University of Michigan–Flint: Difference between revisions

The University of Michigan–Flint

File:University of Michigan-Flint Seal.jpg University of Michigan–Flint seal
Former names	Flint Senior College of the University of Michigan (1954–1964)
Motto	Artes, Scientia, Veritas
Motto in English	Arts, Knowledge, Truth
Type	Public
Established	1956
Endowment	US $63.35 million[1]
Chancellor	Ruth J. Person
President	Mary Sue Coleman
Academic staff	524
Students	8138[2]
Undergraduates	6,874
Postgraduates	1,264
Location	Flint , MI , USA 43°01′07″N 83°41′19″W / 43.0184961°N 83.6886902°W / 43.0184961; -83.6886902
Campus	Urban
Newspaper	The Michigan Times
Colors	Maize and Blue
Nickname	The Victors[3]
Website	umflint.edu

The University of Michigan–Flint (commonly referred to as UM–Flint, U of M–Flint or simply Michigan Flint) is a public university located in Flint, Michigan in the United States. It is one of three University of Michigan campuses.

The thought of establishing a part of the University of Michigan in the city of Flint started in the year 1837 when Sarah Miles wrote a letter to her family stating, “A branch of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor is to be established in Flint at some future day.” In May 1944 the Flint Board of Education requested that the University of Michigan open a satellite campus in Flint. Three years later, the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan funded a study exploring possibilities for higher education in Flint.

In June 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill into law. The demand for higher education increased with the return of soldiers after World War II, and was a major factor in the establishment of a branch of the University of Michigan in the city of Flint.^[5]

During February 1947 the Regents of the University of Michigan approved a higher education needs assessment for Flint. In 1949, two Social Science professors at Ann Arbor, Arthur E. Lean and Franklin Killian, recommended a liberal arts college for Flint. C.S. Mott then offered $1 million for a four-year college in Flint. Later, in 1951, the Committee of Flint Citizens requested the Regents establish a four-year college in Flint. In January 1955 Governor Williams signed a $37,000 appropriation bill to cover preliminary expenses for the college; the Mott Foundation provided $1.2 million. Harlan Hatcher, Everett Cummings, and C.S. Mott broke ground for UM-Flint shortly thereafter.

After the 1952-1954 debate between the UM-Flint College Committee and the Flint Board of Education as to whether the UM Flint College should be a four-year liberal arts college or a two-year senior college, Hatcher and the Regents accepted the two-year senior college proposal. Later, in February 1956, David M. French was named the first dean of the Flint College of the University of Michigan.^[5] C.S. Mott would donate a second gift of $1 million for the construction of a new library during March 1959.

From 1963-1964, studies were commissioned to examine the possibility of turning the Flint College into a four-year institution. Then, from March to July 1965, the Michigan State Board of Education recommended a four-year college in Flint and the phasing out of UM’s involvement. Public outcry and C.S. Mott's threatening to withdraw millions in pledged support resulted in the state approving a four-year University of Michigan campus in Flint. This led to the Flint campus becoming the first campus in the University of Michigan System to be formed outside of the city of Ann Arbor.

Later, in the Spring of 1970, the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools granted accreditation to the Flint College of the University of Michigan. The Regents of the University of Michigan approved the name change to The University of Michigan–Flint in April 1971. During September 1972, sixteen temporary buildings were erected to ease campus overcrowding, pressuring the Regents to move UM-Flint to its current location along the Flint River.

During January 1982 UM's physical therapy program moved from Ann Arbor to Flint.^[5] Charlie Nelms was named UM-Flint’s fourth chancellor in August 1994.

Later, in October 1994, the Frances Willson Thompson Library opened. President Bill Clinton visited campus on November 1994.^[5] The William S. White Building was officially dedicated in 2002.

In April 2005, the campus went through its first intensive major fund-raising drive. The Capital Campaign brought in $40 million in donations.

The University of Michigan–Flint is currently the fastest growing public university in the state of Michigan.^[6] Since 2005, international student enrollment has increased over 200 percent, with students hailing from over 37 different countries.

In November 2004, the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan approved the request of the Flint Campus to explore the feasibility of student housing. After several assessments, study, and, upon seeing the probable progression of growth of the campus, student housing was approved. On July 16, 2007 the first-ever student dormitory, the First Street Residence Hall, opened for students.^[7]

In Fall 2009, a new dormitory opened in the building that was once the Hyatt Regency. This dorm is open to all college students in Flint. The majority of the students living in the dorm, however, attend the University of Michigan–Flint. This dorm, named 'Riverfront Housing,' features many amenities such as a movie theater and full size pool tables.

The University is home to many fraternities and sororities. The following Greek organizations have chapters on campus:^[8]

UM–Flint does not presently offer varsity intercollegiate athletics, but there are a number of intramural sports and sports clubs available to students. It has, however, been planned to bring an intercollegiate athletics program onto the campus.

In Spring 2008, the student body voted to adopt the nickname The Victors, after the fight song of The University of Michigan.

The Student Athletic Association oversees the sports teams on campus.^[3][4] These teams include:

• UM-Flint Cycling
• UM-Flint Golf
• UM-Flint Hockey^[11]
• UM-Flint Mixed Martial Arts
• UM-Flint Soccer
• UM-Flint Ultimate Frisbee
• UM-Flint Volleyball
• UM-Flint Water Ski
• UM-Flint Flat Track Roller Derby
• UM-Flint Football^[12]

The University of Michigan–Flint is rated as one of the best master's-level public universities in the Midwest in U.S. News & World Report's: 2009 America's Best Colleges report.

The Princeton Review has included UM–Flint in the "Best in the Midwest" category in their publication 2011 Best Colleges: Region by Region.^[13]

The Part-Time MBA Program is ranked 41st in the United States (overall) and 9th in the Midwest (by region).^[14]

The Princeton Review has also included UM–Flint's School of Management in their The Best 301 Business Schools: 2010 Edition.^[15]

The Flint campus of the University of Michigan is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools,^[16] the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business - International,^[17] the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education,^[18] the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs,^[19] the Council on Social Work Education,^[20] the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology,^[21] and the National Association of Schools of Music ^[22] The university is currently seeking accreditation from ABET for their new mechanical engineering program.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The campus offers over 100 undergraduate majors and concentrations and over 25 graduate areas and concentrations for advanced studies.

Typical class sizes have a 14 to 1 student/faculty ratio. According to a 2008 student satisfaction survey, the overall level of satisfaction is significantly higher than the national average for other four-year public universities in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

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The Michigan Times is a student-run campus newspaper. In 2008, the Michigan Press Association's "Better College Newspaper Contest" awarded The Michigan Times with nine awards in a statewide competition. This achievement was surpassed in 2009 by winning 23 awards. The newspaper is printed weekly and is available free-of-cost on the campus, at other area colleges, in the surrounding downtown area and elsewhere in the Greater Flint area.

The University of Michigan–Flint Student Government Council (UMFSGC) represents the voice of students and manages student funds on the campus. The UMFSGC is a member of the state-wide Association of Michigan Universities.

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• 2000: The University of Michigan–Flint campus hosted Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Al Gore, along with an outdoor performance by pop-rock group the Goo Goo Dolls.
• 2004: University of Michigan–Flint campus hosted Democratic Presidential hopeful Howard Dean.
• 2007: University of Michigan–Flint held the first annual outdoor MFuse concert. The headliner for this concert (voted on by school officials and students) was Grammy Award winning artist Common.
• 2010: The campus was named the 2009 Green Generation Customer of the Year by Consumers Energy for purchasing more than 2 million kilowatt-hours of Michigan-based renewable energy for the past several years.

The campus is featured in parts of Michael Moore's 1989 debut film Roger & Me. The school has also been referenced in cartoonist Jef Mallett's nationally syndicated comic strip, Frazz. Mallett is a Michigan native, having worked for local newspaper the Flint Journal earlier in his career.

• University of Michigan
• University of Michigan–Dearborn

• Official University of Michigan-Flint Website
• Official U-M Profile Data (Facts and Figures)

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