Education & Society

  1. U-M debate team secures its first national title

    After finishing runner-up seven times, the U-M debate team clinched its first national championship April 8. U-M Debate, which began in 1903, is one of the oldest debate programs in the United States. Debaters Kelly Phil and Bennett Dombcik won on a 5-0 decision against the University of Kansas in the 2024 tournament.

  2. What Ohtani scandal means for his career, fans and team

    U-M experts discuss the scandal involving Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani (formerly of the Los Angeles Angels) and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who was fired for stealing $4.5 million from Ohtani’s bank account to pay off gambling debts.

  3. New Michigan poverty map identifies needs related to education, food insecurity, affordable housing

    A new data map showcasing diverse indicators of poverty and well-being throughout Michigan highlights the key challenges confronting residents in different parts of the state and suggests interventions for the state’s most critical needs. The latest map features 2021 data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

  4. Could riding older school buses hinder student performance?

    Students who ride newer, cleaner-air buses to school have improved academic performance, according to a U-M study that linked school bus funding information with standardized test scores and found improvements in reading/language arts and math scores when the oldest buses were replaced with newer vehicles.

  5. Community force: How a holistic program is changing Detroit one toddler at a time

    Brilliant Detroit creates community hubs by transforming houses in need of repair into welcoming sites that deliver early childhood education and family support. More than 19,000 children in 18 area neighborhoods have benefited to date.

  6. Want to teach? U-M program helps solve shortage

    The Michigan Alternate Route to Certification, offered in U-M’s Marsal Family School of Education, was designed for anyone with a bachelor’s degree interested in becoming a teacher in Michigan. Participants work as certified teachers (with salary and benefits) for three years while enrolled in and supported by the program to earn their standard teaching certificates.

  7. Exonerated: Freeing the wrongly accused from prison

    Legal experts estimate the national rate of individuals wrongly convicted of crimes is between 3-5%. Since 2009, the U-M Law School Innocence Clinic has been correcting injustices inflicted upon Michigan residents. As of late 2023, students and faculty in the clinic have helped 41 people regain their freedom.

  8. Michigan Minds podcast: Presidential election season ‘will not be normal’

    The 2024 election season is underway — as more voters pay close attention to which candidates and policies best serve them. But unlike previous years, the battle for the White House will be anything but normal because democracy could be jeopardized, says University of Michigan political expert Vincent Hutchings.

  9. Out of the woods and into the ethos: Unique business course still resonates

    One year on, Michigan Ross students assess the impact of an inaugural management course that took them to the wooded, lakefront campus of U-M’s Biological Station. The goal? To align their highest character ideals with the realities of a business career. So, how’s it going?