Ann Arbor offers a variety of transportation options to support your student. Here are a few great options:

• Ann Arbor city buses:  Students can ride city buses free by swiping their valid MCard (U-M ID card). Most bus routes originate from the downtown Blake Transit Center, and many buses also stop at the Central Campus Transit Center.  For routes and schedules, see The Ride. 

• Airport transportation:

Welcome to Michigan

A new school year brings new opportunities, clean slates, and anticipation of fully enjoying the university experience. Help your student kick off the new year with a Welcome to Michigan gift package!

The package includes “Go Blue” gear for your Wolverine: a cozy blanket, umbrella, journal, keychain, pen, cell phone holder, bottled water, reusable water bottle, travel mug and house-made Michigan Dining granola. You can also add a gift card, sold separately.

Other suggestions for gift packages include:

Starting this fall, students will find the process of buying textbooks more affordable, streamlined and reliable, thanks to a new partnership between the university and Barnes & Noble College.

U-M has named Barnes & Noble College as its preferred textbook vendor. The agreement requires the company to provide all specified textbooks and course materials and establishes an online portal for selecting, purchasing and returning textbooks.

With the Michigan Union closed for renovations this year, students have a great opportunity to explore other dining options. Convenient alternatives on central campus include:

When students work, they can earn an income and gain valuable work experience. And when they work on campus, they don't have to look far for a job that’s flexible and can help make a difference.

One of the biggest employers on campus is MDining, which offers high starting wages and most positions require no prior experience. With over 1,500 student employees, from all majors and around the world, MDining offers plenty of opportunities to connect.  MDining jobs offer flexible schedules and convenient locations that mesh well with students' schedules.

College students will make hundreds of financial decisions that impact their day-to-day life and financial wellness for years to come. Gaining skills for managing money can help. 

By keeping some basics in mind, your student can get off to a good start, which can carry them through college, and set them on the right financial path as they graduate.

In 1985, a car accident changed the late Craig Neilsen’s life forever by injuring his cervical spinal cord, leaving him permanently paralyzed. Yet his injury never impeded his success in the real estate development, construction and gaming industries. Neilsen’s experiences ignited his passion to support scientific research and quality of life for people affected by spinal cord injuries, and in 2002, he launched the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.

Finding your first apartment can be an adventure.

Michigan Housing prioritizes housing for first-year students, which means most but not all students will move off-campus their second year and continue to live off-campus through graduation.

While students are able to find off-campus housing throughout the year, most students secure housing for the next academic year before the current fall semester ends. 

Below are some things your student should consider as they begin to navigate their off-campus housing search.

How do you think about success?  Many people think of success as an achievable state, or at least an aspiration. For college students and their parents, success often means good grades. But what appears to be success in college, or feels like success, is actually a balancing act.

Sometimes students do it with grace and ease, making small adjustments along the way. They may notice that their energy wanes mid-morning if they don’t eat breakfast, so they get up 15 minutes earlier to eat, then they can be more attentive in class. Just a tiny shift, but it can pay off.