FAQ

Can the application fee be subtracted from the tuition or reimbursed?

No. The fee is non-refundable.

Can I pay part of the tuition at registration and the rest at the end of the camp?

No. Tuition in full is due before registration.

Can I get my deposit or tuition reimbursed if we do not attend the camp?

No. This is necessary because we have to hire faculty/staff and reserve residence hall, dining hall, and classroom space based on our projected numbers.

Can I make payments with credit cards?

Prior to the start of the camp you can make payments for the camp using our secure webpage- https://michigandebate.com/payment-gateway/

What size sheets do I bring? Do we need pillows? Towels?

All beds are twin long (80 inches x 36 inches). You must bring your own sheets, blankets, pillows and towels.

Are roommate/partner requests guaranteed?

Yes, in most cases if they are mutual and from students attending camps of the same exact duration. Cross-institute requests are usually not honored.

Roommate and partner requests must be made in advance by both parties via email.

Can you tell me who my roommate is in advance of the camp?

For privacy reasons, if you don’t have a mutual request in advance of camp, we cannot. This is an institute policy.

Can you tell me my phone number in advance to give to my family and friends?

There are no longer telephones in the Residence Hall rooms. Students must have a cell phone with them at camp.

Can I request a single, double or triple?

There are few, if any, singles and triples available to us in South Quad and West Quad. 99 percent of the rooms are double occupancy.

How safe is the Residence Hall?

The institute staff conducts multiple attendance checks nightly and supervises each Residence Hall wing/floor. There are attendance checks at 10, 11, and 12, and lights out at 1 a.m. After students return from their classes to the Residence Halls every evening, they aren’t permitted to leave until breakfast the next morning. Our institute Residence Hall offices are staffed from 8 a.m.-4 a.m. daily.  The University of Michigan assigns a public safety officer to the Residence Hall for nighttime supervision.

Is the Residence Hall Conditioned?

Yes, the Residence Halls rooms we us in West Quad and South Quad are air-conditioned. The South Quad Cafeteria, Undergraduate Library, and all classrooms we use are also air-conditioned.

Does my University Meal Plan Include Breakfast?

Yes- it’s now included 7 days a week. Dinner is provided on your arrival date and breakfast provided on your departure date.

How can I address special Dietary Needs?

The South Quad Dining Hall accommodates dietary issues and food allergies for tens of thousands students during the year, but any specific questions or concerns can be directed to eatsmart@umich.edu

I have a special medical need, will someone help me?

Special medical needs can be handled by our staff or University Health Services, if necessary. Please let us know in advance of your particular needs. Make sure you have notified and cleared special needs with us in advance of the camp.

What if I don’t fell well during the camp?

Students should immediately alert the Residence Hall debate office. Depending on the nature and time of day when it arises, students have access to University Health Services Office OR to the Emergency Room at the University of Michigan Hospital (a top 20 hospital system in the US) if needed.  We will always do our best to contact parents and keep in the loop.

How much spending money should you bring?

We recommend a few hundred dollars, although that could vary on the duration of your camp. Usually the most significant variable is food.  Pizza and ice cream purchases are common each summer.  There are several ATMs and banks located on campus.

Do I get a discount if I leave a few days early?

The University doesn’t permit housing/dining proration for late arrivals or early departures. There is no proration for our other costs- faculty, staff, classrooms, etc.

Are there washer and dryer facilities in the dorms?

Yes, washing and drying each cost $1.50 to wash and $1.50 per dry. Please bring quarters with you.  The location code is W001708 for West Quad. The Wash App for laundry can be downloaded at https://www.wash.com/wash-connect/

Can I rent a refrigerator at the camp?

Yes, a fridge costs $120 and fridge/microwave combo costs $125. This must be paid for by May 31st.

Students should arrive between 12 Noon and 6 PM on the first date noted for a particular camp and depart by noon ET on the final day of camp.

Will someone pick me up at the airport?

No. Transportation from the airport to the campus is your responsibility. You can make reservations with Ann Arbor Airport Shuttle (734) 699-8500 and Detroit Metro Cars (800) 456-1701. A cab or Uber/Lyft costs about $35-$50.

The only exception to this rule is if your child is flying as an official unaccompanied minor. In this instance, we would send a staff member to accompany your child, but you must provide transportation and there is a fee for this service. There are no other exceptions to this rule.

How far is the airport from the campus?

About 25 minutes by car.

Where do I go?

The West Quad Residence Hall address is 541 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 and South Quad Residence Hall address is 600 East Madison St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

Is the airport safe?

The Detroit Metro Airport is located in the suburb of Romulus and is continually rated one of the best and safest airports in the world.

I need to work out at a gym. Can I do that at Michigan?

Students/minors don’t have access to University recreation facilities because of liability reasons. There are
several outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts and a quarter-mile running track located minutes from your residence hall – https://recsports.umich.edu/facility/palmer/

Can I attend religious services while at camp?

Yes. Students may do so with written permission from their parents or guardians and permission from the Director.

What is a typical day like?

Lecture/Labs/Debates at 10:00 a.m., Lunch Break, Library/Labs/Debates at 1:30 p.m., Dinner Break, Lab at 7:30 p.m. Classes end every evening at 9:30 p.m.

How much free time will we have?

Not a great deal. Most of your time at the institute is structured, even your free time. We don’t begin until 1:30 p.m. on Sundays.

How can I get in contact in an emergency?

Students must bring cell phones with them. You can also contact the Residence Hall debate office from 8 a.m.-4 a.m. daily. 

The correct address for student mail during the institute is:

West Quad- Name of Student, C/O Michigan Debate Institutes, West Quad, 541 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109

South Quad- Name of Student, C/O Michigan Debate Institutes, South Quad, 600 East Madison St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109.