to-peer educational opportunities focused on solar energy.

In a full-circle moment of leadership, Domenico Grasso was officially appointed as interim president during the Board of Regents regular meeting May 15 on the UM-Dearborn campus, where he had spent seven years as chancellor.

The gathering was especially significant for President Grasso, who opened his remarks by reflecting on the role the university has played in shaping his life and career.

“I joined the U-M community in the fall of 1983, when I began pursuing a doctorate in the College of Engineering,” Grasso said. “That is also where I met my wife, Susan. Both experiences have changed my life. To be sitting here, as president, some 40 years later is a tremendous privilege.”

He pledged to continue broadening U-M’s impact and unite with faculty, students, staff and regents.

“I have devoted my career to higher education because it is the lifeblood of an educated citizenry,” Grasso told the regents. “This is especially true of public universities, and there is no greater public university than the University of Michigan. We advance our state and the nation in so many ways, from exceptional health care and transformative research to new knowledge created by faculty and the myriad contributions of our alumni.”

Grasso told the board he and his wife will relocate to the president’s house in Ann Arbor during the search process for the new president. Grasso already indicated he will not seek the permanent president role.

MORE INFORMATION

• Read President Grasso’s full Regent remarks
• See President Grasso’s background

Board Chair Katherine White led the unanimous vote of regent support.

“We are so grateful for your willingness to serve and for your commitment to this university,” White said. “Duty is inextricably bound with honor, and you have demonstrated it again and again.

“We thank you for all you’ve done as chancellor at UM-Dearborn, and we look forward to your leadership in the days ahead.”

White also thanked the regents for acting with decisiveness in swiftly naming Grasso. “I remain so proud to serve with you today,” she said.

UM-Dearborn Interim Chancellor Gabriella Scarlatta thanked Grasso on behalf of Dearborn’s leadership.

“This is symbolic that we are here in Dearborn today,” she said. “We are grateful for the chancellor for his guidance during his years at Dearborn, and we have extreme confidence in his abilities (as president).”

Speaking on the faculty promotions and tenure appointments that were approved during the meeting, Grasso reflected on his own academic journey.

“Many of us around the table remember the joy, pride, and, yes, relief that came with receiving tenure,” he said. “As president, I want to foster a vibrant environment where the best minds continue to thrive. Today’s promotions contribute deeply to that. I know you will join me in extending congratulations to these faculty members.”

The University of Michigan continues to be recognized as a top destination for graduate education in the nation, according to the 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools released April 8.

Each year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs in six areas: education, engineering, law, business, medicine and nursing. It also periodically ranks programs in the sciences, social sciences and humanities, health and other areas. Not all U-M schools and colleges receive a U.S. News & World Report ranking each year.

MORE INFORMATION

• U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools
• Previous graduate rankings stories

U-M schools and colleges included in the top 15 overall rankings for 2025 are:

• LSA’s sociology program at No. 1, clinical psychology program at No. 2, psychology program at No. 3 and political science program at No. 5​.
• The Marsal Family School of Education at No. 2.
• The School of Public Health at No. 2.
• The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at No. 3.
• The School of Information’s library and information studies program at No. 5.
• The School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program at No. 6, and its master’s degree program at No. 8.
• The College of Engineering at No. 11.
• The Stephen M. Ross School of Business Master of Accounting Program at No. 4, Executive MBA program at No. 7, the Weekend MBA Program at No. 7 and the Full-time MBA program at No. 13.

UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint also received rankings for their part-time MBA programs, Nos. 126 and 143 respectively.

The rankings are based on expert opinions about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students.

In addition to the overall program rankings, U-M received rankings in several specialty areas. The specialties that received rankings this year are:

Business (full-time MBA): management (2), accounting (4), project management (3), marketing (3), production operations (4), international (7), non-profit (7), supply chain (8), entrepreneurship (7), executive MBA (7), finance (10), information systems (16) and analytics (24).

Computer science: artificial intelligence (9), programming language (13), systems (7) and theory (16). UM-Dearborn ranked 174 overall best computer science doctoral program.

Education: higher education administration (2), secondary teacher education (3), education psychology (3), curriculum and instruction (4), elementary teacher education (4), educational administration (8) and education policy (6).

Engineering: nuclear (1), industrial (2), environmental (4), aerospace (5), mechanical (5), civil (5), electrical (6), computer (7), biomedical (8), chemical (8) and materials (8).

Nursing: midwifery (3), Master’s Nurse Practitioner – family (8), Doctor of Nursing Practice – adult gerontology/primary care (6) and Doctor of Nursing Practice – family (9).

Public affairs/policy: social policy (1), public policy analysis (2), health policy (2), environmental policy (5), global policy (12) and urban policy (12).

Public health: biostatistics (3), health policy and management (4), social behavior (4), epidemiology (5), environmental health science (6) and healthcare management (7).

In addition to the rankings noted above, UM-Flint ranked No. 151 in occupational therapy, No. 105 in physical therapy and No. 80 in nursing anesthesia. U-M’s law and medical schools no longer participate in the U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings, however, both schools remain ranked by U.S. News in the 2025 edition.

Since new rankings for 2025 were not released for all programs, the following retain their rankings from prior years:

• The School of Social Work ranked No. 1.
• The College of Pharmacy ranked No. 2.
• Science Doctoral Programs:
  • Chemistry ranked No. 14 overall.
  • Earth Sciences ranked No. 9 overall.
  • Mathematics ranked No. 11 overall.
  • Physics ranked No. 13 overall.

Applications to the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus have hit a record high with more than 115,000 prospective first-year and transfer students looking to enroll for the fall 2025 term.

Application volume for prospective first-year students increased in all categories: in-state, out-of-state and international. There were nearly 109,000 applications, an almost 11% increase over 2024. First-year applications have increased 36% over the past five years.

“The continued and growing interest from prospective students demonstrates the clear value of the University of Michigan experience from those within our state, across the nation and around the globe,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management.

“As a public university committed to access and affordability, we are pleased to see a significant increase in applications from first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds, as well as continued growth from our Michigan residents in both first-year and transfer applications.”

Several categories recorded increases in prospective first-year student applications:

• First-generation students (24.5%)
• In-state (0.5%)
• Out-of-state domestic (11%)
• International students (18%)
• Students from self-reported low-income backgrounds (12%)
• Students of color increased by 14%. The largest year-to-year increase within an identity group occurred in students identifying as Black or African American (17%), followed by Hispanic or Latine​ (15%), and Native American (13%) and Asian (13%).

While applications from transfer students have increased nearly 25% in the last five years, fall 2025 applications dipped slightly overall to 6,157, a 2% decrease compared with 6,297 the previous year. Despite the decrease, transfer applications increased in several categories:

• In-state (6%)
• First-generation (7%)
• Students from self-reported low-income backgrounds (7%)
• Students of color (11%)

Decisions were released in January for first-year students who applied by the early action application deadline. The regular decision application deadline was Feb. 1, and final admissions decisions will be released by early April. Students offered admission to U-M in Ann Arbor have until May 1 to accept, which is the national undergraduate reply date.

“We continue to encourage students from different backgrounds and life experiences to consider the University of Michigan as their best choice for pursuing their dreams,” said Erica L. Sanders, assistant vice provost and executive director of undergraduate admissions.

“Throughout the recruitment process, we encourage prospective students to visit campus and engage with our community in ways that help them see that they belong at the university.”

Using data available in the CSS Profile — an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid — and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the Office of Financial Aid strives to provide prospective students with financial aid packages within two weeks of their acceptance letter.

“Through additional outreach efforts there has been an increase of 52% in the number of prospective students that have completed the CSS Profile, compared with this time last year,” said Tammie L. Durham Luis, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid.

“This enables us to provide students a clear picture of the financial support available to them at U-M when making their college choice.”

U-M offers a number of financial aid options including scholarships and grants, loans and federal work-study. In addition, U-M recently expanded eligibility for its Go Blue Guarantee, which provides a tuition-free education to incoming and returning full-time, in-state students whose families have annual incomes up to $125,000 and assets up to $125,000, beginning in the fall of 2025.

The Office of Enrollment Management team and campus partners have begun conducting programs for admitted students on-campus, throughout the state of Michigan and in key areas around the country, with the goal of showcasing the U-M experience and aiding students as they finalize their college choice. These programs will continue throughout the next two months with the largest in-person event series, Campus Day, running through April.

The fall term begins Aug. 25 on the Ann Arbor campus. Detailed fall 2025 enrollment numbers will be released in October.

New solar installations distributed across the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses will have a total capacity of 25 megawatts of renewable electricity after a three-year installation process is complete.

The electricity generated — enough to power about 3,000 homes — will feed directly into U-M buildings rather than going back into the regional power grid and will work toward the university’s goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from purchased electricity, known as Scope 2 emissions.

The installations also will contribute to the energy resilience and climate action goals of the city of Ann Arbor.

Along with new off-site, Michigan-based renewable-power purchase agreements, the installations will allow the university to achieve its Scope 2 emissions goal within an estimated two years.

The solar installations will be constructed in phases. Initial locations will be on the tops of existing parking areas and large rooftops, where installations will cause minimal disruption. Other locations will be assessed over time.

The first installation phase will begin in 2025 with facilities services buildings on the perimeter of the Ann Arbor campus before moving to higher-use campus locations. By the end of that year, the university expects to have more than 10 megawatts of power online in Ann Arbor.

The full project will span three years, with installations at UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint in later phases.

The project demonstrates one part of the university’s broad commitment to carbon neutrality and modernizing its energy infrastructure with resilient technologies that better serve communities, said Shana Weber, associate vice president for campus sustainability.

“In addition to moving the university closer to demonstrating repeatable and scalable approaches to climate action, we seek to deepen an immersive educational and research experience that advances innovation and builds high-impact partnerships,” Weber said.

She described the overarching approach as one that strives to cultivate the campus and community as a living learning lab across all climate action initiatives.

The solar installations are part of the university’s Campus Plan 2050, which was released Sept. 30 and guides comprehensive campus development for the next 25 years. The effort also reflects the commitment of the university’s Vision 2034 “Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice” impact area.

“Sourcing our electricity from Michigan-based renewable sources is only one piece of the solution,” said Kim Kiernan, co-interim associate vice president for facilities and operations. “By connecting to the larger campus plan, and to the pillars of the university’s Vision 2034, physical systems will work together with programmatic goals to advance exciting initiatives.”

“When combined with other investments in building electrification, including geo-exchange and heat pump systems for heating and cooling, sustainable building methods, transit infrastructure improvements and more, we move closer to realizing a resilient, innovative, livable community that is a go-to leader in responsiveness to global needs,” Weber said.

The university says the upfront investments in making this transition will provide long-term benefits, including improved energy resilience, reduced financial risk due to volatile fuel markets, reputational leadership, educational and research opportunities, and reduced operating costs.

The University of Michigan is expanding eligibility for its Go Blue Guarantee, enabling nearly 2,200 additional in-state, current undergraduate students to qualify for tuition-free education at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.

The university announced Dec. 5 that eligible incoming and returning full-time, in-state students whose families have annual incomes up to $125,000 and assets up to $125,000 will qualify beginning in the fall of 2025.

MORE INFORMATION

• Go Blue Guarantee

The move will mean that, by the fall, more than 10,000 students will have received the full-tuition guarantee since the initiative began.

“The Go Blue Guarantee breaks down economic barriers and ensures that a world-class education is available to Michigan students from all backgrounds, no matter their family’s economic means,” said President Santa J. Ono.

“Having witnessed the initiative’s transformative impact, we’re proud to take this step to support a greater number of our state’s most promising students and reaffirm our commitment to affordability and equal opportunity.”

The Go Blue Guarantee launched on the Ann Arbor campus in January 2018 and offered free tuition for in-state students from families with an annual income up to $65,000 and assets up to $50,000. The Board of Regents extended the commitment in 2021, with the same income and asset thresholds, to UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint students with a 3.5 GPA.

The income and asset thresholds moved to $75,000 for the Ann Arbor campus in 2023, and the income threshold increased to $75,000 for new students on the Dearborn campus in fall of 2024.

The university will invest an additional $8.8 million annually to expand the commitment, which since inception has extended free tuition to more than 8,000 students. With this expansion, an additional 2,200 students on all three campuses will be eligible for the guarantee. Dearborn and Flint will continue to require students to have a 3.5 GPA to qualify.

“As a state university, we have a responsibility to serve the people of Michigan and — given the many pressures of today’s economy — we want to ensure that working-class and middle-class Michiganders can send their children to this great university and benefit from all that it offers,” said Board Chair Katherine E. White.

“The Go Blue Guarantee has had a meaningful impact on the lives of Dearborn students,” said UM-Dearborn Chancellor Domenico Grasso. “Half of our student population is Pell (Grant) eligible and nearly half are first generation to attend college. Providing additional financial assistance allows more in-state students to obtain a Michigan degree, put their dreams into practice and change the trajectory of their lives.”

“The Go Blue Guarantee reflects our commitment to making higher education accessible,” said UM-Flint Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander. “By covering full undergraduate tuition for qualifying Flint students, we empower first-time students and transfer students to achieve their greatest potential and transform their futures. This program ensures that financial circumstances do not stand in the way of success.”

Undergraduate financial aid for students at the Ann Arbor campus has increased by an average of more than 9% annually over the past decade. As a result, 63% of in-state undergraduates and 43% of out-of-state undergraduate students at Ann Arbor receive grant or scholarship aid.

For most resident undergraduate students who receive need-based financial aid, the net cost of attending U-M Ann Arbor is less than it was 10 years ago, after adjusting for inflation. Nearly 3,000 fewer students are taking out loans compared with a decade ago.

At Dearborn and Flint, annual undergraduate financial aid over the past decade has increased about 9% and 6%, respectively.

“During the admissions process, the three University of Michigan campuses strive to encourage students from all backgrounds to consider t​he life-changing effect a U-M education will have on their future. Today’s announcement makes the U-M experience affordable for many more students,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management.

U-M’s Ann Arbor campus is the only public university in Michigan that meets full demonstrated need for in-state students, providing support for students beyond the Go Blue Guarantee with family incomes up to $180,000.

UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint will continue to provide significant financial aid for students who do not qualify for the Go Blue Guarantee based on individual need and merit.

Republican Carl Meyers has been elected and Democrat Denise Ilitch has been reelected to eight-year terms on the University of Michigan Board of Regents.

With all 83 Michigan counties reporting, unofficial statewide totals indicate Meyers was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 5 election with 2,553,175 votes or 25.76% of votes cast, according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s website. Ilitch received 2,472,806 votes, or 24.95%.

Democrat Shauna Ryder Diggs and Republican Sevag Vartanian finished third and fourth, respectively, with Diggs getting 2,330,275 votes, or 23.52%, and Vartanian getting 2,239,397 votes, or 22.60%.

Meanwhile, Kimberly A. Thomas, clinical professor of law at the Law School and director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic, won her bid for an eight-year term on the Michigan Supreme Court. Thomas received 2,572,928 votes, or 61.36%.

Meyers will succeed Regent Ron Weiser, whose term is ending. This will be Ilitch’s third term on the board. Both will begin their terms Jan. 1, 2025.

Meyers of Dearborn is a senior vice president of investments for Raymond James in Plymouth, Michigan, and a 1979 graduate of the UM-Dearborn, receiving his B.S.A. degree. He ran for the board unsuccessfully in 2004, 2016 and 2020.

Ilitch of Bingham Farms was elected to the Board of Regents in 2008 and reelected in 2016. She is an owner of Ilitch Family Companies and president of Ilitch Enterprises. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from U-M in 1977 and has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit.

U-M’s eight regents serve overlapping terms, with two seats up for election every two years.

Other candidates for the Board of Regents and their unofficial vote totals were:

• Donna Oetman, U.S. Taxpayers Party, 157,773 votes.
• Andrew Chadderdon, Libertarian, 156,296 votes.

The University of Michigan has announced its most ambitious and innovative fundraising campaign to date, with a goal of raising $7 billion — the largest effort in its history and the largest known campaign goal of any public university.

Titled Look to Michigan, the campaign supports the Vision 2034 and Campus 2050 plans, announced earlier this year, to live out its mission of serving the public good by making an impact in four areas where Michigan is uniquely positioned to impact global challenges:

• Life-changing education — Elevating the educational landscape by providing solutions to the acute shortages of well-prepared educators, addressing resource disparities, and giving all learners the opportunity to succeed.
• Health and well-being — Tackling critical health challenges both locally and globally, improving affordability and access to quality health care, advocating for preventative health, and generating innovative discoveries that improve and save lives.
• Democracy, civic and global engagement — Reinvigorating community participation and critical thinking; expanding knowledge of democratic practices and principles; and strengthening local, national and international alliances.
• Sustainability and climate action — Mitigating climate change through research and education; empowering students, faculty, staff and community members to find equitable solutions; and collaborating with partners to create long-term change.

The university also is pursuing advances in core commitments and key university priorities:

• Supporting students with the resources and wraparound services they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.
• Engaging with the arts as a creative catalyst for learning and growth.
• Fostering inclusivity on its campuses so each member of the community has equitable opportunities to thrive.
• Increasing U-M’s impact through innovation, partnership and economic development.

“We know that the world is calling on us to answer the most urgent questions of our time — to be the defining public institution that inspires all that is possible,” President Santa J. Ono said.

“The deeply collaborative, universitywide priorities of Vision 2034 have been years in the making and set the stage for Michigan to be that institution. And the Look to Michigan campaign will bring this ambitious vision to life.”

The seventh such campaign undertaken by U-M, Look to Michigan also will raise funds to support the student experience, innovation and research, community engagement and partnerships, and building state-of-the-art facilities across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, as well as Athletics and Michigan Medicine.

“Our leaders have charted a bold new vision for U-M that leverages our expertise across fields and excellence at scale, one that exemplifies our innovative strength and service to the common good,” said Tom Baird, vice president for development.

“All of which is made possible with the philanthropic support of our generous donors, who have helped sustain our great university for more than 200 years and will continue to help propel us forward in this exciting new chapter.”

The priorities of the Look to Michigan campaign were developed through a series of conversations among academic leaders, working groups from across the university, and philanthropic partners to take an innovative approach that empowers U-M and its donors to leverage the university’s excellence at scale, academic excellence and network of alumni and supporters to make the greatest impact possible on the world’s most pressing challenges.

The university has already received gifts totaling $3.3 billion during the silent phase of the campaign, before the public launch.

U-M’s most recent campaign — Victors for Michigan — ran from 2013-18 and raised $5.3 billion.

As a public, nonprofit institution, U-M relies on philanthropic gifts to deliver world-class education and research that would not be attainable relying solely on government funding and tuition. These gifts allow U-M to attract qualified students from all backgrounds, recruit outstanding faculty, fund innovative research, improve teaching methods, add creative programming, and build and maintain facilities.

The University of Michigan is the No. 22 university in the world and the No. 14 university in the United States, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

The list released Oct. 9 includes 2,092 universities across 115 countries and territories.

U-M remains one of only four public institutions in the United States to make the top 25. The others were the University of California, Berkeley (No. 8), the University of California, Los Angeles (No. 18) and the University of Washington (No. 25).

U-M was No. 23 in the world and No. 14 in the U.S. in 2023.

According to Times Higher Education, the 2025 World University Rankings were compiled using an updated methodology that included 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators.

The indicators measure an institution’s performance across five areas:

• Teaching (the learning environment) 29.5%
• Research environment (volume, income and reputation) 29%
• Research quality (citation impact, research strength, research excellence and research influence) 30%
• International outlook (staff, students and collaboration) 7.5%
• Industry (income and patents) 4%

The University of Michigan’s Campus Plan 2050 outlines significant changes to the Ann Arbor campus, featuring an innovation district, an on-campus hotel and conference center, an automated transit system, and renovations and updates to existing facilities.

The plan was released Sept. 30 and is available for public viewing.

“The university’s Campus Plan 2050 reflects our dedication to not only meeting today’s challenges, but also investing wisely in the necessities and opportunities of tomorrow,” said President Santa J. Ono.

“By aligning with Vision 2034, it positions the University of Michigan to achieve its vision of connecting and collaborating more deeply, of impacting the greatest challenges facing humanity and becoming the defining public university.”

Campus Plan 2050 and Vision 2034 — the university’s recently launched strategic vision — create a unique moment in the history of the University of Michigan. Both are first of their kind at U-M in terms of scope and how they work in tandem.

“This plan is designed to provide the university with the infrastructure it will need to achieve Vision 2034,” said Geoff Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“By strategically aligning our financial resources with our priorities and mission, we have created an inspiring guide for the physical campus that will create dynamic opportunities for research and education in the years to come. We are excited to get started.”

At the core of Campus Plan 2050 is a commitment to sustainability. The initiative proposes innovative infrastructure solutions, including geo-exchange systems designed for efficient heating and cooling through ground-source heat pumps, as well as extensive building retrofits that enhance energy efficiency and sustainability, and efficiency upgrades to the transit system.

Developed through a yearlong process of campus engagement, Campus Plan 2050 reflects the diverse ideas and aspirations of the university community. The plan emphasizes a forward-thinking approach, identifying both near-term projects and potential sites for future expansion.

Highlights include:

A new and revitalized academic ecosystem

A new, dynamic, mixed-use district on North Campus would bring together academic units, startups, and industry and government partnerships in a vibrant ecosystem that could spur interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research and the translation of research applications.

This initiative also includes extensive upgrades to existing academic facilities, integrating them with state-of-the-art technology and sustainable infrastructure to meet modern standards of excellence.

By evolving U-M’s spaces to meet the diverse needs of its community, Campus Plan 2050 ensures that U-M remains a global leader in life-changing education and groundbreaking research.

Carbon neutrality, geo-exchange and solar energy

The plan would integrate geo-exchange heating and cooling systems with ground-source heat pumps throughout the campus, in alignment with universitywide efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.

Additionally, the plan includes on-campus solar installations throughout the university, and incorporates ongoing efforts to install approximately 20 megawatts of solar-energy capacity on the Ann Arbor campus.

Hotel and conference center

A new on-campus hotel and conference center is envisioned as a venue for major national research and academic events, enhancing U-M’s role as a hub for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Located on near the North Campus Innovation District, it would add to the vibrancy of the mixed-use area.

Optimized transit network

This transportation concept features an automated transit system on an elevated guideway that would connect the North, Medical and Central campuses.

Together with a high-efficiency, high-capacity bus rapid transit system, the network would connect all five Ann Arbor campuses, including East Medical and the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus. These changes would reduce congestion and support the university’s carbon neutrality goals.

Athletics

Among potential changes at the Ross Athletic Campus is a pedestrian bridge that would bring fans across the railroad tracks from Ferry Field to Michigan Stadium. This pathway would lead to a new dedicated TV fan zone and lawn east of the stadium.

Housing

Ongoing efforts to expand on-campus housing include the Central Campus Residential Development currently under construction, with plans for further phases to accommodate the growing student body. Other housing options are possible as well.

Campus Plan 2050 is designed to evolve, providing a flexible framework to incorporate new ideas and technologies as they emerge. While it offers a coordinated planning view of the next 25 years, each individual project will undergo thorough evaluation to ensure alignment with the university’s strategic priorities.

The initiative aligns closely with Vision 2034, the university’s 10-year plan focused on transformative impact in key areas: Life-Changing Education, Human Health and Well-Being, Democracy, Civic and Global Engagement, and Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice.

“As we look to the future, Campus Plan 2050 carefully considers new opportunities to enhance our academic environment,” said Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “This plan will fortify our commitment to life-changing education and interdisciplinary collaboration, helping us remain at the forefront of academic excellence and social impact.”

Ono launched Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050 soon after his arrival in October 2022. The initiatives were led by U-M’s executive vice presidents, Marschall Runge, McCauley and Chatas.

“Campus Plan 2050 paves the way for remarkable advancements in our medical enterprise, fostering cutting-edge research and clinical excellence,” said Runge, executive vice president for medical affairs, dean of the Medical School and chief executive officer of Michigan Medicine.

“By enhancing our facilities and integrating innovative transit solutions, this plan supports our mission to improve human health and wellbeing on a global scale.”

The University of Michigan continues to be the largest and most sought-after public research institution in the state, with record total enrollment this fall of 52,855 students.

Total enrollment increased 1.5% from 2023, with undergraduate enrollment up 2%, from 33,730 undergraduate students last year to 34,454 students this year. The incoming class decreased slightly to 8,858 students, from 8,880 in 2023, and includes a 2% increase in the number of students from within the state of Michigan.

“U-M is recognized around the world for the exceptional educational value provided on campus, and our fall 2024 enrollment record continues to demonstrate that,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management. “Students from diverse backgrounds and experiences find a vibrant campus community at U-M in which they can learn and grow.”

Ph.D.-student enrollment rose 1.5% this fall to 5,825 from 5,742 last year. The university saw a small decline in the number of incoming Ph.D. students this fall, following a 32% increase the previous year. Overall graduate and professional school enrollment increased slightly to 18,401 this year, from 18,335 in 2023.

“Our continuing strong enrollment trends for graduate education at the university represent evidence that students perceive the value of these degrees,” said Mike Solomon, vice provost for academic affairs – graduate studies and dean of Rackham Graduate School. “The breadth of graduate and professional training at Michigan provides a tremendous range of opportunity for our graduates to contribute to society through rewarding careers.”

Interest in the university from undergraduate first-year and transfer students continues to grow annually with a record 105,142 applicants. First-year applicants totaled 98,310, up 12% from 87,632 in 2023 and up 51% from 2020. This increase mirrors that for transfer students, with applicants totaling 6,832 this year, which is also up 12% from last year and 51% from 2020.

A look at the fall 2024 incoming undergraduate class

Erica Sanders, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of undergraduate admissions, said students and families recognize that U-M is a place where students will learn and grow to pursue their passions.

“Throughout the recruitment process, we strive to encourage students from all backgrounds, throughout Michigan and around the globe, to consider what an education from the university will mean to their future,” Sanders said. “Our efforts include providing opportunities for students through in-person and virtual experiences to interact with students, faculty, staff and alumni, so they can truly picture themselves as a Michigan student.”

Camryn Pederson, a first-year engineering student from Garden, a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, said she fell in love with U-M during a campus tour in her junior year of high school. “After that tour, I knew the University of Michigan was where I wanted to go to school,” she said.

Her tour experience, coupled with the fact that U-M has “amazing academics, is in a great area, has outstanding campus resources and daily events, and is only six hours away from home,” ultimately made Pederson thrilled to be on campus this fall.

The 8,858 students in U-M’s incoming class include 52% from the state of Michigan, as well as students from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, five territories and 62 countries.

The class continues to help diversify the campus community, with 43% identifying as students of color. That includes those who are Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino/a, American Indian or Alaska native, native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, multiethnic and those who indicated two or more races or ethnicities.

The incoming class also saw a 13% increase in the number of Black or African American students — from 475 in 2023 to 537 this year — and an 87% increase since 2020. While the number of Hispanic or Latino/a students decreased 1% from 1,196 in 2023 to 1,181 this fall, there has been a 134% increase since 2020.

“Since the passage of Proposal 2 in 2006 restricting the use of race- and gender-conscious approaches in admissions, U-M has steadfastly been working within a race-neutral framework to attract, recruit and enroll talented students from all backgrounds,” Brumfield said. “We are proud of the strides that we have made, however there is still more work to be done.”

U-M’s continued focus on affordability

The university continues to prioritize the importance of being accessible and affordable to students through its commitment to financial aid.

U-M annually distributes more than $1.37 billion in institutional, federal and state aid, and is committed to meeting full demonstrated need for in-state students. This fall, preliminary data shows that more than $497.5 million in financial aid — including federal, state, institutional and private funds — was disbursed to more than 30,700 undergraduate and graduate students. Additional aid will be disbursed to students throughout the year.

“When Free Application for Federal Student Aid delays threatened the timeline for sharing financial aid packages with admitted undergraduate students, we pivoted to using CSS Profile data to develop packages, recognizing how important this information is to students as they evaluate their college options,” said Tammie L. Durham Luis, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid.

“The university commits generous resources to our students so they can be successful throughout their time on campus and after they graduate.”

The Go Blue Guarantee, U-M’s signature campaign to support in-state students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds, annually supports more than 4,200 undergraduate students. Last year, it was expanded to include students from families with assets and incomes of $75,000 or less.

The university is also focusing on reducing student loan debt, which has decreased on average more than $11,600 per borrower for in-state students and $8,800 per borrower for out-of-state students over the last 10 years, when adjusted for inflation.

U-M’s final enrollment data is based on data from the Sept. 16 fall census date.

The University of Michigan continues to invest in infrastructure and building construction and remodeling across campus and beyond. Here is a look at major projects underway as U-M starts the 2024-25 academic year.

More information can be found at umaec.umich.edu/projects/major-projects/.

The U.S. News & World Report has finalized its 2024 Graduate School rankings for medicine, law and engineering following an earlier release of the 2024 rankings.

The College of Engineering was ranked No. 9 on the list of best engineering graduate schools.

Some other potentially noteworthy College of Engineering rankings in the top 5 were:

• Nuclear engineering (1).
• Industrial/systems engineering (2).
• Environmental engineering (2).
• Civil engineering (5).

Like many other peers, U-M’s law and medical schools did not participate in the U.S. News data collection for the 2024 or upcoming 2025 editions.

For the 2024 edition, more than 50 of the nearly 200 institutions did not participate in the statistical survey for law school rankings, although all schools were still ranked, with U-M’s Law School ranked No. 9. Ninety-two of the 196 institutions, including the U-M Medical School, did not participate in the statistical survey for medical school rankings and were therefore unranked.

The April 9 release of the graduate program rankings did not include engineering, medicine, law or clinical psychology programs, with the publication stating it was delaying the release of that information so it could “appropriately address queries from participating graduate schools.” The clinical psychology rankings are now expected next year.

Here’s a snapshot of U-M’s rankings that are part of this year’s announcement:

• The School of Social Work ranked No. 1.
• The College of Pharmacy ranked No. 2.
• The Marsal Family School of Education ranked No. 3.
• The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy ranked No. 4.
• The School of Public Health ranked No. 5.
• The School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 8, and its master’s degree program ranked No. 7.
• The Stephen M. Ross School of Business ranked No. 12.

University of Michigan Health’s Ann Arbor-area hospitals and health centers rank among the nation’s best hospitals in more specialties than any other Michigan hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Rankings for 2024-25.

U-M Health in Ann Arbor was recognized as a top organization among the more than 4,500 hospitals evaluated and as No. 1 in Michigan, tied with Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak.

U-M Health is the clinical division of Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center. The overall U-M Health system includes the Ann Arbor-area hospitals and health centers as well as two other groups, UM Health-Sparrow and UM Health-West.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among the best in the country for innovation and exceptional patient care,” said David Miller, president of the U-M Health System and executive vice dean for clinical affairs for the Medical School.

“We are fortunate to have top providers in so many fields and thank them for their hard work. We appreciate the recognition from U.S. News & World Report, but we work for our patients, not for the accolades. We are so proud of the care our teams deliver.”

U.S. News ranked nine U-M Health specialties as top in the state, and three more in the top 10 nationwide.

“These results reflect a commitment to providing the best care for every patient,” said Marschall S. Runge, dean of the Medical School, CEO of Michigan Medicine and executive vice president of medical affairs.

“Our teams are among the very best in their fields and are dedicated to providing the high-quality care our patients expect and deserve.”

U-M Health is ranked No. 8 in the country for ophthalmology; No. 8 for ear, nose & throat; and No. 10 for rheumatology.

U.S. News & World Report also evaluates performance regarding a number of specific procedures and conditions. They rated U-M Health in Ann Arbor “high performing” in 18 procedures and conditions, UM Health-Sparrow as “high performing” in four, and UM Health-West as “high performing” in three.

University of Michigan Health’s Ann Arbor-area hospitals and health centers have received the top ranking of five stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for quality, safety, timeliness and value.

This is the sixth consecutive time that U-M Health patient care has earned this highest-possible rating from the federal agency. The newly released ratings show that only 380 other hospitals nationwide achieved this distinction, out of 2,847 that were eligible.

The CMS rating uses 46 different types of data about the quality, safety, timeliness and value of care for adults, and ratings from patients themselves, based on surveys sent to them after they received care.

U-M Health is the clinical division of Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center. The new five-star rating applies to the hospitals and health centers on Michigan Medicine’s main medical campus, along with ambulatory care locations in southeastern Michigan.

In addition, three hospitals in U-M Health’s statewide network earned separate five-star rankings. Only 14 of the 149 hospitals in Michigan received a five-star rating.

“Thanks to the hard work, skill, caring, teamwork and ingenuity of our entire team, we have once again earned a spot at the pinnacle of these national ratings,” said Marschall S. Runge, dean of the Medical School, CEO of Michigan Medicine and executive vice president of medical affairs.

Thousands of patients voiced their favorable opinions of U-M care in the surveys used for the new rating.

Compared with other hospitals nationally or in Michigan, patients treated at U-M Health’s Ann Arbor-area facilities were far more likely to rate the location where they received care a 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, and to say they would recommend U-M Health to others.

Those same facilities also beat national and state averages on multiple measures of care, including death rates for heart failure and pneumonia patients, rates of potentially deadly health care-related infections, avoiding several types of unnecessary medical imaging, and more.

“While we are always committed to continuous improvement, achieving a five-star ranking so many times in a row shows our dedication to achieving ever-better results for our patients,” said David Miller, president of U-M Health and executive vice dean for clinical affairs at the Medical School.

Miller also noted that CMS recognized the value for the dollar of U-M care. The rating site shows that the cost of care for people with Medicare coverage who came to U-M Health’s Ann Arbor-area facilities was lower than the national index, as measured in “episodes” that include all costs from the start to the end of a hospital stay.

Three of the other hospitals in Michigan that received five stars are part of U-M Health-Sparrow, which is part of U-M Health’s statewide network. They are Sparrow Carson, Sparrow Clinton and Sparrow Ionia hospitals.

In addition to the health care facilities that are part of U-M Health, U-M physicians lead a large proportion of inpatient care at two of the others that received five stars: the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and U-M Health affiliate Chelsea Hospital, which operates through a partnership with Trinity Health.

UM Health-West, also part of U-M Health’s statewide network, received four stars.

The new ratings are based on data through 2022. Each hospital or health system with a CMS facility number is eligible to be rated separately. All of the U-M Health hospitals and health centers on the main medical campus, along with ambulatory care sites around southeastern Michigan, operate under one CMS facility number.

The Michigan Legislature passed a 2024-25 general fund and education omnibus budget June 27, allocating a modest increase for the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus’ operations and significant investments in the university’s economic development and innovation efforts, as well as firearm injury prevention and safety.

The spending plan now goes to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and could be signed later this summer.

The FY ’25 budget totals $82.5 billion, including a general fund total of $15 billion and a school aid budget total of $19 billion. The $23.4 billion higher education budget includes a 1.5% ongoing and a 1% one-time increase for university and community college operations.

“This budget reflects a continued advance in higher education funding,” said Chris Kolb, vice president for government relations. “An increase in our core funding, coupled with additional targeted investments, help to bolster the University of Michigan’s efforts in key areas such as firearm injury prevention and economic development. Increased investment in financial aid also makes a U-M degree more accessible to more of our state’s students.

“These funds enhance our research capabilities and will drive innovation and economic growth across our state. We look forward to continuing our partnership with state leaders to provide greater opportunity for our students, advance scientific research and create a more prosperous and safer future for all Michiganders.”

Under the spending plan, the Ann Arbor campus will receive a total appropriation of $365.6 million, a 2.6% increase from last year. UM-Dearborn will receive $32 million or 2.6% increase. UM-Flint will receive $26.9 million or a 2.1% increase.

The full appropriations are contingent on in-state undergraduate tuition increases of no more than 4.5% or $703, whichever is greater. Tuition increases for 2024-25 on all three campuses are below that level.

The Michigan Legislature also agreed to allocate an additional $30 million to increase funding for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, the state’s flagship scholarship program, providing a pathway to community college, tuition guaranteed.

Changes to the MAS are significant for public universities, as students will now be able to apply the scholarship to the full cost of attendance, not just tuition and fees.

U-M will likely see a 42% increase in MAS awards, rising from $5.8 million to $8.3 million per cohort, culminating in $16.6 million in total awards across two eligible cohorts of students.

The increase would bring total funding for the scholarship program to $300 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention

Furthering the state’s efforts to enact common sense gun-violence-prevention laws and to quell gun violence, $5.5 million is allocated in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services budget to U-M’s Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention.

Since its inception, the institute has served as a resource for the state — sharing information and resources on new laws, providing training and technical assistance on effective policy implementation and conducting evaluations to ensure the state’s laws are having the intended effect of reducing firearm injury and death in Michigan.

The funds for IFIP will support community program training and technical assistance efforts, data collection about fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries in the state, as well as the infrastructure support of the state’s new safe gun storage laws and Red Flag laws — which allow law enforcement and loved ones to petition a court to temporarily prevent someone from accessing guns if they are at an elevated risk of harming themselves or others.

“Firearm violence is a critical public health issue as demonstrated by the recent surgeon general’s report and Gov. Whitmer’s newly announced state task force to address the ongoing crisis,” said Patrick Carter, IFIP co-director.

“As an academic community, we have a responsibility to use our expertise to help address society’s most pressing challenges, and we are only able to carry out such efforts through the support of our partners, like the state of Michigan. We are grateful for this funding as it will help our teams to better support the implementation of evidence-based solutions across Michigan, ultimately preventing injury and saving lives.”

Additional U-M support

To support Michigan-based start-ups and innovation, the spending plan allotted $60 million to the Michigan Innovation Fund, which will provide incentives to nonprofit organizations that manage evergreen venture funds investing in early-stage startup companies operating in the state that are commercializing competitive edge technologies.

As part of the Michigan Innovation Fund, an allocation of approximately $10 million is expected to go toward the Accelerate Blue Fund, which invests in startups that have a license to commercialize U-M technologies and is managed by Innovation Partnerships.

“By investing in Michigan-grown companies, we look forward to seeing positive economic impacts as these startups complete key business milestones and accelerate their growth,” said Kelly Sexton, U-M associate vice president for research – innovation partnerships and economic impact.

Survival Flight, Michigan Medicine’s critical care transport program that provides rapid and safe transport of critically ill and injured patients, was also allocated $5 million.

Michigan Medicine is projecting positive 2024 fiscal year-end results for its clinical operations, with an anticipated 2.9% — or $226.5 million — operating margin on forecasted operating revenues of $7.9 billion.

The results reflect performance from University of Michigan Health, the organization’s clinical branch that includes 11 hospitals, hundreds of clinics statewide, and the U-M Medical Group, UM Health-West and UM Health-Sparrow.

David C. Miller, president of U-M Health and executive vice dean for clinical affairs at the Medical School, presented the projected results for the fiscal year that ends June 30, along with the FY ’25 plan, to the Board of Regents on June 20.

“In fiscal year 2024, we maintained our focus on our BASE priorities — Belonging & Inclusion, Access, Safety & Quality, and Experience for our patients and team members — while also building the foundations for a statewide network that supports integrated, cost effective and high-quality health care services for the patients and communities we serve across Michigan,” Miller said.

The FY ’24 financial performance allows for continual investments in faculty and staff, and capital improvements including the construction of a new hospital — The D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion — that is scheduled to open in fall 2025, a new Ypsilanti Health Center set to open later this year, and an innovative program providing patients with hospital level care at home.

Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, dean of the Medical School and executive vice president for medical affairs, expressed gratitude to Michigan Medicine employees who made the solid financial performance possible.

“The work of our collective teams allows us to provide life-changing, patient-centered care every day. We are grateful for their dedication,” Runge said. “The skills, expertise and commitment of our employees will allow us to manage nearly 90,000 discharges and more than 4 million outpatient encounters in FY ’25 at over 200 care locations.”

Regents also approved a budget that sets financial performance targets for Michigan Medicine’s clinical operations for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The FY ’25 plan aims for a 1.7% operating margin.

U-M Health will “strengthen its clinical enterprise for both today and tomorrow by continuing to invest in our teams, improving access and experience at our academic medical center, promoting and supporting continued innovation, and advancing clinical integration across our statewide network, with an emphasis on providing the right care in the right place at the right time,” Miller said.

“As we grow, maintaining the highest quality of care across UM Health will always be our top priority.”

The University of Michigan will invest in key priorities identified in its Vision 2034 strategic vision while continuing to make a U-M education affordable for students, under the 2024-25 fiscal year budget that the Board of Regents approved June 20.

U-M’s new general fund budget of $2.9 billion for the Ann Arbor campus will support the four Vision 2034 impact areas: life-changing education; health and well-being; democracy, civic and global engagement; and climate action, sustainability and environmental justice.

While the budget includes tuition and fee increases, it also provides more than $390 million in financial support to maintain an effective zero increase in tuition costs for the typical in-state undergraduate student with need.

“We are at an inflection point for our campus and for higher education. With the launch of Vision 2034, we are building on our 200-year legacy of leadership and impact, and advancing what makes us the University of Michigan,” Provost Laurie McCauley said in her presentations to the regents.

“The fiscal year ’25 budget takes bold steps toward our vision while maintaining fiscal discipline, responsible stewardship of our resources, and our commitments to excellence, access and affordability.”

The budget for the Ann Arbor campus is part of a universitywide budget package that includes spending plans for Michigan Medicine, UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint, Athletics, Michigan Housing and supplemental student fees.

Regents approved the budget measure on a 7-1 vote, with Regents Jordan Acker, Michael Behm, Paul Brown, Sarah Hubbard, Denise Ilitch, Ronald Weiser and Katherine White voting to approve, and Regent Mark Bernstein opposed. All budgets take effect July 1.

Bernstein said his opposition stemmed from “my belief that our university has failed the vast majority of our Jewish students in addressing antisemitism on our campus.”

“Talk is cheap. We need to do better. And until then, the buck, at least for me, stops here,” he said.

Acker voiced similar misgivings, but voted in favor. “I am voting for this budget because to do otherwise would be to not give Michigan students the Go Blue Guarantee; the ability of middle class Michiganders to go to school tuition free. I’m voting for this budget because our campuses at Flint and Dearborn deserve the chance to educate their students in those communities,” he said.

During the discussion, Bernstein, Acker and President Santa J. Ono elaborated on their thoughts about recent campus tensions arising over the Israel-Hamas war. (See related story.)

Addressing the budget, White noted she was “very impressed” with the university’s previous cost-containment strategies, and the more than $31 million in cost-containment efforts in this budget. “These efforts ensure that we can operate efficiently, keeping tuition as low as possible,” she said.

Behm noted that 63% of undergraduates receive financial aid, and 31% of U-M’s resident undergraduates pay no tuition. “Of those 63% of our resident undergrads who receive aid, it’s really important to understand that they will not pay any increase in tuition. And that’s one of the things I’m most proud of in this budget,” he said.

Regent Paul Brown said, “This is a great budget, and I will vote for it because it is so, and because we have gotten assurances from the administration that they will do better on those issues cited … by my colleague, Regent Bernstein.”

Tuition and fees

The in-state “sticker price” tuition for undergraduates in Ann Arbor, along with fees, will increase by $508 per year — 2.9% — for an annual rate of $17,736. Tuition and fees for nonresident undergraduate students will increase by $2,874 per year — 4.9% — for an annual rate of $60,946.

The University Health Service fee will increase by 3.9%. This fee is a required component of tuition and supports increasing staff and operational costs.

Tuition and fees are based on full-time enrollment, defined as 12-18 credit hours per term for undergraduate students.

Most graduate programs will see a 4.9% increase in tuition and fees.

Housing rates will increase by 6% — $831 per year— for an annual rate of $14,687 as part of a 10-year plan to enhance the student experience, address maintenance needs and increase capacity and availability of housing.

Financial aid

“Our ambitious vision for the university includes ensuring that our world-class education remains accessible for all Michigan families, regardless of financial means,” McCauley said.

“The average cost for a family with an income of $120,000 or less is lower than it was a decade ago, after adjusting for inflation.”

When it comes to affordability, U-M first-year students receive the second-highest average institutional grant and scholarship amount among Association of American Universities public institutions, according to data reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Among undergraduates from Michigan, 63% receive financial aid. One in three students — more than 5,000 — will pay no tuition through efforts such as the Go Blue Guarantee, a national model for tuition-guarantee programs that provides free tuition for eligible in‐state undergraduate students with a family income up to $75,000 and family assets less than $75,000.

State support

The FY ’25 budget estimates a 2.5% increase in state funding — which makes up 13% of U-M’s general fund budget — and helps the university to meet its mandatory and inflationary cost increases. The university expects the state budget to be passed later this summer.

Cost containment

Since 2005, the university has reduced general fund costs by more than $550 million, an amount that is approximately 20% of U-M’s total general fund budget.

The new budget includes more than $31 million in cost-containment strategies, such as savings through procurement and travel policy changes, realigning information technology services departments, and other unit adjustments to operations.

The cost reduction allows the university to invest in key priorities like the Vision 2034 impact areas while limiting tuition increases, McCauley said.

Supporting Vision 2034

Highlights of general fund investments to support Vision 2034 include initiatives such as the Learning, Equity, and Problem Solving for the Public Good program at the Marsal Family School of Education’s Marygrove campus, and the U-M Center for Innovation, both of which will further extend undergraduate and graduate programming to southeast Michigan.

U-M will maintain strategies for attracting and retaining faculty and staff with merit programs of approximately 3.5% and additional allocations to employee benefits.

Additional investments in wellness and mental health, recreational and adaptive sports, and public safety on campus will build on existing programs to assure health and well-being for U-M students, faculty and staff.

The new budget will create opportunities for learning, engagement and dialogue to foster a more equitable and civically engaged world through support for anti-bias-focused training and outreach, the recently launched Raoul Wallenberg Institute, the UMICH Votes Coalition, and expanded international partnerships. It also will accelerate U-M’s progress as a leader in sustainability through education, research and practice by advancing efforts to become a carbon-neutral university by 2040.

Other key initiatives include the Climate Futures Lab and the Detroit-based Sustainability Clinic, which will advance creative architectural and urban planning practices to promote climate action and resilience.

The University of Michigan has maintained its place as one of three public universities to make the top 15 U.S. institutions in the QS World University Rankings 2025 edition released June 4.

U-M ranked 44th overall among 1,503 universities across the globe, and 15th among 197 institutions in the United States. The University of California, Berkeley was sixth and the University of California, Los Angeles was 13th among U.S. institutions.

The rankings are based on nine factors:

• Academic reputation (30%)
• Employer reputation (15%)
• Employability (5%)
• Faculty-student ratio (10%)
• Citations per faculty (20%)
• Proportion of international faculty (5%)
• Proportion of international students (5%)
• International research collaboration (5%)
• Sustainability (5%)

Among those categories, U-M scored highest for its academic excellence followed by the richness and diversity of its international research partnerships and the employability of its graduates.

University exploring opportunities to optimize mobility, connectivity

The University of Michigan is revisiting a Campus Connector transportation concept that would enable people to move between the Central, Medical and North campuses in minutes.

As an initial step, U-M will convene a virtual Industry Day on June 6, where prospective vendors will receive an overview of the project’s goals, scope and requirements.

The university expects to launch a corresponding request for qualifications this summer, inviting potential partners to submit information for the design, construction and long-term operation of the system.

“We’re embarking on a formal process to optimize our university transit network and create a more connected, more cohesive Ann Arbor campus,” said Geoff Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“As our university community grows, so does the need for a more efficient transportation network. Though we’ve explored the Campus Connector previously, we’re excited to relaunch this initiative, collaborate with surrounding communities and examine ways to build a system that would be fast, convenient, environmentally sustainable and equitable.”

The Campus Connector concept would include a core automated transit system, which serves select hubs via an elevated guideway, as well as a corresponding high-efficiency, high-capacity bus rapid transit system.

Because the automated transit system would not share roadways or otherwise impede regular vehicular traffic, organizers expect the project to decrease local traffic congestion. It also is anticipated to decrease parking demand and increase local economic development opportunities, as it would connect relatively less dense North Campus stations to the Medical and Central campuses.

In addition to providing quicker and more convenient cross-campus transportation, the Connector would aim to complement universitywide work toward carbon neutrality and serve as a model for sustainable mobility.

Although the Connector would increase the university’s energy demand, it would decrease commuting-related greenhouse gas emissions. As U-M seeks to procure 100% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources, the transit system ultimately would derive its energy entirely from renewables.

Concurrently, U-M continues to acquire battery-powered electric buses as it works to electrify its vehicle fleet. Carbon neutrality, climate action and environmental justice are core values in multiple universitywide initiatives, including Vision 2034, Campus Plan 2050 and the Connector project.

U-M has been actively exploring the Campus Connector concept for several years in collaboration with the city of Ann Arbor and various local and regional stakeholders.

The project recently has moved forward alongside Campus Plan 2050, a long-term effort to explore how the Ann Arbor campus should be designed to support the university’s mission, and Vision 2034, which seeks to define what U-M wants to accomplish and how it will evolve over the next 10 years.

The university will share additional information regarding potential technologies, routes and funding sources for the Campus Connector as the project progresses.

The University of Michigan is moving ahead with plans to construct on-campus solar power installations with a capacity of 25 megawatts across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, including Michigan Medicine and Athletics.

The Board of Regents voted May 16 to hire Radial Power, a Houston-based distributed energy and sustainability solutions firm, to design and build the installations. The action follows a February 2023 call for proposals to build large-scale solar projects across all U-M campuses.

“On-campus solar is a tremendous opportunity for the university,” said Geoff Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“We look forward to collaborating with Radial Power and our community partners to build innovative installations that will reduce our operational greenhouse gas emissions, spur sustainable business practices, and provide a powerful symbol of our commitment to climate action.”

The total amount of electricity generated would equal the power consumed by approximately 3,000 homes annually. U-M is pursuing installations totaling approximately 20 megawatts on the Ann Arbor campus and 5 megawatts between the Dearborn and Flint campuses.

Project locations have yet to be determined, although the university will prioritize large rooftops, existing parking decks and parking lots, and will consider ground-mounted arrays.

“These installations will visibly demonstrate our ongoing transition to renewable power and our commitment to ensuring meaningful community benefits, both on and off campus,” said Shana S. Weber, associate vice president for campus sustainability.

“This is one way the University of Michigan serves as a living and learning laboratory for our students, for higher education, for Michigan and for the broader region.”

Installations will be phased in over three years. Once operational, they will help move U-M toward its goal of eliminating direct campus greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

Radial Power was chosen from 16 firms that responded to the university’s initial call for proposals. In addition to emissions-reduction benefits, Radial will prioritize opportunities to facilitate living-learning laboratory opportunities for the U-M campus community. The firm also will donate 10% of the effort’s proceeds to solar projects in surrounding communities, with relevant partners to be identified.

The contract is estimated to cost approximately $70 million, excluding potential expenses related to building modifications needed before installation.

U-M’s on-campus solar push is one strategy in its overarching commitment to achieve universitywide carbon neutrality by 2040. Carbon neutrality, climate action and environmental justice also are core components of ongoing central Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050 efforts.

A full rollout of plan is expected this fall

Following a year of campus engagement to discuss ideas for the future of the Ann Arbor campus, and the conclusion of work on the Vision 2034 strategic vision, a high-level, preliminary draft preview of Campus Plan 2050 is now available.

Organizers will continue to develop the plan before its formal release in the fall.

The preview, which can be found on the Campus Plan 2050 website, consists of a series of framework and systems plans outlining greenspace, mobility enhancements and potential locations for future facilities, among other features.

“Campus Plan 2050 will help enable us to make Vision 2034 possible. It is exciting to be able to share some of the initial draft planning recommendations now, in advance of a more comprehensive report in early fall,” said Sue Gott, associate director for planning and communication and a key coordinator for the campus planning.

“We are fortunate to have had such tremendous input from the campus community to help formulate these ideas.”

While the campus plan addresses near-term development opportunities, it also outlines a long-term vision of possibilities for the Ann Arbor campus through a 25-year framework. Development zones and areas indicate various locations where a range of projects are possible. The university plans to determine specific projects for these zones as needs evolve.

Campus Plan 2050 highlights include:

Academic mission

To enhance U-M’s academic mission, an Innovation District would provide a mixed-use region on North Campus, with a focus on research for a diverse array of academic units, and space for interdisciplinary research, startups, industry and governmental partners, retail and other amenities.

New projects for updating and creating facilities also will be identified and explored as the needs of U-M schools and colleges change in the continued pursuit of life-changing education for U-M students.

Geo-exchange and solar

Expanding the use of geo-exchange and solar power will help U-M meet its carbon neutrality goals. Geo-exchange uses the steady temperature of Earth’s subsurface to heat and cool buildings with ground-source heat pumps.

Three campus geo-exchange projects are underway and many more could be developed, along with a greater number of solar-power installations.

Hotel and conference center

An on-campus hotel and conference center would provide a dedicated venue — potentially located on North Campus — where U-M could provide a space for academic convening and hosting major national conferences and other large events.

Optimized transit network

In anticipation of continued university growth, and building on continued efforts to improve campus connectivity, U-M is exploring a transportation concept that will feature a high-efficiency, high-capacity rapid transit bus system and an automated transit system on an elevated guideway.

The network would aim to ensure a more cohesive Ann Arbor campus, improve campus mobility, reduce congestion, and advance carbon neutrality and sustainability efforts. The university expects to share updates on process, technologies and timelines in the coming weeks.

Student housing

The university will continue its effort to increase on-campus housing, including the Central Campus Housing Development currently under construction, with a potential second phase planned.

Campus Plan 2050 is a presidential initiative that is carefully designed to align with Vision 2034, U-M’s recently launched 10-year strategic vision that focuses on four impact areas: Life-Changing Education; Human Health and Well-Being; Democracy, Civic and Global Engagement; and Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice.

The yearlong planning process for Campus Plan 2050 included active participation of U-M students, faculty, staff, alumni and other partners.

“The draft plan provides a framework for aligning our objectives for campus planning with the aspirations outlined in Vision 2034 and gives us a long-term roadmap for the future of the Ann Arbor campus,” said Christopher Culley, the other key coordinator for the campus planning effort and associate vice president for planning and strategic initiatives in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

“The draft presented today reflects a work in progress. Further development of the plan will be completed this summer, and a final plan will be presented to the campus community at the beginning of the fall semester. It will lay the foundation for many exciting changes in the years to come.”

With more than 105,000 applicants, the University of Michigan again set a record for application volume, with a growing number of prospective first-year and transfer students looking to enroll for the fall 2024 term.

The university continues to be a top choice for prospective first-year students, with more than 98,400 applying for the fall term, up 12% from the nearly 88,000 applications for fall 2023.

“Students and families from Michigan and around the world understand the profound impact and value of a University of Michigan education,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management.

“Our exceptional faculty, cutting-edge facilities and technologies designed to enhance the educational experience, and vibrant campus environment are just a few of the numerous factors driving the increasing interest in our university from high-achieving students.”

Contributing to the overall application growth were increased applications from first-generation students (+14%), in-state (+3%), out-of-state domestic (+14%), students of color (+15%), international students (+12%) and students from self-reported low-income backgrounds (+17%).

The admissions office also saw nearly 6,675 transfer-student applicants, also up 12% from last year. Transfer applications increased in several categories, including out-of-state (+20%), first-generation (+10%), students from self-reported low-income backgrounds (+7%) and students of color (+23%).

The majority of admissions decisions for first-year and transfer students have been released. Students offered admission to U-M have until May 1 to accept.

“Our aim is to attract and develop a dynamic and diverse incoming undergraduate class by showcasing the rich array of academic and extracurricular opportunities at U-M and by highlighting the impact a U-M education can have on future achievements,” said Erica L. Sanders, assistant vice provost and executive director of undergraduate admissions.

During the rest of April, the admissions team will host events in collaboration with campus partners, on campus, throughout the state of Michigan, around the country and world. The programs serve to provide additional details to admitted students and families, answer questions and encourage the students to accept their U-M offer.

With the ongoing challenges and delays associated with the FAFSA Simplification Act, the university decided to use information available in the CSS Profile to provide estimated financial aid packages to incoming students, rather than wait until FAFSA data was available.

The CSS Profile is a supplemental financial aid application used by U-M and other colleges. Students who were admitted and submitted the CSS Profile received their estimated financial aid package within two weeks of receiving their admission decision, so they have a picture of the financial support available to them. Students will still need to submit a FAFSA to ensure they are receiving the federal financial aid for which they qualify.

“This has been a challenging year for families as they have navigated the changes related to the FAFSA Simplification Act. We continue to work with students and families to ensure that they are aware of the range of financial aid opportunities available to them as they navigate their academic choices,” said Tammie L. Durham Luis, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid.

More detailed enrollment numbers will be available after the official student count in the third week of classes in the fall.

The fall semester begins Aug. 26 on the Ann Arbor campus.

The University of Michigan remains one of the premier universities in the country for graduate education, according to the 2024-25 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools.

The rankings were released April 9.

Every year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs in six areas: business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing. It also periodically ranks programs in the sciences, social sciences and humanities, health and other areas.

Here’s a snapshot of U-M’s rankings that are part of this year’s announcement:

• The Marsal Family School of Education ranked No. 3.
• The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy ranked No. 4.
• The College of Pharmacy ranked No. 2.
• The School of Public Health ranked No. 5.
• The Stephen M. Ross School of Business ranked No. 12.
• The School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 8, and its master’s degree program ranked No. 7.

The rankings do not include engineering or clinical psychology programs. U.S. News & World Report announced it was delaying the release of that information this year so it could “appropriately address queries from participating graduate schools.”

In addition, U-M’s law and medical schools no longer participate in the U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings.

According to U.S. News, the rankings for the six main discipline areas are based on expert opinions about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students.

U-M officials said they are pleased that the university continues to be recognized as a leader in graduate education. They also noted that while U-M values the measurements of academic and research performance, rankings lists don’t consider all of the factors that contribute to the quality of an institution or program.

In addition to the overall program rankings, U-M received rankings in several specialty areas. Of those, two placed in the No. 1 spot: nuclear engineering and social policy.

The specialties at U-M that received rankings this year were:

Business (full-time MBA): accounting (4), management (2), marketing (3), production operations (3), international (9), finance (9), executive MBA (9), entrepreneurship (6) and supply chain (10).

For part-time MBA programs, the Stephen M. Ross School of Business ranked sixth, UM-Dearborn ranked 110 and UM-Flint ranked 143rd.

Computer science: artificial intelligence (11), programming language (16), systems (7) and theory (15).

Education: curriculum and instruction (3), educational administration (9), education policy (5), education psychology (2), elementary teacher education (3), higher education administration (2) and secondary teacher education (2).

Nursing: Master’s Nurse Practitioner – family (6), Master’s Nurse Practitioner – adult gerontology/primary care (8), midwifery (6), Master’s Nurse Practitioner – adult gerontology/acute care (7), Doctor of Nursing Practice – family (6), Doctor of Nursing Practice – adult gerontology/primary care (3).

Public affairs: environmental policy and management (5), health policy and management (2), public policy analysis (2) and social policy (1).

Public health: environmental health science (6), epidemiology (5), health policy and management (3), social behavior (6) and biostatistics (4).

In addition to the rankings noted above, UM-Flint ranked No. 126 in occupational therapy, No. 92 in physical therapy, and No. 61 in nursing anesthesia.

After a year of gathering input from the campus community, the University of Michigan has released its strategic vision for the next 10 years and has pledged to be the defining public university, “boldly exemplified by our innovation and service to the common good.”

Vision 2034 — detailed in an initial 43-page report — calls upon the university to leverage its interdisciplinarity and excellence at scale to educate learners, advance society and make groundbreaking discoveries to impact the greatest challenges facing humanity.

“Together, we have created a new vision that will open horizons and opportunities while drawing on our ethos, our tremendous strengths and our exceptional capabilities as a university,” President Santa J. Ono said in a video message announcing the vision.

The vision incorporates strategic planning efforts across the institution — including at UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint and Michigan Medicine — as well as other campuswide initiatives such as Culture Journey, DEI 2.0 and Campus Plan 2050.

The university will focus its efforts to make a significant impact in four key areas:

• Life-Changing Education.
• Human Health and Well-Being.
• Democracy, Civic and Global Engagement.
• Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice.

To support its vision, the university will make strategic investments in seven commitment areas:

• Purpose-Driven Education and Student Experience.
• Research, Scholarship, Discovery and Artificial Intelligence.
• Community Health Support, Prevention and Performance.
• Arts and Creative Expression.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Faculty and Staff Engagement and Experience.
• Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Development.

The university will celebrate each of the four impact areas with a yearlong series of events. The 2024-25 academic year will be dedicated to democracy and civic engagement.

The university’s vision is guided by its values and mission and reflects the aspirations of the U-M community.

“Our vision is not a strategic plan, but rather a guide for where we will focus our efforts over the next 10 years,” Ono said. “It is a first in our history and builds on our 200-year legacy of leadership and impact.”

In January 2023, Ono announced the university would engage the U-M community in a strategic vision process led by U-M’s three executive vice presidents — Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Geoffrey Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Marschall Runge, executive vice president for medical affairs, chief executive officer at Michigan Medicine and dean of the Medical School.

More than 25,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and local community members engaged in the yearlong vision planning effort.

Their input informed the impact and commitment areas including the set of guiding statements outlining aspirational goals for the university for each area.

The vision report points to current initiatives across the university as examples of the types of efforts that could be created or receive additional support.

Within the impact area of “life-changing education,” programs like Wolverine Pathways, which offers free college preparation to seventh- through 12th-grade students in Detroit, Southfield, Ypsilanti and Grand Rapids, and free online courses through the Center for Academic Innovation, which extends the reach of U-M courses to more than 11 million global learners, are helping to increase access to a U-M education.

For “human health and well-being,” the vision report noted the work of the Well-being Collective, a central hub for a systemwide approach to supporting student, faculty and staff well-being across campus and a national model for a health-promoting campus.

For “democracy, civic and global engagement,” the report singles out civic engagement efforts by UMich Votes — a non-partisan campus coalition whose mission is to improve the accessibility of voting — and Turn Up Turnout — a student organization with a presence on all three U-M campuses — which educate and encourage voting behaviors among students.

For “climate action, sustainability and environmental justice,” the report points to the Planet Blue Ambassador program that, with more than 9,000 students, faculty and staff, helps to advance sustainability through actions on and off campus and supports the university’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2040.

In addition, several projects underway will create facilities to support the vision in the near term. They include:

• The Hadley Family Recreation and Well-Being Center will offer world-class facilities for exercise, connection and wellness when it opens in the fall of 2025.
• The Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, a new hospital that will house a state-of-the-art neurosciences center, advanced imaging, and high-level, specialty care services for cardiovascular and thoracic patients, will open in the fall of 2025.
• The Central Campus residential complex will add 2,300 undergraduate beds and a 900-seat dining hall on Central Campus when it opens in the fall of 2026.
• The U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit, a cutting-edge research, education and entrepreneurship center designed to advance innovation, talent-focused community development and stimulate economic development in Detroit will open in the spring of 2027.

In unveiling the vision, Ono has called upon the community to embrace the vision and the work ahead. “We’ve established our vision. Let’s make it a reality. So, let’s look to Michigan, and let’s dare to achieve our dreams,” Ono said.

The full Vision 2034 report is available on the Vision 2034 website.

The Board of Regents has approved the schematic design for the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, a six-story building expected to open in spring 2027.

The lower floors of the building will contain public-facing programs while the upper floors will be dedicated mostly to graduate programs. The building broke ground in December and preliminary site work has been ongoing.

“The UMCI is a catalyst for positive change and, as such, presents itself along Grand River Avenue as a ‘Gateway for Innovation,'” said Hana Kassem, design principal for the architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox.

“It proudly bears the University of Michigan spirit focusing on progress and inclusivity which is embodied in its dynamic forward-leaning form and the portal that cuts through it, inviting access to all. Its transparent facade at street level engages the passerby, showcasing innovation, by putting making and research on display.”

The action at the regents’ March 28 meeting also authorized the university to proceed with construction, provided that bids are within the project’s $250 million budget.

The first two floors will house public programs, a cafe and shared office space for the U-M Detroit Center, Admissions Office, the School for Environment and Sustainability’s Sustainability Clinic and others, while levels three through six are planned for multidisciplinary graduate research.

Included within the building is shelled space that will provide flexibility and expansion opportunities in the future.

The project broke ground in December at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and West Columbia Street. Construction is scheduled to be completed in spring 2027.

The proposed 200,000-gross-square-foot building will be the first of three buildings to be constructed on the site. The other two buildings — an incubator space and a residential building — are to be constructed by a developer at a future date.

UMCI will be a world-class research, education and entrepreneurship center designed to advance innovation and talent-focused community development to propel city, region and statewide job creation and inclusive economic growth by stimulating economic development in Detroit.

Programming at the innovation center will offer a mixed-model approach that includes both master’s degree and workforce development programs that will focus on technology and innovation.

“UMCI will bring together the best of the University of Michigan to catalyze economic development in the city of Detroit,” said Provost Laurie McCauley. “It will house a robust portfolio of academic programs, including new interdisciplinary graduate degrees and certificate programs aligned to the skills of the future needed to attract startups as well as major employers to the region.

“UMCI will also host a multitude of community engagement activities for the residents of Detroit, ranging from K-12 programs like the Michigan Engineering Zone to the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project and many more.”

Last fall, the regents approved agreements related to land donation and purchases from Olympia Development, and a $100 million gift from donor Stephen M. Ross. The project also received a $100 million grant from the state of Michigan.

An additional $50 million will be raised from donors, said Geoffrey Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

The center, along with the P-20 Partnership at the School at Marygrove, the $40 million Rackham building renovation, the U-M Detroit Center, which opened in 2005 in Midtown, and hundreds of other projects U-M works on with community partners around the city, are examples of how the university has stepped up its community engagement in Detroit in recent years.

University of Michigan Health will purchase 7.28 acres of vacant land at the former Kmart headquarters in Troy, and plans to build a multi-specialty facility on the property to expand specialty clinical services and increase patient access to the Oakland County region.

The Board of Regents approved the purchase March 28.

U-M Health, Michigan Medicine’s clinical division, will buy the parcel at 3100 W. Big Beaver Road for $4.42 million from owner Forbes/Frankel Troy Ventures LLC.

“We are thrilled to announce our plans for a long-term presence and commitment to patients in Oakland County, in keeping with our efforts to create a statewide network of care that allows Michiganders the ability to receive our world-class care close to home,” said Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, dean of the Medical School, and executive vice president of medical affairs.

“We are planning development of a facility that focuses on advanced specialty and diagnostic services. This is a starting point for a broader and deeper U-M Health presence in southeast Michigan.”

“We believe this new investment will bring our U-M Health expertise to a whole new community of patients, providing easier access for metro Detroit residents to our nationally renowned clinical expertise and innovation,” said David Miller, president of U-M Health.

“We are excited to move into a prominent, easily accessible location in Troy, where we will continue to expand our presence. We expect this new facility will be a location for advanced and innovative clinical programs including multi-disciplinary cancer care.”

In alignment with Michigan Medicine’s commitment to sustainability, this building will follow university guidelines regarding Leadership in Energy and Environment Design to minimize negative environmental impacts.

This is among multiple U-M Health projects expected to increase patient access. Others include the 12-story D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, set to open in 2025 in Ann Arbor, and the Ypsilanti Health Center in downtown Ypsilanti, set to open in late 2024.

On its 10th Giving Blueday, the University of Michigan community rallied to give nearly $5.3 million to support students, research, medicine, the arts, athletics and more.

Gifts came from more than 11,500 donors across the U.S. and around the world, including alumni, students, faculty, staff, retirees and friends of the university, and were made to all three campuses and Michigan Medicine.

The university’s annual day of giving, which took place on March 13, was extended until noon the following day due to technical difficulties that may have prevented some donors from making a gift through the giving website.

Launched in 2014, Giving Blueday has received almost 100,000 donations totaling over $52 million in the last 10 years.

“The fact that we have been doing this for a decade now speaks volumes about the energy and passion of our community and its commitment to supporting all of the things that make Michigan the special place that it is. We’re grateful that people recognize the important work we are doing on our campuses and around the world,” said Tom Baird, vice president for development.

Nineteen different challenges were offered this year, such as the Cuteness Overload challenge and Raise the Bar challenge, providing supporters with opportunities to unlock additional funds for their causes. More than 140 student organizations raised funds on Giving Blueday as well, including the Engineering Global Leadership Honors Program, UM-Dearborn’s MASA, and UM-Flint’s Women’s Soccer.

The unit receiving the most gifts through the Giving Blueday website was LSA, while the student organization that received the most gifts was MRacing Formula SAE. Among student organizations and causes that won giving challenges throughout the day were Wolverine Pathways, Michigan Marching Band – Elbel Club, and Wolverine Support Network.

On Giving Blueday 2023, more than 11,200 donors gave more than $5.3 million to the university.

Enjoy these photos from the U-M football team’s national championship game Jan. 8, captured by the staff of Michigan Photography. Click each image for a larger version and more information.

The Board of Regents has approved agreements related to land donation and purchases, and a $100 million gift from top donor Stephen M. Ross to build the U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit.

At their Oct. 19 meeting on the UM-Flint campus, regents approved:

• A gift agreement with Ross for $100 million paid out over 10 years.
• A donation of 2.08 acres at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and West Columbia Street from Olympia Development of Michigan on which to build the UMCI, and the $9.6 million purchase of 1.18 acres across from the UMCI on which to build a parking structure.
• Proceeding with the project and hiring the architectural firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox to design the six-story building.

“UMCI is essential to our future, and that’s why I’m so excited about today’s decision by the Board of Regents,” President Santa J. Ono said.

“I’m also incredibly grateful to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state of Michigan for its $100 million grant, to Stephen Ross for his generous gift and vision, to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who has championed this project from the start, and to our many other supporters and friends and partners who are making this future possible.

“Our founding as a university traces back to Detroit in 1817, so it’s critical to me that we are more than the University _of _Michigan, we are also the university for Michigan.”

The university will break ground on the UMCI by the end of the year, at a date to be determined. Approval of the project also means a director can be hired to help shape the center’s offerings.

UMCI will be a world-class research, education and entrepreneurship center designed to advance innovation and talent-focused community development to propel city, regional and statewide job creation and inclusive economic growth by stimulating economic development in Detroit.

“The action we have just taken — approving the construction of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit — elevates our commitment to Detroit and the state of Michigan to a new level,” Regent Mark Bernstein said.

“This center will advance innovation and talent-focused community development to propel job creation and inclusive economic growth by stimulating economic development in the city of Detroit.”

Board Chair Regent Sarah Hubbard said her primary question — “What’s in it for the University of Michigan?” — has been answered.

“I feel strongly that because this board has worked together to probe and approve the terms of this deal and delay it for a few months to make sure we are getting the absolute best deal that we can I am now going to be supportive and look forward to this amazing thing in Detroit and doing much to improve academic excellence there,” Hubbard said.

The center, along with the P-20 Partnership at the School at Marygrove, the $40 million Horace H. Rackham Educational Memorial building renovation, the U-M Detroit Center, which opened in 2005 in Midtown, and hundreds of other projects U-M works on with community partners around the city, are examples of how the university has stepped up its community engagement in the city in recent years.

“The University of Michigan is coming back home!” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan declared. “Thank you to President Santa Ono and the U-M regents. With their action today, the University of Michigan will be a huge part of Detroit’s future with the new innovation center.

“This was made possible by the generous donation of Stephen Ross, the support of Gov. Whitmer and the state of Michigan, and the partnership of Chris Ilitch. Detroit’s future just got even brighter today because of all their efforts.”

The UMCI is expected to take three years to build at a cost of $250 million. It will be funded with the Ross gift plus $100 million from the state of Michigan. An additional $50 million will be raised from donors, said Geoffrey Chatas, U-M executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Chatas, Provost Laurie McCauley and Tom Baird, vice president for development, made the recommendation to regents.

“The center is also designed to advance innovation and talent-focused community development to enhance job creation in the region and propel economic growth in the great city of Detroit,” Chatas said. “We are grateful for the tremendous support given to this initiative by both the state of Michigan and Stephen Ross, and we are committed to ensuring these investments in Detroit and the university make a lasting impact.”

UMCI will be built to accommodate the academic and community programs including three distinct types of activity — graduate education, talent-based community development and community engagement — all in the service of economic development and job growth for Detroit.

McCauley said graduate programs would focus on technology, robotics, sustainability and computer science, with inaugural degrees in robotics and electrical engineering sponsored by the College of Engineering, urban technology from A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and sustainability and just transitions from the School for Environment and Sustainability.

“We look forward to deepening our connections with Detroit through service and education, and to continued partnership and engagement across the Detroit community as this exciting endeavor moves forward,” McCauley said.

The center will increase U-M’s ability to support academic and research activity in the city while sparking more engagement with the Detroit community from faculty and students, and will support ongoing university programs for Detroit high school students such as the Michigan Engineering Zone and ArcPrep.

In addition to the academic programs, the Center for Innovation also will provide non-credit-based talent development programs that will cover in-demand skill areas, such as programming, data science, entrepreneurship, sustainability and leadership.

“These efforts have already begun this year, including a series of successful youth camps and adult learning programs offered to Detroit residents in the form of the ‘Saturdays in the D’ program. We look forward to hosting these activities in the U-M Center for Innovation once constructed,” McCauley said.

Baird noted that, with this donation, Ross has given more than $460 million to U-M.

“Mr. Ross has deep family roots in Detroit, and he is incredibly committed to both the university and the Michigan community,” Baird said. “From its onset, he has been a stalwart supporter of this very exciting opportunity for U-M, Detroit and the state of Michigan.”

Regents also approved $20 million from the overall project budget to go for early bids to specialty contractors and for site preparation. Regents will be asked to approve the remaining construction contracts and schedule when the schematic design is presented for approval, Chatas said.

Chatas said UMCI would be the first of three buildings to go up on the 4-acre property owned by Olympia. The land not being used by UMCI would allow for two other buildings to be constructed by a developer at a future date.

Chatas said the early work would include design assistance on the exterior wall system along with mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

UMCI will benefit from being near the proposed $1.5 billion, 10-building, mixed-use development that Related Companies and Olympia Development have joined forces to develop in The District Detroit near the Fox Theatre and professional sports stadiums.

As UMCI proceeds, it also presents opportunities for the Rackham Memorial building, located in Detroit’s Midtown, Chatas said. It could offer a chance to collaborate with community partners in new ways.

“We are excited to continue the design, planning and programming process for Rackham Detroit, which is another example of U-M’s commitment to having a positive impact on the people of Detroit,” Chatas said.

Regents approved plans to renovate the Rackham building in December 2021 along with committing $40 million to see it through.

The University of Michigan’s endowment climbed $529 million to a market value of $17.9 billion during the last fiscal year, with distributions at a record $470 million.

The portfolio’s performance was among the highest for the 25 largest college and university endowments, Chief Investment Officer Erik Lundberg said.

The university’s long-term investment portfolio has a 20-year annualized return of 9.9%. That performance is in the top quartile for endowments at higher education institutions and compares to the median 20-year annualized return of 7.6% among such institutions.

The 5.2% return during FY ’23, which ended June 30, comes two years after university endowments across the country experienced explosive growth, with gains at U-M topping 40%. The university’s long-term investment portfolio grew 2.2% in FY ’22.

The FY ’23 growth comes as the university continues to ramp up its investments in energy transition strategies, which includes $590 million in investments over the last three years.

“These investments continue to be a major contributor to the positive investment performance,” said Lundberg, who will share a detailed endowment presentation at the Board of Regents meeting Dec. 7.

“U-M has become an established leader in energy transition investments in higher education and is well on its way to transition the investment portfolio to net zero much sooner than the 2050 goal.”

U-M officials estimate the university could offset 25% of the endowment’s carbon footprint by the end of the current fiscal year and 50% by the end of FY **’**25 from already identified investments, although methods for measuring the offset are still in development.

The endowment is a collection of more than 12,600 separate endowment funds, which provide support that is restricted in most cases for specific purposes, such as educational programs, research and professorships.

Endowment distributions of $470 million for FY ’23 supported a variety of university functions, from student scholarships to clinical care. The annual distributions — funds available for university units to spend — have increased each year since 2000 and totaled about $6.3 billion over that period.

On a per-student basis, U-M’s endowment is ranked 79th among all U.S. universities, according to a recent report from the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Unlike several private peer institutions that have similarly sized or larger endowments, U-M supports a much larger student body and campus community.

“Our healthy investment returns contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to support the university’s critical mission as a public research institution and health care provider,” said Geoffrey Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“Our students, our patients, our employees and the taxpayers of Michigan reap the benefits of the continued strong performance.”

The University of Michigan reported a record $1.86 billion in research volume during fiscal year 2023, which led to critical advancements in diverse areas ranging from artificial intelligence and global infectious disease to microelectronics and social justice.

Total research expenditures, which increased by 8.1% when compared with FY ’22, are an important metric used by peer institutions to measure research and creative practice activity. For more than a decade, U-M has ranked among the nation’s leading public universities in terms of research volume.

“We are, first and foremost, a public research university, and so we have a unique responsibility to apply our experience and expertise to find solutions to the toughest challenges facing communities across Michigan and beyond,” said Rebecca Cunningham, vice president for research and innovation.

“Our university community has exhibited tremendous resiliency time and time again, and their commitment to consistently push the boundaries of research and creative practice, while embracing rapid transformation, will allow us to collectively solve the problems of tomorrow.”

The federal government remains the largest sponsor of U-M research activity, and during FY ’23, the university reported more than $1 billion in federally sponsored research expenditures. This accounts for 56% of the university’s total research volume.

Research expenditures sponsored by the National Institutes of Health totaled $683 million last year, and that support allows U-M faculty to advance projects designed to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. U-M faculty are leading more than 2,700 active research projects sponsored by NIH, and funding from the federal agency supports more than 4,100 faculty members, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.

Increased internal investments also played a key role in accelerating U-M research activity during FY ’23. The university reported a record $603 million in internally sponsored research expenditures — a 9.1% increase when compared with FY ’22 — which helped fund enhancements to research-related infrastructure and equipment.

Internal investments also aided in the development of several multidisciplinary research initiatives and institutes, including a new program designed to enhance inclusion and equity across the biomedical and health sciences community.

The Office of the Vice President for Research awarded a series of block grants during FY ’23 to support arts and humanities activity, including three fieldwork projects that explore the intersections of music and politics in Uganda, Kenya and Ghana.

President Santa J. Ono also launched a universitywide strategy to amplify research and scholarship, which has bolstered resources and personnel to support faculty so they can pursue innovative projects and enhance equitable outcomes.

“The University of Michigan was envisioned as America’s first true research university, and I could not be more excited to see us strengthening and expanding our efforts, joining together with our funding partners and world-class students, staff and faculty to have a profound impact on the great challenges of our time,” Ono said.

The U-M research enterprise continues to play a critical role in driving statewide economic growth, enhancing workforce development by supporting employment across large and small businesses. Innovation Partnerships, a unit based in OVPR that serves as the university’s central hub for research commercialization activity, helped launch 25 new startup companies during FY ’23.

Many of these companies are now based in southeast Michigan, and they range in scope from developing innovative therapies for the treatment of fibrosis to designing technologies that aid in substance abuse monitoring.

U-M research also generated a record 580 new inventions and 145 new U.S. patents last year, which reflects the university’s commitment to translating research for broad societal impact.

Enrollment at the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus grew again this fall, making the university the largest and most sought-after public research institution in the state.

Total enrollment reached 52,065 students — passing Michigan State University’s 51,000 total enrollment — and includes a record number of incoming students with 7,466 first-year students and 1,414 transfer students.

With total enrollment up 2% from 2022, undergraduate enrollment increased by 3% from 32,695 undergraduate students last year to 33,730 students this year.

Ph.D. student enrollment rose 5% this fall from 5,477 last year to 5,742 this year, with the university welcoming 32% more first-year Ph.D. students than last year. Overall graduate and professional school enrollment declined slightly from 18,530 to 18,335.

“Our record enrollment demonstrates that students from all backgrounds are continuing to see the value in a University of Michigan education,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management.

“U-M is a place of educational excellence that features a vibrant community with rewarding student life experiences, access to innovative facilities and research and a caring and engaged faculty and staff.”

With a record 93,745 applications, interest in the university from first-year and transfer students continues to grow. The university received 87,632 first-year applications, a 4% increase over last year and 6,113 transfer applications, a 9% increase. This mirrors U-M’s significant five-year application growth trend, with a 35% increase for first-year students and 43% for transfers from 2019-23.

The university is a top choice for in-state students, with 78% of first-year and transfer students who are admitted to the university choosing to enroll.

Erica Sanders, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of undergraduate admissions, said there are many reasons for that number.

“Throughout the recruitment process, we work to ensure that students and families recognize that U-M is a place where students will learn and grow as they pursue their passions,” Sanders said.

“We also strive to make the university accessible to students from all backgrounds, providing in-person and virtual experiences, travel stipends and fee waivers to ensure that all are able to truly experience the university, either in-person or in their home.”

Fall 2023 incoming undergraduate students

The 8,880 students in U-M ‘s incoming class are helping to diversify the campus community. The class consists of more first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds, as well as a greater number of students of color, which comprise 44% of this year’s incoming class.

Students of color include those who identify as Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino/a, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, multiethnic, and those who indicated two or more race/ethnicities.

“During challenging times, the university has shown progress in attracting and enrolling students of color,” Brumfield said. “While we still have strides to make, the increased diversity of the incoming class shows that our race-neutral admissions efforts show promise.”

Compared to last year, first-generation students increased by 9%, students from low-income backgrounds increased by 1%. The number of students of color increased by 16%, which includes a 25% increase in Black or African American students — from 381 to 475 — and a 29% increase in Hispanic or Latino/a students — from 927 to 1,196.

With more than 50% of incoming students hailing from the state of Michigan, nearly every county is represented in the student body. The global reach of the university also is demonstrated with students from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and 65 countries.

U-M’s commitment to financial aid continues

The university continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to financial aid, recognizing the importance of making the university accessible and affordable to students.

This fall, preliminary data shows that more than $351 million in financial aid — including federal, state, institutional and private funds — was disbursed to more than 24,000 undergraduate students. This is an increase of $18 million over last year. Additional aid will be disbursed to students throughout the year.

The Go Blue Guarantee, the university’s campaign to support in-state students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds, was recently expanded to include students from families with assets and incomes of $75,000 or less. Because of initiatives like this, U-M was recognized as a High-Flier, a national leader in college access and success, earlier this year by the American Talent Initiative.

“The university’s commitment to providing generous financial resources, allows more students to choose U-M and thrive once they arrive here,” said Tammie L. Durham Luis, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid. “We work to educate students on that commitment so that they can make an informed decision.”

U-M’s final enrollment data is based on data from the Sept. 18 fall census date.

“We’ve enjoyed welcoming the incoming undergraduate class to the university and having returning students back this fall, and can’t wait to see what they all accomplish,” Brumfield said.

The University of Michigan took another step toward developing a new $631 million Central Campus residential complex, as the Board of Regents approved the project and updated construction timeline Sept. 21.

The new housing and dining project, located between East Hoover Avenue and Hill Street, will meet the demand among undergraduate students for affordable, on-campus housing on Central Campus.

Construction on the 2,300-bed and 900-seat dining hall facility, which was previously expected to roll out as a phased approach beginning in fall 2025, is now expected to be completed by summer 2026 due to complexities with the site.

The facility, which received schematic design approval in February, will include five residence halls, ranging between five and seven stories, and a series of green courtyard spaces and quadrangles along a broad pedestrian walkway.

During the meeting, Martino Harmon, vice president of student life, said that during phase two of the project, a space within the development will be named to honor Raoul Wallenberg in the area where he lived as a student in 1931.

Wallenberg, a 1935 graduate of U-M who served as a Swedish diplomat during World War II, is considered a great humanitarian whose actions saved thousands of lives during the Holocaust.

In order to keep the project on schedule, regents voted in May to continue critical site work, including drilling of geothermal wells, during the summer months and developed an agreement that expenditures would not exceed $30 million, in order to maintain the project’s expedited timeline. Expenses from the early sitework were rolled into the final project budget.

The university also entered into a development agreement with American Campus Communities to manage the project and meet the proposed project schedule. In December 2022, the Board of Regents approved Robert A.M. Stern Architects, an architectural firm, to design the facility.

The housing plan will be developed to align with the university’s stated carbon neutrality goals. The dining hall, for example, will use geothermal exchange systems for heating and cooling, as well as an innovative all-electric design for both the housing and dining facilities.

It also incorporates new energy-efficient building standards and solar panels on the roof. The complex is designed to earn LEED Platinum certification.

Funding will be provided by reserves and bond proceeds, with debt service paid from Housing resources.

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for noon-1:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the project site.

Elbel Field

To proceed with the Central Campus housing and dining project, plans also included relocating and designing a new Elbel Field one block north of the current field.

The new field will provide a new $15.4 million practice and teaching facility — among the best in the nation — for the Michigan Marching Band.

Due to some unexpected technical challenges with the site related to stormwater management, the project timeline for the new Elbel Field has been extended. University officials expect the new Elbel Field to be ready for the 2024 football season.

The band will continue to use the existing Elbel Field, then relocate to Ferry Field once the residential construction begins.

The new practice area will be 2.7 acres, as opposed to 1.5 acres at the existing Elbel Field. The main field will be sized and oriented in a north-south position to match the game field at Michigan Stadium.

The University of Michigan remains the No. 3 public university in the country for undergraduate education, according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list.

U-M also moved up four spots from last year to place 21st overall among both public and private institutions on the rankings that were released Sept. 18. It has held the No. 3 public university title every year since 2019.

The other public institutions in the U.S. that made the top 25 were the University of California, Los Angeles, at No. 12, the University of California, Berkeley, at No. 16 and the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which both ranked No. 22.

The annual Best Colleges list includes data for nearly 1,500 institutions.

U-M officials said they are pleased that the university continues to be recognized as a leader in higher education. They also noted that rankings don’t consider all the factors that contribute to the quality of an institution, and that it’s important to focus on a university’s commitment to academic excellence and societal impact.

U.S. News & World Report officials said they refined the methodology used for this year’s rankings to place a greater focus on outcome measurements and data that are universally reported by schools or obtainable from third-party sources.

For institutions categorized as national universities, including U-M’s Ann Arbor campus, the rankings were based on 19 measurements of academic quality:

• Peer assessment (20%)
• Graduation rates (16%)
• Graduation rate performance (10%)
• Financial resources per student (8%)
• Faculty salaries (6%)
• Standardized tests (5%)
• First-year retention rates (5%)
• Borrower debt (5%)
• College grads earning more than a high school grad (5%)
• Pell graduation rates (3%)
• Pell graduation performance (3%)
• Student-faculty ratio (3%)
• First-generation graduation rates (2.5%)
• First-year graduation rate performance (2.5%)
• Full-time faculty (2%)
• Citations per publication (1.25%)
• Field weighted citation impact (1.25%)
• Publications cited in the top 5% of journals (1%)
• Publications cited in the top 25% of journals (0.5%)

For regional universities such as UM-Dearborn, the rankings were based on 13 factors:

• Peer assessment (20%)
• Graduation rates (16%)
• Graduation rate performance (10%)
• Faculty salaries (8%)
• Financial resources (8%)
• Pell graduation rates (5.5%)
• Pell graduation performance (5.5%)
• First-year retention rates (5%)
• Borrower debt (5%)
• College grads earning more than a high school grad (5%)
• Standardized tests (5%)
• Student-faculty ratio (4%)
• Full-time faculty (3%)

Five factors that were previously part of the ranking formula — alumni giving, class size, high school class standing, the proportion of instructional faculty with terminal degrees, and the proportion of graduates who borrowed federal loans — were removed. Some other factors saw increases or decreases in weight.

In the regional university category, UM-Dearborn was ranked the No. 3 public regional university in the Midwest, moving up two spots from last year. It jumped from No. 30 to No. 17 on the overall list of the best Midwest regional universities.

The 2024 Best Colleges List also includes data about specific fields of study.

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business kept its No. 4 ranking on the overall list of undergraduate business programs. It maintained or improved its ratings on 11 of 12 specialties, with accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing and production operations/management all ranked within the top five.

The College of Engineering moved up one spot — from No. 6 to No. 5 — on the list of top engineering programs. Four of 10 engineering specialties either placed the same as last year or moved up in the rankings, with environmental, industrial/manufacturing and materials listed in the top five.

The School of Nursing was ranked No. 7, down from its No. 3 ranking last year.

New this year to the Best Colleges list were rankings of undergraduate economics and psychology degree programs. U-M ranked No. 15 in economics and No. 3 in psychology.

The university received high marks in other areas as well. It was ranked:

• No. 11 in computer science education.
• No. 16 for undergraduate teaching.
• No. 20 for first-year experience.
• No. 3 in learning communities.
• No. 11 in most innovative schools.
• No. 18 for co-ops/internships.
• No. 20 for study abroad.
• No. 5 for undergraduate research/creative projects.
• No. 24 for senior capstone.
• No. 207 in social mobility.
• No. 68 in the best value schools category.
• No. 7 best college for veterans.

(CORRECTION: This article has been updated from its original version to reflect a change in the rankings for UM-Dearborn.)

University of Michigan Health has been recognized as the top hospital in Michigan, according to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals Rankings for 2023-24.

U-M Health, the clinical division of Michigan Medicine, also was the only hospital in the state named to the nation’s Honor Roll of hospitals, recognizing the institution for strong overall performance.

“It’s an honor for U-M Health to receive continued recognition for our exceptional level of patient care,” said David Miller, president of the U-M Health System and executive vice dean for clinical affairs for the Medical School.

“We are grateful for the hard work and commitment of our team members who make our patients a priority every single day.”

U.S. News generates its rankings by evaluating data from 4,500 hospitals on four different categories: patient experience, outcomes, care-related factors and expert opinions from physician surveys.

“These rankings are one measure of U-M Health’s dedication to delivering high-quality care to every patient who comes through our doors,” said Marschall S. Runge, dean of the Medical School, CEO of Michigan Medicine and executive vice president of medical affairs.

“We are proud of our teams whose commitment to innovation and exemplary care helps earn this honor.”

U-M Health is ranked No. 8 in the country for ophthalmology, and received national rankings in the following specialties:

• Cancer (34)
• Cardiology and heart surgery (22)
• Diabetes and endocrinology (42)
• Ear, nose and throat (12)
• Gastronintestinal and GI surgery (28)
• Geriatrics (21)
• Neurology and neurosurgery (37)
• Orthopedics (24)
• Pulmonology (19)
• Rehabilitation (27)
• Rheumatology (11)
• Urology (19)

U.S. News & World Report also awards “high performing” designation to hospitals for a number of specific procedures and conditions. U-M Health, as well as Sparrow Health System and UM Health-West, are named as high performing in a range of specialties.

Additionally, U-M Health was also recently ranked No.9 in Expertscape’s All-Around Expert Medical Centers for high rankings in 21 different medical and surgical specialties. U-M Health is among just 29 hospitals in the country rated as expert in all 21 specialties tracked by Expertscape.

Another 450 in-state students will be able to attend the University of Michigan tuition-free as part of a 2023-24 budget that expands the Go Blue Guarantee and prioritizes affordability and key investments in student, faculty and staff success.

The Board of Regents approved a spending plan June 15 that increases the family income and asset thresholds to up to $75,000 each for U-M’s signature free-tuition program.

The $2.79 billion general fund budget for the Ann Arbor campus covers the fiscal year that begins July 1. It is part of an approved, universitywide consolidated budget package that also includes spending plans for Michigan Medicine, UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint, Athletics, Michigan Housing and student fees.

“The proposed fiscal year ’24 budget advances our highest priorities, builds on our strengths and sets the stage for a bold era of change,” Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said at the regents meeting.

“The proposed budget supports both our current position as an exemplary public university and our ambition — in the best sense of that word — to do more. It does so while maintaining the fiscal discipline that is a hallmark of responsible stewardship of our resources.”

The regents unanimously approved the budget measure, with Regent Paul Brown absent.

The budget includes a 2.9% increase in the rate for in-state undergraduate tuition and fees at the Ann Arbor campus, which is below the projected rate of inflation.

The change will be offset by a 7.8% increase in undergraduate financial aid that will cover the tuition increase for most in-state students with financial need — making this the 14th consecutive year that additional financial aid resources will cover the full tuition increase for most resident undergraduates receiving financial aid.

Graduate students and out-of-state undergraduate students will see a 4.9% increase in tuition and fees.

The in-state “sticker price” tuition rate for undergraduates, along with fees, will increase by $492, for an annual rate of $17,228. Tuition and fees will increase by $2,738 for nonresident undergraduate students, for an annual rate of $58,072. Tuition and fees are based on full-time enrollment, which is defined as 12-18 credit hours.

Regent Sarah Hubbard said keeping U-M affordable is a top priority.

“The ability to maintain very low, below-the-rate-of-inflation increases in Ann Arbor — very modest increases in Flint and Dearborn, as well — I think has been a very positive result of the oversight the board is providing to the university,” she said.

During the past decade, spending on undergraduate financial aid has increased by an average of 10% annually. As a result, 60% of in-state and 41% of out-of-state undergraduate students pay less than the published cost of attendance.

University officials said for most resident undergraduate students who receive need-based financial aid, the net cost of attending U-M is actually less than it was 10 years ago. And nearly 3,000 fewer students are taking out loans compared with a decade ago.

The expansion on the Ann Arbor campus of the Go Blue Guarantee, a free tuition program for qualifying Michigan residents, is another piece of U-M’s continuing efforts to ensure a world-class education remains accessible regardless of a student’s financial means.

Officials said increasing current eligibility thresholds — family incomes of up to $65,000 and assets of up to $50,000 — to up to $75,000 for each part will expand participation by approximately 450 students every year.

“This program, the Go Blue Guarantee, is really life-changing for a lot of our students,” Regent Jordan Acker said. He noted that the “revolutionary” program has inspired similar initiatives at other universities.

“So, as we lead the way again by increasing (the eligibility thresholds) to $75,000, I’m just hopeful that we will continue to lead the way in making sure that middle-class and working-class Michiganders, especially, are able to attend this university and to graduate without student debt.”

Today, nearly 3,400 in-state undergraduate students, including about 1,300 students who participate in the Go Blue Guarantee, pay no tuition because of financial aid.

The budget for the upcoming fiscal year focuses on enhancing student success and well-being, with investments in mental health and wellness services, student organizations, sustainability programs, leadership and student-facing technologies.

McCauley highlighted the launch of a program to help students pursue global study and the creation of an LSA Bridge Scholars Plus program that will provide a full-year, living-learning community experience.

There will be no increase in the University Health Service, Central Student Government or Student Legal Services fees, which will remain at $209.74, $11.19 and $8.50, respectively, per semester.

Additionally, the budget reflects investments in initiatives designed to promote faculty and staff success. It has funding for several faculty recruitment and retention programs, support for staff professional development, investment in research administration, resources for improving talent acquisition and human resource functions, and a 4% merit pay program.

“We recognize the importance of climate and culture to our workforce, and continue to work with stakeholders across campus to articulate workplace values and create a community where ethics and integrity are central and all feel valued,” McCauley said.

The FY ’24 budget also provides for:

• Additional investment in key research areas, including electric vehicle technology, neuroscience, firearms injury prevention, biointerfaces and digital studies, as well as investment in research infrastructure.
• A landmark investment in doctoral students that provides approximately $12.5 million to support summer funding.
• Hiring key leadership and funding collaborative student programs related to sustainability, such as Planet Blue Ambassadors.
• Additional investment in campus safety training, prevention and protection, including enhancements to the Division of Public Safety and Security mobile app that will improve the university’s emergency alert and reporting systems.
• Support for U-M’s new and ongoing engagements in Detroit.
• The expansion of a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Institute for Social Research on rural-life research and the unique challenges facing rural areas.

McCauley highlighted cost-containment measures that will lead to roughly $31 million in ongoing savings, including efforts by units, schools and colleges to restructure staff following attritions and retirements and the movement of more recruitment activities online to save on travel expenses.

“This work substantially reduces the pressure on tuition, which would be significantly higher without this ongoing crucial scrutiny on containing costs,” McCauley said.

The budget plan estimates a 5.1% increase in state appropriations, which is approximately the mid-point of current budget proposals put forth by the governor, state Senate and state House of Representatives. The state, which operates on a different fiscal calendar, must approve its budget by the end of September.

Housing, dining rates rise to cover increased costs

Regents also approved a 5.2% increase in residence hall room and board rates for the upcoming fiscal year. The increase reflects continuing inflationary pressures that have led to higher costs for utilities, labor, food and maintenance needs.

The cost per student for a double room with a basic meal plan will total $13,856 for the fall and winter terms, an increase of $85 per month. Need-based grant aid will mitigate this increase for students with financial need.

Michigan Housing and Michigan Dining are self-funded auxiliary units of Student Life within the university.

The university has undertaken several strategies that advance its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality across the Dearborn, Flint and Ann Arbor campuses, including Athletics and Michigan Medicine.

They include a report on the use of $300 million in “green bonds,” updated sustainability dashboards and building guidelines, and becoming the first university to join the First Movers Coalition, which aims to advance sustainable industrial technologies.

“Meaningful climate action — especially at a place the size of the University of Michigan — involves a number of complementary efforts,” President Santa J. Ono said. “As we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, enact new sustainable building standards and join leading partnerships, we’re sharing our progress to spur our campus community toward further action.”

Green bond report

Last month, the U-M Treasurer’s Office published an inaugural report detailing how an initial series of green bonds — funding issued for sustainable capital projects — is advancing university sustainability and carbon neutrality efforts.

“Our first issuance of green bonds is about more than getting projects in the ground — it’s about living our ideals and continuing forward on a path we have been walking for over a century,” wrote Geoffrey Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“The $300 million in green bonds issued in March 2022 will allow us to build on our longstanding legacy of sustainability — from our first forestry class in 1881, to the launch of the U-M Biological Station in 1909, to our role in the inaugural Earth Day in 1970.”

U-M plans to allocate 91% of the bonds to sustainable construction and renovation projects, as well as 7% to renewable energy infrastructure and 2% to clean transportation.

As of March 31, nearly $8 million in green bond proceeds had been expended. Noteworthy allocations include the Hayward Street geothermal exchange installation, the Central Campus Recreation Building, electric bus procurement, a new building for the College of Pharmacy, and the recently announced new Central Campus residence hall.

The report notes that green bonds are funding efforts that advance environmental justice, with a focus on people who may be disproportionately and adversely affected by a transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Treasurer’s Office also unveiled a new interactive project map that allows users to explore sustainable projects financed by green bonds. It can be found in the university’s updated sustainability dashboards.

Dashboard 2.0

As sustainable investing efforts and disclosures move ahead, U-M launched an update to its greenhouse gas emissions-reduction dashboard, which tracks universitywide progress toward carbon neutrality.

Version 2.0 includes a new trendline covering the square footage of U-M buildings over time. Total university emissions have declined by more than 25% since 2010, despite a 15% increase in building space.

U-M is on pace to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions — those that come from direct sources and purchased electricity — by 50% by 2025, exceeding United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidance to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030.

U-M also unveiled a parallel dashboard — managed by the Office of the Vice President for Communications, the Office of Campus Sustainability, and Information & Technology Services — that tracks Ann Arbor campus sustainability metrics. The tool allows users to gain a quick glimpse of campus performance across an array of sustainability subtopics, including energy, greenhouse gas emissions, transportation, waste, and land and water use.

U-M community members played a key role in helping the dashboards take shape. Students taking part in an undergraduate course on “Sustainability and the Campus” recommended strategies to better visualize carbon neutrality and sustainability metrics that will inform future versions.

“Climate action requires thoughtful engagement,” said Drew Horning, interim assistant vice president for campus sustainability. “We will continually improve our progress tracking tools with community feedback, and we’re grateful for the ideas that students have recently brought to the fore.”

Cross-sector collaboration

U-M recently became the first university to join the First Movers Coalition, a global partnership led by the U.S. State Department and the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the U.S. departments of Commerce and Energy.

FMC includes 80 member companies, which aim collectively to send a market signal to spur sustainable technologies across seven industrial sectors that together account for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions: aluminum, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel and trucking.

Members endeavor to collectively build the clean and profitable supply chains of the future.

In aviation, FMC members commit to procuring sustainable aviation fuel, a biofuel made from renewable feedstocks such as used cooking oil, tallow or agricultural residues. Sustainable aviation fuel is a less-carbon-intensive alternative to conventional jet fuel, with current potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by more than 75%.

U-M previously announced a partnership with Delta Air Lines to spur the widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and reduce lifecycle emissions resulting from university-sponsored travel. The university also is working within the Delta partnership to foster research collaborations involving U-M sustainable aviation experts.

Sustainable construction standards

In collaboration with faculty at the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Facilities & Operations recently updated standards for building construction and renovation to reflect university carbon neutrality goals.

In addition to adopting maximum emissions targets, U-M design guidelines now:

• Codify procedures for project teams to track and verify project-specific carbon targets.
• Require embodied carbon analyses to inform design decisions.
• Require new construction projects to exceed energy code standards by 20%; and major renovation projects to exceed standards by 15%.
• Require that carbon reduction, energy savings and water conservation goals are established early and evaluated throughout the design process.
• Require hot water used for heating systems to be compatible with low/medium-temperature hot water, in preparation for future heating technologies.
• Have new plumbing specifications that include lower-flow fixtures to reduce potable water use.

With new standards in place, Facilities & Operations is implementing pilot programs centered around building air leakage testing, building envelope sealants, ongoing verification of building system performance and refined maintenance practices.

The University of Michigan is authorized to establish up to $1 billion in additional standby lines of credit as a flexible alternative funding source for contingency purposes during a period of economic uncertainty and financial market volatility.

The Board of Regents approved the measure July 21. It doubles an existing authorization for lines of credit available for general operating purposes the board granted in March 2020.

“These lines of credit will be used primarily for contingent liquidity support for general corporate purposes,” wrote Geoff Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer, in a recommendation to the board.

“We believe this expansion to be a prudent and proactive course of action, at relatively inexpensive pricing, in light of significant uncertainty during an unprecedented period of inflation, supply chain disruption, geopolitical tensions and lingering COVID impact.”

The authorization extends through 2032, and no credit agreement entered into under this resolution could extend beyond that period without additional authorization.

The new lines of credit, like the existing lines of credit and the university’s outstanding bonds and commercial paper notes, will be supported by a pledge of the university’s general revenues.

The University of Michigan has successfully issued $2 billion in bonds to finance planned future construction and renovation projects, including $1.2 billion as a century bond, the largest of its kind ever issued in the higher education sector.

The deal marks the university’s first issuance of a century bond, which is structured to be repaid in 100 years instead of the more traditional 30 years.

Barclays was the lead underwriter for the university, and Loop Capital Markets, a minority-owned investment bank, acted as co-lead.

The university priced the bonds this week at a rate of 4.45 percent for the century bonds and 3.5 percent for the 30-year bonds, or a blended rate of 3.98 percent for the entire $2 billion issuance.

“Strong demand from investors, both in the U.S. and abroad, allowed the university to upsize the transaction beyond what was originally expected,” said Geoff Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

The Board of Regents approved a resolution in February granting authorization for the issuance of up to $2 billion in general revenue bonds. Given volatility in the markets, the university initially went to market with a $1.5 billion offering.

“Due to the confidence in the reputation, strength and stability of the university and an effective marketing campaign that successfully targeted a significant audience of international investors, we were able to generate more orders for bonds than were originally available,” Chatas said.

“This oversubscription allowed us to place the full $2 billion in bonds, with $1.2 billion of that coming as a century bond. This is a fantastic outcome for the university considering the volatility in bond markets.”

The deal provides the university a great opportunity to prefund planned debt needs for capital projects at historically low interest rates for years to come, Chatas added.

Some of those projects include the construction of three new undergraduate residence halls on North Campus, continued work on the new Michigan Medicine Clinical Inpatient Tower and replacing the Central Campus Recreation Building.

“Regardless of where market rates go from here, this committed funding will provide long-term rate stability for the university,” he said.

In addition to the century bond, $300 million of the transaction was issued as a series of green bonds, another first for U-M. Green bonds can only be sold and used to fund “green” capital projects that support climate-related or environmental goals.

At U-M, that includes a number of projects aligned with recommendations made by the President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality, such as plans to build a geothermal heating and cooling system for the Leinweber Computer Science and Information Building.

“We believe that the size of and detail provided with this series of green bonds made clear to the market what we all already know —the University of Michigan is committed to taking serious action related to reducing its carbon footprint,” Chatas said.