University of Michigan–Flint facts for kids
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Former names
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Flint Senior College of the University of Michigan (1956–1964) Flint College of the University of Michigan (1964–1971) |
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| Motto | Artes, Scientia, Veritas |
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Motto in English
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Arts, Knowledge, Truth |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1956 |
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Parent institution
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University of Michigan Board of Regents |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliation
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CUMU |
| Endowment | $150 million (2021) |
| Budget | $142 million (2022-23) |
| Chancellor | Donna Fry (interim) |
| Provost | Yener Kandogan (interim) |
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Academic staff
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568 |
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Administrative staff
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526 |
| Students | 6,418 |
| Undergraduates | 4,995 |
| Postgraduates | 1,423 |
| Location |
,
U.S.
43°01′07″N 83°41′19″W / 43.0185°N 83.6887°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Newspaper | The Michigan Times |
| Colors | Maize and blue |
| Nickname |
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The University of Michigan–Flint (UM-Flint) is a public university located in Flint, Michigan. It started in 1956 as the Flint Senior College. Back then, it was a branch of the University of Michigan. It offered classes for students who had already completed their first two years of college.
Over time, it grew into a full university. It received its own official approval in 1970. After that, its name changed to the University of Michigan–Flint. It still follows the rules set by the University of Michigan Board of Regents.
UM-Flint is one of five universities in Michigan that offer doctoral degrees. It is also part of a group called the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU). This group includes universities in cities like Oakland University, the University of Michigan–Dearborn, and Wayne State University.
Students at UM-Flint play in club sports as the UM-Flint Wolverines. The school's student newspaper is called The Michigan Times. Some famous people who went to UM-Flint include Shari Ballard, a former executive at Best Buy, and Michael Moore, a film director.
Contents
Discovering UM-Flint's Past
How UM-Flint Began (1956–1971)
The idea for a university in Flint came from former Flint mayor C.S. Mott in 1946. He talked to the University of Michigan president about it. Mott promised to give $1 million if the city helped raise more money.
At first, the University of Michigan was not sure about the idea. But they later agreed to create the Flint Senior College of the University of Michigan. It was an extension of the existing Flint Junior College.
The Flint Senior College started classes in 1956. It had 118 full-time students and 49 part-time students. Students could study liberal arts, education, and business. The first students graduated in 1958.
In 1964, the college became a four-year school. It started accepting first-year students. Its name changed to Flint College of the University of Michigan.
In 1970, Flint College received its own accreditation. This meant it was officially recognized as an independent school. In 1971, the university's leaders changed the name to the University of Michigan-Flint. They also named William E. Moran as the first chancellor.
Growing the Campus (1970s and Beyond)
The city of Flint helped UM-Flint get land along the Flint River. In 1972, the C.S. Mott Foundation promised $5 million for a new campus. Temporary buildings were put up in 1972 to help with crowded classes. This pushed the university to move to its current spot by the Flint River.
Construction on the first main building began in 1974. This building was later named David M. French Hall. It included a library and a theater. Other buildings like the Harding Mott University Center and the Recreation Center were finished in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The William S. Murchie Science Building was finished in 1988. In 1994, the library moved to its own building, the Frances Willson Thompson Library. More land and buildings were added in the late 1990s.
Leaders of UM-Flint
Several chancellors have led UM-Flint over the years.
- Juan E. Mestas was chancellor from 1999 to 2009. During his time, the William S. White Building was completed.
- Ruth Person became chancellor in 2008. The first on-campus dorms, First Street Residence Hall, opened in 2008. UM-Flint was the fastest-growing public university in Michigan in 2010.
- Susan E. Borrego became chancellor in 2014. During her time, the university bought the north tower of the Citizens Banking Buildings. The Riverfront Residence Hall was also donated to the university.
- Debasish Dutta became chancellor in 2019.
How UM-Flint is Organized
Leadership and Management
UM–Flint is part of the University of Michigan. It follows the rules of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. The regents choose the president, who leads their meetings. The president then chooses a chancellor to manage the university's daily activities.
List of Chancellors
- William E. Moran (1971 – )
- Juan E. Mestas (September 1999 – July 2009)
- Ruth Person (August 2008 – July 2014)
- Susan E. Borrego (August 2014 – July 2019)
- Debasish Dutta (August 2019 – September 2023)
- Donna Fry (Interim) (August 2023 – June 2024)
- Laurence Alexander (July 2024 - present)
Colleges and Schools
UM-Flint has several colleges and schools where students can study different subjects. These include:
- College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
- College of Health Sciences (CHS)
- School of Education & Human Services (SEHS)
- School of Management (SOM)
- School of Nursing (SON)
- College of Innovation and Technology (CIT)
| College/school | Year founded |
Enrollment (FA 2023) |
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| College of Arts and Sciences | 1955 | 2,003 | |||
| College of Health Sciences | 1982 | 1,011 | |||
| College of Innovation and Technology | 2021 | 938 | |||
| School of Education and Human Services | 1997 | – | |||
| School of Management | 1975 | 967 | |||
| School of Nursing | 2016 | 1,142 | |||
| University of Michigan–Flint* | – | 6,130 | *included other standalone units | ||
Academics and Learning
Applying to UM-Flint
| Admissions statistics | |
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2023 entering
classChange vs. 2018 |
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| Admit rate | 29.5
(
 −36.8) |
| Yield rate | 15.6
(
 −7.4) |
| Test scores middle 50% | |
| SAT Total | 950-1210 (among 64% of FTFs) |
| ACT Composite | 17-29 (among 3% of FTFs) |
UM-Flint is considered "more selective" by U.S. News & World Report. For the class that started in fall 2021, UM-Flint received over 4,000 applications. About 74% of those students were accepted. Of the accepted students, about 17% chose to enroll.
The average scores for students who started in 2021 were:
What Students Can Study
UM-Flint offers many different programs. There are 138 main subjects for Bachelor's degrees. They also offer 43 different graduate programs, including Master's and Ph.D. degrees.
Some of the most popular subjects for undergraduate students in 2021 were:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Health Administration
- Accounting
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- Mechanical Engineering
The university offers a special ABET-accredited degree in mechanical engineering. This means the program meets high quality standards.
Life as a Student
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Living on Campus
In 2004, the university decided to look into having student housing. They found that it would help the campus grow. The first student dorm, the First Street Residence Hall, opened in 2008.
In 2015, the Riverfront Residence Hall was given to the university. This tall building can house up to 500 students.
Student Groups and Activities
There are over 100 student organizations at UM-Flint. These groups cover many interests, like:
- Academic subjects
- Religions
- Cultural backgrounds
- Honors societies
- Club sports
- Fraternities and sororities
- Community service
- Special hobbies
Some of the main student organizations include:
- The Michigan Times: The student newspaper.
- Black Student Union
- Campus Activities Board
- Student Government
Fraternities and Sororities
The university has several fraternities and sororities. These are social groups that often focus on community service and leadership.
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Sororities:
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Fraternities:
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Student Newspaper
The Michigan Times is run by students. It used to win many awards in statewide newspaper contests. The newspaper was printed weekly and was free on campus. In April 2024, it was announced that the newspaper would stop printing due to a lack of student interest.
Student Government
The University of Michigan–Flint Student Government represents the students. They also help manage student funds on campus.
Sports and Athletics
UM-Flint does not have official varsity sports teams that compete against other universities. However, students can join many club sports teams and intramural sports leagues. These teams are called the Wolverines.
Current Club Sports include:
- Men's & Women's Basketball
- Cheer
- Men's Ice Hockey
- Men's & Women's Soccer
- Women's Volleyball
- Softball
In 2013, the men's ice hockey team made it to the national championship game. In 2015, the women's hockey team had a perfect season in their conference.
Well-Known People from UM-Flint
Many notable people have studied or taught at UM-Flint. Some of them include:
- Jim Ananich – A leader in the Michigan Senate.
- John D. Cherry – A former Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.
- Christopher Paul Curtis – A writer who won the Newbery Medal.
- Erin Darke – An actress.
- Michael Moore – A famous documentary film director and author.
- Don Riegle – A former United States Senator from Michigan.
- John Sinclair – A poet and political activist.
