Student Opportunities & Resources
Gain Skills.
Gain organizational and leadership skills.
- Join a student organization such as the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA).
Maize Pages is the University of Michigan’s online directory of student organizations. You can explore all 1,000+ organizations, or use the site's search engine to locate specific themes or interests.
- Attend Leadership Connection through Student Activities and Leadership (SAL).
Leadership Connection is a stimulating week-long, off-site program that develops both the individual and the group. The purpose of Leadership Connection is to provide opportunities that strengthen student organizations’ intra-group and inter-group development.
- Become part of the University Mentorship Program through the Office of New Student Programs.
University Mentorship, a part of the Office of New Student Programs, helps first-year students get acclimated to campus life. Mentorship is open to all first-year students. The Mentorship Program is one of the many Michigan Learning Communities available to students on campus. These programs help to make the University a smaller place, and mentorship helps build relationships between students and Michigan faculty and staff.
- Consider the courses and programs for undergraduates in professional schools like Public Policy, Public Health, or Education.
- Go on an Alternative Spring Break through the Ginsberg Center’s SERVE program.
The University of Michigan’s Alternative Spring Break is a Ginsberg Center SERVE-sponsored program that offers a community service learning experience during the traditional Spring Break of the academic calendar. Students spend the year learning about the culture and history of a particular area, community, or issue.
- Volunteer with the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR).
OSCR builds trust, promotes justice, teaches peace and supports the values of civility, dignity, diversity, education, equality, freedom, honesty, and safety among all U-M students.
- Attend the Intercultural Leadership Seminar through Student Activities and Leadership (SAL).
Intercultural Leadership Seminar is an interactive 5-day program intended to provide participants with a deeper understanding of how to work more effectively in intercultural settings. The seminar design deliberately addresses attitudes, awareness, knowledge and skills as central aspects to developing intercultural competence.
- Apply to be a Common Grounds facilitator with the Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR).
The Common Ground workshop program is one way that student organizations, residence halls, Greek life, classes, and other campus communities can request workshops on topics such as (but not limited to) racism, sexism, classism, or heterosexism.
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Build skills to live and work in a global world.
- Join an international student organization.
Maize Pages is the University of Michigan’s online directory of student organizations. You can explore all 1,000+ organizations, or use the site's search engine to locate specific themes or interests.
- Choose the International Minor in Engineering.
The International Minor is open to undergraduate students from all CoE departments and majors and opens in September 2008. Students can schedule pre-advising appointments in the winter 2008 semester. The International Minor for Engineers addresses a core set of skills and experiences that will prepare CoE graduates for the challenges of the global engineering profession including a basic proficiency in a language other than English; understanding of non-U.S. cultures and societies; intercultural communication skills; knowledge of global trends in engineering and business; practical experience working/studying overseas and navigating a new cultural setting.
- Apply to the Engineering Global Leadership Honors Program (EGL).
The EGL Honors Program combines the engineering and business curriculums with a cultural core from the College of Literature, Science and Arts to prepare students for a global workforce. Students develop communication skills, cultural competence and leadership abilities as they complete a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Engineering. The EGL program requires a study abroad experience as well as completion of a synthesis team project to place their learning in an industry context, apply their technical knowledge and develop their teamwork skills.
- Take advantage of the work and travel opportunities through the International Center.
The Overseas Opportunities Office provides information about options for studying, working, or traveling abroad to students and other members of the U-M community. The mission of the office is to serve as a one-stop resource for finding overseas educational opportunities, both curricular and co-curricular, available through all U-M units and selected external organizations.
- Participate in a learning community through Michigan Learning Communities (MLC).
The Michigan Learning Communities are an ideal way for you to benefit from the unparalleled resources only a large research university can offer. At the same time, a learning community provides a smaller college setting within which you can develop more personal relationships. You are part of a friendly, supportive, and challenging learning community within the larger university environment.
- Apply to be part of the Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU).
GIEU sends small (ten to fifteen students) diverse teams with a U-M faculty member for three to four weeks to culturally rich sites domestically and around the world to work on mutually-beneficial projects. It includes short courses (1 credit) before and after travel (UC 275) and a paid summer internship while on site.
- Attend a career building workshop with the Career Center.
The goal of the Career Center is to prepare University of Michigan students and alumni/ae to be active participants in planning and implementing their career decisions. A variety of career building workshops are available for students, as well as, one-on-one career counseling.
- Go on an Alternative Spring Break through the Ginsberg Center’s SERVE program.
The University of Michigan’s Alternative Spring Break is a Ginsberg Center SERVE-sponsored program that offers a community service learning experience during the traditional Spring Break of the academic calendar. Students spend the year learning about the culture and history of a particular area, community, or issue.
- Attend the Intercultural Leadership Seminar through Student Activities and Leadership (SAL).
Intercultural Leadership Seminar is an interactive 5-day program intended to provide participants with a deeper understanding of how to work more effectively in intercultural settings. The seminar design deliberately addresses attitudes, awareness, knowledge and skills as central aspects to developing intercultural competence.
- Attend LGBTQ Ally Training at Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Affairs (LGBTA).
Ally Program participants attend an eight-hour training (spread over two days) designed to strengthen their ability to serve as allies to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students, staff, and faculty at the University of Michigan.
- Make plans to study abroad through the Office of International Programs (OIP).
OIP programs are designed to enrich the undergraduate experience by offering students opportunities for cultural immersion, intensive language learning, and participation in another educational system.
- Attend a Growing Allies Training sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs.
This is a new initiative whose goal is to engage students in their identities as social justice allies and empower them to act as allies everyday.
- Become an Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator through the Program on Intergroup Relations.
Intergroup dialogue facilitators are trained undergraduate students who lead a group of peers through a semester of intergroup dialogue. Facilitators are trained in dialogic communication, group building, conflict surfacing and de-escalation, and social justice education. They work in pairs to facilitate dialogue, not simply as teachers, but also as learners with dialogue participants.
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Learn to handle conflict.
- Participate in a learning community through Michigan Learning Communities (MLC).
The Michigan Learning Communities are an ideal way for you to benefit from the unparalleled resources only a large research university can offer. At the same time, a learning community provides a smaller college setting within which you can develop more personal relationships. You are part of a friendly, supportive, and challenging learning community within the larger university environment.
- Become an Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator through the Program on Intergroup Relations.
Intergroup dialogue facilitators are trained undergraduate students who lead a group of peers through a semester of intergroup dialogue. Facilitators are trained in dialogic communication, group building, conflict surfacing and de-escalation, and social justice education. They work in pairs to facilitate dialogue, not simply as teachers, but also as learners with dialogue participants.
- Volunteer with the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR).
OSCR builds trust, promotes justice, teaches peace and supports the values of civility, dignity, diversity, education, equality, freedom, honesty, and safety among all U-M students.
- Apply for a Psych 122 course—the InterGroup dialogue courses with Intergroup Relations (IGR).
Intergroup Dialogues are 2-credit courses carefully structured to explore social group identity, conflict, community, and social justice. Each intergroup dialogue involves identity groups defined by race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic class, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin.
- Participate in a learning community through Michigan Learning Communities (MLC).
The Michigan Learning Communities are an ideal way for you to benefit from the unparalleled resources only a large research university can offer. At the same time, a learning community provides a smaller college setting within which you can develop more personal relationships. You are part of a friendly, supportive, and challenging learning community within the larger university environment.
- Attend LGBTQ Ally Training at Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Affairs (LGBTA).
Ally Program participants attend an eight-hour training (spread over two days) designed to strengthen their ability to serve as allies to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students, staff, and faculty at the University of Michigan.
- Request a CommonGround Workshop through the Program on Intergroup Relations.
The Common Ground workshop program is one way that student organizations, residence halls, Greek life, classes, and other campus communities can request workshops on topics such as (but not limited to) racism, sexism, classism, or heterosexism.
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Take action for change.
- Attend College of Engineering MLK Programs to mark the University of Michigan MLK Symposium.
Events include a keynote address, student sponsored programs, lunch discussions and a cultural fair. All members of the College and University community are invited to participate in the events.
- Join a community service or a politically active student organization.
Maize Pages is the University of Michigan’s online directory of student organizations. You can explore all 1,000+ organizations, or use the site's search engine to locate specific themes or interests.
- Go on an Alternative Spring Break through the Ginsberg Center’s SERVE program.
The University of Michigan’s Alternative Spring Break is a SERVE-sponsored program that offers a community service learning experience during the traditional Spring Break of the academic calendar. Students spend the year learning about the culture and history of a particular area, community, or issue.
- Become a tutor through the Ginsberg Center’s America Reads program.
The Ginsberg Center’s America Reads is a work-study program that involves U-M students with kindergarten through third grade schoolchildren. The program is committed to meeting the challenge to have all children reading well and independently by the end of third grade. Goals include: get kids excited about reading, improve kids’ literacy skills, provide greater access to books and opportunities to read with an adult, and support literacy development at home.
- Join the Speakers Bureau at the Spectrum Center (formerly known as the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs).
The goal of the Speakers Bureau is to educate people on the current realities and personal histories of those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Ally. Through personal story-telling, speakers share their experiences and growth, thereby promoting knowledge, compassion, and understanding about LGBTQ identities, issues and concerns.
- Attend or volunteer for the Day of C.H.A.N.G.E. through the Division of Student Affairs (DSA).
A Day of C.H.A.N.G.E. provides ALL students with the opportunity to connect with Michigan’s commitment to diversity. This event celebrates and appreciates the central, long-term ethic at Michigan by bringing together the campus community in educational and social events.
- Attend LGBTQ Ally Training at Spectrum Center (formerly known as the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs).
Ally Program participants attend an eight-hour training (spread over two days) designed to strengthen their ability to serve as allies to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students, staff, and faculty at the University of Michigan.
- Apply to be a Peace Corps volunteer with the International Center.
The U-M International Center provides a variety of services to assist international students, scholars, faculty and staff at the University of Michigan, as well as U-M American students seeking opportunities to study, work, or travel abroad.
- Participate in North Campus Service Day.
North Campus Service Day is organized by the Engineering Council in collaboration with Project SERVE and other North Campus academic units. The day promotes community service and social action in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti communities.
- Attend a Growing Allies Training sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs.
This is a new initiative whose goal is to engage students in their identities as social justice allies and empower them to act as allies everyday.
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