Governance and Administration

When the Chronicle of Higher Education published its survey of the best colleges and universities to work for, the University of Michigan—on the list for the third consecutive year—received high marks. Michigan earned praise for confidence in leadership, job satisfaction, and work-life balance, among others. (Read more about the survey in the University Record.

Founded in 1817 in Detroit as “The University of Michigan,” the U-M is the oldest of the 15 public universities in the state of Michigan. Michigan is a highly decentralized institution comprising three campuses—in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint—all governed by a publicly elected Board of Regents.

Leadership is provided by President Mary Sue Coleman and Provost Philip J. Hanlon, a team of executive officers, and the deans of the schools and colleges on all three campuses. Faculty also have a strong voice through the University’s shared governance system.

Teaching and Research

The University of Michigan is a global leader in health, law and public policy, the arts and humanities, science and technology, and many other academic disciplines.

The essence of the University is the academic diversity of our schools and colleges, many of which are among the best in the country, and the degree of interdisciplinary cooperation among them. Our schools of Business, Education, Engineering, Information, Law, Medicine, Music, Nursing, Public Health, and Social Work are ranked among the best in the country.

Students live and study in an atmosphere steeped in languages, ideas, politics, and cultures. Their peers are among the brightest in the nation—and the world—and bring an unrivalled richness to the University. They work alongside the most advanced minds, faculty whose excellence has been rewarded with Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthur Fellowships, and coveted memberships in the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

In the video below, some of the outstanding University of Michigan faculty discuss what they value most.

Campus Life

The story unfolds this way: A former head of state—in this case, the president of Poland—is visiting the University of Michigan as a guest lecturer. Over the course of a week, he joins 110,000 Wolverine fans for a football game at Michigan Stadium, then attends two performances of the Kirov Orchestra as part of a Shostakovich Centennial Festival. Next comes the opening night ofAntony and Cleopatra by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

His reaction: “I feel like I’m in the center of New York City!”

From a campus that inspired Robert Frost, Arthur Miller, and Jessye Norman, the University of Michigan showcases song and dance, literature and politics, drama and art, from our students and from artists drawn to Ann Arbor. Such distinguished guests as President Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, and Christiane Amanpour have inspired and intrigued U-M audiences in recent years.

The resources of our libraries are among the deepest in the country. Our museums and theaters attract world-renowned talent and open a window to science and art. And our playing fields are home to an intercollegiate athletics program known globally for the competitive spirit of the maize and blue.

Working Here

Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the University to create a workplace that is vibrant, stimulating, and fulfilling.

For five consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized U-M as a “Great Colleges to Work For”. In particular, the University earns high marks for diversity, confidence in senior leadership, job satisfaction, facilities and work life balance.

We help build stronger faculty and more creative learning environments through the Centre for Research on Learning and Teaching, the first teaching centre in the country. Staffs enjoy diverse learning opportunities to advance their U-M careers.