University of Michigan

TheUniversity of Michigan(U-M,UMich, orMichigan) is apublicresearch universityinAnn Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Michigan is one of the earliest American research universities and is a founding member of theAssociation of American Universities. In the fall of 2023, the university employed 8,189 faculty members and enrolled 52,065 students in its programs.
The university isclassifiedamong "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". It consists of nineteen colleges and offers 250 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.The university isaccreditedby theHigher Learning Commission. In 2021, it ranked third among American universities inresearch expendituresaccording to theNational Science Foundation.
The University of Michigan's athletic teams are collectively known as theWolverines. They compete inNCAA Division I(FBS) as a member of theBig Ten Conference. The university currently fields varsity teams across 29 NCAA-sanctioned sports. As of 2022, athletes from the university had won 188 medals at theOlympic Games.
Notable alumni from the university include 8 domestic and foreignheads of stateorheads of government, 48U.S. senators, 218 members of theU.S. House of Representatives, 42U.S. Cabinet secretaries, and 41U.S. governors.
The University of Michigan traces its origins to August 26, 1817,when it was established in theTerritory of Michiganas theCatholepistemiadorUniversity of Michiganiathrough a legislative act signed by acting governor and secretaryWilliam Woodbridge, chief justiceAugustus B. Woodward, and judgeJohn Griffin.In 1821, by a new enactment, the university itself was created as a "body politic and corporate,"maintaining its corporate status through various modifications to its charter.The term "Catholepistemiad," a neologism derived from a blend of Greek and Latin roots, can be loosely translated as "School of Universal Knowledge".This corporation was modeled after theImperial University of France, an entity established byNapoleon Ia decade prior,and included an array of schools and libraries under a single administration,with the authority to establish additional schools across the territory.It wasn't until Michigan became a state in 1837 that the corporation focused solely on higher education.
Promptly after the Territory of Michigan's formation in 1805, prominent citizens acknowledged the need for a college.In 1806,Gabriel Richard, who presided over several schools in theTown of Detroit, first petitioned for land to found a college.Although GovernorWilliam Hulland Woodward promulgated an act in 1809 to establish public school districts, this preliminary endeavor yielded negligible results.Woodward, aspiring to categorize knowledge (which he termed "encathol epistemia"), discussed this withThomas Jeffersonin 1814.In 1817, Woodward drafted a territorial act for theCatholepistemiad, orUniversity of Michigania, which included thirteen professorships, ordidaxiim.The act was enacted on August 26, 1817, with Richard appointed vice president andJohn Monteithas president. Woodward sought funding from theZion Masonic Lodge, which contributed $250, leading to a total of $5,000 raised for the university.The cornerstone for the first schoolhouse, situated near the intersection of Bates Street and Congress Street in Detroit, was laid on September 24, 1817, and by the following year, aLancasterian school, taught byLemuel Shattuck, and a classical academy were operational.Additional schools were established inMonroeandMackinawby the end of September 1817.In 1821, a new act placed the corporation under the control of a board of trustees.Monteith, no longer president, joined the board, and Richard served on the board until his death in 1832.The trustees continued to manage the schools and classical academy, but established no new schools.By 1827, all schools had closed, and the Detroit schoolhouse was leased to private teachers.
In 1837, following Michigan's admission to the Union, its constitution enabled the appointive regents to oversee university operations directly alongside professors, without the need for a president.The regents met inAnn Arborand accepted the town's proposal for the university to relocate,based on a 40 acres (16 ha) grant from theTreaty of Fort MeigsonHenry Rumsey's farmland.Alexander Jackson Davisdevised the original campus plan inGothic Revival style,and the regents unanimously approved his proposal;however, the plan was abandoned due to financial constraints resulting from thePanic of 1837.In 1841, Mason Hall, the first campus building, was completed, followed by the construction of South College, an identical building to the south, in 1849, leaving a gap for a future grand centerpiece.
Asa Graywas appointed the first professor following the university's move to Ann Arbor in 1837,alongside early faculty membersDouglass HoughtonandAndrew Ten Brook.The first classes in Ann Arbor were held in 1841, with six freshmen and a sophomore taught by two professors, Joseph Whiting and George Palmer Williams.In the first commencement of 1845, eleven graduates, includingJudson Dwight Collins, were awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree.In subsequent years, the regents established branches across the state as preparatory schools for the university,starting withPontiacand followed byKalamazoo,Detroit,Niles,Tecumseh,White Pigeon, andRomeo.However, they struggled to enroll students and some merged with local colleges.Kalamazoo Collegewas the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan from 1840 to 1850.Furthermore, the university struggled with issues due to its regents' dependence on the legislature from 1837 to 1850.Despite several attempts to gain independence, progress was slow until the late 1840s, when regents gained leverage, supported by Michigan citizens.This led to a revision of the organic act on April 8, 1851, which freed the university from legislative control, changed the regent position from appointed to elected, and established a president selected by the regents.
Henry Philip Tappanbecame the university's first president in 1852, with the ambition to shape the institution as a model for future universities.During his decade of service, he overhauled the curriculum,expanded the library and museum collections,established the law school,and supervised the construction of theDetroit Observatory.He secularized faculty appointments by prioritizing merit in selections,breaking away from the retrograde tradition of regents distributing positions among Protestant denominations.In 1855, Michigan became the second university in the country to issueBachelor of Sciencedegrees.The following year, the country's first chemical laboratory was built on campus, specifically designed for chemistry education, providing additional space for classes and laboratories.Tappan's tenure also saw the creation of theMichigan Glee Club, the oldest student organization at the university, and the publication of the first student newspaper,The Peninsular Phoenix and Gazetteer, in 1857.Despite these accomplishments, Tappan's 11-year presidency was marked by considerable tension.His impartial stance on religion faced backlash during a time of heightened religious fervor.Due to changes in the Board of Regents and discontent with his administration, he was forced to resign in 1863.
In 1863,Erastus Otis Haventook office as president, having been a professor at the time and needing to prove his right for the presidency.The campus was divided by conflicting views among students, faculty, and regents regarding Tappan's restoration, the homeopathy crisis, and theCivil War.Haven's administration faced routine administrative difficulties and struggled to garner support for increased state aid, despite achieving modest gains.The university, which had received a fixed $15,000 since 1869, still required additional funding.Frustrated, Haven resigned in 1869 to become president ofNorthwestern, aMethodistinstitution, a move that sectarians viewed as a setback for secular colleges.The presidency remained vacant from 1869 to 1871, with ProfessorHenry Simmons Friezeserving as acting president.During this period, the university raised funds for University Hall, overhauled admissions with a diploma system, and introduced coeducation.Women were first admitted in 1870,althoughAlice Robinson Boise Woodwas the first woman to attend classes (without matriculating) in 1866–67.In 1870, Gabriel Franklin Hargo graduated from the law school as the second African American to graduate from a law school in the United States.In 1871,Sarah Killgorebecame the first woman to graduate from law school and be admitted to the bar of any state in the United States.Frieze championed music education and established theUniversity Musical Society.However, student discipline remained problematic, with frequent class rushes, instances of hazing, and rowdiness in chapel.Past efforts to curb these disorders had proven ineffective, which Frieze blamed on decentralized faculty control.
James Burrill Angellbecame president in 1871 and would remain in the post for nearly four decades.His tenure would be remembered as the most successful in the university's history.Tappan's reforms in the 1850s set the university on a path to becoming an elite institution, but it was Angell who completed that transformation.Shortly after his arrival, University Hall was completed and dedicated.During his presidency, he restored campus discipline,resolved the long-standing homeopathy problem,led non-denominational church services,broadened the curriculum,raised entrance and graduation requirements,and persuaded the legislature to increase state aid.Angell's tenure saw the addition of many extracurricular activities, such as theintercollegiate football teamand themarching band.Though a reformer, Angell was not authoritarian; he encouraged open debate and aimed for near-unanimous agreement before implementing changes, rather than pushing through with only a narrow majority.In 1871-72,Charles Kendall Adamsfirst introduced the Germanseminarmethod of study, marking its first use in America.In 1875, the university founded theCollege of Dental Surgery, followed by the establishment of theCollege of PharmacybyAlbert B. Prescottin 1876. That year, the university awarded its firstDoctor of Philosophydegrees: toVictor C. Vaughanin chemistry and William E. Smith in zoology.They were among the first doctoral degrees to be conferred in the nation.The university remained the only institution in the state to grant PhD degrees until the late 1940s.Ann Arbor's scholarly reputation grew during this period due to the contributions of the university's intellectual community, which included philosophers likeJohn Dewey,Charles Horton Cooley,George Herbert Mead, andRobert Ezra Park.By the turn of the 19th century, the university was the nation's second largest after Harvard inCambridge, Massachusetts.
With his presidency, Angell focused the university on preparing a new generation of secular leaders in public service.Angell himself was frequently called upon by the White House for diplomatic missions.In 1880, U.S. PresidentRutherford Hayesappointed him as Minister to China, where he successfully negotiated an immigration treaty that increased Chinese student enrollment.Later, in 1887, 1896, and 1897,Grover Clevelandappointed him to fisheries and waterways commissions.That same year,William McKinleynamed him Envoy Extraordinary to Turkey.By the late 19th century, the university had gained an international reputation, partly due to Angell's diplomatic efforts.During this period, over 80 subjects of theEmperor of Japanwere sent to Ann Arbor to study law as part of the opening of that empire to external influence.The university was also involved in building thePhilippineeducation, legal, and public health systems during the era of American colonization of the Philippines, thanks to the efforts of Michigan alumni, includingDean Conant WorcesterandGeorge A. Malcolm.Among the early students in the School of Medicine wasJose Celso Barbosa, who graduated as valedictorian in 1880, becoming the first Puerto Rican to earn a university degree in the United States.Ida Graygraduated from theSchool of Dentistryin June 1890, becoming the first African-American woman dentist in the United States.In the early 20th century, the university emerged as a preferred option for Jewish students pursuing secular education due to quotas on Jewish admissions at denominational colleges, and it has since become a haven for the Jewish-American academic community.Angell retired in 1909, and seven years later, he died in thePresident's House, which had been his home for forty-five years.His successor,Harry Burns Hutchins, who was once his student, would lead the university throughWorld War Iand theGreat Influenza epidemic.
In 1910,Harry Burns Hutchinsassumed the presidency, becoming the first alumnus to hold that position.He had spent seven years inIthaca, New York, where he was called byAndrew Dickson WhiteandCharles Kendall Adamsto establish theCornell Law School.Hutchins then became the dean of the law school at his alma mater, where he introduced thecase methodof instruction.Hutchins was acting president when Angell was absent.During his presidency, Hutchins established theGraduate School,doubled enrollment,and increased the faculty.He secured more state aid and alumni support to fund the university's capital needs,including the gothic Law Quadrangle,Martha Cook Building,Hill Auditorium, andMichigan Union, which became campus landmarks. Hutchins enhanced the university health service,but wartime distractions plagued his presidency. The influenza epidemic, which caused student deaths from poor care, deeply troubled him.Well-liked by the regents who encouraged him to remain president, nonetheless, Hutchins retired in 1920.
The 1920s at the university were marked by the brief tenures of two presidents,Marion LeRoy BurtonandClarence Cook Little.In 1920, when Burton assumed office, a conference on higher education took place at the university, resulting in the establishment of theAssociation of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.Under his leadership, construction boomed on campus,and enrollments increased,propelled by the prosperous economy of theRoaring Twenties. He initiated the annual honors convocation,introduced the deans' conference,and increased university income.The proposal for establishing a nonsectariandivinity schoolon campus came after strong advocacy fromCharles Foster Kentand received unanimous backing from nearby churches.The school was short-lived and was quietly shelved in 1927.Burton fell ill in 1924 and died in 1925.In this emergency, President Emeritus Hutchins was called by the regents to assist, withAlfred Henry Lloydserving as acting president until Little's arrival.Clarence Cook Little was elected president in 1925,advocating for individualized educationand reforming curricula, particularly for women.Little proposed a curriculum division after two years to address knowledge gaps, leading to the University College proposal, which was ultimately abandoned after his resignation in 1929.
Following Little's resignation,Alexander Grant Ruthven, an alumnus, was elected president by unanimous vote.He would lead the university through theGreat DepressionandWorld War II.Under Ruthven's leadership, the university administration became more decentralized with the creation of the university council, various divisions, and a system of committeesFor years, the university was a backwater in theoretical physics. Nonetheless, this changed under department headHarrison McAllister Randall, who brought theoristsSamuel Goudsmit,George Uhlenbeck, andOtto Laporteonto the faculty.Goudsmit mentored famous students at the university, includingRobert BacherandWu Ta-You, the Father of Chinese Physics, who in turn taughtZhu Guangyaand two Nobel laureates,Chen Ning YangandTsung-Dao Lee. From 1928 to 1941, the Summer Symposium in Theoretical Physics featured renowned physicists likeNiels Bohr,Werner Heisenberg,Paul Dirac, andErwin Schrödinger, with at least fifteen attendees being Nobel laureates or future laureates.Wolfgang Pauliheld a visiting professorship at the university in 1931.Stephen Timoshenkocreated the first U.S. bachelor's and doctoral programs in engineering mechanics when he was a faculty professor at the university. In 1948, shortly after World War II, the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project was established to honor the hundreds of lives lost from the university during the war.Funded by numerous contributors, including theFord Motor Company, the Phoenix Project operated theFord Nuclear Reactor, which established the nation's first academic program in nuclear science and engineering.
In 1951,Harlan Hatchersucceeded Ruthven and served as president until 1968, overseeing the construction of North Campus, the founding ofFlint Senior College, and the establishment of theDearborn Center.The tenures of Hatcher and his successor,Robben Wright Fleming, were marked by a sharp rise in campus activism, highlighted by the increase in political dissent linked to theCivil Rights Movementand theVietnam War.In 1963, a controversial admission policy known as "affirmative action" was introduced.It was a radical measure originated byHobart Taylor Jr., aimed at boosting Black student enrollment at elite universities.In 1964, a group of faculty hosted the nation's first "teach-in" against U.S. foreign policy in Southeast Asia, attended by thousands of students.Subsequentsit-insby campus groups prompted administrative crackdowns, escalating tensions among radicals.This included a notable incident involving the Jesse James Gang, an offshoot ofStudents for a Democratic Society, which took an on-campus military recruiter hostage.Meanwhile, Hatcher controversially dismissed three professors for their refusal to cooperate withJoseph McCarthy'sHouse Un-American Activities Committeeduring his tenure.Hatcher's successor, Robben Wright Fleming, an experienced labor negotiator, guided the university through a turbulent era of activism.Unlike some other universities, Michigan did not experience violent outbreaks during this period.In 1970, two years after the assassination ofMartin Luther King Jr., a strike organized by theBlack Action Movementresulted in the university agreeing to several demands for minority support.In 1971, theSpectrum Centerwas founded as the nation's oldest collegiateLGBT student center.Meanwhile, support among students formarijuana legalizationwas gaining traction on campus, as highlighted by the annualHash Bashrally that began in 1972.Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, campus unrest began to affect the university's academic standing, which had been ranked among the top five in the nation.This standing started to decline during Fleming's tenure. Campus unrest persisted duringHarold Tafler Shapiro's presidency, which began in 1980, fueled by controversies surrounding the anti-missileStrategic Defense Initiativeand investments inSouth Africa.
PresidentJames Duderstadtwould succeed Shapiro and remain president until 1996.He facilitated achievements in the campus's physical growth and fundraising efforts. Duderstadt's successor,Lee Bollinger, conducted several major construction projects like the School of Social Work buildingand the Tisch Hall, named in honor of alumnusPreston Robert Tisch.In 2003, two lawsuits involving the university's affirmative action admissions policy reached the U.S. Supreme Court:Grutter v. BollingerandGratz v. Bollinger. In 2002, the university elected its first female president,Mary Sue Coleman, by unanimous vote.Throughout her presidency, Michigan's endowment saw continued growth, accompanied by a major fundraising drive known as "The Michigan Difference".The Coleman's administration faced labor disputes with the university's labor unions, notably with the Lecturers' Employees Organization and the Graduate Employees Organization.In the early 2000s, the university faced declining state funding, prompting suggestions for privatization.Despite being a state institution de jure, it adopted private funding models.A 2008 legislative panel further recommended converting it to a private institution due to its minimal ties to the state.Mark Schlisselsucceeded Coleman in 2014. Before his firing in 2022, Schlissel expanded financial aid offerings,enhanced international engagement,and raised student diversity.He also led initiatives in biosciencesand the arts.The university's 15th and current president,Santa Ono, was elected in 2022.
The founding of the University of Michigan in the 19th century was influenced by the transatlanticRepublic of Letters, an intellectual community that spanned Europe and the Americas.Key figures, such asHenry Philip Tappan, were instrumental in aligning the university with the ideals championed by the intellectual community, including liberty, reason, and scientific inquiry.Alumni and faculty from Michigan, likeAndrew Dixon White, carried these ideals forward as they shaped other institutions.Notably, Cornell alumniDavid Starr JordanandJohn Casper Brannerlater introduced these concepts toStanford Universityin the late 19th century.Early university leaders likeJames Burrill Angellcontributed to establishing other universities by sharing their insights.AlongsideCharles William Eliotof Harvard, Andrew D. White of Cornell, andNoah Porterof Yale, Angell was heavily involved in the early period ofJohns Hopkins Universityas an advisor to the trustees and recommendedDaniel Coit Gilmanas the first president of the wealthy new foundation.Clark Kerr, the first chancellor of theUniversity of California, Berkeley, referred to Michigan as the "mother of state universities."
The University of Michigan's campus in Ann Arbor is divided into four main areas: the Central Campus area, the North Campus area, the North Medical Campus area, and Ross Athletic Campus area. The campus areas include more than 500 major buildings,with a combined area of more than 37.48 million square feet (860 acres; 3.482 km).The Central and Athletic Campus areas are contiguous, while the North Campus area is separated from them, primarily by theHuron River.The North Medical Campus area was developed on Plymouth Road, with several university-owned buildings for outpatient care, diagnostics, and outpatient surgery.
All four campus areas are connected by bus services, the majority of which connect the North and Central campus areas. There is a shuttle service connecting the University Hospital, which lies between North and Central campus areas, with other medical facilities throughout northeastern Ann Arbor.
There is leased space in buildings scattered throughout the city, many occupied by organizations affiliated with the University of Michigan Health System. In addition to the University of Michigan Golf Course on Ross Athletic Campus, the university operates a second golf course on Geddes Road called Radrick Farms Golf Course.The university also operates a large office building called Wolverine Tower in southern Ann Arbor. The Inglis House is an off-campus facility, which the university has owned since the 1950s. The Inglis House is a 10,000-square-foot (930 m) mansion used to hold various social events, including meetings of the Board of Regents, and to host visiting dignitaries.Another major off-campus facility is theMatthaei Botanical Gardens, which is located on the eastern outskirts of the City of Ann Arbor.
The original Central Campus spanned 40 acres (16 ha), bordered by North University Avenue, South University Avenue, East University Avenue, and State Street. The master plan was developed byAlexander Jackson Davis. The first structures built included four Greek Revival faculty residences in 1840,as well as Mason Hall (1841–1950)and South College (1849–1950),which functioned as both academic spaces and dormitories. Only one of the original faculty residences remains today; it has been renovated in the Italianate style to serve as thePresident's House,making it the oldest building on campus.The Chemical Laboratory,built byAlbert Jordanin 1856 and operational until 1980, was notable for housing the nation's first instructional chemistry lab. After the completion of the Old Medical Building (1850–1914)and the Law Building (1863–1950),an open space known asThe Diagbegan to take shape. Among the prominent structures on the original Central Campus was University Hall (1872–1950),designed by alumnusEdwin Shannon Jennison.
The Central Campus today, however, bears little resemblance to its 19th-century appearance, as most of its structures were constructed in the early 20th century.These structures are predominantly the works ofAlbert Kahn, the university's supervising architect during that period.In 1909, RegentWilliam L. Clementsbecame chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, leading to Albert Kahn's growing influence in the University's architectural development. Clements, impressed by Kahn's work on his industrial projects and residence inBay City, awarded him multiple university commissions and appointed him as the university's supervising architect. The West Engineering Hall (1910), Natural Science Building (1915), and General Library (1920) were all designed by Kahn. During a period of limited construction funding, these structures exhibited a simple design with minimal ornamentation. However, Kahn'sHill Auditorium(1913), adequately funded by Regent Arthur Hill, features extensive Sullivanesque ornamentation and excellent acoustic design, which was rare for that period.
Beginning in 1920, the university received greater funding for construction projects, thanks to president Burton's fiscal persuasiveness with the legislature, propelled by a prosperous economy. This allowed campus buildings to be constructed in a grand manner. Kahn's Italian RenaissanceClements Library(1923), Classical GreekAngell Hall(1924), and Art DecoBurton Memorial Tower(1936) all feature unusual and costly materials and are considered some of his most elegant university buildings. The last of Kahn's university commissions was the Ruthven Museums Building (1928), designed in the Renaissance style.
Other architects who contributed to the Central Campus includeSpier & Rohns, who designed Tappan Hall (1894) and the West Medical Building (1904);Smith, Hinchman and Grylls, the architects of the Chemistry Building (1910) and East Engineering Building; andPerkins, Fellows and Hamilton, who designed University High School (1924). TheMichigan Union(1919) and Michigan League (1929), completed by alumniIrving Kane PondandAllen Bartlit Pond, house the university's various student organizations. Alumni Memorial Hall, funded by contributions from alumni in memory of the University's Civil War dead, was completed byDonaldson and Meier. It was designated as theUniversity Museum of Artin 1946.
The area just south of The Diag is predominantly Gothic in character, contrasting with the classical designs prevalent in many of Kahn's university buildings. TheMartha Cook Building(1915), completed byYork and Sawyer,Samuel Parsons, andGeorge A. Fullerin 1915, draws inspiration from England'sKnole HouseandAston Hall. It was one of the university’s early women’s residences. York and Sawyer also designed the Law Quadrangle, which features a flagstone courtyard by landscape architect Jacob Van Heiningan. The Lawyers' Club, part of the quadrangle, includes a clubhouse, dining hall, and dormitory, modeled after English clubs with anElizabethan-stylelounge and a dining hall inspired by the chapels ofEaton. The Law Library's main reading room showcases craftsmanship from theRockefeller Church of New York. Following its completion, nearby buildings like the School of Education Building, byMalcomson and Higginbotham, and Emil Lorch's Architecture and Design Building adopted Gothic elements reflecting the style of the Law Quadrangle and Martha Cook Residence.
The Central Campus is the location of theCollege of Literature, Science and the Arts. Most of the graduate and professional schools, including theLaw School,Ross School of Business,Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and theSchool of Dentistry, are on Central Campus. Two main libraries,Hatcher Graduate LibraryandShapiro Undergraduate Library, as well as the university's manymuseums, are also on Central Campus.
The North Campus area built independently from the city on a large plot of farmland—approximately 800 acres (3.2 km)—that the university bought in 1952.ArchitectEero Saarinendevised the early master plan for the North Campus area and designed several of its buildings in the 1950s, including theEarl V. Moore School of Music Building.The North Campus Diag features a bell tower calledLurie Tower, which contains a grand carillon.The university's largest residence hall,Bursley Hall, is in the North Campus area.
The North Campus houses the College of Engineering, theSchool of Music, Theatre & Dance, theStamps School of Art & Design, theTaubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and an annex of theSchool of Information.The campus area is served by Duderstadt Center, which houses the Art, Architecture and Engineering Library. Duderstadt Center also contains multiple computer labs, video editing studios, electronic music studios, an audio studio, a video studio, multimedia workspaces, and a 3D virtual reality room.Other libraries located on North Campus include theGerald R. Ford Presidential Libraryand theBentley Historical Library.
Ross Athletic Campus is the site for the university's athletic programs, including major sports facilities such asMichigan Stadium,Crisler Center, andYost Ice Arena. The campus area is also the site of the Buhr library storage facility, Revelli Hall, home of theMichigan Marching Band, the Institute for Continuing Legal Education,and the Student Theatre Arts Complex, which provides shop and rehearsal space for student theatre groups.The university's departments of public safety and transportation services offices are located on Ross Athletic Campus.
The University of Michigan Golf Course is located south of Michigan Stadium. It was designed in the late 1920s byAlister MacKenzie, the designer ofAugusta National Golf ClubinAugusta, Georgia, home of theMasters Tournament.The course opened to the public in 1931 and has one of "the best holes ever designed by Augusta National architect Alister MacKenzie" according to the magazineSports Illustratedin 2006.
The University of Michigan is governed by theBoard of Regents, established by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837. It consists of eight members, elected at large in biennial state electionsfor overlapping eight-year terms.Before the Office of President was established in 1850, the University of Michigan was directly managed by the appointed regents, with a rotating group of professors responsible for carrying out day-to-day administrative duties.TheConstitution of the State of Michigan of 1850restructured the university's administration. It established the Office of the President and transitioned the Board of Regents to an elected body. The state constitution granted the Board of Regents the power to appoint a non-voting presiding president to lead their meetings,effectively elevating the board to the level of a constitutional corporation independent of the state administration and making the University of Michigan the first public institution of higher education in the country so organized. As of 2021–22, the Board of Regents is chaired by Jordan B. Acker (B.A. '06).
The Board of Regents delegates its power to theuniversity presidentwho serves as the chief executive officer responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the university, that is, the main campus in Ann Arbor. The president retains authority over the branch campuses inDearbornandFlintbut is not directly involved in their day-to-day management. Instead, two separate chancellors are appointed by the president to serve as chief executive officers overseeing each branch campus. All presidents are appointed by the Board of Regents to serve five-year terms, at the board's discretion, and there are no term limits for university presidents. The board has the authority to either terminate the president's tenure or extend it for an additional term.
The university's current president isSanta Ono, formerly the president of theUniversity of British Columbiain Canada. After an extensive presidential search conducted by the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, the board announced its selection of Santa Ono as the university's 15th president on July 13, 2022.Ono assumed office on October 14, 2022, succeeding the outgoing presidentMark Schlissel.Ono is the firstAsian Americanpresident of the university, as well as the second to have been born in Canada, since the 10th president,Harold Tafler Shapiro.Laurie McCauleyhas been serving as the 17th and current provost of the university since May 2022, and she was recommended by the president to serve a full term through June 30, 2027.
ThePresident's House, located at 815 South University Avenue on the Ann Arbor campus, is theofficial residenceand office of the University President. Constructed in 1840, the three-story Italianate President's House is the oldest surviving building on the Ann Arbor campus and aUniversity of Michigan Central Campus Historic Districtcontributing property.
The Central Student Government, housed in theMichigan Union, is the university'sstudent government. As a 501(c)(3) independent organization, it represents students from all colleges and schools, manages student funds on campus, and has representatives from each academic unit. The Central Student Government is separate from the University of Michigan administration.
Over the years, the Central Student Government has led voter registration drives,revived Homecoming events,changed a football seating policy,and created a Student Advisory Council for Ann Arbor city affairs.A longstanding goal of the Central Student Government has been to create a student-designated seat on the Board of Regents.In 2000 and 2002, students Nick Waun, Scott Trudeau, Matt Petering, and Susan Fawcett ran for the Board of Regents on the statewide ballot as third-party nominees, though none were successful.A 1998 poll by the State of Michigan concluded that a majority of voters would approve adding a student regent position if put to a vote.However, amending the composition of the Board of Regents would require a constitutional amendment in Michigan.
In addition to the Central Student Government, each college and school at the University of Michigan has its own independent student governance body. Undergraduate students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts are represented by the LS&A Student Government.Engineering Student Government manages undergraduate student government affairs for the College of Engineering. Graduate students enrolled in the Rackham Graduate School are represented by the Rackham Student Government, and law students are represented by the Law School Student Senate as is each other college with its own respective government. In addition, the students who live in the residence halls are represented by the University of MichiganResidence Halls Association, which contains the third most constituents after Central Student Government and LS&A Student Government.
In the fiscal year 2022–23, theState of Michiganspent $333 million on the university, which represents 3.03% of its total operating revenues of $11 billion.The university is the second-largest recipient of state appropriations for higher education in Michigan for 2022-23, trailingMichigan State University($372 million).The Office of Budget and Planning reports thatMichigan Medicine's auxiliary activities are the largest funding source, contributing $6.05 billion to the Auxiliary Funds, which accounts for 55.1% of the total operating budget.Student tuition and feescontributed $1.95 billion to the General Fund, accounting for 11% of the total budget.Research grants and contracts from theU.S. federal governmentcontributed $1.15 billion to the Expendable Restricted Funds, accounting for 10.4% of the total budget.
The university's current (FY 2022–23) operating budget has four major sources of funding:
The university'sfinancial endowment, known as the "University Endowment Fund", comprises over 12,400 individual funds.Each fund must be spent according to the donor's specifications.Approximately 28% of the total endowment is allocated to support academic programs, while 22% is designated for student scholarships and fellowships.Approximately 19% of the endowment was allocated to Michigan Medicine and can only be used to support research, patient care, or other purposes specified by donors.
As of 2023, the university's endowment, valued at $17.9 billion, ranks as the tenth largest among all universities in the country.The university ranks 86th in endowment per student.Thelaw school's endowment, totaling over $500 million, has a significantly higher per-student value compared to that of its parent university.It ranks as the eighth wealthiest law school in the nation in 2022.
There are thirteen undergraduate schools and colleges.By enrollment, the three largest undergraduate units are theCollege of Literature, Science, and the Arts, theCollege of Engineering, and theRoss School of Business.At the graduate level, theRackham School of Graduate Studiesserves as the central administrative unit of graduate education at the university.There are 18 graduate schools and colleges.Professional degreesare conferred by theTaubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, theSchool of Nursing, theSchool of Dentistry, theLaw School, theMedical School, and theCollege of Pharmacy.Michigan Medicine, the university's health system, comprises the university's three hospitals, dozens of outpatient clinics, and many centers for medical care, research, and education.
U.S. News & World Reportrates Michigan "Most Selective"and The Princeton Review rates its admissions selectivity of 96 out of 99.Admissions are characterized as "more selective, lower transfer-in" according to the Carnegie Classification.Michigan received over 83,000 applications for a place in the 2021–22 freshman class, making it one of the most applied-to universities in the United States.Of those students accepted to Michigan's Class of 2027, 7,050 chose to attend.
Admission is based on academic prowess, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities. The university's admission process isneed-blindfor domestic applicants.Admissions officials consider a student's standardized test scores, application essay and letters of recommendation to be important academic factors, with emphasis on an applicant's academic record and GPA, while ranking an applicant's high school class rank as 'not considered'.In terms of non-academic materials as of 2022, Michigan ranks character/personal qualities and whether the applicant is a first-generation university applicant as 'important' in making first-time, first-year admission decisions, while ranking extracurricular activities, talent/ability, geographical residence, state residency, volunteer work, work experience and level of applicant's interest as 'considered'.Some applicants to Music, Theatre and Dance and some applicants to theCollege of Engineeringmay be interviewed.A portfolio is required and considered for admission for Art, Architecture and theRoss School of Business.Submission of standardized test scores is recommended but not compulsory.Of the 52% of enrolled freshmen in 2023 who submitted SAT scores; the middle 50 percent Composite scores were 1350–1530. Of the 18% of the incoming freshman class who submitted ACT scores; the middle 50 percent Composite score was between 31 and 34.
Since the fall of 2021, the university has had the largest number of students in the state, surpassingMichigan State University's former enrollment leadership.Given the state's shrinking pool of college-age students, there is public concern that the university's expansion could harm smaller schools by drawing away good students.Some of the state's regional public universities and smaller private colleges have already seen significant declines in enrollment, while others face difficulties in maintaining enrollment figures without lowering admission standards.
The university experienced an unexpected surge in student enrollment for the 2023 academic year, having admitted more students than it could support.Thisover-yieldsituation has placed considerable strain on student housing affordability, heightened faculty members' workloads, and stretched resources thin.The university is now embracing a steady-state admissions management strategy aimed at maintaining a stable class size.
TheHorace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, the graduate school of the University of Michigan, received a total of 19,098 applications for admission into its doctoral programs for the 2023 admission year, encompassing the Summer and Fall terms.The school extended offers of admission to 2,816 applicants, representing 14.75% of the applicant pool.Subsequently, 1,233 of the offers were accepted, resulting in a yield rate of 43.79% for the academic year.Applicants may submit multiple applications to different doctoral programs and receive multiple offers, but can only matriculate into one program at a time. Doctoral programs that are not administered by Rackham are not included in the statistics.
The selectivity of admissions to doctoral programs varies considerably among different disciplines, with certain highly competitive fields exhibiting acceptance rates in the single digits. For instance, in 2023, the field ofBusiness Administrationadmitted only 5.2% of its 519 applicants. Similarly, the field of Sociology had a selectivity rate of 5.01%, selecting from a pool of 439 applicants. The field of Psychology was even more competitive, with a selectivity rate of 4.1% out of 805 applicants. Other traditionally highly competitive fields include Philosophy, Public Policy & Economics, Political Science, and Robotics.
In August 1841, the university first published its admission requirements for incoming freshmen. These criteria placed a strong emphasis on proficiency inancient languages, particularlyLatinand Greek.Prospective students faced an examination process that assessed their knowledge across various subjects, including arithmetic, algebra, English grammar, geography,Latin literature(Virgil and Cicero's Select Orations), Greek literature (Jacob's or Felton's Greek Reader),Latin grammar(Andrews and Stoddard's), and Greek grammar (Sophocles's).
A decade later, the university made a significant change to its admission policy. In 1851, it introduced a more flexible approach by waiving the ancient language requirement for students not pursuing the traditional collegiate course and allowing admission without examination in classical languages for these students.This adjustment can be viewed as a prelude toscientific education, signaling a gradual shift from the classical curriculum to a more diverse and modern academic offering.
In the early days of the university, the admission requirements varied across different departments, and most admissions were based on referrals. However, in 1863, a standardizedentrance examinationwas introduced, establishing a single set of qualifications for admission to all academic and professional departments.The university administration at the time praised the implementation of this entrance examination, recognizing its contribution to enhancing the admission process.This entrance examination played a crucial role in the admission process throughout the 19th century until the introduction of nationwidestandardized tests.
In 2003, two lawsuits involving U-M'saffirmative actionadmissions policy reached theU.S. Supreme Court(Grutter v. BollingerandGratz v. Bollinger). U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bushpublicly opposed the policy before the court issued a ruling.The court found that race may be considered as a factor in university admissions in all public universities and private universities that accept federal funding, but it ruled that a point system was unconstitutional. In the first case, the court upheld the Law School admissions policy, while in the second it ruled against the university's undergraduate admissions policy.The debate continued because in November 2006, Michigan voters passedProposal 2, banning most affirmative action in university admissions. Under that law, race, gender, and national origin can no longer be considered in admissions.U-M and other organizations were granted a stay from implementation of the law soon after that referendum. This allowed time for proponents of affirmative action to decide legal and constitutional options in response to the initiative results. In April 2014, the Supreme Court ruled inSchuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Actionthat Proposal 2 did not violate the U.S. Constitution. The admissions office states that it will attempt to achieve a diverse student body by looking at other factors, such as whether the student attended a disadvantaged school, and the level of education of the student's parents.
Among all first-time freshmen students who enrolled at the university in fall 2017, 82.0% graduated within four years (by August 31, 2021); 10.2% graduated in more than four years but in five years or less  (after August 31, 2021 and by August 31, 2022); 1.1% graduated in more than five years but in six years or less (after August 31, 2022 and by August 31, 2023).The percentage of undergraduate students from the fall 2022 cohort returning in fall 2023 was 98.0% for full-time freshman students.
The university offers 133 undergraduate majors & degrees across the College of Engineering (18), College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (77), College of Pharmacy (1), Ford School of Public Policy (1), LSA Residential College (3), Marsal Family School of Education (3), Ross School of Business (1), School of Dentistry (1), School of Information (2), School of Kinesiology (3), School of Music, Theatre & Dance (16), School of Nursing (1), School of Public Health (2), Stamps School of Art & Design (2), and Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning (2). The most popular undergraduate majors, by 2021 graduates, were computer and information sciences (874), business administration and management (610), economics (542), behavioral neuroscience (319), mechanical engineering (316), experimental psychology (312).
TheHorace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studiesoffers more than 180 graduate degree programs in collaboration with fourteen other schools and colleges. Nineteen graduate and professional degree programs, including thejuris doctor,master of business administration,doctor of dental surgery,master of engineering,doctor of engineering,doctor of medicine, anddoctor of pharmacy, are offered exclusively by the schools and colleges; Rackham does not oversee their administration. The university conferred 4,951 graduate degrees, and 709 first professional degrees in 2011–2012.
The university is listed among the leading suppliers of undergraduate and graduate alumni toSilicon Valleytech firms.In 2015, the university ranked 6th on the list of top feeder schools forGoogle, which employed over 500 graduates at the time. The university ranked 10th on the list of top feeder schools forMeta.Google and Meta remain the university's first and second top employers in 2024.
The university has ranked 3rd overall ininvestment bankinganalystplacements, according to data from Terrain Analytics.This ranking is based on 216 total hires of graduates from 2008 to 2023 who secured positions within the United States, including 74 placements at elite firms such asGoldman Sachs,Morgan Stanley,JPMorgan Chase,Evercore, andCenterview Partners.The ranking adjusts to 8th place when accounting for the size of the undergraduate population.The university also ranked 3rd overall in recruiting for undergraduatemanagement consultingjobs, with 102 graduates from 2014-2020 securing positions at theBig Threefirms:McKinsey,BCG, andBain.
In 2022,Michigan Rossranked 11th among all business schools in the United States according to Poets & Quants, with its MBA graduates earning an average starting base salary of $165,000 and an average sign-on bonus of $30,000.
In academia, the university ranks among the five most common institutions for doctoral training, alongsideUC Berkeley,Harvard, theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, andStanford. Together, these universities have trained one in eight tenure-track faculty members currently serving at institutions of higher learning across the nation.
TheU.S. Department of Educationreports that as of June 2024, federally aided students who attended University of Michigan-Ann Arbor had a median annual income of $83,648 (based on 2020-2021 earnings adjusted to 2022 dollars) five years after graduation.This figure exceeds both the midpoint for 4-year schools of $53,617 and theU.S. real median personal incomeof $40,460 for the year 2021 adjusted to 2022 dollars.Federally aided bachelor's graduates from the university's largest program, computer and information science, which had over 950 students in the 2020-21 cohort, had a median annual income of $153,297 five years after graduation.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Education,lawtops the list of most valuablefirst professional degreesoffered by the university when ranked by earnings potential in 2022, with its federally aided students earning a median salary of $197,273 five years after graduation.Dentistry($158,677),pharmacy($142,224), andmedicine($134,187) follow behind in that order.
The fields ofbusiness administration($140,827),economics($108,627),mathematics($107,395), andstatistics($105,494) are among the bachelor's degree programs with the highest earning potential offered by the university.In 2022, the university's federally aided students in these programs were earning median salaries exceeding the $100,000 threshold five years after graduation.Additionally, various engineering disciplines such ascomputer engineering($123,120),aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering($113,025),industrial engineering($109,239),electrical, electronics and communications engineering($109,107),mechanical engineering($101,514),chemical engineering($100,000) are among the top-earning majors.Computer sciences($153,297) andinformation science($125,257) also fall into this high-earning category.
TheUniversity of Michigan library systemcomprises nineteen individual libraries with twenty-four separate collections—roughly 13.3 million volumes as of 2012.The university was the original home of theJSTORdatabase, which contains about 750,000 digitized pages from the entire pre-1990 backfile of ten journals of history and economics, and has initiated a book digitization program in collaboration withGoogle.TheUniversity of Michigan Pressis also a part of the library system.
Several academic journals are published at the university:
The University of Michigan is a large, four-year, residential research university accredited by theHigher Learning Commission.The four-year, full-time undergraduate program comprises the majority of enrollments and emphasizes instruction in the arts, sciences, and professions with a high level of coexistence between graduate and undergraduate programs. The university has "very high" research activity and the comprehensive graduate program offers doctoral degrees in the humanities, social sciences, andSTEM fieldsas well as professional degrees in medicine, law, and dentistry.The university has been included onRichard Moll's list ofPublic Ivies.
The 2021U.S. News & World ReportBest Colleges report ranked the university 3rd among public universities in the United States.Michigan was ranked 6th in the 2021U.S. News & World ReportBest Undergraduate Engineering Programs Rankings.Michigan was ranked 3rd in the 2021U.S. News & World ReportBest Undergraduate Business Programs Rankings.The 2020Princeton ReviewCollege Hopes & Worries Survey ranked Michigan as the No. 9 "Dream College" among students and the No. 7 "Dream College" among parents.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor was ranked 26th among world universities in 2023 by theAcademic Ranking of World Universities, based on the number of alumni or staff asNobel laureatesandFields Medalists, the number of highly cited researchers, the number of papers published inNatureandScience, the number of papers indexed in theScience Citation Index ExpandedandSocial Sciences Citation Index, and the per capita academic performance of the institution.
The 2024 edition of theCWUR Rankingsranked the university 13th nationally and 16th globally, with an overall score of 89.1, taking into account all four areas evaluated by CWUR: education, employability, faculty, and research.The university excels in research (ranked 9th globally), measured by the total number of research papers (10% weight), the number of research papers appearing in top-tier journals (10% weight), the number of research papers appearing in highly-influential journals (10% weight), and the number of highly-cited research papers (10% weight).However, its ranking in the faculty category is relatively lower at 63rd globally. This metric evaluates the number of faculty members who have received prestigious academic distinctions (10% weight).The university's employability ranking is 42nd globally, based on the professional success of the university's alumni, measured relative to the institution's size (25% weight).In the education category, the university is ranked 35th globally. This metric assesses the academic success of the university's alumni, measured relative to the institution's size (25% weight).
In the 2025QS World University Rankings, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor was ranked 44th in the world, its lowest position in 10 years, with an overall score of 79.The university excels in academic reputation (97.9), international research network (95.8), employment outcomes (94.5), and employer reputation (92.1), indicating a strong academic standing and industry recognition. However, it lags in areas like international faculty ratio (65.5), sustainability (62.2), citations per faculty (47.6), and international students ratio (39.2). The faculty-student ratio (80.3) is decent but could be improved.
The University of Michigan is one of the twelve founding members of theAssociation of American Universities, a consortium of the leading research universities in North America. The university manages the fourth-largest research budget of any university in the United States, with total R&D expenditures of $1.925 billion in 2023.The federal government was the main source of funding, with grants from theNational Science Foundation,National Institutes of Health,NASA,Department of Defense,Department of Energy,Department of Transportation, andNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), collectively accounting for over half of the research volume.
The university has been featured in multiple bibliometric rankings that assess its impact on academic publications throughcitation analysis. TheUniversity Ranking by Academic Performancefor 2023–24 has positioned the university at 16th globally.Additionally, in 2024, thePerformance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universitiesranked it 13th worldwide.The university has a significant presence in theNature Index, ranking 6th nationally and 23rd globally among research institutions, with a share of 365.97 and a count of 1199 in 2022.The university boasted 28 researchers who were recognized byClarivateas being highly cited in 2023.In 2019, the university had 120 faculty members who were national academy members, placing it 10th among its peers in this metric.
The university is also home to major research centers inoptics, reconfigurable manufacturing systems,wireless integrated microsystems, and social sciences. The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and theLife Sciences Instituteare located at the university. The university is a major contributor to the medical field with theEKGand thegastroscope.
TheUniversity of Michigan Institute for Social Research, the nation's longest-standing laboratory for interdisciplinary research in the social sciences,is home to the Survey Research Center, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Center for Political Studies, Population Studies Center, and Inter-Consortium for Political and Social Research. Undergraduate students are able to participate in various research projects through theUndergraduate Research Opportunity Program(UROP) as well as the UROP/Creative-Programs.
In 2009, the university signed an agreement to purchase a facility formerly owned byPfizer. The acquisition includes over 170 acres (0.69 km) of property, and 30 major buildings comprising roughly 1,600,000 square feet (150,000 m) of wet laboratory space, and 400,000 square feet (37,000 m) of administrative space. At the time of the agreement, the university's intentions for the space were not fully articulated, but the expectation was that the new space would allow the university to ramp up its research and ultimately employ in excess of 2,000 people.
The university's 13,000-acre (53 km)biological stationin theNorthern Lower Peninsula of Michiganis one of only 47Biosphere Reservesin the United States.In May 2021, the university announced plans to cut carbon emissions from its campuses. The plan covers all of its operations and goals include removing emissions from direct, on-campus sources by 2040.
TheAmerican National Election Studies, formally established by aNational Science Foundationgrant in 1977, has been based at the University of Michigan since its origin and, since 2005, has been run in partnership withStanford University. As of 2017, the principal investigators are Ted Brader andVincent Hutchingsof the University of Michigan andShanto Iyengarof Stanford University.
In the late 1960s the university, together withMichigan State UniversityandWayne State University, founded theMerit Network, one of the first university computer networks.The Merit Network was then and remains today administratively hosted by the university. In 1987, they led a proposal to upgrade and expand theNational Science Foundation Networkbackbone from 56,000 to 1.5 million, and later to 45 million bits per second.
In 2006, the university joined with Michigan State University and Wayne State University to create theUniversity Research Corridor.The three universities are connected via the high-speed Michigan LambdaRail (MiLR) data network, providing 10 Gbit/s links between their campuses and other major network hubs.
In January 2025, the University of Michigan ended its partnership withShanghai Jiao Tong University.
As of October 2023, the university had an enrollment of 52,065 students: 33,730undergraduate studentsand 18,335graduate studentsThe largest college at the university was theCollege of Literature, Science, and the Artswith 21,973 students (42.2% of the total student body), followed by theCollege of Engineering(11,113; 21.3%) andRoss School of Business(4,433; 8.1%). All other colleges each hosted less than 5% of the total student population.
Students come from all 50U.S. statesand nearly 100 countries.As of 2022, 52% of undergraduate students were Michigan residents, while 43% came from other states. The remainder of the undergraduate student body was composed of international students.Of the total student body, 43,253 (83.1%) were U.S. citizens or permanent residents and 8,812 (16.9%) were international students as of November 2023.
In terms ofrace, as of October 2023 the undergraduate student body was approximately 53%White, 17%Asian, 7%Hispanic, 4%Black, 5% from two or more races, and 5% from an unknown racial composition. The remaining 8% of undergraduates were international students.
According to a 2017 report by the New York Times, the median family income of a student at Michigan was $154,000. 66% of students came from families within the top 20% in terms of income.As of 2022, approximately 23% of in-state undergraduate students and 14% of out-of-state students received aPell Grant.
The University of Michigan's campus housing system can accommodate approximately 10,000 students.The residence halls are located in three distinct geographic areas on campus: Central Campus, Hill Area (between Central Campus and the University of Michigan Medical Center) and North Campus. Family housing is located on North Campus and mainly serves graduate students. The largest residence hall has a capacity of 1,270 students,while the smallest accommodates 25 residents.A majority of upper-division and graduate students live in off-campus apartments, houses, andcooperatives, with the largest concentrations in the Central and South Campus areas.
By 2012, the university had 1,438 student organizations.The student body is politically engaged, though, with 96% stating they intended to vote in the 2020 election. It is largely progressive, with 43% identifying as very liberal, 33% as somewhat liberal, and 13% moderate. 11% identified as conservative or very conservative.With a history of student activism, some of the most visible groups include those dedicated to causes such ascivil rightsandlabor rights, such as local chapters ofStudents for a Democratic Societyand United Students Against Sweatshops. Conservative groups also organize, such as theYoung Americans for Freedom.
There are also several engineering projects teams, including theUniversity of Michigan Solar Car Team, which has placed first in theNorth American Solar Challengesix times and third in theWorld Solar Challengefour times.Michigan Interactive Investments,the TAMID Israel Investment Group, and the Michigan Economics Societyare also affiliated with the university.
The university also showcases many community service organizations and charitable projects, includingFoundation for International Medical Relief of Children, Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan,The Detroit Partnership,Relay For Life, U-M Stars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, InnoWorks at the University of Michigan, SERVE, Letters to Success, PROVIDES,Circle K,Habitat for Humanity,and Ann Arbor Reaching Out.Intramural sportsare popular, and there are recreation facilities for each of the three campuses.
The Michigan Union and Michigan League are student activity centers located on Central Campus; Pierpont Commons is on North Campus. The Michigan Union houses a majority of student groups, including the student government. The William Monroe Trotter House, located east of Central Campus, is a multicultural student center operated by the university's Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs.The University Activities Center (UAC) is a student-run programming organization and is composed of 14 committees.Each group involves students in the planning and execution of a variety of events both on and off campus.
TheMichigan Marching Band, composed of more than 350 students from almost all of U-M's schools,is the university'smarching band. Over 125 years old (with a first performance in 1897),the band performs at every home football game and travels to at least one away game a year. The student-run and ledUniversity of Michigan Pops Orchestrais another musical ensemble that attracts students from all academic backgrounds. It performs regularly in theMichigan Theater. TheUniversity of Michigan Men's Glee Club, founded in 1859 and thesecond oldestsuch group in the country, is a men's chorus with over 100 members.Its eight-member subseta cappellagroup, theUniversity of Michigan Friars, which was founded in 1955, is the oldest currently runninga cappellagroup on campus.The University of Michigan is also home to over twenty other a cappella groups, including Amazin' Blue, The Michigan G-Men, andCompulsive Lyres, all of which have competed at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) finals in New York City. Compulsive Lyres are the first and only group from Michigan to claim an ICCA title, having won in 2002.The Michigan G-Men are one of only six groups in the country to compete at ICCA finals four times, one of only two TTBB ensembles to do so, and placed third at the competition in 2015.Amazin' Blue placed fourth at ICCA finals in 2017.
The University of Michigan also has over 380 cultural and ethnic student organizations on campus.These range the Arab Student Association to Persian Student Associationto African Students Associationto even the Egyptian Student Association.
Fraternities and sororitiesplay a role in the university's social life; approximately seven percent of undergraduate men and 16% of undergraduate women are active in the Greek system.Four different Greek councils—the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council,National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Panhellenic Association—represent most Greek organizations. Each council has a different recruitment process.
National honor societies such asPhi Beta Kappa,Phi Kappa Phi, andTau Beta Pihave chapters at U-M.Degrees "with Highest Distinction" are recommended to students who rank in the top 3% of their class, "with High Distinction" to the next 7%, and "with Distinction" to the next 15%. Students earning a minimum overall GPA of 3.4 who have demonstrated high academic achievement and capacity for independent work may be recommended for a degree "with Highest Honors", "with High Honors", or "with Honors".Those students who earn all A's for two or more consecutive terms in a calendar year are recognized as James B. Angell Scholars and are invited to attend the annual Honors Convocation, an event which recognizes undergraduate students with distinguished academic achievements.
The University of Michigan hosts three secret societies: Michigauma, Adara, and the Vulcans. Michigauma and Adara were once under the umbrella group "The Tower Society", the name referring to their historical locations in the Michigan Union tower. Michigauma was all-male while Adara was all-female, although both later became co-ed.
Thestudent newspaperisThe Michigan Daily, which was founded in 1890 and is editorially and financially independent from the university.The Dailypublishes daily online content and a weekly print edition. Theyearbookis theMichiganensian, founded in 1896. Other student publications at the university include the conservativeMichigan Reviewand theGargoyle Humor Magazine.
WCBN-FM(88.3 FM) is the student-runcollege radiostation which plays infreeform format. WOLV-TV is the student-run television station that is primarily shown on the university's cable television system. WJJX was previously the school's student-run radio station. Acarrier currentstation, it was launched in 1953.
Violent crime is rare on campus, though there have been a few notorious cases, includingTheodore Kaczynski's attempted murder of professorJames V. McConnelland research assistant Nicklaus Suino in 1985. In 2022,David DePape, the man convicted of attackingPaul Pelosi, who is the husband of former U.S. House SpeakerNancy Pelosi, targetedGayle Rubin, an associate professor of anthropology and women’s studies at the university.DePape testified during his trial that he hoped to use Nancy and Paul Pelosi in an effort to get to Gayle Rubin.
A radical left-wing militant organizationWeather Undergroundwas founded at the university in 1969.It was later designated a domestic terrorist group by theFBI.
In 2014, the University of Michigan was named one of 55 higher education institutions under investigation by the Office of Civil Rights "for possible violations of federal law over the handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints." PresidentBarack Obama'sWhite House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assaultwas organized for such investigations.Seven years later, in 2021, the university attracted national attention when a report commissioned by the university was released that detailed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against doctorRobert Andersonwho reportedly abused at least 950 university students, many of whom were athletes, from 1966 to 2003.Several football players from that time say football coachBo Schembechlerignored and enabled the abuse and told players to "toughen up" after being molested.Schembechler reportedly punched his then 10-year-old son Matthew after he reported abuse by Anderson.Following the exposure of a similar history of abuse atOhio State University, male survivors of both Anderson at Michigan and Strauss at Ohio State spoke out to combat sexual abuse.The University of Michigan settled with the survivors for $490 million.
The university's athletics history dates back to the late 19th century, with thebaseball teamfounded in 1866, thefootball teamestablished in 1879, and themen's tennis teamoriginating in 1893. The university currently boasts 29 varsity intercollegiate sports, including 14 men's teams and 15 women's teams.Since January 2016,Warde Manuelhas served as the 12th athletics director.
In 1896, the university became a founding member of the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, which later evolved into the Western Conference (1896–1899) and eventually became known as theBig Ten Conference(since 1950). However, it was voted out of the conference in April 1907. Following a nine-year absence, the university rejoined the conference in 1917. Since its reinstatement, the university's intercollegiate sports teams, known as the "Wolverines," have participated in the Big Ten Conference in most sports, with the exception of thewomen's water polo team, which competes in theCollegiate Water Polo Association. The teams compete at theNCAA Division Ilevel in all sports, including Division IFBSin football. The teams share the nickname "Wolverines" with several other collegiate athletic teams in the country, such as theUtah Valley Wolverines, theGrove City Wolverines, and theMorris Brown Wolverines.
In 1909-10, college football faced a safety crisis as injuries spiked despite earlier reforms. The presidents of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton attempted to implement moderate changes to improve player safety and prevent government intervention. However, their efforts were met with resistance from the rules committee and the newly formedIntercollegiate Athletic Association.In 1926 Harvard entered into an agreement to play football against the University of Michigan instead of Princeton, threatening the 'Big Three' relationship due to previous rough games with Princeton. By the 1930s, the 'Big Three' was restored and expanded into theIvy Leaguein 1939.
TheRay Fisher Stadium, constructed in 1923, serves as the home venue for thebaseball team. TheAlumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium, formerly known as the Varsity Diamond, is the home field for the university'ssoftball team. TheYost Ice Arena, opened in 1923, is the home arena for themen's ice hockey team. TheCrisler Center, opened in 1967 and previously known as the University Events Building and Crisler Arena, serves as the home venue for the men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's gymnastics team. ThePhyllis Ocker Field, constructed in 1995 and built partially on the site of Regents Field, is the home venue for the university's field hockey teams.
Michigan Stadium, opened in 1927, serves as the home venue for the football team. With an official capacity of 107,601, the stadium is thethird-largest sports stadium in the world.The extra seat in the stadium's capacity is said to be "reserved" for former head coachFritz Crisler.Prior to the construction of Michigan Stadium in 1927, the football team played their home games atRegents Field. In 1902,Dexter M. Ferrydonated land adjacent to Regents Field, and the entire complex was renamedFerry Field. Ferry Field served as the home stadium for the football team until the opening of Michigan Stadium. Today, Ferry Field serves as a tailgating space for Michigan Stadium during football games.
The Michigan fight song, "The Victors", was written by student Louis Elbel in 1898. The song was declared byJohn Philip Sousato be "the greatest college fight song ever written."The song refers to the teams as being "the Champions of the West". At the time, the Big Ten Conference was known as the Western Conference.
Although mainly used at sporting events, the Michigan fight song is often heard at other events as well. U.S. PresidentGerald Fordhad it played by theUnited States Marine Bandas his entrance anthem during his term as president from 1974 to 1977, in preference over the more traditional "Hail to the Chief",and the Michigan Marching Band performed a slow-tempo variation of the fight song athis funeral.The fight song is also sung during graduation commencement ceremonies. The university's alma mater song is "The Yellow and Blue". A common rally cry is "Let's Go Blue!" which has a complementary short musical arrangement written by former students Joseph Carl, a sousaphonist, and Albert Ahronheim, adrum major.
Before "The Victors" was officially the university's fight song, the song "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" was considered to be the school song.After Michigan temporarily withdrew from the Western Conference in 1907, a new Michigan fight song, "Varsity", was written in 1911 because the line "champions of the West" was no longer appropriate.
TheMichigan footballprogram ranks first in NCAA history in total wins (1,004 through the end of the 2023 season) and tied for 1st among FBS schools in winning percentage (.734).The team won the firstRose Bowl gamein1902. the university had 40 consecutive winning seasons from 1968 to 2007, including consecutivebowl gameappearances from 1975 to 2007.The Wolverines have won a record 45 Big Ten championships. The program claims 12national championships,most recently winning the2024 National Championship Game,and has produced threeHeisman Trophywinners:Tom Harmon,Desmond Howard, andCharles Woodson.
Themen's ice hockey team, which plays at Yost Ice Arena, has won ninenational championships.
Themen's basketballteam, which plays at the Crisler Center, has appeared in fiveFinal Foursand won thenational championshipin 1989. The program also voluntarily vacated victories from its 1992–1993 and 1995–1999 seasons in whichillicit payments to playerstook place, as well as its 1992 and 1993 Final Four appearances.The men's basketball team has most recently won back-to-back Big Ten Tournament Championships.
More than 250 Michigan athletes or coaches have participated inOlympicevents,and as of 2021 its students and alumni have won155 Olympic medals.Through the2012 Summer Olympics, 275 Michigan students and coaches had participated in the Olympics, winning medals in eachSummer Olympic Gamesexcept 1896, and winning gold medals in all but four Olympiads. the university's students/student-coaches (e.g., notably, Michael Phelps) have won a total of185 Olympic medals: 85 golds, 48 silvers, and 52 bronzes.
In 10 of the past 14 years concluding in 2009, the university has finished in the top five of theNACDA Director's Cup, a ranking compiled by theNational Association of Collegiate Directors of Athleticsto tabulate the success of universities in competitive sports. The university has finished in the top 10 of the Directors' Cup standings in 21 of the award's 29 seasons between1993–2021and has placed in the top six in nine of the last 10 seasons.
The university is also home to several public and research museums including but not limited to theUniversity Museum of Art,University of Michigan Museum of Natural History,Detroit Observatory,Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry, and the LSA Museum of Anthropological Archaeology.
Kelsey Museum of Archeologyhas a collection of Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern artifacts.Between 1972 and 1974, the museum was involved in the excavation of thearchaeological siteofDibsi Farajin northernSyria.The Kelsey Museum re-opened November 1, 2009, after a renovation and expansion.
The collection of the University of Michigan Museum of Art include nearly 19,000 objects that span cultures, eras, and media and include European, American, Middle Eastern, Asian, and African art, as well as changing exhibits. The Museum of Art re-opened in 2009 after a three-year renovation and expansion.UMMA presents special exhibitions and diverse educational programs featuring the visual, performing, film and literary arts that contextualize the gallery experience.
The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History began in the mid-19th century and expanded greatly with the donation of 60,000 specimens byJoseph Beal Steerein the 1870s. The building also houses three research museums: the Museum of Anthropology, Museum of Paleontology. Today, the collections are primarily housed and displayed in the Ruthven Museums Building which was completed in 1928.
TheZion Masonic Lodgefunded the university's first academic building in the 1810s.Two-thirds of the total funding to establish the university was contributed by theMasonic lodgeand its members.Since then, private donors have become an important source of funding for the university. Among the individuals who have made significant donations commemorated at the university areWilliam Wilson Cook,Dexter Mason Ferry, theFord family, theNichols family, theMarsal Family, theTisch Family,William Erastus Upjohn,John Stoughton Newberry,Clara Harrison Stranahan,William K. Brehm,William Morse Davidson,A. Alfred Taubman,Penny W. Stamps, andRonald Weiser. TheZell Family Foundation, led by Sam and Helen Zell, has donated a total of $152 million to the university over the years.Stephen M. Rossmade a $200 million donation to the business school and athletic campus in 2013.Ross made a separate $100 million contribution to the university in 2004.Charles Mungerpledged $110 million in 2013 for a graduate residence and fellowships.In 2024, the Hong Kong-basedLi Ka Shing Foundationendowed a professorship at the university to support research in biomedical engineering.
The university employs 8,189 faculty members,of whom 3,195 are tenured or on a tenure track.Among them, there are 37 members of theNational Academy of Sciences,62 members of theNational Academy of Medicine,30 members of theNational Academy of Engineering,89Sloan Research Fellows,17Guggenheim Fellows,99 members of theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences,and 17 members of theAmerican Philosophical Society.The university's current and former faculty includes thirteenNobel laureates, eightPulitzer Prizewinners, and oneJohn Bates Clark Medalrecipient.
Current faculty include physicistsMark NewmanandCtirad Uher; mathematiciansHyman Bass,Sergey Fomin,William Fulton,Robert Griess, andMelvin Hochster; Pulitzer Prize-winning historianHeather Ann Thompson;National Medal of SciencerecipientsHuda AkilandRobert Axelrod; biostatisticianGonçalo Abecasis; philosophersElizabeth S. Anderson,Allan Gibbard, andPeter Railton; and social psychologistRichard E. Nisbett. The faculty also includes feminist legal theoristCatharine MacKinnon,Strict Scrutinyco-hostLeah Litman, engineerJames P. Bagian, andA. Galip Ulsoy, co-inventor of theReconfigurable Manufacturing System.
Philosophers who were members of the faculty includeJohn Dewey(central figure inpragmatism),George H. Mead(key figure in the development of pragmatism), and moral philosopherWilliam Frankena. The faculty included notable writers such as Nobel Prize-winning essayistJoseph Brodsky, Pulitzer Prize-winning poetW. H. Auden, andRobert Frost, the only poet to receive four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.
Notable faculty in physics have includedMartin L. Perl, discoverer of thetau lepton;Donald A. Glaser, the inventor of thebubble chamber;Samuel GoudsmitandGeorge Uhlenbeck, discoverers ofelectron spin;Juris UpatnieksandEmmett Leith, inventors of3D holography;Gérard Mourou, inventor ofchirped pulse amplification; andH. Richard Crane, who was called "one of the most distinguished experimental physicists of the 20th century".Wolfgang Pauli, a pioneer ofquantum physics, served as a visiting professor at the university in 1931 and again in 1941. Other distinguished physicists who have served on the faculty includeMartinus Veltman,Martin Lewis Perl,Carl Wieman, andCharles H. Townes. Notable mathematiciansRaoul Bott,Richard Brauer,Samuel Eilenberg(co-founder ofcategory theory),Frederick Gehring,Herman Goldstine, andAnatol Rapoporthave all served on the faculty.
In medicine, notable individuals who have served on the faculty include the former director of theNational Institutes of HealthFrancis Collins, the developer of thepolio vaccineJonas Salk, Nobel Prize–winning physiologistCharles B. Huggins, co-discoverer oftumour-inducing virusesPeyton Rous, geneticistJames V. Neel, neuroanatomistElizabeth C. Crosby, and co-discoverer ofrestriction enzymesHamilton O. Smith.
Past faculty have also included "the founding father of 21st-century sociology"Charles Tilly, chemical engineerDonald L. Katz, Supreme Court justiceHenry Billings Brown, Pulitzer Prize-winning composerLeslie Bassett, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographerDavid C. Turnley, Nobel Prize–winning economistLawrence R. Klein, andJohn Bates Clark MedalrecipientKenneth E. Boulding.
Michigan alumni include nineNobel laureates,oneAbel Prizewinner, twoFields Medalists, 31MacArthur Fellows, and 35Pulitzer Prize winners. By alumni count, Michigan ranks fifth as of 2018,among all universities whose alumni have won Pulitzers.
The university boasts several holders or candidates of theUnited States presidency, includingGerald Ford,the 38th president and the Republican Party's nominee for president in1976;Thomas E. Dewey,who was theRepublican Party's nominee for president in both1944and1948;Arthur LeSueur, aSocialistcandidate for president in1916;Gilbert Hitchcock, aDemocraticcandidate in1928;Arthur Vandenberg, a Republican presidential hopeful in 1948;Ben Carson,a Republican candidate in2016; andLarry Elder, a Republican candidate in2024.John Worth KernandBurton K. Wheelerboth ran for thevice presidency, with Kern representing the Democratic Party alongsideWilliam Jennings Bryanin1908, and Wheeler as aProgressive Party's nominee withRobert La Follette Sr.in1924.
Among the 23 formergovernors of Michiganwho hold formal college degrees, 10 are graduates of the university. (Woodbridge N. Ferrisonly attended for a year) As of 2021, the university has matriculated 63U.S. governorsor lieutenant governors, including former Governor of MichiganRick Snyder,first femalelieutenant governor of MissouriHarriett Woods, and formerGovernor of CaliforniaCulbert Olson.More than 250 Michigan graduates have served aslegislatorsas either aUnited States Senator(48 graduates) or as aCongressional representative(over 215 graduates), including formerHouse Majority LeaderDick Gephardt,U.S. RepresentativeJustin Amash.FormerLos Angeles MayorRichard Riordan,formerChicago MayorLori Lightfoot,andDetroit MayorMike Dugganare also Michigan graduates.
Michigan graduates have held a range of cabinet-level positions, includingUnited States Secretary of State(William Rufus Day);United States Secretary of the Treasury(George M. Humphrey);United States Attorney General(Harry Micajah Daugherty);United States Secretary of the Interior(Kenneth Lee Salazar);United States Secretary of Agriculture(Clinton Anderson,Julius Sterling Morton,Arthur M. Hyde,andDan Glickman);United States Secretary of Commerce(Roy D. ChapinandRobert P. Lamont);United States Secretary of Health and Human Services(Tom Price); and Director of theUnited States Office of Management and Budget(Rob Portman). Multiple alumni served in the judicial branch of the U.S. government, including William Rufus Day,Frank Murphy,andGeorge Sutherland,all of whom served asSupreme Court justices. As of 2019, the university has placed onto various State Supreme Courts over 125 graduates, 40 of whom served as Chief Justice.
Foreign alumni include thePrime Minister of Singapore(Lawrence Wong); the current ruler of theEmirate of Ras Al Khaimah(Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi); the 51stPrime Minister of Italy(Lamberto Dini); thePrime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda1994–2004 (Lester Bird); the 47thPresident of Costa Rica(Luis Guillermo Solís); thePrime Minister of Peru1993–1994 (Alfonso Bustamante); thePrime Minister of Jordan2012–2016 (Abdullah Ensour); the 13thPresident of Pakistan(Arif Alvi);Chief Secretary of Hong Kong2007–2011 (Henry Tang Ying-yen);Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea2017–2018 (Kim Dong-yeon);Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgariain the government of Boyko Borisov (Simeon Djankov); Deputy Prime Minister ofMadagascar1997–1998 (Herizo Razafimahaleo). BritishMembers of ParliamentTerry DavisandHoward Flightare also Michigan graduates. As of 2022, Michigan has matriculated 64 Ambassadors who served as Ambassador in more than 72 countries.
Many alumni have made significant contributions to the fields of engineering and technology, including "father ofinformation theory"Claude Shannon;Turing AwardwinnersEdgar Codd,Stephen Cook,Frances E. Allen, andMichael Stonebraker; andNational Academy of EngineeringmemberClarence "Kelly" Johnson.The university produced numerous developers and original authors of widely recognized software programs, such asThomas Knoll(original author ofAdobe Photoshop);Mike Engelhardt(original author ofLTspice);Niels Provos(creator ofBcrypt); andSid Meier(creator of video games seriesCivilization).
Michigan alumni have founded or cofounded companies such asAlphabet Inc.(Larry Page),Johnson & Johnson(Edward Mead Johnson),Stryker Corporation(Homer Stryker),Loews Corporation(Preston Robert Tisch),Devon Energy(J. Larry Nichols),Merrill Lynch(Charles Edward Merrill),Science Applications International Corporation(J. Robert Beyster),Rocket Mortgage(Gary Gilbert),Domino's Pizza, Inc.(Tom Monaghan),H&R Block(Henry W. Bloch),Related Companies(Stephen M. Ross),Admiral Group(Henry Engelhardt),Five Guys Enterprises(Jerry Murrell),Dart Container Corporation(William A. Dart),Groupon(Eric LefkofskyandBrad Keywell),EQ Office(Samuel Zell),Saba Capital(Boaz Weinstein),Barracuda Networks(Dean Drako),Munger, Tolles & Olson(Charlie MungerandRonald L. Olson),Club Quarters(Ralph Bahna), andSkype(Niklas Zennström).
The university counts several patriarchs of influential business dynasties, includingGeorge Gettyof the renownedGetty family. The university also boasts a number of graduates from affluent families, including heirs and heiresses to major fortunes, such asJosiah K. Lilly Jr.(heir toEli Lilly and Company);Charles Rudolph Walgreen Jr.(heir toWalgreens);John Gideon Searle(heir toG. D. Searle);Doug MeijerandHank Meijer(heirs toMeijer);Christopher Ilitch(heir toIlitch Holdings, Inc.); andKenneth B. Dart(heir toDart Container Corporation).Raoul Wallenberg, a member of the prominentWallenberg family, one of thewealthiest family in the world, studied at the university in 1931.
As of May 2024, about 2.8% of allFortune 1000executives with MBAs are alumni fromMichigan Ross, ranking it as the 6th highest among all business schools in the United States.Alumni have led several companies, includingBerkshire Hathaway(Charlie Munger),Ford(James Hackett),General Motors(Roger Smith,Frederick Henderson, and Richard C. Gerstenberg),State Farm Insurance(Jon Farney),Citigroup(John C. Dugan),Tencent(Martin Lau),The Boeing Company(Edgar Gott),Wells Fargo(Timothy J. Sloan),Allstate Corp.(Thomas J. Wilson),American Airlines(Robert Isom),PNC Financial Services(William S. Demchak),General Mills(Stephen Sanger),Turkish Airlines(Temel Kotil),International Paper(John V. Faraci),KB Financial Group(Euh Yoon-dae),Chrysler Group LLC(C. Robert Kidder),BorgWarner Inc.(Timothy M. Manganello),Bunzl(Michael Roney),Celanese(David N. Weidman),JetBlue(Dave Barger),Restaurant Brands International(J. Patrick Doyle), andBain Capital(Edward Conard).
Notable writers who attended U-M include playwrightArthur Miller,essayistsSusan Orlean,Jia Tolentino,Sven Birkerts, journalists and editorsMike Wallace,Jonathan ChaitofThe New Republic, Indian author and columnistAnees Jung,Daniel Okrent,andSandra Steingraber, food criticsRuth ReichlandGael Greene, novelistsBrett Ellen Block,Elizabeth Kostova,Marge Piercy,Brad Meltzer,Betty Smith,andCharles Major, screenwriterJudith Guest,Pulitzer Prize-winning poetTheodore Roethke, National Book Award winnersKeith WaldropandJesmyn Ward, composer/author/puppeteerForman Brown,Alireza Jafarzadeh(a Middle East analyst, author, and TV commentator), and memoirist and self-help book authorJerry Newport.
Musical graduates include operatic sopranoJessye Norman,singerJoe Dassin, multiple members of the bandsTally HallandVulfpeck, jazz guitaristRandy Napoleon, andMannheim SteamrollerfounderChip Davis.Well-known composers who are alumni includeFrank Ticheli,Andrew Lippa, and the Oscar and Tony Award-winning duoBenj Pasek and Justin Paul. Pop superstarMadonnaand rock legendIggy Popattended but did not graduate.
InHollywood, famous alumni include actorsMichael Dunn,Darren Criss,James Earl Jones,andDavid Alan Grier;actressesLucy Liu,Gilda Radner,andSelma Blairas well as television directorMark Cendrowskiand filmmakerLawrence Kasdan.Many Broadway and musical theatre actors, includingGavin Creel,Andrew Keenan-Bolger, his sisterCelia Keenan-Bolger, andTaylor Loudermanattended U-M for musical theatre. Emmy Award winnerSanjay Guptaattended both college and medical school at the university.Conservative punditAnn Coulteris another U-M law school graduate (J.D. 1988).
U-M athletes have starred inMajor League Baseball, theNational Football LeagueandNational Basketball Associationas well as in other professional sports. Notable among recent players isTom Bradyof theNew England Patriotsand theTampa Bay Buccaneers.Three players have won college football'sHeisman Trophy, awarded to the player considered the best in the nation:Tom Harmon(1940),Desmond Howard(1991), andCharles Woodson(1997).Professional golferJohn Schroederand Olympic swimmerMichael Phelpsalso attended the University of Michigan; the latter studied Sports Marketing and Management. Phelps also swam competitively forClub Wolverine, a swimming club associated with the university.Israeli Olympic swimmerGal Cohen Groumihas also competed for the Wolverines. TheCanada national team'sShelina Zadorskyplayed soccer at the University of Michigan.
National Hockey LeagueplayersMarty Turco,Luke Hughes,Quinn Hughes,Chris Summers,Max Pacioretty,Carl Hagelin,Dylan Larkin,Zach Hyman,Brendan Morrison,Jack Johnson, andMichael Cammalleriall played for U-M's ice hockey team. MLB Hall of FamersGeorge SislerandBarry Larkinalso played baseball at the university.Several team owners have been alumni, including multiple-team ownerBill Davidson(NBADetroit Pistons, NHLTampa Bay Lightning, WNBADetroit Shock, among others) and NFL ownersStephen M. Ross(Miami Dolphins),Preston Robert Tisch(New York Giants), andRalph Wilson(Buffalo Bills).
Activists associated with the university includeWeather Undergroundradical activistBill Ayers,activistTom Hayden,architectCharles Moore,Swedishhero of the HolocaustRaoul Wallenberg,Civil War GeneralBenjamin D. Pritchard,assisted-suicide advocateJack Kevorkian, and domestic eco-terroristTed Kaczynski(The Unabomber).
Several astronauts attended Michigan including the all-U-M crews of bothGemini 4andApollo 15.The university claims the only alumni association with a chapter on the Moon, established in 1971 when the crew ofApollo 15placed a charter plaque for a new U-M Alumni Association on the lunar surface.