2008 Michigan Debate Institutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Many of your questions can be answered on this page. Use the links below to jump to a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

How will I get my evidence home?

Dollar Bill Copying (www.dollarbillcopying.com) arranges a pick up and shipping service on the second to last day of each camp. It will be very easy for your child to make these arrangements. In addition, every student will receive a readable/writeable CD of all of the evidence produced by the camp that they attend. Each student will also receive a paper copy of all of the evidence that their lab produces as well as a copy of all files that camp produces generically.

What is the process for admission?

All people admitted to the MNDI or the Classic will be notified via e-mail and/or the website in rapid fashion. People who have applied to the 7 week program will be admitted on a rolling basis. We will send a letter of acceptance to the program along with instructions for solidifying your acceptance.

Can you tell me the names of other people from my area attending the camps?

No. It's institute policy to keep everyone's information private.

What forms of ID do I need to attend?

Bring a driver's license or school ID if you have one. You will be provided a Michigan ID when you arrive.

Registration and Fees

Can the application fee be subtracted from the tuition or reimbursed?

No. The fee is non-refundable.

Can I pay part of the tuition at registration and the rest at the end of the camp?

No. Tuition in full is due before registration.

Can I get my deposit or tuition reimbursed if we do not attend the camp?

If you pay early deposit you cannot get reimbursed for your deposit. All other deposits are refundable until May 1^st. After May 1^st NO PAYMENTS are refundable. This is necessary because we have to hire staff and reserve room space based on our hard numbers at this point.

Can I make payments with credit cards?

Prior to the start of the camp you can make payments for the camp using the link on the main page of our website (approximately in the middle of the page www.michigandebate.com)

Housing and Dormitory

What size sheets do I bring? Do we need pillows? Towels?

All beds are singles (standard twin beds). You must bring your own sheets, blankets, pillows and towels.

Are roommate/partner requests guaranteed?

Yes, in most cases. Cross-institute requests are usually not honored.

Roommate and partner requests must be made in advance by both parties via email.

Can you tell me who my roommate is?

No, for privacy reasons we cannot. This is an institute policy.

Can you tell me my phone number in advance to give to my family and friends?

No. Unfortunately, we do not know these numbers until the camp begins.

Students will receive their phone numbers at registration.

We strongly and continuously advise them to call home the first night!

Can I request a single, double or triple?

No. Rooms are allocated on the basis of availability.

Can I make long distance calls from my room?

Yes. Long distance calls can be made with a calling card.

How safe is the dorm?

The institute employs Resident Advisors to watch the dormitory floors every night. In addition to RA supervision, the institute office is staffed until 4 am every night by an adult from our staff. The University of Michigan assigns a safety officer to the dormitory for nighttime supervision. We offer the best staff to student ratio in the entire industry.

Is the Dorm Air Conditioned?

No, Unfortunately no dorms at the University of Michigan are currently air conditioned. This is usually not a big concern as it's cool in mornings and evenings in Ann Arbor in the summer. While it does get hot sometimes in the mid-afternoon, students are in air conditioned places during these times- the library, lab rooms, lecture halls, etc.

We encourage you to bring a fan with you to camp. If you don't, fans are available for purchase at numerous stores on campus.

Does my University Meal Plan Include Breakfast?

No, unfortunately there are no University cafeterias that serve breakfast in the summer. Brunch is served on Sunday. There are several inexpensive places students can cheaply purchase breakfast each day that are located close to their dorm and classrooms. In addition, refrigerators are available for rental from the dormitory at registration and there are many stores within walking distance where a student can purchase breakfast supplies and food.

How can I address special Dietary Needs?

Please notify us of those needs in advance so we can check with housing to make sure we can accommodate those needs. If your child needs Kosher meals please notify us in advance so we can vet it with housing.

Medical Issues

I have a special medical need, will someone help me?

Special medical needs, such as diabetes, are handled by our staff and University Health Services, if necessary. Please let us know in advance of your particular needs. Make sure you have notified and cleared special needs with us in advance of the camp.

What if I get sick during the camp?

You should immediately tell the people in the dormitory office. Based on the time of day and nature of the illness or accident we will either take the student to the University Health Services Office OR to the Emergency Room at the University of Michigan Hospital (a top 20 hospital system in the USA). We will always also notify parents as soon as we can get in touch with them through the contact information we are given.

Students and Money at the Camp

How much spending money should you bring?

Usually the most significant variable is food. Students that choose not to eat in the dorm will need more money than those that eat regularly in the dorm. Bring enough money to purchase toiletries, order pizza, visit Pinball Pete's and eat some ice cream. You might also need to factor supplies into your calculations. All institute social events are free.

How much copy money do I bring?

Usually about $100-$200.

Do you take credit cards on registration day?

No. Cash or check only. Please make sure your check is signed and made payable to the Michigan Debate Institutes.

Are there other check-in charges?

Yes, there is a $35 refundable room deposit payment payable to the Michigan Debate Institutes due at check in. If your child does not damage the rooms we will not hold on to the deposit. In addition, it is possible to rent refrigerators on a first come first serve basis at check-in through the dormitory (we make no profit from these rentals)

Do I get a discount if I leave a few days early?

No. We pay for meals and dormitory space based on full attendance so we cannot offer discounts unless arrangements are made substantially in advance.

Are there washer and dryer facilities in the dorms?

Yes, washing and drying each cost $1 to wash and .75 cents per dry.

Transportation and Airport

Students should arrive between 12 Noon and 5 PM on the first date noted for a particular camp and depart between 8 AM and 12 PM on the final date noted for the particular camp.

Will someone pick me up at the airport?

No. Transportation from the airport to the campus is your responsibility. A cab costs about $50-$90. You can make reservations with Trinity Airport Shuttle Service at (734) 941-7777 for a price of $46.00 one way or $92.00 round trip. Other cheaper alternatives are Ann Arbor Airport Shuttle (734) 394-1665 and Ann Arbor- Detroit Metro Airport Shuttle (734) 507-9220.

The only exception to this rule is if your child is too young to be allowed off the plane without an adult. If your child needs this service you will have to make direct arrangements with us at our contact numbers or email address. There are no other exceptions to this rule.

How far is the airport from the campus?

About 30 minutes by car.

Where do I go?

Tell your driver that you want to go to West Quad on the University of Michigan's central campus. The street address is 541 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. When you arrive you will see signs and banners welcoming you to the institute. If you want to see more information on West Quad, go to the following webpage:

http://www.housing.umich.edu/residencehalls/index.php?hall=westquad&hallname=West%20Quadrangle

Is the airport safe?

The Detroit Metro Airport is not located in downtown Detroit it is in a suburb. It is about 20 minutes outside of the city nowhere near any neighborhood that could be dangerous. We have had literally 1,000s of students in the last 6 years make their first trip alone on a plane through the Detroit airport with round trip shuttle arrangements and had zero mishaps.

Recreation/Religion

I need to work out at a gym. Can I do that at Michigan?

We cannot provide you with a pass to the university recreation facilities because of liability reasons. There are several outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts and jogging paths.

Can I attend religious services while at camp?

Yes. Students may do so with written permission from their parents or guardians, and permission from the Director or Assistant Director.

Typical Day

What is a typical day like?

A typical day is split into three class blocks. From 9:30 am until 12:00 pm a student will be in either lecture or lab. From 1:30-5:00 pm a student will be in the library or lab. From 6:30 � 9:30 pm a student will be in lab. On Sundays, the students do not start the day until 1:00 pm. The students do have classes on July 4^th although they usually have more free time than on a usual day.

How much free time will we have?

Not a great deal. Most of your time at the institute is structured, even your free time. The institute schedules various recreational activities such as a picnic, dance and other free social events.

Contacting Your Child

How can I get in contact in an emergency?

Your child will receive a book the first day of the camp that includes all of the emergency phone numbers (you should contact your child and exchange these numbers or get them at registration). In addition, your child will have a dormitory phone number for the room they are in (you should get that number as well). In the worst case, you can call the dorm debate office (the number for that office is also in the books as well as on the main page of our website once the camp starts).

How do I send mail?

NEVER send non-payment mail to the 2205 Michigan Union Address. Once we start the camps a different address will be clearly placed on the top of our main webpage (www.michigandebate.com). All student mail should ALWAYS ONLY be sent to the dormitory address and never to the Union address.

Contact UM Debate at:

Michigan Debate

jbhoe@umich.edu

Office: 734-763-5903

Fax: 734-763-5902

If we are not in the office we will get back to you as soon as possible, please leave a message. The best time to reach us in the afternoon.

UM debate is located in the office of Student Activities and Leadership within the Department of Student Affairs at the University of Michigan, the premier Big Ten University

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