University of Michigan-Flint
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| University of Michigan-Flint | |
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| Motto: | Artes, Scientia, Veritas (Latin for "arts, knowledge, truth") |
| Established: | 1956 |
| Type: | Public |
| Chancellor: | Jack Kay (Interim) |
| President: | Mary Sue Coleman (University of Michigan system) |
| Faculty: | 405 |
| Students: | 6,900 [1] |
| 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
UM-Flint started in 1956 as Flint College, a two-year senior college located on the land now occupied by Mott Community College. It offered baccalaureate degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and in the professional fields of education and business administration. The school admitted its first freshman class in 1964, making it the first four-year University of Michigan program offered outside of Ann Arbor.
Following accreditation of the Flint College by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1970, the Board of Regents officially changed the name of the institution to the University of Michigan-Flint in 1971. That same year, U of M President Robben Fleming appointed the first Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint, William E. Moran. The university built its first downtown building in the late 70s.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, the university began an expansion to offer a larger amount of educational opportunities. In 1988, the William R. Murchie science building was constructed. UM-Flint acquired the University Pavilion (formerly Waterstreet Pavilion) from the City of Flint 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, while the bookstore relocated to the lower level. In 1994, thanks to generous donations, the Frances Willson Thompson library was opened. In 1997, the university acquired 25 acres north of the Flint River where the William S. White building was built in 2002. In 2007, a 310 bed on-campus residence hall proposal was passed with groundbreaking later in the year. The residence hall will open in August 2008. UM-Flint plans to have five more dormatories on campus in the future.
[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 Willson 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, Frances Willson Thompson Library, University Pavilion, the Recreation Center, and Student Housing.
A map of the University Campus can be found here: http://www.umflint.edu/campus_map.htm
[edit] National Recognition
The campus is featured in parts of Michael Moore's 1989 debut film Roger & Me.
In 2000, the University of Michigan-Flint campus hosted Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Al Gore, along with an outdoor performance by pop-rock group the Goo Goo Dolls.
In 2004, the University of Michigan-Flint campus hosted Democratic Presidential hopeful Howard Dean.
The school has been referenced in cartoonist Jef Mallett's nationally syndicated comic strip, Frazz. Mallett is a Michigan native, having worked for local newspaper the Flint Journal earlier in his career.
In 2007, the University of Michigan-Flint held the first annual outdoor MFuse concert. Headliner for this concert voted on by school officials and students brought in Grammy Award winning artist Common. The opening acts included local band and performers.
[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 such as the ACM-IEEE Computer Society (http://acm.umflint.edu/), Cultural Clubs, Honor Societies, Political Clubs, Religious Clubs, and Social Clubs.
[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
- Deborah Cherry - Member of Michigan Senate.
- John D. Cherry - Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.
- Nick Diener and Garrett Burgett, members of punk rock band The Swellers (dropped out in order to tour full-time).
- LaKisha Jones - American Idol Season 6 contestant.
- Bill Kelly - Local politician.
- Correy Lennox - Writer, Activist, Documentarian. Contributed to Eyes of Desire 2 edited by Raymond Luczak.
- Bryan McCree - Comedian
- Michael Moore - Oscar winner and documentarian.
- Jan Worth-Nelson (faculty) - Writer, known as author of self-published fiction novel Night Blind.
- Dave Robertson - Member of the Michigan House of Representatives.
- Judy Rosenthal (faculty) - Writer, Possession, Ecstasy, and Law in Ewe Vodu
- Bruce A. Rubenstein (faculty) - Writer and historian. His works include: Greed, Rage, and Love Gone Wrong: Murder in Minnesota, Chicago in the World Series 1903-2005: The Cubs and White Sox in Championship Play, Michigan: A History of the Great Lakes State, Three Bullets Sealed His Lips, Payoffs in the Cloakroom: The Greening of the Michigan Legislature, 1938-1946.
