I.C.9. Credits, program length, and tuition

The University of Michigan operates on trimesters, one of the three standard academic calendars. A semester extends over approximately four months, including examinations. The University’s year-round calendar, by months, is approximately as follows:

Term - Months

Fall - September, October, November, December

Winter - January, February, March, April

Spring/Summer - May, June, July, August

The Spring-Summer term may also be scheduled as two half terms.

Bachelor, Master’s, and Doctoral degree requirements vary widely across schools & colleges. Minimum number of credit hours vary from 120-128 for a four year bachelor degree program. A two year master’s degree program requires a minimum of 30-60 credit hours. Doctoral degree requirements vary widely across schools & colleges. First professional degrees are offered in the School of Dentistry, Law School, Medical School, and the College of Pharmacy. Detailed information on specific program requirements is available through the website of each school and college.

More than 18,000 courses are available. Most undergraduate students take four classes per term for a total of 14 to 16 credit hours. Classes range in size from about 15 students to large lectures for 200 to 500 students. The large lecture courses also include small discussion groups to discuss the course material. Most students schedule a balance among large, small and medium-sized classes.

The University of Michigan has a highly differentiated tuition fee structure based on student level, program and residency. The University makes these tuition and fees public in a wide variety of formats including websites, bulletins, time schedules and admissions materials. The University’s current tuition and fee schedule is available in a table. (http://www.umich.edu/~oapainfo/TABLES/TF_9900.html)

I.A.5. Institutional compliance with the HE Reauthorization Act (Title IV loans)

The cohort default rate at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor campus) in the Federal Direct Ford/Stafford Loan Program is very low compared to the national average for public research institutions. For 1997, the most recent year calculated, the University of Michigan cohort default rate was 4.2% as compared with the national average for four-year public research institutions which was 6.8%. The University’s cohort default rate for the Perkins Loan Program is 6.69%, also well below the national average for the program. Though our default rates are well below the thresholds where default management plans are required, nonetheless we provide borrowers with many opportunities for loan counseling and debt management advising.

IV.B.2. Institution’s advertising and recruitment materials

The accreditation status of the University of Michigan is included in the various bulletins and many other documents used for advertising and recruitment. The accreditation statement currently reads:

IV.B.4. Institutional records of student complaints

The offices of the President, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Student Affairs, track written complaints from students that come directly to these offices or are referred to them by other offices or individuals within the University. Information included in these tracking systems include the date the complaint was received, the nature of the complaint, and how the complaint was handled.

Student Right-to-Know Act: graduation rates and crime rate: Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990

Graduation Rates

Under the Student Right-to-Know Act of 1990, the University of Michigan is required to disclose completion or graduation rates for full-time undergraduate students. These figures must be made available to prospective students before they enroll at UM or enter into any financial obligations (such as submitting their enrollment deposit). This information is published in the Schedule of Classes, commonly known as the Time Schedule.

Crime Rates

As part of the Campus Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, the University of Michigan is required to publish and distribute an annual report on campus crime statistics. These statistics are compiled by the UM Campus Safety Department and published in the Campus Safety Handbook, which is distributed to all faculty, staff, and students. Copies of the handbook are sent to officials in the Department of Management and Budget as part of the University's state reporting requirements. In addition to crime statistics, the Campus Safety Handbook also contains comprehensive information for students, faculty, and staff on available campus safety services (such as after-dark escort services, emergency phones, etc.) and procedures for reporting crimes and assaults.