Government Relations, State Outreach, Michigan Road Scholars, Community Assistance Directory and Legislative and Community Relations.

Government Relations
State Relations
Federal Relations
Community Relations
State Outreach
Staff Directory
Related Sites
University of Michigan

News & Events


The Government Relations Office watches for specific news from the three cities in which its staff is located:

Ann Arbor:

Michigan Future, Inc.

Michigan Future, Inc., is a non-partisan, non-profit organization. Michigan Future's mission is to be a source of new ideas on how Michigan's people, enterprises and communities can succeed in the Information Age. Its work is funded primarily by Michigan foundations.

Its current work is focused on:

  • launching a high school designed to connect students to good-paying careers in the automotive industry
  • launching an employer-centered system for reducing chronic unemployment in Detroit
  • developing an action plan for revitalizing Michigan's central cities
  • developing a New Agenda for a New Michigan

Events at the Gardens

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum Calendar of Events is full of exciting events for the whole family. Look around the site for Community Education, and sign up for the quarterly newsletter.
The Conservatory has reopened the Temperate and Tropical houses.  Other links:
Events, Bloom Calendar, Opportunities to learn, Volunteer opportunities

University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History

Planetarium Show

Bright stars, constellations, planets, and telescopic objects in the current night sky will be discussed in this live “star talk.” Then leave Earth and fly out into space to examine the planets in the current sky.

Star Talk: The Sky Tonight; April & May

Origins of Life; April & May

Public Show Schedule and Information

Recently, the third (and last) analog instrument under the original canvas dome was replaced with a state-of-the-art digital, all-dome projection system. This employs a powerful computer to reproduce and display the night sky and things in it. Travels from the surface of the Earth to the most distant reaches of the Universe are now possible, in addition to exciting all-dome feature films.

UM Solar Car Continuum Finishes 7th in World Solar Challenge

Adelaide, Australia — October 2007. After an incredible comeback, the team is very proud to have finished 7th in the world. An accident and repairs cost us 10 hours of racing time, but through an amazing feat the Race Crew got Continuum back on the road, passed over 25 other Teams, and crossed the finish line in true Michigan style.
Website        Blog

Past vehicles of the UM Solar Team: http://www.engin.umich.edu/solarcar/aboutus.html

URC - University Research Corridor

Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University announced in November the creation of the University Research Corridor, an ongoing alliance to work jointly to transform, strengthen and diversify Michigan's economy.
The University Research Corridor universities are a magnet for investment and jobs, and bring more than $1.3 billion in federal research grants into Michigan each year. By marshalling their resources, the presidents of the three universities are reaching out to businesses, policymakers, innovators, investors and the public to speed up technology transfer, make resources more accessible and help attract new jobs to the state. URC Website: http://www.urcmich.org/
The URC has published it's first Annual Report;  http://www.urcmich.org/commentary/2007AnnualReport.pdf

"A Case About Diversity:

The Affirmative Action Lawsuits at the University of Michigan" traveling exhibit. A visual experience about the two 2003 Supreme Court decisions regarding race and admissions policies.  The web site contains information about each case and a 2006 schedule of the traveling exhibit. Official Web Site
Traverse City Record Eagle Article
Photos of the exhibit

Adolescent Literacy Symposium:

The School of Education and the Office of Government Relations at the University of Michigan co-sponsored a symposium on adolescent literacy titled: Toward the Improvement of Secondary School Teaching and Learning: Integrating Language, Literacy, and Subject Matter. The symposium was held on Monday, March 6, 2006, at the Michigan Union and was a great success.

Information about the speakers and their presentations can be viewed here.

Traverse City project groupTraverse City Waterfront Latest Updates and Final Report The University of Michigan and Michigan State University teamed up with the Traverse City community to rebuild the connection between the city and its waterfront. Government Relations assisted in bringing together the UM partners for this effort.

United Way
The Washtenaw/University of Michigan United Way's 2007 campaign began in October with a goal of $1,000,000. The campaign ran for one month this year, instead of the usual four months. Our generous employees' contributions exceeded this years goal by more than $20,000!
U-M United Way Web Site

Ann Arbor Regional Business-To-Business article shows the impact of the University's substantial support of Ann Arbor city infrastructure. In PDF format - download Adobe Reader.

Michigan election voter information and election results from the Michigan Department of State's Bureau of Elections.

University Licence Plates

                SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT!

Check for availability of a personalized plate online.
Renew Online! - University Fund Raising License Plates Renewal

Former Michigan Secretary of State Candice Miller presents University of Michigan Vice President Cynthia Wilbanks with New License Plate September 26, 2000.


Lansing:

Wolverine Caucus
The Caucus is informal: no dues, no elections, no organization chart. Please join us at a Wolverine Caucus event soon!

Michigan Alumni Reception in Lansing (MARL)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008, from 5:00 till 7:00pm
Lansing Radisson, Capitol Ballrooms I and II
Alumni Association President Steve Grafton and President Mary Sue Coleman will provide a brief program.
Free, and open to all UM alumni.

logo for Armory Arts Project  Armory Arts Project; Jackson, Michigan

ARMORY ARTS VILLAGE - Jackson's Creative Catalyst

The Armory Arts Village is a bold, innovative community redevelopment project that uses arts, culture, creativity and innovation as a catalyst for reinventing the community of Jackson and the surrounding region. The effort is spearheaded by The Enterprise Group and is located on the historic site of the original 19th century Jackson State Prison. The 19-acre site includes several notable prison buildings, a stunning 25ft. high turreted stone wall around the perimeter of the property and a vacant industrial complex to the South. Through a combination of adaptive reuse of the classic prison buildings and the creation of compatible new construction on the site, this unique place is being transformed into a one-of-a-kind creativity-focused mixed-use neighborhood.

Amory Arts  Website

The Caucus is getting ready for another exciting year of forums, exhibits and scholarly exchange. The Caucus is informal: no dues, no elections, no organization chart. Please join us at a Wolverine Caucus event soon!


Washington D.C. Office

The Federal Report, March 2008

Reporting about several issues being tracked by the U-M Federal Relations team

Washington Update Archives:

Research universities will change economy, leaders say in Washington

By Mike Waring U-M Washington, D.C., Office

The Congressional Breakfast is one of the largest annual gatherings of U-M alumni and campus leaders in the nation. All proceeds support the U-M D.C. Club's scholarship fund.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton

Michigan's research universities are an important factor in helping change the Michigan economy, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, told a group attending the annual U-M Congressional Breakfast in Washington, D.C

Rogers cited how Michigan auto factories became bomber factories during World War II and saluted the innovation occurring today as the state re-makes itself, most notably with battery-driven automobiles soon to hit the market.

Provost Teresa Sullivan

Provost Teresa Sullivan also addressed the gathering of more than 300 people, which included other members of the Michigan congressional delegation and staff, Michigan corporate sponsors and local alumni, as well as Dr. Ahmed Fathi Sorour, speaker of the Egyptian Parliament and a U-M graduate. In her remarks, Sullivan talked about President Mary Sue Coleman's new initiative on inter-disciplinary research, and concurred with Rogers that "our state is down, but not out."

Read the entire article at the Record Online

Block M


Fleming Administration Building, 503 Thompson Street,
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1340
(734) 763-5554 Fax (734) 764-3316
Valid XHTML 1.0! Last Updated: 22 April 2008

home page UM Home Page