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 New Graduate Student Guide2001 EditionIntroductionWelcome to the Department of Political Science. The next few years should prove to be some of the most challenging and most frustrating few years of your academic career. The challenges will come with the academics. The frustrations will come largely from dealing with the University bureaucracy. The University, its procedures, and its politics will test the limits of your knowledge of such things as bureaucratic politics, organizational theory, and standard operating procedures. You will be presented with the rare opportunity to apply what you learn about politics. To understand the bureaucracy, however, is another matter. For that you may have to turn to someone like Max Weber. This guide is designed to provide valuable information. It contains important phone numbers, offices and contact people to help make the transition to life as a graduate student at the University of Michigan and in Ann Arbor easier. Compiled by staff, grad students, and faculty, this guide represents their collected wisdom. Let's face it, graduate students have to be somewhat unique to decide to spend the next five to seven years, if they are lucky, learning all there is to know about political science. Most graduate students can point to college classmates who are MBAs, J.D.s or C.P.A.s on their way to six-figure salaries. Graduate students embarking on a career of the study of political science, however, have decided that there is more to life than fancy cars, the golden retriever, and partnership in the firm. Instead, they are opting to learn about auto-correlation, heteroskedasticity, corporatism, or deciding whether Nietzsche was a feminist. All in the pursuit of tenure. Right? Several important events are scheduled for the first two weeks after classes begin to welcome you to the department. You are invited to attend all and required to attend two.
COLLEGIALITY The first year of your graduate career will present you with the greatest opportunity to develop a sense of collegiality or community with your peers. Collegiality will be most important within the Department, but is also an important facet of cross-disciplinary interaction. The University and the Department provide many opportunities that help to increase this highly important aspect of your graduate career. It is up to you, however, to take advantage of these opportunities. Regular social events occur throughout the term. There are occasional parties sponsored by already established grad students -- they're the only ones who can afford this (time and money). Other "official" events include the fall welcome picnic and the holiday party at the end of fall term. Department sponsored events are great chances not only to mingle with other graduate students, but also to see faculty outside of the classroom setting. In addition, the Political Science Lounge, located on the second floor of 611Church Street offers another opportunity to compare notes with other grad students, catch a quick nap, or eat lunch. The lounge has been recently renovated to provide an even more congenial atmosphere for graduate student interaction. Other opportunities for grad student interaction include the Political Science message group and intramural sports and recreation. The political science message group is a computer mailing list which is a place to receive information concerning financial aid, upcoming talks, announce brown bag conferences, exchange opinions on weighty topics of the day, and more. You will be added to it in the fall. On the more athletic side of life, there are numerous opportunities for participation in the extensive intramural sports available at Michigan. These require an individual or individuals to get the ball rolling, so to speak, but once started can be a fun outlet for cross-disciplinary competition. Watch out for the various Greek organizations sponsored teams, however; they are usually out for blood. There are also a number of less formal chances for exercise and socializing. At times, groups of nascent political scientists have met on a semi-regular basis to play basketball and there is usually a weekly game of ultimate frisbee. Faculty are not unknown in these circumstances. Die-hard frisbee players have been known to play through January, depending on how severe the Michigan winter turns out to be. Helpful Hints:
The Computer Assistance Program (CAP) is located on the second floor at 611 Church Street. The CAP Director and consultants are available to answer almost any question related to computers and computing at Michigan. If they can't answer the question, they should know who can. CAP also administers the political science grad-student message group, psgrad@umich.edu. The CAP Director generally has a large degree of patience as most questions have probably been asked before. The CAP lab contains computers for general grad student use. Each student is given an organization wide computer account, which can be used predominantly for communications. Word processing, data processing and graphics are generally best handled by desk-top computers using relevant software. There are computing center sites scattered around campus. The closest to the Department is the Angell Hall Computing Center, which is open twenty-four hours a day during the regular term. ITD - the Information Technology Division's computer home page is a good place to learn about general computer resources. In order to take advantage of e-mail and confer, you need to obtain a unique name and a password. This can be done by going to a Computing Resource Center in the courtyard of Mason Hall or in the Michigan Union. Setting up your computer account will allow you to access the University computers. You will find on-line support (simply type 'help' or 'explain'). In addition, there are many resources available such as information sheets at most campus computing sites which explain the basics. All of the specifics of computing on campus are covered in PS 514-- a one-credit course specifically designed to introduce first-year students to the whys and wherefores of computing at Michigan. Some Advice About Getting AdvicePlease be careful about whom you ask for advice. You will have many questions about the program, about financial aid, about specific courses and so forth once you have entered the program. The best course of action is to go directly to the people who are responsible for the area you have questions about. The following is a list of possible sources of information that can provide you with the answers. Program requirements
Financial Aid
Subfield Requirements (see subfield guidelines) Graduate School Requirements If you are interested in studying with a specific professor or studying a particular topic that is taught by few of our professors, you should speak directly with the relevant professor(s). You should inquire about their plans in terms of what courses they intend to teach and their availability for supervising the type of program you are interested in. In addition to discussing the substance of the program you wish to pursue, you might also inquire about when they intend to be on leave, whether they plan to be in residence and available to students when they are on leave and if they have plans to leave the University in the next few years. REGISTRATIONPutting Together A Schedule Registration is easy when you pre-register for classes. Domestic students can register through the web after arriving on campus and receiving their uniqnames. Online registration will allow students to drop, add, swap and waitlist for classes. Every class will have its own class number, which will be used to register for courses. Division numbers will no longer be used. The new system will feature an automatic "autoenrollment" component. That is, if a student selects a lecture that also has a discussion section, the system will ask the student to choose a discussion section before the lecture class can be added to the schedule. More information about on-line registration can be found on the M-Pathways webpage: http://www.mpathways.umich.edu/student/waprev/regis.html
American Political Science Association
FINANCIAL MATTERSThere are a number of financial aid offices around campus, each with a specific purpose. We will list some of them here with the hope of helping you avoid confusion later. Office of Financial Aid, 2011 Student Activities Building (SAB), 763-6600. This office handles applications for National Direct Student Loans, Guaranteed Student Loans, Plus Loan Program, and also college Work-Study employment applications Student Accounts (Fellowships and Scholarships), 2226 Student Activities Building (SAB), 764-7447 or toll-free at 1-877-840-4738. This office is a division of the Accounting Department and mainly handles the paperwork. This is the first place to go if your check is not available when it should be, or if it has the wrong amount, etc. Rackham Fellowship Office, 122 Rackham, 764-8119. This office administers the Barbour Scholarship, Rackham Merit Fellowship, Rackham Predoctoral Fellowships, University Fellowships, One-Term Rackham Fellowships, and Research Partnerships. In all cases except the latter, a student must be nominated by the Department. The department will keep you apprised of any forthcoming scholarships, fellowships and grants. Graduate Student Instructorships We offer teaching assistantships on a competitive basis to graduate students enrolled in our program. The Financial Aid Committee makes departmental assignments after reviewing the academic files of all applicants. Students may work as teaching assistants in their second year in our program and beyond. Applications are put in graduate student mailboxes in December of each year and are due in February for the following year. You are required to fill out an application even if you have a guaranteed comitment. Research Positions Students may contact individual faculty members about possibilities for working as research assistants sometime during their program. Research positions at the University of Michigan are often handled through one of the sixteen research centers. Students seeking research positions should apply to the centers directly. Centers, Institutes and libraries that have employed political science students in the past include: the Center for Political Studies and the Survey Research Center (ISR), the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, the School of Public Health, the School of Education. These positions usually require strong quantitative skills. Market Opinion Research of Detroit (political polling) is an outside source that employs political science students. You can also apply for a Rackham research partnership that allows you and a professor to work on a joint research project later in your program. Other Job Opportunities Students should look into the possibility of becoming a resident dormitory director (Housing Information Office, 1011 Student Activities Building, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316, 647-3048). The application process to become a director begins in September and runs for several months. Another possibility is to become a teaching assistant in the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program (Alice Lloyd Hall, 100 Observatory Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2025, 764-7521). The application process begins in January. Payment Methods Salary and stipend checks are available on the last day of each month. The exceptions are fellowships. These are automatically deposited in a local bank account or sent to your local address if you have filled out the appropriate paperwork. Fill out a payroll deposit authorization form and have your check deposited directly into your bank account. A list of banks that provide "direct deposit" is included on the "deposit authorization form" which can be picked up at the Financial Aid Office (Student Employment Area) on the second floor of the Student Activities Building (SAB), at the Payroll Office in the Administrative Services Building, at the Cashier's Office in Literature, Science and the Arts (LS&A), or in the Department office. Tuition Rates Tuition rates are based on full time enrollment. You are expected to register for 9 credit hours or more per term. Students with fellowships, those holding at least a 25% appointment as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) or a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) receive a full tuition waiver. Partial tuition waivers are available to graders. (Be aware that both waivers do NOT cover fees.) Information on your student account is also accessible through Wolverine Access. HOUSINGThe most accurate and current information comes from the University Housing Service, 1011 Student Activities Building (SAB), 763-3164. Local real estate agents can also direct you to housing. The main thing to remember about housing in Ann Arbor is that it is hard to find and expensive. If at all possible, try to visit Ann Arbor during the summer to hunt for a place to live. If this is not possible, plan to arrive at least a week before registration. Campus Housing Baits (Vera Baits) Housing, Baits I, and Baits II (all co-ed), are situated on Michigan's North Campus amid a beautiful setting that affords the graduate and upperclass student a peaceful place to study. These houses have no dining hall and cooking is not allowed in tenant rooms. However, every house has a kitchen with two refrigerators which can be used for cooking and preparing food for house events. There are optional meal tickets at Bursley Hall (located near Baits) and also at North Campus Cooperatives for those residents who cannot afford to eat out every night. West Quadrangle (Co-ed). West Quad houses 830 students on central campus. West Quad has ample recreation lounges and a study space available for its residents; each of its six houses has two recreation areas and a lounge. West Quad has a co-ed graduate house, Cambridge House, which accommodates 128 graduate students. Cambridge House is located in the Michigan Union with an enclosed passage to West Quad. Meals are included as part of the lease and will be served at West Quad during the week and South Quad on weekends. Family Housing. Two groups of apartments for students with families are operated by the University. Northwood Apartments, located on North Campus, consists of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, efficiencies, and townhouses. Free shuttle bus service is provided between the Campuses. University Terrace Apartments and Observatory Lodge are located near the Medical Center and include efficiency and one-bedroom units. All University apartments have a range and a refrigerator and most are equipped with basic furnishings (linens, bedding, curtains, dishes, and rugs are not included). The efficiency units normally consist of a kitchen with a dining el, bathroom, closet, and a living room with a hide-a-bed. The furnished one-bedroom apartments are similar and have one bedroom furnished with a bed and chest of drawers. Two- and three-bedroom apartments are usually unfurnished. Off-Campus Housing The University Housing Information Office (763-3164) issues an excellent listing of apartments (mostly unfurnished) in the Ann Arbor area along with a map showing where the buildings are located. We strongly suggest that those of you looking for off-campus/married housing write and specify what kind of housing information you will require. The address for the housing office is: University Housing Information Unfurnished housing is generally located from one to five miles away from campus and includes over seventy apartment complexes. There are one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments and townhouses to choose from. Although the rental costs are significantly higher than those on campus, the buildings are usually newer, often having swimming pools, recreation areas, and parking. The further away from campus you are able to live, the less you will pay for equivalent housing. Average rental rates for 2001-02 based on a twelve month lease, for furnished or unfurnished housing within walking distance of central campus, are as follows: Efficiencies $587/mo Two Bedrooms $939/mo Four Bedroom $1770/mo Five Bedroom $2264/mo (Hint: Try to find housing in which the rent includes heat. Most houses are older without very good insulation and Michigan winters can be long and cold.) For following apartment leads there is a free telephone in the lobby of the Housing Office for local calls. Leads may be obtained from the following sources: The Ann Arbor News, The Michigan Daily, bulletin boards at the Housing Office (1011 Student Activities Building), Michigan Union (basement), Michigan League (first floor), Rackham Building (first floor), Angell Hall (first floor), and the Graduate Library Lounge (third floor). If you should ever encounter difficulties with your landlord, you can get help from the Off-Campus Housing Office, 1001 Student Activities Building (SAB), 763-3205, or from the Tenant's Union (763-6876), a student-run organization which has attempted, often successfully, to improve the conditions of renters in Ann Arbor. The Housing Office has a booklet on tenants rights for sale. Also free legal aid is available to students at Student Legal Services (763-9920), 3409 Michigan Union. Their offices are open all week, but it saves time to call beforehand and schedule an appointment. The Housing Information Office will occasionally have listings for homes, farm houses, or cottages farther away from campus, usually within a 45 minute or so drive. If you are looking for something in a small community outside of Ann Arbor, the closest towns around us are Ypsilanti, Saline, Chelsea, Dexter, Milan, and Whitmore Lake. Student Cooperative Housing Student Cooperative Housing has a long history and rich tradition in Ann Arbor, where the first student co-op houses were founded in the 1930's. From small beginnings, they have grown into the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC), a network of 22 student owned and operated houses accommodating nearly 600 students. The ICC co-ops remain one of the most economical alternatives available in student housing. They operate on a room and board plan, with all utilities included, for about $400-500/month (8-month lease), and about $140-300/month without meals. This one charge per month covers all basic costs (many including laundry, TV, parking, etc.) Each member makes a commitment to work (four to six hours per week) in the management, maintenance, and day-to-day operation of the house. Each member is also expected to take part in house meetings where decisions and policies which affect the members are made. Membership is open to all interested students on a first-come, first-served basis. Meal contracts are also available for students residing outside the co-op houses. Students interested in this type of housing should contact the ICC office at 337 East Williams, 662-4414. Their office hours are 10-5 Monday through Friday, except on Tuesday, when they are open from 12-5. Housing Leads The classified sections of the following newspapers often have many listings for available housing. The Ann Arbor News When you arrive on campus, try the bulletin board at the Housing Office. Temporary Housing If you plan to come to Ann Arbor in mid-summer and need a temporary room while you are looking for housing, reserve a room well in advance. The following places are either on campus or within walking distance: Michigan League For low-cost temporary housing, your best bet is: Housing Conference Services GETTING SETTLED IN ANN ARBORAirport Transportation Those of you who will be flying into Ann Arbor (via Detroit Metropolitan Airport) or who anticipate traveling by air in the future should be aware of several shuttle services running between the terminal and the Michigan Union. Some of the shuttle and limo services include Acme Sedan Service (734-665-8283), Commuter Express (888-854-6700), and Ann Arbor Transport Service (734-930-0600). They are considerably cheaper than a taxi (about $50 one way.) Campus maps and other information about the University are available at the Campus Information Center (CIC) at the Information Desk on the first level of the Michigan Union. Banking Regular checking accounts have monthly service charges; however, Ann Arbor banks offer free checking accounts with specified minimum balances. Contact the National City Bank at 1-800-925-9259, Comerica Bank at 1-800-643-4418, or Bank One Michigan at 1-800-225-5623. The banks all offer complete banking services, and there are two savings and loan associations in the city. There is also the University of Michigan Credit Union, for University employees, located at 333 E. William, 662-8200. It has free checking and savings (with a small minimum balance). Checking accounts do not accrue interest, but savings accounts over $50 do. Other credit unions in town have similar offers. Accounts may be opened by mail. We suggest you try to do this at least two weeks ahead of the your arrival if you wish to use the account immediately. Otherwise use of the account will be expedited by cashier's check, bank draft, or cash for the initial deposit. Branches of major banks and savings and loan associations are within walking distance of central campus. Additional Expenses Your first few months will be the most expensive. In order to avoid hardship within that period, we would suggest that you BRING MONEY. Emergency Loans are available from the Office of Financial Aid (Room 2011, Student Activities Building: 763-6600). Up to $250 can be borrowed through an emergency loan, and up to $500 through a University loan with very little paperwork. Students must me enrolled to borrow, they can't have hold credits or owe a previous balance, and the loans must be paid back within 3 months, at 7% interest. These loans can be quite useful if other student loan or fellowship checks are delayed for some reason. University employees can also consider borrowing from the Credit Union, listed above. Local Employment The University offers employment opportunities for full and part time employee for students and their families. Submit your application materials to either the Ann Arbor Campus Employment Office or the Medical Center Human Resource Department Office, Monday through Friday: ANN ARBOR CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OFFICE Wolverine Tower - Room G250 MEDICAL CAMPUS HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT 300 North Ingalls Bldg. - Room 8A04 Student employment: Part-time employment is listed in several areas either on campus or with private employment agencies. You may want to register with Kelly Services or Manpower or with one of the University Personnel Offices listed above, or at the Student Activities Building (SAB). For students eligible for Financial Aid, the College Work-Study Office on the second floor of the SAB building (763-4128) has employment opportunities. Spouse employment: Student husbands or wives looking for employment can contact one of the University Personnel Offices. Job listings are posted outside of 1020 LSA, in the North Campus Commons, and other locations around campus. Listings are also published weekly in the University Record. Additional employment information is available through the Michigan Employment Security Commission (304 Harriet Street, Ypsilanti, 481-2517). They provide information about any type of job in Ann Arbor for which they get orders. They also have Civil Service application forms and tests on hand. Private employment agencies are another option. WHERE TO GO FOR WHAT YOU NEED TO BUY Used Furniture Treasure Mart, 529 Detroit Street, 662-1363. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. A second-hand store with everything from antiques to garden rakes. They have a fairly good selection of furniture; some antiques are high priced, but much qualifies only as old and is reasonable. They also have a delivery service. Property Disposition, 3241 Baxter (North Campus). Sells furniture and appliances, etc., used in University Housing. Call 764-2470 for further information. Apartment Furniture Rental, Inc., 4801 Washtenaw, 434-5050, and A-1 Rental, Inc., 2285 West Liberty Street, 663-0060, are also available for furniture. Auctions, flea markets and garage sales are advertised in the local newspapers through the Summer and early Fall. Also, look for the annual Kiwanis Sale in September. Food prices are high in Ann Arbor. To cut costs significantly you must be a bargain shopper, watching the sales at all the stores. Krogers and Farmer Jacks are the major food chains in this area. Busch's ValuLand is located on S. Main and at a new store at Plymouth and Green. Meijer Thrifty Acres is located on Carpenter Rd. in Ypsilanti, and on Ann Arbor-Saline Road near I-94, a few miles from campus. Meijer's is a great place for one-stop shopping: groceries, prescriptions, video, film developing, liquor, hardware, home improvement, furniture, hair salon, etc. They are particularly convenient because they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ann Arbor also has an open air Farmer's Market located at 315 Detroit Street. Local producers set up stalls and sell fresh produce, home baked goods, flowers, pottery, etc. It is open year-round on Saturday mornings, and also on Wednesday mornings during the Summer. Next to the Farmer's Market is the Kerrytown market with a butcher shop, fish market, wine and cheese shop, vegetable market, bake shop and oriental food shop. An adjoining building houses a kitchen shop, card shop, candle shop, weaving/wool shop, several restaurants, and other small shops too numerous to mention. Although it tends to be somewhat expensive, Kerrytown is great fun for browsing and gift buying. The vegetables, however, are quite fairly priced and are very good quality. The People's Food Co-Op, 216 N. Fourth Avenue (994-9174) provides high quality, reasonably priced, nutritional food preserved with natural substances. Open daily. Five percent cheaper for members and fifteen percent cheaper for working members. Shopping Areas The downtown shopping area is located on Main Street between Huron and Williams, and stretches along adjacent streets, particularly Liberty Street. There are basically two campus shopping areas, one on State Street and the other on South University. Both have clothing stores, restaurants and theaters. There are four major mall/shopping centers in Ann Arbor: Briarwood at State and I-94; Arborland Consumer Discount Mall on Washtenaw Avenue and U.S. 23; and the Maple Village and Westgate Shopping Centers, both on Maple at Jackson. There is city bus service to all of these centers. There are also two areas of "strip development", one on Washtenaw toward Ypsilanti, and the other on Stadium Blvd. These two areas are where you will find numerous gas stations, fast-food and the like. You will find K-Marts on State Street near Briarwood, in the Maple Village Shopping Center on Stadium, and on Washtenaw at Golfside toward Ypsilanti. Meijer Thrifty Acres are located on Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. (near I-94) and on Carpenter Rd. Target is located directly across Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. from Meijer's. Walmart is located in a strip mall off of Carpenter Road on Ellsworth Road. Book Stores Ulrich's (734-352-8200), Barnes and Noble (734-677-6475), Michigan Book and Supply (734-665-4990), The Michigan Union Book Store (734-995-8877), and Shaman Drum (734-662-7407) are the best sources for textbooks and school supplies (as well as Michigan memorabilia). They also stock computer and art supplies. Borders on Liberty Street (734-668-7652) is one of the Midwest's best bookstores. Old and used books may be found at David's Books, State Street Books, the West Side Book Shop on Liberty near Main St., and the Dawn Treader Book Shops on Liberty and on South University. The Community News Centers on East Liberty and on South University keep an excellent collection of periodicals in stock. OTHER SERVICESINFORMATION ON SERVICES AVAILABLE Where to get HELP Dial 911 or call the Ann Arbor Police or Fire Departments for any life-threatening emergency. For other types of emergencies on campus (locked out of your office or car, lost your purse or wallet, for example), contact Campus Security at 763-1131. Counseling Services has a 24 hour emergency telephone service (Dial 996-4747) for immediate counsel. For additional non-emergency counseling, referral and information services call 764-8312. Foreign Students Foreign students should write to the International Center, 603 E. Madison, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 764-9310. The staff at the Center will be able to help with visa problems and with virtually all other matters of concern to foreign students. The center also helps foreign students obtain a Social Security number, required for all teaching assistants (as University employees), which also becomes your student identification number. Health Services Payment of tuition entitles you to the use of the University Health Service facilities, 207 Fletcher Street, 764-8320. UHS hours in the fall and winter semesters are: Monday and Tuesday 8am-6pm, Wednesday 8:30am-6pm, Thursday 9am-6pm, Friday 8am-4:30pm, Saturday 9am-12pm, and closed on Sundays. If you wish to purchase additional insurance, contact the Michigan Student Assembly, 3909 Union, 763-3241. There is an evening clinic available for spouses and children. There is also a low-cost dental clinic operated by the Dental School, but of course there is a waiting list. If you need medical attention before you are enrolled, call St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital (5301 East Huron River Drive; Information 712-3456, Emergency 712-3000), or the University of Michigan Medical Center (1500 E. Medical Center Dr.; Information 936-4000, Emergency 936-6666.) Child Care Although the University does not provide comprehensive child care for employees or students at this time, the Child Care Coordinating and Referral Service of Washtenaw County acts as a clearinghouse for information regarding availability and location of child care in the area. Call 734-761-7071 for more information. The Ann Arbor News is also a good source for child-care leads. The Graduate School runs a Children Center that has play groups. Library Privileges Lockers are available for a $10.00 refundable key deposit in the Library. Also, those of you who anticipate holding a Teaching Assistantship, are eligible for TA/Faculty library privileges which give you an eight week borrowing period (3 weeks guaranteed) with /sanction instead of fines for overdue books. You may direct any questions to the library (764-0400). Libraries (a complete listing of all campus libraries with hours of operation is available in the Student Directory) Graduate Library: Safety The University and the City of Ann Arbor operate several programs to help you get home safely after dark. SAFEWALK is a student-run program that walks students home 7 nights a week. For escorts within a 20 minute radius of the Undergraduate Library Sun-Thurs 8 PM - 1:30 PM and Fri-Sat 8 PM - 11:30 PM, call 936-1000 or go to 102 Undergraduate Library. A nighttime bus service, NiteOwl, runs both a north and a south route from the Undergraduate Library leaving every 30 minutes from 7:30pm to 1:30am. Call 764-2485 for information. The City and Ann Arbor Transportation Authority subsidize a nighttime cab service that runs within the city limits called NightRide. NightRide operates from 11:00pm to 5:45am Sunday through Thursday, and 11pm to 5:45am on Friday and Saturday nights. The cab will take you anywhere in the city for a fixed rate of $2. Call 663-3888. Visiting Ann ArborThe University of Michigan is located right in the middle of Ann Arbor; there are no formal boundaries between the campus and the community. University properties and facilities are spread throughout the city, with the four campus areas placed among commercial and residential areas. Several of Ann Arbor's shopping areas are interspersed with campus buildings. The downtown area is a shopping and business district which covers just a few blocks and is easily accessible on foot, by bicycle, or by bus. About half of Ann Arbor's 112,900 residents are University people - students, faculty, and staff members. Within the city, students hold jobs, do volunteer work, run for city office, vote, serve on juries, and use city services and businesses. Some of Ann Arbor's attractions, such as the Botanical Gardens, the Arboretum, Medieval Festival, and many cultural events, are affiliated with the University. Other events, such as the Summer Arts Festival, are joint ventures between the city and the University. Several medium-sized companies and light industries are located in Ann Arbor. There are also more than 80 industrial research firms and several government laboratories. New industrial and residential areas are thriving on all sides of the Ann Arbor city limits. The city has its own bus system, newspaper, airport, community access television stations, and radio stations. In addition, it serves as the Washtenaw County seat, and boast an active political arena. The diversity of people at the University makes Ann Arbor a distinctly cosmopolitan place to live. The social, cultural, intellectual, and aesthetic aspects of Ann Arbor mix old and new, conservative and liberal, conventional and experimental. A wide variety of religions, ethnic and national backgrounds, ages, and philosophies are represented in the population. Because of this, Ann Arbor has many well-informed and concerned residents. For instance, support for environmental preservation ranges from city-wide recycling to restrictions on the amount of salt the city may use for snow removal. Ann Arborites are extremely proud and aware of their history and have supported a movement to restore the old downtown area and the "West Side." Many older homes have been renovated and decorated while office buildings have been sandblasted, cleaned, and painted. When the city decided it needed a new downtown firehouse, the original red brick one, long a landmark, became a children's museum, and a modern, low-key addition was built. The old train depot is now a restaurant, furnished with the original waiting room benches, baggage cart, and other memorabilia. Entertainment and nightlife in Ann Arbor include much theater and music. New local bands debut weekly in the varied bars and coffeehouses. The Ark and The Bird of Paradise are familiar stops for seasoned blues, folk, and jazz musicians. The Michigan Theater offers art films, classic films and live concerts. The University Musical Society provides a wide variety of concerts, including famous symphony orchestras from around the world. The departments of Music, Dance, Musical Theater and Theater and Drama of the University of Michigan keep both students and Ann Arbor residents busy with many different performances, from operas to dance concerts to interactive theater. During the summer, the Summer Arts Festival at the Power Center hosts famous performers and singers, while Top Of The Park offers nightly movies outdoors, and live bands. To complete your evening on the town, Ann Arbor offers an incredible selection of restaurants. The phone book has more than 10 pages of restaurant listings. What is the weather like in Ann Arbor?There is a saying at the University of Michigan: "If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes." Indeed, weather is unpredictable in Ann Arbor. On any given day, the sun will shine for two hours, followed by a quick shower, and then cloudy skies and a drop in temperature for the rest of the afternoon. However, there are certain constants: the winter is very cold, and the summer is usually hot and humid. Spring and fall will sneak by in a few weeks, while the biting cold or sweltering heat sometimes seem endless. During the summer, rain is frequent and copious. These showers provide relief from temperatures in the 80s, 90s and occasionally over the 100 mark. Some winters see few snowfalls which soon melt away, while others are a cross-country skier's paradise, with more than a few inches on the ground for many months. Usually, the first snowfall is around Thanksgiving; flowers bloom and spring begins in full usually by mid-April. Please click here for the latest weather forecast from Yahoo! Weather. Campus InfoArts and Crafts The University offers courses in many practical as well as more exotic areas. The registration is voluntary. Ann Arbor schools and the Y offer various night-time classes covering a wide variety of subjects -- useful, fun and reasonably priced. Watch The Ann Arbor News in early Fall for further information. Runners of all sorts can find road races to run in the area. The Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society has an extensive ride calendar and the Ann Arbor Velo Club offers training and racing experience. In the winter, avid cross-country skiers keep themselves active every weekend. The University's active sports schedule kicks off in the Fall in the 107,501-seat football stadium. Student football tickets for home games should be purchased immediately after registration at the Athletic Building (corner of Hoover and State). Bring both your ID card and the athletic coupon that you receive at registration. Football tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, but seating is arranged according to seniority as a U-M student. Any student's spouse may purchase a season ticket or a package plan which allows entrance to all varsity sports just as if he or she had an ID card. An ID card is all that is necessary for admittance into all other varsity sports with the exception of basketball, hockey, and swimming, which require an additional ticket. Volleyball, swimming, water polo, paddleball, racquetball, tennis, golf, track, softball, and many others are available to students through an informal sport and intramural program. For a fee, you can play golf at the University course on Stadium Blvd. There are four recreational buildings on campus for student, faculty, and staff use. Most include indoor track facilities, exercise rooms, weight rooms, tennis courts, basketball courts, handball and squash courts, saunas and swimming pools. Admittance is free for enrolled students, a small fee is imposed for spouses, and a locker purchased in any one facility entitles you to a transient locker in any other facility. Call the Hotline at the Central Campus Recreational Building on the corner of Washtenaw and Geddes, 764-8247 for details. Counseling and ReferralStudent Services Counseling Office (free counseling) at 3100 Michigan Union, 764-8312. Leisure and Recreation(a lot of these are free, or almost free)Nichols Arboretum (The Arb): Beautiful in Fall. Walking distance from campus on Geddes. Open until 11:00 p.m. Matthaei Botanical Gardens: Lovely, with interesting nature trails and a jungle inside the greenhouse. Open 8:00 a.m.-sunset year-round every day. $1 admission. Dixboro Road between Plymouth and Geddes Roads. 998-7060. Ruthven Exhibit Museum(1109 Geddes): Displays relating to the origin and evolution of the universe including planetarium shows. Also many displays relating to natural history and Native American people. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm. On campus. 764-0478. Museum of Art: Permanent works plus several special displays annually. Open Tues.-Sat. 10am-5pm; Thursday 10am-9pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm. On campus. 764-0395. Kelsey Museum of Archaeology (434 S.State): Ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean world and Near East. Tuesday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday 1pm-4pm. On campus. 764-9304. Forsythe Art Gallery: Above the Post Office in Nickels Arcade off State Street. Hiking with the Sierra Club: Information is available at the Ann Arbor Public Library. Student membership is very inexpensive, but you don't have to join to go along on Sunday afternoons, 1:00 p.m. There are free movies and free parties, too. Free concerts at the Music School: All year round. Watch The Michigan Daily for notices. Ann Arbor Art Fair: In July. Great place to pick up atmosphere and doodads. Religious Houses: Students with even the slightest association with any religion should go to the headquarters of that group as soon as possible to be put on the mailing list for activities. Horace and Mary's\: Cafe for Rackham students and faculty. Open Sun. 5:00-10:00 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs. 7:00-10:00 p.m. 2006 Rackham. International Center: Outings during the year, including winter sports (cross-country skiing, etc.). Foreign students automatically receive the newsletter. Lost and Found 2258 Student Activities Building (SAB), and check the classified ads in The Michigan Daily. Also check with Security (763-1131). Newspapers The Michigan Daily, U-M student newspaper, is great for campus news. It is distributed free all over campus every morning, or you may subscribe by calling 764-0558. The New York Times is available at all news stands. The Department subscribes and the paper is left in the 6the floor Haven Hall Graduate Lounge every morning. The Ann Arbor News carries a good mix of national and local news and syndicated features. Interested subscribers should call 994-6744. The Detroit Free Press (morning delivery), 1-800-633-3968, and The Detroit News (afternoon delivery), 973-7177, carry more extensive national and international news. The Blue Front (located at State and Packard) carries many newspapers from cities around the United States. Transportation Bicycles are very popular in Ann Arbor and the University provides bike racks all over campus. Sturdy locks and chains are strongly recommended to secure bikes and prevent thefts. All bicycles used, owned, or held in custody on University property in the city of Ann Arbor must bear a current Ann Arbor bicycle license. A bicycle license (good indefinitely) may be purchased for $2.50 at the City Clerk's Office, 2nd floor of City Hall, 994-2725, or at area bicycle shops. Be sure to have your serial number. Traffic during the day in the campus area is congested and parking spaces are difficult to find. Almost all campus streets have metered spaces, and the local police will ticket anyone exceeding the time limit or failing to feed the meter. The University does provide parking structures for full-time staff and faculty, but part-time employees (i.e., graduate students working half-time) are not eligible for stickers. However, some lots are open to evening parking and each lot is posted accordingly. Students who live off campus and are not near a bus stop have two parking options. Commuter permits are available at no charge to all students, staff, and faculty with a valid I.D. at Parking Operations (508 Thompson St., 764-8291). Lots are located near the Stadium (behind Crisler Arena) and in North Campus (at Hubbard and Hayward) from which the University provides free bus service to campus. The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) buses run to most parts of town and cost about $1.00 a ride. (An unlimited monthly pass is available.) However, AATA only runs from downtown till 6:30 PM. Free University NiteOwl bus service between North, Central and Athletic Campuses runs much later (764-2485). Ann Arbor also offers several cab services. You can reach Blue Cab at (734) 547-2222 or Yellow Cab at (734) 663-3355. Utilities, Etc.
Veterans LSA houses an office with complete services for claiming GI benefits. Voting and Local Government City Council is made up of 10 Council members, two elected from each of five wards, and the Mayor, elected at large. The Council appoints a City Administrator. Meetings are held every Monday at 7:30 PM and are open to the public. Registration for voting is either at City Hall at 100 N. Fifth Avenue, or at the offices of the Secretary of State. New residents must live here for 30 days before they can vote. For information about city events or to make suggestions and/or complaints, call City Hall, 994-2700. |
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