The University of Michigan–Flint (UM-Flint) is a public university in Flint, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1956 as the Flint Senior College, it was initially established as a remote branch of the University of Michigan, offering upper-division undergraduate courses. The institution developed into a fully-fledged university and received accreditation in 1970. Subsequently, the name was changed to the University of Michigan–Flint. It continues to adhere to the policies of the University of Michigan Board of Regents without having a separate governing board.
UM-Flint is one of the five doctoral/professional universities in the state of Michigan. Together with Oakland University, the University of Michigan–Dearborn, and Wayne State University, UM-Flint is one of the four Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) members in the State of Michigan.
The university's student-athletes compete in intramural and club sports as the Michigan-Flint Wolverines. Notable alumni include former United States Senator Donald Riegle, Oscar-winning film director Michael Moore, who was an editor for the student newspaper The Michigan Times, and former Flint Mayor Woodrow Stanley.
Contents
History
Flint Senior College (1956–1964)
Former Flint mayor C.S. Mott first suggested bringing a full university to Flint in a meeting with then-President Alexander Ruthven in 1946. Mott pledged to give $1 million to the project if the voters would pass a $7 million bond issue. The University of Michigan initially opposed Mott's idea but, ultimately, agreed to create the Flint Senior College of the University of Michigan as an extension of the existing Flint Junior College (now Mott Community College), while the colleges remained separate institutions.
For a number of years, the college shared the Court Street campus with Flint Junior College. This campus was part of the Flint Cultural Center with major donations from many Flint business leaders. Original donors included the Sponsors Fund of Flint and William Ballenger. The first building constructed in 1954 was The Ballenger Field House.
In February 1956, David M. French was named the first dean of the Flint Senior College. The college began classes in 1956 with 118 full-time and 49 part-time students. Degrees were offered in liberal arts and sciences and in the professional fields of education and business administration. The college's first class graduated in 1958.
Independent proposal and the four-year Flint College (1964–1971)
From 1963 to 1964, studies were commissioned to explore the possibility of transforming Flint Senior College into a four-year institution. Subsequently, the Michigan State Board of Education recommended that the college transition into an autonomous four-year institution, phasing out the University of Michigan's involvement in Flint. This proposal was part of a broader statewide trend to grant independence to branch campuses, similar to the transition of Oakland University from Michigan State University during the same period. Proponents of the proposal argued that full independence would enable the college to better serve its academic community with its own governing board. However, the proposal faced opposition from C.S. Mott, who threatened to withdraw his pledged support. As a result, the independent proposal was abandoned, and the institution was restructured as a four-year college under the University of Michigan's board in 1964, subsequently renamed Flint College of the University of Michigan.
University of Michigan–Flint (1971–present)
In 1970, Flint College received its own accreditation independent from the main campus in Ann Arbor, from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1971, the Regents officially changed the name of the institution to the University of Michigan-Flint. The Regents later named William E. Moran as the first chancellor of the university. Two schools were formed at Flint in 1975, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Management.
The community and city assisted UM–Flint in acquiring 42 acres along the Flint River. $5 million over five years was pledged towards a new campus in 1972 by the C.S. Mott Foundation. During September 1972, sixteen temporary buildings were erected to ease campus overcrowding, pressuring the Regents to move UM-Flint to its current location along the Flint River.
On September 1, 1973, the Regents passed the plans for the first building by Sedgewick-Sellers & Associates, originally planned for a site at Lapeer Road and Court Street. Instead, the first building was moved to a site on the Flint River, the current campus location. The university acquired the Ross House and the Hubbard Building. Its ground breaking ceremony was held on May 9, 1974, at the Willson Park bandstand. In 1977, construction ended on the Class Room Office Building (CROB), later named David M. French Hall, and the Central Energy Plant. CROB included a library and theatre. In 1979, the original Harrison Street Halo Burger location was vacated to make way for UM-Flint parking. While, the Harding Mott University Center (UCen) was finished that same year and the Recreation Center in 1982.
William S. Murchie Science Building was completed in 1988.
In 2001, UM-Flint expanded north for the first time with the opening of the William S. White Building which houses health classrooms and labs. Today, the modern and inviting campus spans over 70 acres along the Flint River.
Ground was broken In 2024 on phase one of a new Innovation and Technology Complex. Featuring 14,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art instructional laboratories designed to encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary research, the complex will support existing STEM pathways and forthcoming academic degrees in artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, human-centered design, and electrical & computer engineering, among others.
Campus
The University Pavilion (UPAV) at University of Michigan-Flint is a central campus housing key student services, including Admissions, Financial Aid, and Academic Advising.
The building was formerly known as the Water Street Pavilion, a festival marketplace in Flint, Michigan, that failed and closed after only five years in operation. It was developed by the Enterprise Development Company (EDC), a for-profit subsidiary of the non-profit Enterprise Foundation, founded by James W. Rouse in 1982 after he retired from the Rouse Company as CEO in 1979. The EDC was founded specifically to bring Rouse's festival marketplace concept to smaller cities, including Flint. The Water Street Pavilion was intended to revitalize Flint, and it was licensed and consulted by the Columbia, Maryland-based Rouse Company.
The mall cost $15.75 million to develop, and featured 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of retail and dining space, adjacent to the Flint River.
Despite the name Water Street Pavilion, it is not on Water Street, but rather is named after it. Its name is also a reference to the Harborplace pavilions in Baltimore with similar names, specifically the Pratt and Light Street Pavilions. It once housed over 60 local tenants, but the majority of them closed in the late 1980s, alongside the failing Six Flags AutoWorld. It was famously featured in Michael Moore's Roger & Me in 1989 as a symbol of failed development, as it was an attempt to bring a specialized retail genre that required massive tourism to survive long-term, which Flint did not have at the time of the Water Street Pavilion's development. As a result of the mall's failure, James Rouse and the EDC pulled out of the project in January 1990 and began closing down the center. The pavilion permanently closed its doors as a festival marketplace in September 1990. The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved a plan to take over operations.
In 1991, UM-Flint took possession of the Water Street Pavilion, keeping restaurants there while moving in administrative offices. The Flint Downtown Development Authority officially sold the property to UM-Flint for $60,000. The university subsequently invested $3 million to fully renovate and adapt the building into University Pavilion. The library moved to its own building in 1994, with the completion of the Frances Willson Thompson Library. The 25-acre (10 ha) site across the river on the north side was acquired in 1997. Northbank Center was acquired in 1998.
Organization
Administration
UM–Flint, historically a branch of the University of Michigan, has operated under the policies of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan since its accreditation in 1970. The Board of Regents, as the governing body, is responsible for the appointment of the university president, who presides over the Board's meetings but does not have voting rights. Instead of directly managing the university's operations, the university president recommends the appointment of a chancellor, who is subject to approval by the Board of Regents and is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day administrative duties of the university as its chief executive officer.
David French, 1956-71
William E. Moran, 1971-79
William Vasse, 1979-80 (interim)
Conny E. Nelson, 1980-83
Joe Roberson, 1983-84 (interim)
Clinton B. Jones, 1984-93
Lawrence Krugler, 1993-94 (interim)
Charlie Nelms, 1994-97
Beverly Schmoll, 1998-99 (interim)
Juan E. Mestas, 1999-2007
Jack Kay, 2007-08 (interim)
Ruth Person, 2008-14
Susan E. Borrego, 2014-19
Debasish Dutta, 2019-23
Donna Fry, 2023-24 (interim)
Laurence B. Alexander, 2024-present
The UM-Flint faculty governance is part of a central faculty governance which provides the structure for shared governance at the University of Michigan. Through its three bodies: Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA), Senate Assembly and Faculty Senate, faculty are represented and contribute to a collective voice concerning institutional policies and other matters of campus, and universitywide, concern. UM-Flint has four representatives to the Senate Assembly, which has 77 members representing all U-M campuses.
Finances
The university's FY 2022–23 operating budget of $141.7 million has four major sources of funding: the General Fund ($116.5 million), the Expendable Restricted Funds ($20.7 million), the Auxiliary Funds ($4 million), and the Designated Funds ($480,000). The Office of Budget and Planning reports that student tuition and fees are the largest funding source, contributing $90.8 million to the General Fund, which accounts for 64.07% of the total operating budget. In the fiscal year 2022–23, the State of Michigan provided $25.2 million to the university, which represents 17.79% of its total operating budget. Revenue from government sponsored programs contributed $14.5 million to the Expendable Restricted Funds, accounting for 10.23% of the total operating budget.
Schools and colleges
The university's schools and colleges include the College of Arts, Sciences and Education (CASE), College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Innovation and Technology (CIT), School of Management (SOM) and School of Nursing (SON).
Academics
Programs
The university offers 183 areas of study, including 43 graduate programs in the form of master’s, doctoral and PhD offerings. There are also 23 joint bachelor’s and graduate degree options and 15 dual graduate degrees. A variety of fully online degrees are also available, including 15 bachelor’s and 20 master’s degrees, three doctoral degree programs, and four completion programs.
Popular undergraduate programs include nursing, psychology, social work, business administration and health sciences. On the graduate side, nursing, doctor of physical therapy, master of business administration, doctor of nurse anesthesia, and doctor of business administration are leaders in student interest and enrollment.
Accreditation
UM-Flint is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of Colleges and Schools. Program-level accreditation is maintained by many programs in affiliation with: the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the American Chemical Society, Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business – International, Association of University Programs in Health Administration, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, Commission on Accreditation in Respiratory Care, the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, the Council on Social Work Education, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, Michigan Department of Education, the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association of Schools of Music.
Employment outcomes
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, graduates of the University of Michigan-Flint have median earnings of $65,600. The College Scorecard also reports median earnings by field of study, with graduate programs in nursing and business and undergraduate programs in computer science, nursing and engineering among the university's highest-earning disciplines.
Student life
On-campus housing
In November 2004, the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan approved the request of the Flint Campus to explore the feasibility of student housing. After several assessments, studies, and surveys showing the probable progression of growth of the campus, student housing was approved. The first-ever student dormitory, the First Street Residence Hall, opened to students in fall 2008.
In December 2015, Uptown Reinvestment Corporation donated the Riverfront Residence Hall, a privately owned high-rise building that houses both UM-Flint and Baker College students, to the university. The 16-story Residence Hall can house up to 500 students.
Student organizations
There are over 100 recognized student organizations and seven Sponsored Student Organizations (SSOs). They are organizations for various academic departments, religions and cultural backgrounds, as well as organizations for honors, club sports, social fraternities and sororities, service groups, and special interests.
University sponsored organizations include:
Black Student Union
Campus Activities Board
College Panhellenic Association
Interfraternity Council
National Pan-Hellenic Council
Student Government
Club Sports
Greek life
The university is home to several fraternities and sororities:
Radio station
The school owns WFUM (91.1 FM), a public radio station affiliated with the Michigan Radio network.
Student newspaper
The Michigan Times is a student-run campus newspaper at the University of Michigan–Flint, founded in 1959 and casually called "The M-Times" on campus. Notable former staff includes filmmaker Michael Moore and American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones. For most of its history, it was published weekly and distributed free of charge on campus and in the Flint area. In March 2024 it was announced that The Michigan Times was "sunsetting" and would cease operations due to dwindling student interest. After a call to revive the paper, the university formed an exploratory committee to find sustainable ways to bring it back. In January 2026, the paper resumed operations and experienced renewed student and community engagement. In spring 2026, it published its first print edition since its closure and, for the first time, partnered with The Michigan Daily and The Michigan Journal to help produce the first-ever tri-campus edition.
Under the new model, The Michigan Times no longer functions as an SSO but is now part of the College of Arts, Science and Education, within the Language & Communications department.
The Qua Literary & Fine Arts Magazine is the student-run literary and arts publication at the University of Michigan-Flint. It accepts submissions in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual arts each semester, compiling them into a magazine distributed on campus and in the community. It is also housed within the Language & Communications department.
Student government
The University of Michigan–Flint Student Government represents the students and manages student funds on the campus. Student Government is a member of the statewide Association of Michigan Universities.
Athletics
The University of Michigan-Flint currently offers eight club sports. Club sports are university-sponsored, student-run organizations that compete against other colleges and universities in various state, regional, and national contests.
Club sports include:
Men's & Women's Soccer
Men's Basketball
Women's Volleyball
Baseball
Men's Ice Hockey
Golf
Tennis
UM-Flint’s men’s club hockey was promoted to ACHA Division I and joined the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League for the 2025-26 season. In 2026-2027, they will compete in ACHA Division I and Division III and will have its largest recruiting class in program history.
UM-Flint esports program recently expanded to 15 teams, competing across 11 games and leagues. In 2025-2026, esports had a record five teams compete in national championship finals.
The University of Michigan-Flint is currently pursuing the launch of intercollegiate athletics at the NAIA level, competing in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference.
Notable faculty and alumni
Jim Ananich – Michigan Senate minority leader
Deborah Cherry – former Michigan state senator
John D. Cherry – 62nd lieutenant governor of Michigan
Bobby Crim – former Michigan Speaker of the House and state representative and founder of the Crim Festival of Races
Christopher Paul Curtis (2000) – writer and Newbery Medal winner
Erin Darke – actress
Mona Haydar – rapper, poet, activist and chaplain
LaKisha Jones – singer, American Idol contestant
Michael Moore – documentary film director, author
Don Riegle (1960) – United States Senator from Michigan
Marietta S. Robinson – former commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
John Sinclair (1964) – poet, political activist
Tim Sneller – member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 50th district
Woodrow Stanley – former Michigan state representative, Mayor of Flint
Phil Phelps - former Michigan state representative
Rob Paulsen - voice-over artist