Dear Campus Community:

Yesterday was the first Regents’ meeting of 2025, and I had the opportunity to share some of the tremendous work our faculty, staff and students have been doing during these first weeks of the winter semester.

Here are a few of the highlights I shared with the Regents: 

WINTER SEMESTER ENROLLMENT INCREASES MORE THAN 5%
Following our fall 2024 enrollment increase, our winter enrollment has followed suit, with an overall enrollment of 6,335 students, an increase of 5.4% from last year. Included in that number is a 4.1% rise in undergraduate enrollment and a more than 9.5% increase in graduate enrollment. This year’s increase in winter enrollment is the second consecutive and just the second since 2015.

UM-FLINT RECEIVES HISTORIC NSF GRANT TO FUND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
The university has been awarded the largest research grant in its history: $3.3 million distributed over five years as part of the National Science Foundation's GRANTED initiative. The funds will be invested in growing UM-Flint's research capabilities, marking a significant step forward in the university's efforts to secure external funding. This enhanced capacity will create new opportunities for industry partnerships and student research while developing a skilled regional workforce that can attract advanced manufacturing and technology companies to the Flint area. GRANTED, which stands for Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Economic Development, aims to address "… systemic barriers within the nation's research enterprise by improving research support and service capacity," according to the NSF's website. GRANTED funds will allow UM-Flint’s Office of Research & Economic Development to hire a research development officer, a research administrator, and a community engagement officer. The new hires and the project's senior personnel will guide and support faculty through the many domains of research development and the partnership-building process.  

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES DISABILITY BOWLING INITIATIVE
The university’s Occupational Therapy Department has launched a program that it hopes could be right up the alley for individuals with disabilities. What started as a one-on-one bowling session has become a weekly event sparking joy and delivering therapeutic benefits for all involved. Organizers emphasized leisure and social participation’s critical but often overlooked role in recovery. "Recovery typically focuses on physical rehabilitation," said Elizabeth Yost, clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy. "However, leisure activities and social interaction significantly enhance the overall quality of life for individuals with disabilities." Funding from The Hagerman Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has allowed the program to expand, targeting those needs that are frequently deprioritized in the medical model of care. The therapy sessions use customized equipment and assistive devices to improve participants' confidence and independence. The program also benefits from interdisciplinary collaboration, with students from various health programs volunteering to monitor vitals and assist with activities.

UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $495K MELLON GRANT TO EXPLORE "CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT"
Once a hub of innovation in the 20th century, Flint faced economic decline when General Motors relocated much of its operations. This shift affected local governance and diminished the population, prompting the city to reimagine itself through community-driven efforts. To support this transformation, UM-Flint's College of Arts, Sciences & Education received a $495,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. This grant funds a faculty-led research project examining Flint's democratic practices outside traditional institutions. The project starts with a community symposium aimed at forming new alliances, documenting existing democratic practices, and laying the groundwork for future phases. Subsequently, UM-Flint will develop courses centered on "Cultures of Democracy," providing students with immersive community engagement opportunities. In the winter and fall of 2026, faculty workshops will generate innovative curricula addressing democratic engagement. Community members will be compensated for contributing as guest lecturers in this new educational framework.

CELEBRATING 30TH ANNUAL DAY OF SERVICE IN HONOR OF MLK
For the past three decades, UM-Flint has recognized the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by hosting its annual Day of Service. The event highlights the university's focus on engaged citizenship and provides an opportunity to support Genesee County residents while upholding King's legacy. This year’s event began with a keynote breakfast featuring a panel of alumni who shared a rich history of on-campus advocacy. Following the breakfast, student, faculty and staff participants volunteered with a variety of organizations and community partners, including the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint, Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, Michigan Blood, and/or tying no-sew blankets for Flint's disadvantaged population. 

CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER HONORED WITH DISTINGUISHED AWARD, LOCAL RECOGNITION
David Luke, the university’s chief diversity officer, has been doubly honored for his exceptional contributions to diversity and inclusion in higher education and the local community. The University of Michigan recently awarded Luke its prestigious Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award, recognizing his outstanding efforts in fostering an inclusive environment on campus. The award, established to highlight staff members who tirelessly work to create a welcoming and supportive working environment, comes with a $1,000 prize for professional development activities or training. The award acknowledges progress toward cultivating a more diverse and equitable academic community. It aims to honor those who value diversity and acknowledge how it distinguishes the university. In addition to this accolade, Luke was also named among Genesee County's 40 Under 40 for 2024. This biannual program celebrates young professionals driving positive change across the region.

CAMPUS LAUDED FOR EXCEPTIONAL 2024 STUDENT VOTER TURNOUT
UM-Flint has been recognized as a "2024 Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting" by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which honors institutions making substantial efforts to boost nonpartisan student voter participation. To earn this distinction, universities must complete four key actions: participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, share their National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement reports, develop a democratic engagement action plan, and commit to full student voter participation. These efforts equip the university with tools to enhance civic engagement. Last fall, the student-led group Turn Up Turnout facilitated various initiatives to engage students and the community in the 2024 election. Activities included a presidential debate watch party, "Dinners for Democracy" events on topics like climate change and local politics, and collaborations with the Office of Housing & Residential Life to inform students about voting. Turn Up Turnout also ran a phone-banking campaign with the Arab American Heritage Council, making more than 10,000 calls to provide crucial voter information.

APPROVAL ITEMS
A complete list of all approval items can be found on the Regents’ website.

As always, Go Flint and Go Blue!

Sincerely,

Laurence B. Alexander, JD, Ph.D.
Chancellor