Student Life

Renick University Center debuts first floor makeover

lblouin — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:24:39 +0000

Renick University Center debuts first floor makeover lblouin Mon, 03/17/2025 - 07:24

A big chunk of the Renick University Center’s first floor has been closed for renovation since April of last year. If you’ve been wondering what the remodeled space was going to look like, you can now come take it all in. The RUC fully reopened on Monday last week, showcasing a host of improvements, including a lot of U-M-themed branding, a fireplace, plenty of spaces to hang out and study, and new homes for several key campus offices, including Career Services and the Student Advising and Resource Team, or START. Director of Facilities Planning and Construction Emily Hamilton, who oversaw design of the project, says one of the goals was to make the east end of the building, which faces the campus’ large surface parking area, feel more like a front door to the university. “Now, you walk in and it just feels like a more fun place to go to school,” Hamilton says. “It’s more open. You immediately see lounge and hangout spaces. There’s a fireplace and a big ‘Hail to the Victors’ on the wall and some very recognizable colors. You know where you are when you walk in the door.”

Senior Architect and Project Manager Kal Haddad says the RUC renovation went a little "above and beyond" on materials, design and color compared to some other recent projects.

Indeed. The maize and blue and other U-M touches are the driving force behind the aesthetic overhaul. In addition, Hamilton says there were a lot of meaningful changes to the building’s floor plan so some core student services could be relocated to a more convenient location. A couple of the biggest changes: There’s a new shared suite for START, which is moving down from the RUC’s second floor, and Career Services, which was located in Fairlane Center North. In addition, the One-Stop office has a much more open floor plan. The renovated first floor is also gaining several smaller meeting rooms, as well as a large meeting room for hosting tour and orientation groups. To do more with the same amount of space, Hamilton says the team drew on newly adopted compact space guidelines for offices, made considerations for office sharing where it made sense, and stocked communal spaces with moveable furniture so they could easily transition from meeting rooms to lunch rooms. The design team even chose barn door-style office entry doors to eliminate the space that’s needed for conventional inswing doors.

During the design phase, Hamilton says some staff were initially a little anxious about the smaller offices. But now that they’ve seen them in person, people seem totally fine with the smaller footprints. “This is the first time we’ve designed a project with this post-COVID office philosophy in mind,” Hamilton says. “In fact, right now, we’re working on moving the College of Education, Health and Human Services into the Administration Building, and we gave them a tour of the RUC to give them a sense of what the space would feel like. They really liked it, and so I think having this project as an example is helping allay people’s fears about what shrinking your office size actually looks like.”

The new fireplace is the centerpiece of a cozy first floor lounge area.

The Career Services staff is particularly enthusiastic about its move to the heart of campus. Jennifer Macleod, the senior professional development program manager for Career Services, jokes that they’d grown used to correcting students, who assumed Career Services was already located in the RUC. Now that Career Services is actually here, she’s hoping for a lot more drop-in traffic from students. Moreover, the shared space with START will make collaborating even easier. “We’ve done a lot of programming with START over the years and there’s a natural back-and-forth between our two teams,” Macleod says. “A student might be working with us on career coaching, but there is a lot of planning of academics that goes into that, whether it’s changing a major or exploring different majors. So that’s when you need to help students connect with their START advisor, and now, we can basically just walk a student down the hall. Any time you can remove a barrier like that, they’re more likely to follow through and get the help they need.” Similarly, Macleod says it’ll be huge to be able to take students who might be struggling with, say, the stress of a job search, directly up to the staff at Counseling and Psychological Services, which is located on the RUC’s second floor.

Not surprisingly, students are already laying claim to the new hangout and study spaces. Grad students Devraj Amin and Theekshana Vishnu Kumar, who were studying in one of the new lounge areas on Wednesday last week, say they’ve already sought out their favorite spot a couple times. “The furniture is very comfortable and it’s very cozy and classy,” Kumar says. “Everyone enters from here, and when [students] see this place, I think they’ll get more interested. It looks very appealing and eye-catching. I think this will be one of the hotspots to sit and study or hang out. It might be one of the coziest places now.”

The RUC is now packed with different kinds of study spaces for students.

The renovation at the RUC is part of an ongoing multi-phase effort to transform the building, the neighboring Mardigian Library and the space between the two buildings into a central hub for campus. You can read more about this and other major design projects that are in the works in our most recent story on the comprehensive campus plan.

###

Story by Lou Blouin, Cayley Catlett and Ben Vertin. Photos by Annie Barker

Off

Mon, 03/17/2025 - 11:18

A lot of maize and blue branding, a hangout area with a fireplace and new spaces for core student services are some of the highlights of the recent renovation at the RUC, which fully reopened last week.

With lots of new maize and blue design elements, the renovated first floor of the Renick University Center leaves no doubt that you're on a U-M campus.

Wolverine Welcome Day hosts record number of attendees

kbourlie — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:54:31 +0000

Wolverine Welcome Day hosts record number of attendees kbourlie Fri, 08/30/2024 - 16:54

Faculty, staff and university leaders took part in scavenger hunts, selfie stations and more to introduce themselves. Dearborn Wolverines walked throughout campus to check out 125 student organizations booths. And 1,100 new first-year, transfer and graduate students had the opportunity to make new friends. Wolverine Welcome Day and Go Blue Bash, which took place Thursday, is a fall tradition to get new students familiar with campus and excited about this chapter in their lives.

Students pose for a photo with Bruce the Goose at Wolverine Welcome Day.

“I like the vibes, the music,” said first-year engineering student Faisal Abushaban as he waited for festivities to begin. He was looking forward to meeting up with friends from Edsel Ford High School who would be staffing student group tables at the Go Blue Bash later in the afternoon. “Hopefully they can help me get started and know where my classes are,” he said.

Campus Wide & Family Programs Coordinator Jennifer Kowalcyk said 51��Ƶ-Dearborn hosted a record-number of Wolverine Welcome Day attendees this year. “It’s much larger this year — I’ve heard this may be our biggest first-year student class yet,” she said. “This is a great event to get students out to explore campus, learn about resources and see what being a Dearborn Wolverine is all about.”

With many upper-level 51��Ƶ-Dearborn students focused on service and volunteering, there was a new focus added to the day. Civic Engagement Coordinator JaNai' James said each student registered for the Welcome Day of Service was given a t-shirt with a checklist of volunteer opportunities on the back. A group of first-year and returning students checked off one box by helping place native plants around the Environmental Interpretive Center during the event.

“I know that planting those plants, they’re going to stay there for a while and actually make a difference for a little while,” said sophomore Traven Yarbro, who is studying economics and computation. It was Yarbro’s first visit to the EIC, but he enjoys walking around campus and said he will likely add the EIC trails to his outings. “Now that I know there’s trails back there that’s probably where I’ll start going,” he said.

Among other items on the list: Get civically engaged and sign up for a campus volunteer opportunity. “We hope that the shirts invoke some excitement and commitment to continuing to attend and support different volunteer initiatives and activities on campus.” James said. “It’s a fun way to prompt students to ask themselves, ‘How engaged am I?’” She said it's also an opportunity to promote Civic Action Week, which takes place Sept. 16, and National Lands Day, which is Sept. 28. “Our goal is to help students locate a community initiative they are personally passionate about and guide them to becoming community leaders.”

Dean of Students Amy Finley, along with other 51��Ƶ-Dearborn leaders, spoke to students at the event. She said time goes fast — and Wolverine Welcome Day is a first step in a fulfilling journey.

“You’ll look back at this time and be proud of the work you’ve done, the life-long friendships you’ve built and the ways that you’ve grown and changed,” Finley said. “But today, my friends, whether you’re a first-year student, a transfer student or a graduate student — today is the day where you start to feel transformed. Today is the day where you start reaching for the stars, for your dreams. Today is the day where you start figuring out who you are and what you are going to do to help transform our world. Today you truly become a part of our 51��Ƶ-Dearborn community.”

Students ended the day with new connections. “I met a young man early on from Pakistan and he’s awesome,” said first-year CASL student Andi Basnaw, who is from Port Huron and came to the event not knowing any fellow students. Basnaw was looking forward to learning more about the Association of Student Anthropologists and PRIDE at the Go Blue Bash.

Mercy Tum, a software engineering graduate student from Kenya, enjoyed taking in the campus for the first time. “The day has been great,” she said. “I got lost a couple times but thankfully there are a lot of nice people to show you around.”

College of Business first-year student Connor Swank came from Traverse City to join the men’s lacrosse team. “I fell in love when I visited,” he said, noting that he committed to the team the following day. Wolverine Welcome Day and the Go Blue Bash only made him feel more enthusiastic. “Everyone is so welcoming, it’s really cool,” he said. “I have no anxiety. It just feels like home already.”

Story by Sarah Tuxbury and Kristin Palm

Campus Life

New Student Engagement

Student Life

Off

Fri, 08/30/2024 - 20:30

The 51��Ƶ-Dearborn orientation event saw 1,100 participants, added an engagement initiative and connected Dearborn Wolverines to new friendships and activities.

Students arrive at Wolverine Welcome Day. Photos/Annie Barker

Turning the page for literacy

stuxbury — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:25:33 +0000

Turning the page for literacy stuxbury Wed, 10/11/2023 - 13:25

Does how we experience books and the choice of books offered to us influence what sort of reader a person becomes –or whether they become a reader at all? Breaking the Cycle with Books, a new student organization at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, sees the experience of visiting an independent bookstore as a powerful tool to promote literacy.

President Alyamamh Rahimee can personally attest to the method's success. “It just opened doors for me to read more," she says. "And I'm not exaggerating. Before that, I had barely completed a book."

The 51��Ƶ-Dearborn chapter of Breaking the Cycle with Books spun out of the Detroit-based nonprofit founded by Mike Cruz, a 2008 College of Education, Health, and Human Services graduate. Cruz, Rahimee's social studies teacher at Western International High School, launched the program through his classroom and took students on field trips to local bookstores, allowing them to choose any three books they liked for free. Cruz has since expanded the program to provide these field trips for students at other Title I schools in Detroit. The 51��Ƶ-Dearborn student organization works in partnership with Cruz, but operates independently.

"I was one of those students who got to experience Breaking the Cycle with Books," Rahimee says, recounting a field trip Cruz led to Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor. "I wasn't really into reading at that time. And then when I got to go on the field trip, it was such a nice experience. I got to choose whatever I wanted and explore my interests outside of school." She emphasizes that the ability to choose what she wanted to read, not bound to any class assignment or curriculum, made a difference when it came to improving her literacy skills and reading habits.

Among the books she chose was “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone. "It explored racism and how it ultimately ends lives,” she says. “I chose this specifically because it was a topic of interest to me to explore the roots of racism and where it stems from."

The 51��Ƶ-Dearborn club, founded by Rahimee's older sister, Ahlam Rahimee, and led by Alyamamh since Ahlam 2023 graduation, is focused on Breaking the Cycle with Books’ mission “to provide equitable access to literacy for historically underserved youth in an effort to increase high school retention, cultural enhancement and college readiness.” Ahlam Rahimee, a medical assistant at a Dearborn Heights medical center, says the organization also helps people raised in more privileged communities become connected and aware of challenges within underserved ones.

"I saw the potential that it could bring for students at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn," Ahlam Rahimme says. "I noticed many of my classmates would benefit by allowing them to explore and learn from the experience of working with underserved communities and be able to connect with these communities through the love of books.” The older Rahimee sister serves on the executive board of the Breaking the Cycle with Books organization.

Alyamamh Rahimee, who has just begun her first year at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, says she’s eager to extend the experience she received in high school to others. The university’s chapter is still in the planning stages for bookstore excursions; Rahimee says members are working to organize two bookstore trips in the spring. Their current focus is fundraising for larger expenses, such as bus transportation. Members are looking for sponsors and will host two bake sales in the Renick University Center on Oct. 18 and Nov. 1. Looking into the future, Rahimee says she would like to expand the program beyond high school and have their student organization work with elementary and middle schools. Currently, the org is focused on Detroit schools, but the 51��Ƶ-Dearborn student group would like to expand to Dearborn schools too.

Want to help Breaking the Cycle with Books? Rahimee encourages anyone who wants to get involved to get in touch through VictorsLink.

Article by Shaun Manning

Campus Life

Student Life

Off

Wed, 10/11/2023 - 17:23

After a life-changing field trip to a bookstore, Alyamamh Rahimee leads the new student organization Breaking the Cycle with Books.

Alyamamh Rahimee, a first-year 51��Ƶ-Dearborn student, leads the campus chapter of Breaking the Cycle with Books.

Your Guide to Homecoming '23

stuxbury — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:24:47 +0000

Your Guide to Homecoming '23 stuxbury Wed, 09/13/2023 - 16:24

There’s so much to love when it comes to 51��Ƶ-Dearborn in the fall. Campus walks have a scenic background of color-changing leaves. The McKinley Cafe makes pumpkin spiced lattes. You can get cozy with a good book and a weighted blanket (go to the info desk to check one out) at Mardigian Library.

And then there’s our favorite thing about fall at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn: Homecoming.

“Homecoming is a great time for us to come together and show our pride as Dearborn Wolverines,” said Campus Wide & Family Programs Coordinator Jennifer Kowalczyk. “It’s a chance to get out and connect with each other, cheer for our students and make new memories.”

With Homecoming Week starting on Monday, we’ve rounded up some can’t-miss events happening around campus.

Something old — well, traditional

The week of events will consist of campus favorites from years past that will give you a reason to shout “Go Blue!” and get a “Go Dearborn!” in return!

There’s the Cardboard Boat Race at 1 p.m. Monday at Chancellor’s Pond. It’s fun to see how students decorate their boats built out of cardboard and duct tape. And everyone has a good time cheering for boats to stay afloat while their student captains speed across the water

Another mainstay of the week is the Homecoming Tailgate. There will be free food, music, games, prizes and more starting at 5 p.m. Friday on the Renick UC Patio. Prior to the event, you can watch the Women's Ice Hockey team face off against Concordia University at 3 p.m. Following the tailgate, everyone can cheer on the Women's Volleyball team as they take on Madonna University at 7 p.m. Both games are free and in the Fieldhouse.

There’s also word on the maize and blue streets that Bruce the Goose, 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s school spirit friend, is flying in to get photos with fans.

Something new

Traditions are wonderful, but sometimes change is even better.

51��Ƶ-Dearborn has two great hockey teams. So it makes sense for the student vs. alum game to take place on the ice. A rink-based Maize and Blue Broomball game is replacing the Maize and Blue Bowl flag football game. Broomball is similar to ice hockey in its formation and rules, but players — who hold broom-shaped sticks — wear rubber-soled shoes instead of skates and hit a ball instead of a puck. The game will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Fieldhouse.

If you are a student or alum, sign up to play.

Something maize and something blue

Since Homecoming is all about school spirit and getting involved, 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s Maize Fest — which takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday on the RUC patio — showcases many of our campus student organizations . In addition, participants can play games, test their golf prowess with putt putt golf, make Build-A-Bear inspired snuggle friends, and more. While enjoying the atmosphere, you can also grab some snacks and a slice of pizza.

Of course we can’t leave out the Big House game. Michigan Football faces off against Rutgers at noon Saturday, Sept. 23. Tickets to the game are sold out, but you can still attend the Alumni Territory Tailgate at 51��Ƶ-Ann Arbor’s Ferry Field. The ticketed event is catered by Slows Bar BQ. Prefer to wave that foam finger from home? Check out the game on the Big Ten Network.

For the complete list of homecoming event dates and times, please visit umdearborn.edu/homecoming.

Campus Life

Student Life

Off

Wed, 09/13/2023 - 20:23

At 51��Ƶ-Dearborn, fall is all about our favorite fall tradition. We’ve rounded up some can’t-miss events happening around campus this year.

A warm welcome for the newest Dearborn Wolverines!

stuxbury — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:37:20 +0000

A warm welcome for the newest Dearborn Wolverines! stuxbury Mon, 08/28/2023 - 17:37

The 2023-24 academic year kicked off on Friday with more than 1,000 incoming students getting their first real taste of campus life at the university. The group consisted of first-year, transfer and graduate students.

On the field outside of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters Building, students attended Wolverine Welcome, where they were greeted by campus leaders, learned 51��Ƶ-Dearborn traditions and sang their first round of The Victors as a Wolverine.

While speaking to the crowd, Dean of Students Amy Finley acknowledged how much they had already accomplished to get to this point and how Friday was the start of something new.

“Today is the day where you start to feel transformed. Today is the day where you start reaching for the stars, for your dreams. Today is the day where you start figuring out who you are and what YOU are going to do to help transform our world. Today you truly become a part of our 51��Ƶ-Dearborn community,” she said.

Following the brief speeches, upper-level students presented the incoming group with maize and blue keys, a campus tradition officially welcoming them to their new home.

After an opportunity to explore campus, students finished the day with the Go Blue Bash, which featured outdoor games, carnival food and a DJ. Over 80 student organizations and 40 departments came out to introduce the new Dearborn Wolverines to the many ways to get involved at the university.

New student Kiylee Grinnell transferred to 51��Ƶ-Dearborn from the Flint campus for the 4+1 Applied Behavioral Analysis Accelerated Program.

“When everyone was gathered together and we got to actually meet and talk to people, that’s what I liked most about it,” she said, reflecting on the day. With the start of the new academic year, Grinnell says she’s most looking forward to starting her new program, one that she’s passionate about and is specific to her career goals.

First-year student Kayla Winston comes to 51��Ƶ-Dearborn directly from high school for the university’s electrical engineering program. She found Wolverine Welcome Day to be a fun way to meet new people and find out about clubs and opportunities at the University of Michigan Dearborn.

“I had no idea any of this was here before and this day was a really good way for me to learn about it,” she said.

Want to check out more from the big day? See highlights from Wolverine Welcome Day and the Go Blue Bash on our Instagram page, @umdearborn.

Article by Kathryn Bourlier.

Campus Life

Student Engagement

Student Life

University Unions & Events

Off

Mon, 08/28/2023 - 21:36

This semester’s 1,000-plus incoming students got their first experience of campus life at Friday’s Wolverine Welcome Day and the Go Blue Bash – complete with traditions, festivities and a whole lot of fun.

Photos by Jose Juarez/Michigan Photography

Experience the best of summer at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn

stuxbury — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 18:18:05 +0000

Experience the best of summer at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn stuxbury Mon, 06/12/2023 - 14:18

View the summer’s night sky through a telescope. Walk the Henry and Clara Ford estate grounds. Spend time in the woods. You can do all that and more at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn this summer.

Here are five fun — and free — activities you can enjoy to make the most of what summer offers.

Have an al fresco gaming experience.

It’s summer. Shut that laptop and challenge your friends — or maybe invite a few people you’d like to get to know a bit better — to a game of giant Jenga. If Jenga is not your thing, there’s a 51��Ƶ-Dearborn branded bean bag toss, a giant Connect 4, ladder golf, Kan Jam disc golf and tons of board games like Apples to Apples, Settlers of Catan, Telestrations, Exploding Kittens and Ticket to Ride. There’s also Uno and playing cards. Office of Student Life Assistant Director Allison Kinsey said the Student Life office offers free game check out as a fun way to bring people together on campus.

Students can check out items at the Campus Involvement Hub. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. All you need is your student ID. Faculty and staff need to plan a few days ahead. That gives us something to look forward to, right? Campus employees can fill out the reservation form on Victor's Link. The games are also available for department or student organization events by filling out the form.

But wait…there’s more. If you want to grab lunch at McKinley Cafe or brown bag it, you can also check out 51��Ƶ-Dearborn lawn blankets and have a picnic party.

Soak in some sunshine while making a difference in your community.

Have some weekend free time? If so, consider helping maintain the campus’ Environmental Study Area. Stewardship Saturdays will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month. You’ll help improve and sustain the ecological health of the habitats at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s Environmental Study Area — the animals and plants say thank you! — while also learning about plant identification.

Volunteer activities are often different each time and there’s always something new to see and learn. Examples of projects include collecting/spreading native seeds and invasive species removal. EIC Natural Areas Manager Rick Simek said he recognizes and appreciates that each volunteer brings their own set of interests and skills, so a staff member will always be available to assist and answer questions. A few tips for a successful Stewardship Saturday: No sandals, bring water and wear work gloves. Simek said equipment is provided by the EIC. Stewardship Saturdays go year round. So if summer heat isn’t your thing, there are opportunities to help during cooler seasons. Learn more about signing up for Stewardship Saturdays at their website or by contacting Simek at rsimek@umich.edu or 313-583-6371.

Looking for a shorter outdoor adventure? Staff naturalists will take you on a free guided 45-minute walk through the outdoor Environmental Study Area on the first and third Wednesdays during the summer. The walks, which are open to all, will take place starting at 5 p.m. at the Environmental Interpretive Center on June 21, July 5, July 19, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16.

Walk the grounds of one of the world's most prominent entrepreneurs.

The land that 51��Ƶ-Dearborn sits on was once American industrialist Henry Ford’s expansive yard. The estate and land were donated to the University of Michigan in 1957 to create the Dearborn campus. Just steps away from 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s academic buildings sits the 56-room mansion, outbuildings and grounds Henry Ford and wife Clara called home for 30-plus years.

The majority of the Ford estate’s historic buildings and lands they reside on were transferred in 2013 to a nonprofit led by Ford family members. Today, the Henry Ford Estate nonprofit keeps the grounds open for all to enjoy. The Fair Lane Gardens and Grounds are free to walk seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On your walk, you’ll see grounds shaped by landscape architect Jens Jenson, a peony garden, a terraced River Walk and more. Here’s a map of the grounds’ features.

Note: There is an extensive historic renovation taking place at Henry and wife Clara’s main residence, which was built on the land in 1915 and is a National Historic Landmark. Other buildings you may see on your walk include a large garage, greenhouse, playhouse for granddaughter Josephine and a powerhouse that had its cornerstone laid by Ford’s friend inventor Thomas Edison. Want more information about the estate? Visit their website.

Relax by the pond while listening to a podcast.

Grab a maize adirondack chair and enjoy the view of Chancellor’s pond, a few playing geese and some blooming flowers. While relaxing in the shade, consider streaming a podcast episode (or two) created by 51��Ƶ-Dearborn professors.

• Relaying Detroit’s unknown or seldom remembered history is the driving force behind The Detroit History Podcast. Always on the lookout for those “I didn’t know that'' moments about the Motor City, Communication Professor Tim Kiska’s Detroit History Podcast tells the city's history through its cultural, social, political, musical and automotive heritage. In the five seasons of the podcast, Kiska has covered Mark Twain’s ties to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, shared that the NHL’s first female president and owner was at the Detroit Red Wings’ helm during the 1950s Stanley Cup years, explored the origins of Detroit-style pizza and more. If you listen to all of the 50-plus available episodes, know that more are on the way. Kiska said season six will be out at the end of summer and gave a sneak peek: topics include the life of composer/rapper J Dilla and the creation of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

• The Seen Jeem podcast — Seen Jeem is Arabic for Q and A — highlights the work of contemporary Arab American writers. Produced by the Center for Arab American Studies, Seen Jeem features two seasons of conversations with poets, novelists, and essayists about their latest works. You can hear New York Times Book Review noted author Sahar Mustafah read passages from her award-winning book The Beauty of Your Face. You can learn how author and 51��Ƶ-Dearborn alum Reda Taleb based her children’s book Noura's Extraordinary Superpower — where 8-year-old Noura discovers that her missing father is in prison — on her own childhood experiences to help explain and unpack incarceration to youth of all ages. And you can hear author and journalist Omar El Akkad talk about his latest book, What Strange Paradise, which was named a best book of the year by the New York Times, the Washington Post and NPR.

If you are a 51��Ƶ-Dearborn faculty or staff member with a podcast you would like added to the list, please let us know at umdearborn-news@umich.edu.

Look up at the stars.

Everyone can learn about our complex and beautiful universe. Just come to 51��Ƶ-Dearborn! Public viewing nights at 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s observatory — happening all summer long — offer telescopes mounted on the fenced-in observation deck for a closer look at the night sky. And astronomy experts and enthusiasts will be on hand to guide participants. Public observation nights are from 10 p.m. to midnight on June 16, 23, July 14, 21, 28, from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 11, 18 and from 9 to 11 p.m. Aug. 25.

There are plenty of planets, stars and nebulae to see. So far this year, Astronomy Lecturer Carrie Swift said participants have observed Mercury and Venus, double stars like Mizar and Alcor, the Pinwheel galaxy, open star clusters and globular star clusters.

The observatory is located in the Science Research Learning Center. Park in the lot behind the SLRC (named parking lot A). When you enter the building, take the elevator to the third floor, turn left and the observation deck is just through the double doors. Signs will help guide the way. For more information, check out the observatory. Also: these nights only take place in favorable viewing conditions, so check the website before heading to campus.

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

Campus Life

Faculty and Staff

University-wide

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

College of Business

College of Education, Health, and Human Services

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Student Life

Off

Mon, 06/12/2023 - 18:17

Here are five ways to enjoy the sunshine and have some summertime fun while on campus.

51��Ƶ-Dearborn offers three new Study Abroad excursions

stuxbury — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 18:31:04 +0000

51��Ƶ-Dearborn offers three new Study Abroad excursions stuxbury Wed, 02/22/2023 - 13:31

In 1545, Italian educators created a garden to teach botanists how to identify true medicinal plants and conduct research to discover their useful properties. In 2023, 51��Ƶ-Dearborn pre-health students will visit the nearly 500-year old botanical garden at the University of Padua as part of a new study abroad experience.

Developed and organized by Chemistry Associate Professor Simona Marincean and Biochemistry Professor Marilee Benore, the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Cultural Practices program will teach biochemistry students how historic natural medicine was practiced — botanical gardens often were located outside of European hospitals — and how it evolved into modern healthcare.

“Students will learn about medicinal plants that have traditionally been used in various cultures to treat disease and illness, and how these same plants and their compounds are now used to create modern therapeutic medicines,” said Benore, who said the experience is part of the three-credit Biochemistry 113 course.

Marincean continued, “It’s important for students to have experiences outside of their culture to see how other people live. It’s also beneficial to learn how medical practices in other areas of the world often are a blend of both traditional alternative therapy with modern knowledge and technology.”

This is just one of the new study abroad offerings for 51��Ƶ-Dearborn students. There are also faculty-led experiences that will travel to Spain and Mexico.

Earth and Environment Professor Ulrich Kamp’s Summer Sustainable Studies Program is a month-long summer experience to observe how different places around the world incorporate sustainable systems into their communities. In 2023, he will lead an experience in Guadalajara, Mexico, where students will visit city sites and attend courses at ITESO (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente).
For 10 days over Thanksgiving break, Spanish Professor Jorge Gonzalez del Pozo and Philosophy Associate Professor Imran Aijaz will lead students through Spain, visiting historic sites that show Christian, Islamic and Jewish contributions during Spain's “three cultures” era. Sites include the Alcázar of Toledo, the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, the Alhambra and the Royal Palace.

These courses complement the more established faculty-led journeys going this year to Poland, Canada, Italy and Norway. Norway is a new location for Geology Professor Jacob Napieralski's Field Methods course — previously that study abroad experience rotated locations between Iceland, Cyprus, Puerto Rico and Montserrat.

Global Engagement Director Scott Riggs said a key component of 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s Study Abroad Programs is that they are faculty-led. This model was implemented and expanded on campus because many students haven’t traveled internationally before or haven’t traveled alone, which makes it a more supportive experience for students.

“With faculty-led trips, students have someone there that they know and trust who will help them navigate a new country,” Riggs said. “But we have noticed that by the end of the study abroad experience, students become more independent because their confidence has grown. That is the goal — we are there to support our students so they are comfortable to try something new. And we step back into a support role when the students are ready to navigate a new culture on their own.”

Riggs said 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s study abroad offerings continue to grow — and so does its student enrollment. He attributes this to interesting programs, great program leaders, and increased financial support.

“If a student wants to have a learning experience in another country, we want them to have that,” he said. “But we know finances can be a barrier. So we look for ways to make it possible. So far this year, we’ve awarded $90,000 in need-based study abroad scholarships and aid. We offer a variety of lengths and offer programs at different times of year so that students can find an option that works for their family and work schedules. Our students have noticed and the programs are growing steadily. It’s exciting to see.”

Riggs said he hears from employers how important it is to have different cultural experiences to move up in large companies with a global presence. He said it’s beneficial so students can see the world, challenge stereotypes, learn from others and grow as a person.

“Seeing life outside of what we know helps us see how the world comes together. Having lived in another country and immersed yourself in a different culture is a key asset to solving global issues,” Riggs said. “It’s not only a huge asset for career trajectories, it’s also important for our development as human beings.”

Interested in having a 51��Ƶ-Dearborn study abroad experience? Check out the M-Navigator portal and reach out to Scott Riggs for a personalized advising session.

Text by Sarah Tuxbury.

Campus Life

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

Natural Sciences

Student Life

Off

Wed, 02/22/2023 - 18:30

Experiences in Spain, Italy and Mexico will explore how cultures come together to shape a city’s history, how today’s prescriptions evolved from medicinal plant use, and sustainable solutions for waste products in communities around the world.

Students take away new perspectives during a week of service

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 18:06:25 +0000

Students take away new perspectives during a week of service Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/14/2022 - 13:06

Many of the students who pitched in during this year’s Alternative Spring Break and Solar Spring Break programs are no strangers to giving back. But several students said that with schedules packed full of classes, side jobs, and family obligations, it’s often hard to find time to regularly volunteer. The solid week of service not only felt like a much-needed chance to lend a hand. Many said it helped renew their motivation for doing so year round. Here’s a look at what 51��Ƶ-Dearborn students accomplished at sites in Cleveland, San Diego and right here on campus.

Cleveland

51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s Opportunity Scholars take the first part of their program’s name to heart.

“Our mindset is basically that if you’re given an opportunity to a make a difference, you take it,” said sophomore Jalen Rose. You certainly saw that spirit on display during the recent Alternative Spring Break trip to Cleveland, where Rose and a group of his fellow OpScholars powered through a packed itinerary of service with seven different community organizations in just six days.

Both Rose and his fellow Cleveland site leader, sophomore Karina Nava, said one of the most meaningful experiences came at the front end of the week. The Monday trip into a rapidly changing Cleveland neighborhood left the team with an up-close look at the complexities of gentrification—and a new lense on how that’s impacting Detroit.

“If we think about Detroit, we want it to grow, and for that you need new people and businesses to come in,” Nava said. “But you also have to be careful with home pricing and the opportunities that are available for the people who have been here forever. They are the people who have created, over time, the culture of the city. So you can’t just relocate everyone, or you’ll lose that culture. Finding the middle ground is what makes the challenge so difficult.”

Later in the week, students pitched in packing lunches at a local food pantry, lent a hand with Habitat for Humanity and helped out at a Cleveland book bank. But it was a visit to a community center dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees that left the biggest mark on freshman Amanda Saleh.

“They had so many kinds of programs, from helping out single mothers to teaching people English,” Saleh said. “You see how hard it is for someone to leave their home and become an American citizen. It’s not as easy as some people think it is.”

San Diego

Students from University of Michigan have traveled to San Diego to do solar installations in lower-income communities for the past five spring breaks. But 2018 was a year of milestones for their partnership with the nonprofit GRID Alternatives and the “Solar Spring Break” program.

For starters, it was the first year that 51��Ƶ-Dearborn students made the trip alongside their Ann Arbor counterparts. In fact, Alexis Thompson and Christian Cannon, both juniors in 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s mechanical engineering department, served as team leaders for the trip—overseeing everything from fundraising to personally cooking meals for their team of 25 volunteers at the end of their long work days.

Thompson said they initially set a goal of raising $10,000 to support a single solar installation in their target service area—a La Jolla tribal community northeast of San Diego. In the end, the group blew through that target, raising more than $25,000—a record number for a U-M Solar Spring Break team. That allowed them to complete three solar arrays in less than a week.

“The cultural aspect was also pretty incredible,” she said. “We had a lot of conversations, and members of the community talked about how hard it was for their students to get into universities, or about the increase in crime and abuse rates. And those are some of the very same issues facing households in Detroit. So I was able to make connections with people from a totally different background in a totally different part of the country.”

Cannon said the group already is planning its next renewable energy-focused service trips, including a return trip to the La Jolla reservation next year and a project in Tijuana. The trip to Mexico will mark yet another milestone: It will make the U-M team the first Solar Spring Break group to take their volunteerism outside the U.S.

Dearborn

Students who were staying closer to home for the break didn’t miss out on the week of giving back. A third team of about a dozen students participated in three days of hands-on activities on campus.

On the first day, that included making blankets for area homeless shelters, which gave graduate student Priyal Sheth a rare chance to connect with students from other parts of the university.

“I’m in engineering, so I only get to work with other engineers,” Sheth said. “But on our team we had a biology major, somebody from the College of Business, and two people who just transferred from other schools. One of us was from South Africa, one from El Salvador, another from South America, another from the Middle East—and I’m from India. You’re sitting there for a few hours, too, so it’s a chance to hear a lot of different perspectives. By the end of the day, you feel like old friends.”

Later in the week, students wrote cards to kids in local hospitals and organized 51��Ƶ-Dearborn’s Student Food Pantry.

Master’s student Raquel Estrada, who was participating in ASB for the second time, said the turnout for the local events left her energized.

“I thought there weren’t going to be that many people showing up because it was spring break,” she said. “But for every activity, there were at least five or six people coming in and out per hour. So it shows you we can make a difference anywhere, from campus or outside. Either way, it’s really powerful.”

Volunteer or Community Service

Metropolitan Impact

Student Life

Off

Mon, 03/19/2018 - 05:00

More than two dozen students participated in Alternative Spring Break and Solar Spring Break programs at home and across the country.

Gardeners can score free seeds at this new seed library

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 18:05:33 +0000

Gardeners can score free seeds at this new seed library Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/30/2022 - 13:05

If you haven’t visited your local library recently, you might be surprised at what all you can haul away from the checkout desk. You’ll still find all the library staples, of course, like books, movies and music. But many local branches have started lending non-media items like telescopes, camping gear and power tools. One Ann Arbor location even offers everything you’ll need for a game of Kubb—a traditional Scandinavian lawn game that’s sort of a hybrid between bowling and horseshoes.

This spring, the Dearborn Public Library’s Henry Ford Centennial branch got in on the unusual items trend with a program that offers patrons free garden seeds. Walk up toward the second floor reference desk, look to your right, and you’ll spot a simple, two-drawer wooden cabinet that houses the branch’s new “seed library.”

The idea is pretty simple: Anyone from the community can browse through the hundreds of small, yellow, hand-stuffed seed packets and take whatever they want to plant in their home gardens. It’s totally free. You don’t even have to have a library card.

The project is one of the latest from Healthy Dearborn—a community coalition that’s promoting healthy living in the greater Dearborn community. The effort has drawn the talents and volunteer hours of dozens of 51��Ƶ-Dearborn students, staff and faculty—including for the new seed library, an idea university volunteers and their library partners cooked up to promote access to fresh foods.

“It’s a really fun concept, but we were kind of anxious to see if people would jump in and start using it,” said Patty Podzikowski, who helps look after the seed library from her post at the reference desk. “But Dearborn has this newsletter—The Back Fence—that goes out to every single resident. And in March, right there on the front page, was a story about the seed library. When that hit people's mailboxes, our phone just blew up. And we didn’t even have it officially up and running yet.”

At that point, Podzikowski called in the rest of the seed library team, which included a small group of students and staff from 51��Ƶ-Dearborn and a student from Wayne State University. Within just a few days, they packaged, labeled and stocked the library with more than 100 different kinds of flower and vegetable seeds—all of which were non-GMO and non-hybrid.

That last fact is important to one of the other things the project hopes to promote: seed saving. In true library fashion, the team ideally wants seed library patrons to “borrow” the materials and then “return” them for others to use. With seeds, that will mean taking them from the library in early spring and summer; then, in the fall, gardeners will collect and return seeds from the plants they’ve grown in order to replenish the supply. This kind of seed saving is easiest to do with non-hybrid varieties, which produce seeds and plants that are the same from year to year.

“I think what makes the seed library so interesting is that, if we can get people to participate in the seed saving part of it, it’s essentially self-sustaining,” said 51��Ƶ-Dearborn senior Adam Khanafer. “All we need is the initial input of those seeds we distributed in year one, and from there, the participants can keep it going sort of indefinitely.”

While Khanafer said they’re still probably a few years away from that goal, the team wants to support any seed savers who want to start this season. There’s already some basic takeaway literature on seed saving right at the seed library, along with a list of titles you can check out from the Dearborn Public Library. But given the level of interest, the team is also planning some community workshops, which will not only teach more advanced seed saving techniques, but will allow the gardeners who have rallied around this project to meet each other.

In the meantime, Khanafer will be adding more fuel to the first-year fire. He said the seed library has been such a hit, the cabinet full of little yellow envelopes is already due for a mid-summer restocking.

Health and Wellness

Nature or Environment

Sustainability

Metropolitan Impact

Student Life

Off

Mon, 07/23/2018 - 05:00

51��Ƶ-Dearborn staff and students helped launch the pilot project that encourages healthy eating and seed saving.

New Student Convocation officially marks the beginning of a collegiate journey

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 23:02:15 +0000

New Student Convocation officially marks the beginning of a collegiate journey Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 11/05/2022 - 19:02

More than 2,300 51��Ƶ-Dearborn students were hailed at the 16th Annual New Student Convocation. The new faces to campus were from around the world, representing five continents; their ages spanned generations, 16 to 77.

They came together Sept. 4 as first-time Wolverines in the Fieldhouse.

“Today’s ceremony marks the official beginning of your lives as Michigan students within the Michigan family. And it is particularly special for me because we are beginning this journey together,” said Chancellor Domenico Grasso, who became the sixth 51��Ƶ-Dearborn chancellor on Aug. 1. “Being a proud Michigan alum, I’m returning home. And, like me, you couldn't have picked a better place to call home.”

From the maize and blue floral arrangements to the staging area with 51��Ƶ-seal stamped podium, students and their families were surrounded by pomp and circumstance.

And that's thanks to the many staff members who worked behind the scenes prior to the ceremony. For almost a week nearly 30 people had a hand in transforming the game-time space into a location for a proper wolverine welcome.

And their work was noticed by the many in attendance at Convocation. 51��Ƶ-Dearborn parent Elizabeth O’Connor—whose stepson Brandon O'Connor and son Alexander Thornton are in the fall 2018 freshman class—had her phone out to snap photos and send text messages to family to include them in on the day’s festivities.

O'Connor said she was impressed with what she saw and heard at Convocation and felt confident about their college choice.

“The ceremony, the speakers and the space — everything was very nice today,” she said. "I'm glad I was able be here today to learn more about 51��Ƶ-Dearborn and how this campus will prepare them for what the future brings."

But before the Michigan family could sing The Victors, someone had to set the stage. Here are a few of the people who make New Student Convocation happen.

Senior Marc Casey, Fieldhouse recreational assistant, and a crew of students placed thousands of carpet squares—he estimates 3,000—on the floor to add a feeling of warmth to the space and protect the wooden basketball court.

The 30-foot tall blue draperies are hung by staff lowering a mechanical bar and attaching the curtains; the staging is made of six separate pieces that workers set up and then crawl underneath to lock in place.

A day after the carpet squares and stage were set up, Larry Arpi, left, and Winston Cannon in Maintenance Services secure the maize rugs on the stage; the staff said the large rugs had enough time to rest and flatten.

These chairs appeared overnight thanks to the night facilities crew. To make sure the chairs were in a straight line, the crew used duct tape and string on the carpet squares. They then zip-tied the chairs together for even spacing and to assure compliance with fire codes.

The seal-stamped podium, which weighs 200 pounds, is taken from its protective case and lifted onto the stage. “When we bring it out and wheel it around, people look at us like we’ve got the Stanley Cup,” said Rob Sharkus in Maintenance Services.

Maintenance Services' Mike Gibson set up the podium’s lighting and motorized adjustable mechanism. After he was done, Television Engineer Greg Taylor hooked up the sound system.

Getting close to the end of set up, staff members work on finishing touches like stage skirting, stair dusting and vacuuming.

Done every three years, Larry Arpi takes time to paint the two stage stairways to touch-up any visible wear.

Custodial staff member Agnes Arzola does a final vacuum to get ready for the new class of Wolverines to come to New Student Convocation.

Facilities Operations

Student Life

Undergraduate Admissions

University Unions & Events

Off

Fri, 09/07/2018 - 05:00

Nearly 30 people had a hand in physically transforming the Fieldhouse game-time space into a location for a warm Wolverine welcome.