FAQ

Many of your questions can be answered on this page.

Top Hints for Quick Answers:

    1. Always email first (akall@umich.edu), We try very hard to get to emails
      the same day they are sent to us.
    2. Make sure you set your email filter to not block email or attachments from akall@umich.edu
    3. Make sure you enter the correct email and snail mail addresses on your application (this is how we will
      contact you after you apply). If these addresses change, please let me know.

What supplies should I bring? Does the institute provide anything?

You should bring pens, paper, a flash/jump drive, a fan, an Ethernet cable, mask/face covering, twin long (80 inches x 36 inches) sheets, a blanket, towels, casual attire, an umbrella, a power/extension cord, a light jacket, toiletries, etc. Students must have a laptop and cell phone with them at camp.

What is the process for admission?

All people admitted to the MNDI or the Classic will be notified via e-mail in rapid fashion. People who have applied to the Seven Week Program will be admitted on a rolling basis. We will send a letter of acceptance to the program along with instructions for solidifying your acceptance.

Can you tell me the names of other people from my area attending the camps?

No. It’s generally institute policy to keep everyone’s information private.

What forms of ID do I need to attend?

Bring a driver’s license or school ID if you have one. You will be provided a Michigan ID (M Card) when you arrive.

Registration and Fees

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/

Housing and Residence Hall

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?

No, for privacy reasons 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 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 are newly renovated and air-conditioned. The South Quad Cafeteria, Undergraduate Library, and all classrooms 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

Medical Issues

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.

Students and Money at the Camp

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 $1.25 to wash and $1 per dry. Please bring quarters with you. The Payrange App for laundry can be downloaded at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/payrange/id845555232).

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.

Transportation and Airport

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.

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.

Recreation/Religion

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.

Typical Day

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.

Contacting Your Child

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