About The Michigan Road Scholar Tour

The Michigan Road Scholars Tour for faculty at the University of Michigan is a five-day traveling seminar on the State of Michigan. This educational tour exposes participants to the state's economy, government and politics, culture, educational systems, health and social issues, history, and geography.

Designed to increase mutual knowledge and understanding between the university and the people and communities of the state,the tour introduces participants to the places the majority of our students call home, encourages university service to the public, and suggests ways faculty can help address state issues through research, scholarship and creative activity.

In addition the experience is expected to develop beneficial ties and promote interdisciplinary discussion among the touring faculty. Look at our past tours to see the diverse itineraries we have enjoyed.

The annual Michigan Road Scholars tour is funded by the Office of the Provost. Tour planning and staffing come from the State Outreach Office, within the Office of the Vice President for Government Relations. The State Outreach staff reports to Vice President Cynthia Wilbanks.

The application form for the next tour will be available for 30 days, usually beginning in November, on this website. Look for a link from our Index/Home page. A faculty Advisory Committee assists in developing application criteria, selecting faculty participants, and providing guidance regarding sites to be visited and topics to be addressed on the tour. 30 participants will be selected.

State Outreach and Government Relations staff involved in the Road Scholar project includes Associate Directors Michael Rein and Dana Sitzler, Veronica Johnson, Director of the Lansing Service Center, and Debbie Schilz, Administrative Assistant Intermediate.
Dana Sitzler is Project Manager of the Michigan Road Scholar Tour.

Goals of the tour:

• Develop among faculty an awareness of the state's distinctive geography, economy, culture, government and politics, history, educational systems, health and social issues.
• Learn about the communities that a majority of our students call home.
• Encourage service to the public and research to address state problems.
• Show how the University of Michigan is connected to the entire state.
• Introduce faculty to the Michigan some of them might otherwise never see.
• Promote interaction among faculty across the disciplines.

If you would like additional information regarding the Michigan Road Scholars tour, please contact Dana Sitzler, at (734) 763-4755.
You may also send an email to Dana at:dds@umich.edu