Large institutions often have loads of resources available for students, but it can be time consuming and difficult to track down these resources when you need them most. Below, I've compiled a (very) partial database of Student Resources available at UM. (Ctrl+F keywords like "first generation", "writing", "ADHD" to quickly find what you're looking for below.)
I'm hoping to continue to develop and refine this page, but in the meantime: if you know of something that I've missed, or notice something wrong or out of date, please email me! And, finally, if you are looking for something that you can't find here or elsewhere, try contacting the Campus Information center. (Partial Update: September 24, 2021.)
I'm hoping to continue to develop and refine this page, but in the meantime: if you know of something that I've missed, or notice something wrong or out of date, please email me! And, finally, if you are looking for something that you can't find here or elsewhere, try contacting the Campus Information center. (Partial Update: September 24, 2021.)
Accessibility and Accommodations
Students who think they might require academic accommodations can work with the office for Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) to arrange for (among other things) assistive technology, academic coaching, and testing accommodations.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Many students don't receive adequate diagnoses or discover that they have access to academic accommodations until college. If you find yourself struggling in your courses, take a look at the documentation and registration pages at SSD to see if you might qualify. Some helpful pages include the pages on registering temporary disabilities, Learning Disability Criteria, ADHD Criteria, and some discussion of Mental Health Conditions covered through SSD.
The site also maintains a page for other campus services, including information about accessible and gender inclusive restrooms on campus. Students facing mobility challenges who pre-qualify through SSD have access to Michigan's Paratransit Service, which offers 'curb to curb' rides booked a day in advance. (Note that the application offers the option to specify a service date range for temporary disabilities.)
Also, a note about the Knox Center Adaptive Technology computing resources: "Current and prospective students are eligible to receive unlimited consultation from the Knox Center. Proof of disability (such as registration with SSD) is not required to make an evaluation appointment." If you're having difficulty using course materials, contact the Knox Center for a consultation. More info here.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Many students don't receive adequate diagnoses or discover that they have access to academic accommodations until college. If you find yourself struggling in your courses, take a look at the documentation and registration pages at SSD to see if you might qualify. Some helpful pages include the pages on registering temporary disabilities, Learning Disability Criteria, ADHD Criteria, and some discussion of Mental Health Conditions covered through SSD.
The site also maintains a page for other campus services, including information about accessible and gender inclusive restrooms on campus. Students facing mobility challenges who pre-qualify through SSD have access to Michigan's Paratransit Service, which offers 'curb to curb' rides booked a day in advance. (Note that the application offers the option to specify a service date range for temporary disabilities.)
Also, a note about the Knox Center Adaptive Technology computing resources: "Current and prospective students are eligible to receive unlimited consultation from the Knox Center. Proof of disability (such as registration with SSD) is not required to make an evaluation appointment." If you're having difficulty using course materials, contact the Knox Center for a consultation. More info here.
Academic Writing Resources
The Sweetland Center for Writing provides individualized help with written work for courses at UM. According to the website, you can schedule up to one 45 min Peer Center or Online (OWL) appointment per day, and one 30 min Workshop Appointment per week (max 15 per term). The site notes that you can work with disability services to adjust these limits.
Some students may have access to dedicated writing courses, in addition to these services: click here for more on international student resources, and here for transfer student resources. Finally, check out the writing center's guides on common questions and issues. (Note that some of these things work a little differently in philosophy courses: I'll help you navigate these differences before your first paper, but you might also check out Jim Pryor's excellent Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper.)
For Graduate Students: The Sweetland Center also offers workshops and writing groups for UM graduate students, and hosts a very helpful collection of resources for teaching and grading writing.
Some students may have access to dedicated writing courses, in addition to these services: click here for more on international student resources, and here for transfer student resources. Finally, check out the writing center's guides on common questions and issues. (Note that some of these things work a little differently in philosophy courses: I'll help you navigate these differences before your first paper, but you might also check out Jim Pryor's excellent Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper.)
For Graduate Students: The Sweetland Center also offers workshops and writing groups for UM graduate students, and hosts a very helpful collection of resources for teaching and grading writing.
Student Support Resources
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): After hours contact information and other crisis center lines can be found here. You can find an overview of their regular-hours clinical services for students here, including information about making an initial consultation, gender affirming services for trans and non-binary students, couples counseling, and referral services. There is also the Mary A Rackham Institute (MARI), separate from CAPS, which offers a variety of mental health services, including literacy and language evaluations and interventions. See more about their services (for all ages, with or without a university affiliation) here.
Comprehensive Studies Program: CSP oversees the Summer Bridge program, and offers advising, mentoring, and and community support to students from a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to first generation college students and students from historically underrepresented groups. Their Current Students page compiles a really incredible superset of the resources I'm covering here; see especially their Campus Resources tab (including tutoring resources and course selection resources) and their current Workshop Schedule.
First Generation Students: UM Student Life has compiled a central page with a number of resources for First Gen students here. Check out in particular the Academic Services page (for information about libraries, undergraduate research opportunities, the career center, etc) and the Student Services page (for information about navigating student healthcare and health insurance, student conflict resolution, childcare, and student housing). For graduate students, there is both a First Generation Support Network as well as a Non-Traditional Student Network: join the email group by emailing rack-stu-engagement@umich.edu to express interest.
Food Insecurity and Campus Affordability: The Maize and Blue Cupboard is a food pantry that offers free groceries, toiletries, and household supplies to students facing food insecurity. See also the student-run organization Student Food Co, and this discussion of ongoing advocacy efforts. For campus affordability concerns more generally, see "On Being Not-Rich at The University of Michigan" : an incredible student-sourced and maintained guide for a wide variety of campus affordability issues. (It is a Google Doc, so give it some time to load! You can read more about the guide here.)
Campus Mind Works: A massive support database created to "simplify access to the wide variety of mental health and academic support resources at the University of Michigan, and to provide information to help students stay healthy and manage college life." The website includes general information about mental health support and mental illness, as well as more general resources arranged by student identities (including first generation students, graduate students, international students, students of color, law students, veterans, and transfer students).
Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center: The SAPAC center provides Crisis Intervention services (Crisis Line Phone: (734) 936-3333), Advocacy, and Peer-Led Support groups for survivors. See here for an overview of their services, and confidential contact information (including an online option).
Student Identities: There are many resources under this umbrella, though many of the most active seem to be student communities and student run organizations. UM Centers to check out include the Spectrum Center (LGBT+ Students), the Center for the Education of Women+, MESA (Multi Ethnic Student Affairs), and the Totter Multicultural Center. Graduate students should also check out SCOR (Students of Color of Rackham) and the network listserv for LGBTQ Graduate students (join the latter by contacting rack-stu-engagement@umich.edu). Please let me know about other centers and resources I should add to this list! See also the Campus Mind Works resource, above.
Technical Support: Michigan's BlueCorps offers appointments and drop-in hours for general technical support, open to all students. They offer help learning how to use things like Canvas, Microsoft Office, and the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (etc), and will also answer specific technology questions in person or over email. See their FAQ page for more details.
Undocumented and DACA Students. There is a university-run website here that compiles tons of resources and information for undocumented and DACA students, including information about getting involved with the student organization SCOPE (Student Community of Progressive Empowerment). There is also a list of scholarships for undocumented students from the UM Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships. Finally, check out "An Undocumented Student Guide to College in Michigan" (opens as a pdf in Dropbox) with info on applying to and paying for college, and links to other support and advocacy organizations.
Comprehensive Studies Program: CSP oversees the Summer Bridge program, and offers advising, mentoring, and and community support to students from a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to first generation college students and students from historically underrepresented groups. Their Current Students page compiles a really incredible superset of the resources I'm covering here; see especially their Campus Resources tab (including tutoring resources and course selection resources) and their current Workshop Schedule.
First Generation Students: UM Student Life has compiled a central page with a number of resources for First Gen students here. Check out in particular the Academic Services page (for information about libraries, undergraduate research opportunities, the career center, etc) and the Student Services page (for information about navigating student healthcare and health insurance, student conflict resolution, childcare, and student housing). For graduate students, there is both a First Generation Support Network as well as a Non-Traditional Student Network: join the email group by emailing rack-stu-engagement@umich.edu to express interest.
Food Insecurity and Campus Affordability: The Maize and Blue Cupboard is a food pantry that offers free groceries, toiletries, and household supplies to students facing food insecurity. See also the student-run organization Student Food Co, and this discussion of ongoing advocacy efforts. For campus affordability concerns more generally, see "On Being Not-Rich at The University of Michigan" : an incredible student-sourced and maintained guide for a wide variety of campus affordability issues. (It is a Google Doc, so give it some time to load! You can read more about the guide here.)
Campus Mind Works: A massive support database created to "simplify access to the wide variety of mental health and academic support resources at the University of Michigan, and to provide information to help students stay healthy and manage college life." The website includes general information about mental health support and mental illness, as well as more general resources arranged by student identities (including first generation students, graduate students, international students, students of color, law students, veterans, and transfer students).
Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center: The SAPAC center provides Crisis Intervention services (Crisis Line Phone: (734) 936-3333), Advocacy, and Peer-Led Support groups for survivors. See here for an overview of their services, and confidential contact information (including an online option).
Student Identities: There are many resources under this umbrella, though many of the most active seem to be student communities and student run organizations. UM Centers to check out include the Spectrum Center (LGBT+ Students), the Center for the Education of Women+, MESA (Multi Ethnic Student Affairs), and the Totter Multicultural Center. Graduate students should also check out SCOR (Students of Color of Rackham) and the network listserv for LGBTQ Graduate students (join the latter by contacting rack-stu-engagement@umich.edu). Please let me know about other centers and resources I should add to this list! See also the Campus Mind Works resource, above.
Technical Support: Michigan's BlueCorps offers appointments and drop-in hours for general technical support, open to all students. They offer help learning how to use things like Canvas, Microsoft Office, and the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (etc), and will also answer specific technology questions in person or over email. See their FAQ page for more details.
Undocumented and DACA Students. There is a university-run website here that compiles tons of resources and information for undocumented and DACA students, including information about getting involved with the student organization SCOPE (Student Community of Progressive Empowerment). There is also a list of scholarships for undocumented students from the UM Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships. Finally, check out "An Undocumented Student Guide to College in Michigan" (opens as a pdf in Dropbox) with info on applying to and paying for college, and links to other support and advocacy organizations.