University of Michigan-Flint
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| Motto | Artes, Scientia, Veritas (Latin for "arts, science, truth") |
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| Established | 1956 |
| Type | Public |
| Chancellor | Juan E. Mestas |
| President | Mary Sue Coleman (University of Michigan system) |
| Faculty | 405 |
| Students | 6,188 |
| Undergraduates | 5,620 |
| Postgraduates | 568 |
| Location | Flint, Michigan, USA |
| Campus | Urban, 67 acres (.27 km²) |
| Website | www.umflint.edu |
The University of Michigan-Flint, located in Flint, Michigan, USA, is one of three campuses in the University of Michigan system. It was established in 1956.
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[edit] History
The history of the University of Michigan-Flint began in 1944, when the Flint Board of Education requested that a University of Michigan Extension Office open in Flint. Key area citizens, already planning the cultural center, were interested in the idea of higher education in the community. Three years later, the Regents of the University funded a study exploring the possibilities for higher education in Flint.
The community responded enthusiastically to the study, which called for the establishment of a four-year liberal arts college in Flint comparable to the College of Literature, Science and the Arts on the Ann Arbor campus. The city assisted the university by supplying buildings and land. Local philanthropist Charles Stewart Mott donated money to build a classroom and office building, and the Sponsors Fund of Flint donated funds for operating expenses. Cooperation between the community and the University of Michigan brought about the opening of a two-year senior college (located on the land now occupied by Mott Community College) in 1956, which offered baccalaureate degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and in the professional fields of education and business administration. Approximately 167 junior students enrolled the first semester.
As time passed, there was a call for major changes in the college. The Flint Board of Education proposed that the University of Michigan expand the senior college to a four-year institution. The Board of Regents adopted the proposal in 1964. The first freshman class was admitted the next year making the Flint College the first four-year University of Michigan program offered outside of Ann Arbor.
In 1970, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accredited the Flint College. In 1971, the Regents officially changed the name of the institution to the University of Michigan-Flint. That same year, University of Michigan President Robben Fleming appointed the first Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint, William E. Moran.
Chancellor Moran commissioned an Academic Planning Board to develop a master plan for the university. Responding to the needs of the community, the Board identified major areas of program development for the University, including professional and career-oriented programs.
Subsequent chancellors continued planning for the future growth of the university. These plans led to the establishment of graduate degrees, new academic units, service units, WFUM-TV, and the expansion of the campus into downtown Flint. Through the combined efforts of Flint citizens and city government, the university acquired 42 acres along the Flint River in 1971. The campus occupied its first building in 1977. The general classroom-office building (named the David M. French Hall in 2000) housed a theatre and library. The University Center opened in 1979 and the Recreation Building opened in 1982. Funds for the buildings were derived entirely from substantial private gifts from the community and a limited amount of borrowing to be repaid from future student fee revenues.
As a result of continued growth and strong support from community and state officials, the university has undertaken several major construction projects. In 1988, a student parking area opened and the William R. Murchie Science Building was dedicated. The University of Michigan-Flint took possession of the University Pavilion (formerly Waterstreet Pavilion) from the city in 1991. Many administrative and student services offices moved from locations in French Hall and the University Center, to the upper level of the Pavilion; the University Bookstore relocated to the lower level. As a result of generous donations, the Frances Willson Thompson Library opened in 1994.
In 1997, the campus acquired an additional 25 acres immediately north of the Flint River, where the William S. White Building was completed in 2002. A grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation provided the University with funds to assist with the construction and programming of new facilities on the north site.
The growth and development of campus facilities has centralized nearly all academic, administrative, and public service activities of the University. Still the expansion of the university remains as a work in progress to meet the needs of the community and to foster a collegiate atmosphere for the 6,600 students in pursuit of a quality education.
[edit] Academics
The University of Michigan-Flint comprises the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education and Human Services, School of Health Professions and Studies, and the School of Management.
New schools, degrees, and programs were developed at the University during the 1990s. Several new graduate programs were introduced. The School of Health Professions and Studies (departments of Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Health Care), formed at the beginning of 1989, was reorganized administratively in 1998 with the addition of a dean replacing the coordinator. The School of Education and Human Services (with the departments of Education and Social Work) was established in December 1997 with recommendations coming from the Academic Reorganization Task Force of 1996 report.
The expansion and maturation of the University into a comprehensive university continued into the 1990s under the Academic Plan with developments such as the builing of the Francis Wilson Thompson Library and the development of the Office of University Outreach (including the Center for Educational Telecommunications (e.g. public television), Center for Applied Environmental Research, Office of Community & Business Partnerships, and the Center for Service Learning and School Partnerships).
[edit] Campus
The current campus of the University of Michigan-Flint is composed of a two parcels flanking the Flint River. The property on the northern bank is home to the William S. White Building and the Northbank Center. The property on the southern bank is home to the Murchie Science Building, University Pavilion, David M. French Hall, Harding Mott University Center, and Frances Willson Thompson Library among others. A map of the University Campus can be found here: http://www.flint.umich.edu/discover_UM-Flint/map/index.php
[edit] Student life
[edit] Government
Housed within the Harding Mott University Center, the Student Government Council (UMFSGC) is the sole student government of the University of Michigan-Flint. With at-large representatives, the UMFSGC represents the voice of students, and manages student funds on the campus. The Student Government Council is a member of the state-wide Association of Michigan Universities.
[edit] Organizations
Student life at the University of Michigan-Flint revolves around three major student organizations (these include the Campus Activities Board, The Michigan Times, and Student Government Council), approximately fifty student organizations, and the Greek System. The non-Greek organizations are divided into six groups based on scope. These include Academic Clubs, Cultural Clubs, Honor Societies, Political Clubs, Religious Clubs, and Social Clubs.
[edit] Greek letter organizations (GLO)
The University of Michigan- Flint is home to ten different fraternities and sororites, including six historically Black Greek Letter Organizations that are city-wide chapters (meaning these fraternities/sororities have active membership at University of Michigan-Flint, Kettering University, Baker College and Mott Community College).
Fraternities (Social/Service):
Sororities (Social/Service)
City Wide Fraternities:
City Wide Sororities:
Theta Chi fraternity is a chapter of National Interfraternity Council (NIC), and Phi Sigma Sigma is a chapter of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, and Zeta Phi Beta are all members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).
University of Michigan-Flint's Greek Life celebrates their unity every Winter semester with "Greek Week", in which the members participate in intermural athletic games, and playing games such as "Chubby Bunny", "Egg Toss", and "Quizbowl Challenge".
Previous past Greek groups have included: Delta Phi Epsilon, Kappa Delta Xi and Theta Phi Alpha.
[edit] Alumni
All graduates of the University of Michigan-Flint automatically become members of the Alumni Society of the University of Michigan-Flint, which operates under the umbrella of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.
[edit] Notable people and alumni
- Micheal Moore - Oscar winner and documentarian. Dropped out of UM-Flint after a single semester. He claims it was because he couldn't find a parking space.
- John D. Cherry - Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.
- Dave Robertson - Member of the Michigan House of Representatives.
- Deborah Cherry - Member of Michigan Senate.
