Academic and career supports | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Academic and career supports

All BA, master's, and PhD students are encouraged to connect with staff on the Student and Academic Services team for support and academic planning. Advisors are equipped to help students navigate resources at the Ford School and across the University.

Springboard Summer Program

Our supports for graduate students begin before the start of school. Our values dictate that we recognize the significant financial investment that students make in coming to our program; we owe it to them to do all we can to ensure that they’re positioned to succeed. One example is Springboard, which the Ford School offers during the summer as a self-paced virtual training program in basic quantitative reasoning. Over 15 sessions designed and prepared by our faculty, Springboard introduces core concepts that prepare incoming graduate students for the outstanding, rigorous analytic training they'll receive at the University of Michigan. Springboard is open to all new Ford students, but is particularly helpful for those returning to quantitative methods after a break or those who want a little more preparation before they arrive in Ann Arbor. The program is supported by the Policy Analysis Learning Lab.

Faculty mentoring

BA and master's students are encouraged to reach out to faculty for academic guidance. Doctoral students work closely with faculty as research assistants in various capacities throughout their degree, and participate in Summer Research Internships, getting first-hand experience working on a research project under the close supervision of a faculty member. 

GSI office hours

All core courses are supported by one to two graduate student instructors (GSIs). GSIs lead discussion sections as well as provide office hours to Ford School students to go over material with students outside of class.

Undergraduate and graduate career services

The Ford School career services team offers personalized services, programming, and strategic career counseling. The alumni relations team finds innovative ways to integrate alumni knowledge and connections to support student development.

Peer support and tutoring

Graduate students can seek academic support from peer tutors for several of the quantitative-based core courses including microeconomics, statistics, and program evaluation. Students request a referral from their professor and meet with a graduate-level tutor to receive additional support. Group-format tutoring is free of charge for Ford School students.

Student intranet

Current students have access to additional academic resources such as curriculum sheets and forms as well as links to the student handbooks for all academic programs. Students also have the option to make appointments with Student and Academic Services within the intranet.

University of Michigan resources

  • Located in the LS&A Building on Central Campus, the Registrar's Office is a key administrative center to the entire University and is a key place to go for information about the academic calendar, registration and enrollment, exam schedules, transcripts, residency requirements, student rights and records, tuition fees, etc.

    Through the U-M's institutional membership, all graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty have access to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD), which provides professional development, training, and mentoring. These include a range of topics such as time management, overcoming academic perfectionism, developing a daily writing plan, writing grant proposals, and more. These resources offer concrete guidance that could increase your productivity and your sense of well-being. Learn more here>>

    How to Activate Your U-M Sponsored Membership:

    1. Go to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity website.
    2. Select the “ my Membership”
    3. Complete the registration form by following all instructions. Be sure to provide your UM email address.
    4. Once you have submitted your registration information and NCFDD has approved your connection to Michigan, you should receive a welcome email.

    The University of Michigan Library is comprised of 20 libraries, each with unique collections and materials as well as several research centers and online services. MLibrary

    The Ford School provides customized accommodations working closely with SSD. The SSD office assists students with both mental and physical health conditions to ensure the academic and personal success of students.
    E-Mail: [email protected]

    The University of Michigan offers many computing and information technology services to support students' academic success.

    CRLT is dedicated to the support and advancement of learning and teaching at the University of Michigan, with special emphasis on undergraduate education. CRLT offers a variety of courses and workshops, and maintains a library of materials available to the public. Email [email protected] for more information.

    The Language Resource Center (LRC) supports the study and instruction of foreign languages, cultures, and literatures taught at the University of Michigan. Students have access to space and a wide variety of audio, video, and computer materials.

    The English Language Institute (ELI) offers credit-bearing courses for non-native speakers of English enrolled at the University of Michigan. The courses are designed to enable students to enhance their linguistic and communicative skills in order to become effective, fully participating members of the academic community both during their time on campus and beyond. ELI courses are taken concurrently with other courses. Email [email protected] for more information.

    The University of Michigan International Center provides a variety of services for international students, scholars, faculty and staff. 

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