The University of Michigan is launching its Year of Life-Changing Education theme year, an interdisciplinary effort to underscore the ability for learning to improve society and the quality of life for people in Michigan and beyond.
Life-Changing Education in 2025-26 is the next theme year to emphasize core impact areas of the Look to Michigan vision.
The Year of Democracy, Civic Empowerment, and Global Engagement in 2024-25 launched numerous efforts to strengthen democratic practices and encourage active civic participation.
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Life-Changing Education represents U-M’s aim to redefine what education can look like.
“Educational opportunities remain uneven, where gains compound for those already ahead while challenges deepen for others,” said Year of Life-Changing Education Co-Chair Angela Dillard, vice provost for undergraduate education.
“Life-Changing Education responds by showing, not telling how research-driven education transforms lives through genuine collaboration, engaging students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners across Michigan,” she said.
Co-Chairs Dillard, Elizabeth Moje, dean of the Marsal Family School of Education, and Michael Solomon, dean of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, are shaping programming, grant opportunities and events for the year ahead.
“We will build on existing expertise, create new opportunities and foster reciprocal learning partnerships infused with joyful exploration positioning Michigan as a national leader in university-community engagement through the Four Ways model and Learning Community structure,” Moje said.
Solomon said the upcoming year will galvanize the campus community to show how all of society is lifted through the availability and access to quality education.
“Our focus for the year ahead is ‘Crafting the Future of Learning,’” Solomon said. “Education changes lives. And through research, we’ll show how innovative education and access to it can improve not just students, but the communities where they live and work.”
The committee has identified four main goals for the year ahead:
Fostering Open Inquiry and Productive Disagreements
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members develop skills for engaging differences as opportunities for joyful discovery, sharpened thinking and career-ready growth. Examples include the Talking Maize & Blue app-based course for incoming students and Open Inquiry Week of events.
Expanding Pathways and Access Across Michigan
Faculty, staff, students and community partners collaborate with schools, community colleges and workforce programs to expand access statewide. Examples include a college-advising conference and student success initiative integration with Access + Opportunity + Success programming.
Marking the Past & Co-Creating the Campus and Education of the Future
The entire university community reflects on history while creatively designing next-generation learning environments and experiences. Examples include historical reflection programming and a “Campus of the Future” Design Competition
Sharing Scholarship, Shaping Solutions
Faculty, graduate students and community partners take U-M education research directly to communities through genuine dialogue and shared discovery. Examples include statewide “ED Talks” series and educational storytelling features.
Details will be announced this fall on the theme year website, committee members and grant program opportunities.
