This series of free mini-courses covers unique topics taught by faculty, staff, and alumni experts. The science of sleep, psychedelics research, ethics of technology, ultra-processed food, classical literature — we’re covering the stuff you didn’t get to learn during your days as a U-M student.

Overview of ALUM 101

ALUM 101’s online format allows you to learn alongside fellow Wolverines again, no matter how far you are from campus or how long it’s been since you graduated. These mini-courses are for all lifelong learners who are curious about everything, from the relevant to the niche.

• Each online mini-course has four one-hour synchronous learning sessions, featuring a 30-minute lecture presentation by a topic expert and followed by an open Q&A with the alumni audience.
• After each lecture, participants will receive supporting materials such as upcoming events, key campus partner initiatives, and educational content to ensure they’re connected to U-M’s world-class resources and expertise on the topic.
• Some courses conclude with an optional, in-person field trip highlighting key locations, resources, and events discussed throughout the course.

ALUM 101: A Wolverine’s Guide to U-M History

The first course, ALUM 101: A Wolverine’s Guide to U-M History, kicks off the series with a deep dive into the history of U-M. Classes for this course begin on May 21, and it concludes with an optional, in-person field trip across campus.

Course Overview

• Lecture 1: How U-M Became a World-Class Institution
  The University of Michigan is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world, but at what cost? Setting the stage for our course is Terrence McDonald, an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, who explores and guides you through U-M’s rise to the top.
• Lecture 2: Notable Alumni
  From the notable to the lesser known, Kim Clarke, manager of the University of Michigan Heritage Project, highlights stories of alumni who helped shape our institution.
• Lecture 3: True Crime from the Archives
  U-M storytellers Lara Zielin and Deborah Holdship delve into the lives of two notorious alumni, Herman Webster Mudgett and the Unabomber, sharing the fascinating stories hidden within their infamous legacies.
• Lecture 4: History of the U-M Songbook
  Explore the history of your favorite Michigan songs as Mark Clague, Associate Dean of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, guides you through the U-M songbook and the origin stories of these now iconic tunes and explores the social functions of songs and singing on campus.