University of Michigan President Mark S. Schlissel.

University of Michigan Becomes Posse Partner

Spring 2015 | National

The University of Michigan is the latest top institution to partner with The Posse Foundation’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program. In 2016, the renowned public university will admit its first Posse from Chicago, Illinois, becoming the 10th Posse partner to select Scholars who will exclusively major in STEM fields.

“We are proud to partner with The Posse Foundation once again in our work to ensure that all talented students can pursue opportunities at the University of Michigan,” says University of Michigan President Mark S. Schlissel. “The Foundation has built an impressive legacy of fostering the achievements of students with tremendous potential, and I look forward to welcoming the first cohort of STEM students to our university.”

“Posse is thrilled to have the University of Michigan join the Posse STEM Program,” says Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial. “The need for diversity in the STEM fields has never been more important and we’re honored to have the commitment of this prestigious institution thanks to the leadership of President Schlissel.”

Ranked 29th among national universities by U.S. News & World Report, the University of Michigan offers nearly 250 areas of study to its more than 28,000 undergraduates. With world-renown faculty, hundreds of clubs and organizations, and located in the thriving city of Ann Arbor, the university will provide Posse Scholars with stellar academic, social and cultural opportunities.

Earlier this year, the Simons Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to advancing research in basic science and mathematics, awarded Posse a $450,000 grant to support the STEM program’s continued growth and development.

The Posse STEM Program was first developed in 2006 in collaboration with Brandeis University to help institutions of higher education improve the number of diverse students who persist and graduate from college with degrees in STEM fields. The program expanded substantially in 2014 thanks to a $5 million commitment from Posse Board Chair Jeffrey Ubben and The Tortora Sillcox Family Foundation.

The University of Michigan joins current Posse STEM Program partners Brandeis University, Bryn Mawr College, Davidson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Middlebury College, Pomona College, Smith College, Texas A&M University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.