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U-M Campus

U-M Central Campus

The University of Michigan was founded in 1817 as one of the first public universities in the nation.

Currently, the University of Michigan is one of the world's leading public universities and it is one of only two public institutions consistently ranked in the nation's top 10 universities. The University of Michigan boasts one of the largest health care complexes in the world, the best university library system in the country, and the some of the best computer access for students and faculty of any campus.

In addition to the facilities you will access as a PIBS student, the University of Michigan features other popular locations for students and residents alike, including the Law School, the Michigan Union, and Nichols Arboretum. Campus, like the surrounding city, is beautifully landscaped and provides a dramatic backdrop in all four seasons.

Campus Safety

In a recent PIBS survey, 54 out of 56 students stated that they feel “safe enough” to “very safe” on campus, citing well-lit areas, police patrol and campus traffic as the main reasons for their sense of security.

In a community of about 110,000 people crimes of opportunity are most common, where the victim has let his/her guard down, i.e. walking late at night alone. The University of Michigan does take great lengths to minimize these incidents. Throughout campus you will find blue call boxes (dispersed about every 20-30 feet in some places) that students can use to call Campus Safety for help. The academic buildings also require key card access as early as 5 p.m. to help ensure that people within the building are there for academic reasons.

On late nights, if students do not feel comfortable walking alone, a student can call Campus Safety and request a ride. Also, the campus is heavily patrolled with deputized University of Michigan police as well as the Ann Arbor police officers that patrol the city.

The University really works hard to ensure the safety of each individual on campus. Students may take a self-defense class.  A campus-wide messaging system was recently implemented to alert students, faculty, and staff via email and/or mobile phone of any incidents putting our community at risk. 

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