(a) The University of Michigan was founded in 1817 as one of the first public universities in the nation, and it was the first American university to import the seminar system from Germany. Today, the University of Michigan remains one of the most distinguished universities in the world and a leader in higher education. It is one of only two public institutions consistently ranked in the nation’s top ten universities, with over 51,000 students and 5,600 faculty at three campuses. The University of Michigan boasts of one of the largest health care complexes in the world, the best university library system in the country, and some of the best computer access for students and faculty of any campus in the world.
(b) The Department of Classical Studies is one of the leading centers of classical learning in the world, and it is home to the largest collection of ancient papyri in the Western hemisphere (including the only surviving papyrus text of The Contest of Homer and Hesiod, which we may visit for inspection).
(c) Hatcher Graduate Library, located a few hundred feet from Angell Hall where the seminar will take place, contains over 3.5 million volumes including 10,000 journals and periodical subscriptions written in several hundred languages; it offers access to over 20,000 online journals and newspapers and over 500 licensed online databases. Seminar participants, once they have fully enrolled, will have complete access to these services with full borrowing privileges (and access to online materials well in advance of the seminar, in order to prepare for it). The Graduate Library collection supports scholarship campus wide and is particularly strong in the following areas: English and French local history; papyrology; history and culture of Germany, the Netherlands, and Central Europe; English literature; classical archaeology; the history of science; social and political movements; area studies including Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Near East, and Slavic countries; U.S. and foreign government publications; maps; manuscripts and special collections; and reference and bibliographic sources.
(d) Housing. The University offers short-term housing for visiting scholars at the Northwood Complex on North Campus, accessible by bus, well-furnished, and moderately priced. The two-bedroom townhouse apartments feature separate living, dining and sleeping areas, plenty of work space, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a washer and dryer in each unit, plus air conditioning. These features plus unlimited local phone use, free DSL internet service, free parking, and easy access to the University bus system are just some of the extras that make Northwood a great alternative to expensive off-campus hotels. The prices range from $1550 to $1650 for two-bedroom units without or with a den. There are only 10 Northwood units, 5 with a den; perhaps some of the participants could share costs and divide the space. This option would have the singular advantage of allowing participants to house close to one another during the seminar period. Alternative housing is widely available in Ann Arbor during the summer, once the student community vacates. Conference Housing and Maynard House (info@postrealtyproperties.com) are excellent alternatives; Ann Arbor’s Web Guide is a third source of information. I have reserved the Northwood Complex for the dates of the seminar.
(e) Computing Facilities. Participants will be able to register for computing access for a small fee. This will give them complete access to the full array of university services, which are truly astonishing. UM is a leader in computing technology nation-wide.
(f) Parking, Restaurants, and Other Amenities. Ann Arbor is perhaps never as delightful as in the summertime when the streets are emptied, parking spaces suddenly become available again, and its lush green colors are restored. In easy walking distance of the downtown ("central") campus one finds bookshops (Borders, Shaman Drum, used bookstores), restaurants, record shops, two movie theaters, shopping districts, Zingerman’s Deli, music venues, and more. For a small fee, participants can gain access to the University gyms. There are plenty of events during summertime for families to attend (such as the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in June-July). There are city parks with outdoor pools (one is Olympic size). And further out, there are regional parks with trails for hiking and biking and rivers for canoeing. Of course, no one in my seminar will have any time for these leisurely activities (!), but they are available just the same.
Incidentally, car-sharing is now available thanks to a new partnership between UM and Zipcar. Details available here.