Dear Alumni and Friends,
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a university president is seeing firsthand how higher education and research create opportunities for the students, families and communities we serve. At the University of Michigan, service to the people of our state and the greater world is foundational to everything we do.
It was this commitment that led university leaders to first launch the Go Blue Guarantee in 2018, providing free tuition for up to four years for students with family income of up to $65,000 and assets below $50,000.
The opportunities of higher education extend beyond degree programs to new partnerships across the state that will foster economic growth in our region. In recent months, U-M announced we are:
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Launching the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center in an effort to cultivate a robust EV ecosystem in the place where the modern auto industry was born. The center has three focus areas: accelerating collaborative R&D, developing a highly skilled workforce, and establishing advanced campus infrastructure and facilities to support both research and education.
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Investing $55 million to launch a multidisciplinary Quantum Research Institute at U-M, which is designed to generate new knowledge and catalyze innovative research in this important and growing area, as well as expand our curriculum with new courses to prepare students for the future quantum workforce.
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Collaborating with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and educational and private sector partners from across the state in the Semiconductor Talent Action Team, a new effort to make Michigan a leader in the semiconductor industry. U-M is also joining a new partnership to establish a Semiconductor Talent and Automotive Research (STAR) initiative with the state, the semiconductor company KLA, the technology innovation hub imec, Washtenaw Community College and General Motors to accelerate fundamental and advanced research for vehicle electrification and autonomous automotive solutions.
These efforts – for Michigan families, for Michigan communities – will have a significant impact across our state. And they are just the start. Through our increased Go Blue Guarantee and our growing partnerships across the state, we are building a brighter future for all.
Sincerely,
