Multimedia Features | The University Record

May 29, 2026

A proven blueprint

When the Board of Regents approved purchasing the former Concordia University campus on May 21, it followed a successful blueprint for serving the public good that has been honed since the 1800s: Take advantage of land opportunities when presented, and then thoughtfully grow the university’s capacity to educate, heal and improve society. U-M will buy the approximately 140-acre parcel at 4090 Geddes Road from Concordia for a negotiated price of $60 million. (Photo courtesy of Concordia University)

May 22, 2026

Carillon upgrade

Work began May 22 on the Charles Baird Carillon inside Burton Memorial Tower, as crews used a crane and basket to remove 26 clappers, the swinging metal components inside the carillon bells. Four additional clappers will be removed later this summer, and all 30 clappers are expected to be replaced in August. (Photos by Connor Titsworth, Michigan Commons)

See more images and read about the work

May 18, 2026

Affordability at U-M

Thanks to robust need-based aid and the Go Blue Guarantee, the state’s most prestigious university is also one of its most affordable, often costing less out of pocket than most other public universities in Michigan. When comparing the net price — the average out-of-pocket amount a family pays for a student’s first year after grant and scholarship aid is applied — the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers either the lowest cost or the second lowest cost among 15 public institutions in Michigan for the majority of Michiganders.

Aging in Michigan

The Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging asked a sample of Michigan residents age 50 and older to rate how they view living in Michigan as they age. A report summarizes their responses and highlights key differences across demographic, health, and regional groups, offering insights into Michigan’s strengths and challenges as a place to age. Overall, 82% of Michigan residents age 50 and older rated the state of Michigan as an excellent, very good, or good place to live as they age, while 18% rated the state as fair or poor.

Read more about the Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging

May 6, 2026

Scarlatta recommended as UM-Dearborn chancellor

Gabriella Scarlatta, current interim chancellor of UM-Dearborn, has been recommended as the next chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Pending approval, Scarlatta’s five-year appointment will be effective May 22, 2026. She will also serve as an executive officer of the university.

1 million memories

More than 9,000 graduates and nearly 60,000 of their families, friends and supporters claimed tickets to the U-M’s Spring Commencement ceremony May 2, which was held at Michigan Stadium on a brisk, mostly sunny morning. U-M awarded its 1 millionth degree this weekend as graduates heard messages of integrity and serving the public good.

Exploring education in Ecuador

Twenty-four U‑M undergraduates traveled to Otavalo and Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, as part of a 3‑credit course examining how schools navigate cultural and economic realities. Working alongside Ecuadorian students, the group explores how Indigenous traditions and global education models intersect in everyday classroom practice.

Read more about the students’ experience in Ecuador

April 24, 2026

Hot jobs

The University of Michigan has long supported communities across the state through economic partnerships, educational initiatives and world-class health care. But new alumni data from Steppingblocks shows the university is also helping prepare students for many of Michigan’s most in-demand, high-wage jobs, adding talent in fields that directly support businesses, hospitals, state infrastructure and communities statewide. The university’s most visible contributions to Michigan’s hot jobs are in health care, information technology, engineering, and business and management.

Read more about how U-M graduates are filling ‘hot jobs’ in Michigan

April 22, 2026

ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards

The 2025 ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award recipients are, back row, from left, Siliang Song, ecology and evolutionary biology; So-Bin Cho, nuclear engineering and radiological sciences; Maximilian Jerdee, physics; Jianhao Ma, industrial and operations engineering; and front row, from left, Meixin Yuan, urban and regional planning; and Bibi Alika Sulaman, neuroscience. Not pictured are Jason Byas, philosophy; Benjamin Goehring, public policy and political science; Aditya Varma Muppala, electrical and computer engineering; and Joshua Schulze, film, television, and media. The awards recognize exceptional work produced by doctoral students for the high caliber of their scholarship and the significance and interest of their findings. (Photo by Dianna Oatridge, for Michigan Photography)

Learn more about the ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards

April 21, 2026

Engage Detroit

Now in its fifth year of funding, the 2026 Engage Detroit Workshops grant program has selected seven projects for awards. The program supports small teams of U-M faculty, staff, students and community partners in organizing workshops that strengthen partnerships between the University of Michigan and Detroit. The provosts’ offices on the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses jointly support the program. (Photo by Scott C. Soderberg, Michigan Photography)

Learn more about the grant projects