In 2008, the University of Michigan-Flint opened the doors of its first on-campus living facility: the First Street Residence Hall. The state-of-the-art living/learning environment is home to over 300 UM-Flint students. In 2009, building upon the first-year success of the First Street Residence Hall, Riverfront Residence Hall opened to an additional 200 students. In the years ahead, Riverfront Residence Hall will be home to a total of 500 students from all four of Flint's institutions of higher learning.

The rumors are true: Flint is transforming into a real College Town. The city has more college students than the communities home to Princeton and Yale universities combined. Around 25,000 college students are currently enrolled among Flint's four main institutions of higher learning. In 2008, the University of Michigan-Flint opened the first residence hall in the institutions fifty-year history. According to Sheri Hawkins, whose daughter Divina was one of the pioneering students to live on campus last year, Divina views all of her college experiences as participation in something bigger than herself. Flint is changing from a car town to a college town. As a UM-Flint student, she not only has the opportunity to witness this bold transformation firsthand, but to take an active role. Building upon the First Street Residence Halls overwhelmingly successful first year, another 300 students have filled the state-of-the-art living/learning facility again this year. In addition, a private development and management group has begun refurbishing the former Hyatt Regency Hotel across Saginaw Street from UM-Flints University Pavilion. Though not affiliated with the university in an official capacity, the new Riverfront Residence Hall welcomed nearly 200 UM-Flint students this fall, and plans to have space available for upwards of 500 students from all of Flints institutions of higher learning when the project in completed. With more and more college students choosing to live on or near campus, the Flint community has responded by providing this growing population with the services and amenities college students expect. New restaurants, entertainment venues, retail shops, and loft apartments fill historic downtown buildings refurbished to meet students needs. With over one-hundred undergraduate majors in many of the worlds fastest-growing fields including healthcare, journalism, education, and international business UM-Flints commitment to academic excellence and advancing the meaning of a Michigan Degree remain its top priority and strongest draw. However, it is hard to deny the impact the recent College Town changes are having on the institution. In 2008, the university enjoyed its highest enrollment ever. There is a genuine feeling among students, staff, and faculty alike that those who embrace Flint's transformation as an opportunity to apply their learning and participate in real change may find the experience to be the most meaningful education of all.

University of Michigan-Flint Engineering student Osai Robinson describes how the scholarships he has earned have shaped his academic and personal life.

Each year University of Michigan-Flint students are given the opportunity to participate in "Alternative Spring Break," a program designed to provide students an opportunity to explore new places while engaging in grassroots volunteer efforts in those communities. In recent years, students have spent their Spring Break in New Orleans, Detroit, Montreal, as well as in Flint.

The importance of earning an undergraduate degree to your career prospects is well known. Yet in today's competitive workforce, in order to continue to advance within your field earning graduate degree has become increasingly important. In this video, University of Michigan-Flint graduate students discuss how their graduate level education has impacted their lives and careers.

University of Michigan-Flint Professor of Art Chris Waters discusses how the city of Flint has become a muse for both her painting and teaching.

Jeremy Glasstetter and Cameron Waites proudly served their country in Iraq. Now they are serving fellow veterans returning to earn their degree at the University of Michigan-Flint. Jeremy and Cameron are founding members of the campus' new Student Veterans Association (SVA), which assists student veterans with questions they may have with the new G.I. Bill, helping veterans reacclimate to civilian life, and promoting dialogue between student veterans and the rest of the campus community.

After many years of serving the Flint community as a physician at Hurley Medical Center, Dr. Michael Boucree returned to the University of Michigan-Flint to pursue his dream of becoming a concert pianist.

Journalism Professor Michael Lewis, Ph.D. and Journalism student Jennifer Profitt discuss the future of the field, as well as how UM-Flint's campus newspaper, "The Michigan Times," offers students a vehicle to apply their classroom learning to real-world situations.

Joseph Sucic, Ph.D. discusses the importance of hands-on laboratory research to undergraduate Biology students like Amanda Sheehy and Cody Doyle.

The University of Michigan-Flint has a long tradition of active involvement within the Flint community. This video features University Outreach's Center for Civic Engagement "First Friday of Service" program. Whether through service learning projects, structured volunteer opportunities like the "First Friday of Service" or the multitude of activities, events and organizations that UM-Flint students, faculty and staff involve themselves with on their own, UM-Flint is proud of its enduring culture of "giving back."

Christopher Paul Curtis was born and raised in Flint. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Michigan-Flint to study political science. However, in 1972, the chance to earn a good income at the Fisher Body factory lured him away from school. To alleviate the monotony of the assembly line, Christopher began writing during breaks, lunch and any spare time he could find. He continued working at the plant until 1985. In 1988, Christopher married the love of his life, Kaysandra. In 1993, she encouraged him to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree at UM-Flint. While attending classes, he won Hopwood Awards for his essays and for the manuscript of what would eventually become his first published children's book "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963." It received the two highest honors for children's literature: The Newberry Medal and the Coretta Scott King Honor. For the 2009-10 academic year at UM-Flint, Christopher Paul Curtis was selected to be his alma maters annual Winegarden Visiting Professor.

Asked for one word family, friends, students, and colleagues would use to describe them, UM-Flint professors shed light on their teaching philosophies and the importance of personal connections with their students.

This short montage captures UM-Flint's campus energy, sense of purpose and commitment to academic excellence.