Dear Friends,

Welcome to another wonderful fall in our beautiful state.

Much of my work has been focused on helping students from all around our state attend the University of Michigan regardless of their financial means. This fall, two recently launched initiatives are helping make this goal a reality for many students.

Wolverine Pathways is an innovative pipeline program for middle and high school students in Detroit, Southfield, and Ypsilanti. Students attend after-school, weekend and summer academic enrichment sessions and receive mentorship and guidance. This fall, 45 Wolverine Pathways graduates are now studying on our Ann Arbor campus, and another 15 are at UM-Dearborn. An additional twenty program grads are attending a 4-year college or university, bringing Wolverine Pathways’ college enrollment rate to 91 percent.

We are also in our second semester of providing free tuition to eligible Michigan students under our Go Blue Guarantee, which includes a promise of full tuition for students whose families earn $65,000 or less and who have assets totaling less than $50,000. Additionally, the Go Blue Guarantee includes substantial tuition support for Michigan families with incomes up to $180,000.

More than 7,500 in-state undergraduates are receiving institutional grant aid under the Go Blue Guarantee, covering up to 100 percent of their tuition bill.

One of the reasons we are able to provide such high levels of financial aid is because of the commitment and generosity of our donors. Friends and supporters from our state and beyond have made the University of Michigan the first public university ever to raise $5 billion in a fundraising campaign.

More than 382,000 donors contributed to the Victors for Michigan campaign in support of our mission. And their generosity included $1.1 billion dedicated to student support.

Our world needs Victors, and the Michigan Family has responded.

Earlier this month during my annual Leadership Breakfast, I was pleased to announce that U-M, in partnership with local and regional stakeholders, will seek to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pursue carbon neutrality in a way that can be replicated by others all around our state and nation.

In previous editions of Michigan Impact, we shared how U-M experts are helping communities in our state confront the health and environmental challenges posed by climate change. We know that every part of our state benefits from strong, research-based environmental stewardship, whether it’s sustainability in tourism, agriculture, Great Lakes fisheries, and many other priorities.

I will announce in the coming months the appointment of a presidential commission that will develop a plan with specific targets and a timeline for U-M to achieve carbon neutrality in a financially responsible fashion, in the context of a recommended set of strategies that can be shared by others around the state to achieve the same goal.

At the University of Michigan, we are at our best when we work in partnership with the people of this great state for the benefit of all. I thank you again for your commitment to our university’s public mission.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Schlissel
President