Towsley Conference Center


Room Scheduling

Towsley Center conference facilities may be rented for University-related functions or  for non-University academic or professional meetings. Social events unrelated to the University of Michigan are not permitted.

Rental Rates and Related Charges
Additional Charges
Scheduling Policies

Room rentals can be scheduled by contacting:

Towsley Center Facilities Scheduler
Phone: 734-764-3727
Fax: 734-936-1641
E-mail: towsleycenter@umich.edu

Rental Rates and Related Charges
Room rental rates are listed in the table below. Depending on your meeting needs, additional charges may apply.

Room Rental Rates
University
Weekday Rates*
Non-University
and Weekday Rates*
Room
4 hours
8 hours
4 hours
8 hours
Dow Auditorium/Lobby
$350
$600
$400
$650
Lobby Only
$175
$350
$250
$425
Sheldon Auditorium
$175
$365
$250
$425
Dining Room
$195
$375
$250
$425
Main Hallway**
$50
$50
$50
$50

*Morning events that extend beyond 1 p.m. and afternoon events that begin at 11 a.m. will be charged for a full day (8 hours).

**Rental charge for the main hallway does not apply if renting other space

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Additional Charges
Staff time - Additional fees for staff time will be charged for time required outside of business hours or for time needed perform special requests during the normal workday (e.g., unusual set up of rooms, unusual clean up of rooms, staffing a registration desk, obtaining specially requested food items). Rates for staff time outside of business hours are:

Set Up - Additional fees may be incurred if a large block of set-up time is required by the Towsley Center Facilities staff or the renter to prepare the room(s) prior to an event. Customary room rental rates are charged for the set-up time in addition to the room rental rates that apply to the event itself. There is a separate charge for complex set ups.

Projectionist - A professional projectionist must manage the projection booth in Dow Auditorium and Sheldon Auditorium. Projectionists rates are:

Audio/visual services also are available for other rooms.

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Scheduling Policies

Type of Activity Advance Scheduling Time Frame
Office of CME courses No advance limit
One-time or annual conferences Up to 12 months*
Meetings recurring bi-monthly or less frequently Up to 6 months
Meetings recurring monthly or more frequently Up to 3 months

*Up to one year for activities March 15 - June 30 and September 9 - November 30. No advance limit July 1- September 8 and December 1 - March 14.

Exceptions – Exceptions to the above timeframes will be considered for meetings with unique needs for conference center space. Address requests for exceptions to the Towsley Center Facilities Supervisor.

Deposit - No deposit is required for billings to University of Michigan accounts. Renters using other methods of payment must make a 50% deposit 30 days prior to the event. 

Confirmation – We send a written confirmation for every rental.

Cancellation – To avoid cancellation penalties, cancellations must occur 48 hours ahead of the scheduled meeting time. Meeting space on the Medical Campus is limited. A pattern of scheduling and canceling space prohibits others from using this shared resource. We reserve the right to refuse meeting space to groups that have a pattern of canceling their reservations.

Towsley Center Scheduling Priority
The Towsley Center is the only conference center on the UMHS medical center campus. The space is especially designated for CME activities, occasional conferences or other meetings needing half- or whole-day blocks of time – and we give these events priority status.

We expect that short weekly or biweekly meetings will be scheduled for classroom space in the hospitals or Medical School.

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