(As prepared for delivery)
I want to start today with the news of a national championship – specifically, the Michigan Debate Team.
We have one of the oldest collegiate debate programs in the country, and for the last two years, our student competitors have been the best.
Earlier this month, they won the American Debate Association National Championship, successfully defending their 2024 title. No university has secured back-to-back championships in 15 years.
And speaking of championships, I want to wish both our men’s and women’s basketball teams the best of luck as they start NCAA tournament play today and tomorrow. That includes hosting the first two rounds of the women’s tournament at Crisler Center. And the hockey team will compete for the Big Ten title on Saturday.
Whether they are making strong arguments or scoring points, we’re proud of how these students represent Michigan.
This month’s agenda includes a request to approve honorary degree recipients for our Spring Commencement.
They are:
- Shirin Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. She will be awarded a Doctor of Laws.
- Ingeborg Hochmair Desoyer, an electrical engineer who pioneered the cochlear implant. She will receive a Doctor of Engineering and deliver remarks at Rackham Graduate Exercises.
- Michael Phelps, a world-champion swimmer who has won more Olympic medals than anyone, also trained here at Michigan. He will be awarded a Doctor of Laws.
- Regent Emeritus Ronald Weiser, an Ann Arbor business leader and philanthropist, served eight years on this board. He will receive a Doctor of Laws.
- And Jalen Rose, who starred here at Michigan and in the NBA, and is also a broadcaster and philanthropist. He will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters and will be our commencement speaker at Michigan Stadium.
I look forward to presenting this request later in the meeting and to celebrating the achievements of these distinguished men and women.
I know many of you are aware that Michigan Medicine is currently negotiating a new contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Let me note at the outset that Blue Cross coverage for U-M employees and retirees will not be affected by this contract because the University self-funds its health insurance plan, so we do not rely on Blue Cross to finance it. It is our view that Michigan Medicine and Blue Cross and Blue Shield should be shoulder to shoulder in our collective efforts to provide the best care for our patients.
To this end, our goal in this negotiation is to secure a new agreement that will protect our patients and ensure that our Michigan Medicine team can continue to provide the highest quality care to all Michiganders.
Sadly, over the past several weeks, Blue Cross has repeatedly shared inaccuracies and untrue claims — many of which are frightening patients. I would like to take a moment to set the record straight.
Blue Cross has continued to falsely state we want a significant increase in reimbursement. In reality, Michigan Medicine is asking for a continuation of its current contract and has offered to base any payments above that on clear and quantifiable performance outcomes. In other words, we are willing to take responsibility to earn a substantial portion of any increase based on quality, safety and outcomes metrics that both parties accept.
If we do not secure a new contract by July 1, there will be a significant negative impact on the ability of hundreds of thousands of patients to secure in-network access to Michigan Medicine physicians, clinics, and hospitals. And these are patients who not only want to come here for their care, but in many cases cannot get the care they need elsewhere.
Despite Blue Cross’ claims, we want to assure our community members that our current contract remains in effect and patients should keep their appointments as scheduled.
We are grateful for the support that we have heard and seen near and far from across the state.
Dr. David Miller, our executive vice president for medical affairs and the CEO of Michigan Medicine and practicing surgeon, and his team are doing outstanding work representing the interest of patients and the University in these critical conversations.
David, is there anything you would like to add?
Today’s Regent meeting will be the last I chair. My final day as president is May 8.
While I have the responsibility of leading the University for a few more weeks, I want to spend a few minutes today reflecting on the past 10 months.
When Regent White called me in early May 2025 to discuss the appointment of an interim president, I thought she wanted my advice on potential candidates. I wasn’t expecting to be offered the position, but I also had no hesitation in accepting.
Being president of your alma mater – an institution that is also the best university in the world – is both an honor and a privilege. I also have the unique honor of being the only person to have led two of Michigan’s three campuses. I think that has great potential for a Michigan trivia question.
I want to thank the regents for their faith and confidence in me. Today’s higher education environment is both challenging and stimulating, and I appreciate your deep commitment to Michigan’s success.
That same environment required me not to approach this job with the mindset of an interim president. There was, and still is, too much at stake to just hold the wheel for the next leader. Instead – and I have said this many times – it was essential to move Michigan into the passing lane and to show now, more than ever, how we contribute to the public good.
We’ve achieved a great deal.
We are more popular than ever among students seeking a Michigan education, with record applications. All three campuses have seen their first-year student enrollments grow. I particularly want to commend the leaders at UM-Flint for three straight years of increased enrollment.
Our research enterprise is robust and continues to advance health care, boost the economy, and expand our understanding of the world. Nationally, we are second only to MIT in the number of inventions and startups. And UM-Dearborn has become an R2 institution.
We have renewed and sharpened our strategic vision, building on the “Look to Michigan” moniker while sharing our story more boldly with the nation. Our aim is not simply to be among the finest universities, but to stand as the model university, one that demonstrates how discovery, education, and service can be joined in enduring commitment to the public good.
Guided by that vision, we work tirelessly in the public interest, mindful that the true measure of a great university is not only the knowledge it creates, but the humanity it advances.
That includes our $50 million investment in a new Center for American Dialogue. I believe our center will stand out for its approach to tangible results, and I look forward to our soft launch next month, featuring Congresswomen Debbie Dingell and Lisa McClain, and a keynote address by former New York Times columnist and cultural commentator David Brooks.
Our vision also includes a $250 million commitment to a biotechnology innovation institute that will accelerate our medical discoveries from the lab to patients faster than ever before. To borrow from Louis Pasteur, our laboratories are the temples of the future – sacred dwellings advancing prosperity and well-being for all of humanity.
We have the support of alumni and friends as we carry out our mission, particularly with giving for our students and our research. Our current fundraising campaign has raised $4.5 billion, which is 64 percent of our $7 billion goal.
And we have hired an experienced, winning football coach who is committed to our student-athletes and who will lead our program with fierceness, dignity, and pride.
More than anything, we have placed a premium on restoring stability and integrity.
These are not my accomplishments; they are our shared successes. We all know that Bo Schembechler expressed this best when he emphasized, “The team, the team, team.” That philosophy is what makes Michigan the leader and the best.
Our students, faculty, staff, and alumni share a love for this university that I believe is unmatched in higher education. I have been fortunate to interact with exceptional scholars, talented staff, and accomplished alumni. And our students – whether in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, or Flint – show a maturity and optimism that reassures me we are all in capable hands moving forward.
People perform at their best when they feel valued and heard, and when they take pride in the institution they represent. With the insights and support of my executive team, I believe we have strengthened our culture of creativity, curiosity, and commitment to the public good.
I am both grateful for and energized by the expertise and skills of the executive officers who sit at this table. I am equally grateful and indebted to the senior leaders from UM-Dearborn, with whom I re-entered the Michigan orbit, who provided me not only with counsel and support but also with a most memorable experience.
I also want to recognize and thank the dedicated staff in the Office of the President. With the upcoming arrival of Kent Syverud, they will be supporting their fifth president in as many years. That is not easy, given that each leader has their own style. But the team is consistently professional, and I cannot applaud them enough for their efficiency, goodwill, and loyalty to Michigan.
Lastly, I am thankful for the love and support of my wife, Susan, and our four children, Benjamin, Jacob, Elspeth and Caitlin. No one can do this job alone. Whether I’ve had a good day or a bad day — and this job has both — they are by my side. Susan and I may be leaving the President’s House, but our hearts will always be in Ann Arbor.
There is still much to accomplish in the coming weeks and months. I am fully embracing a job I love – the best … and most challenging in higher education.
I’ve had good conversations with President-elect Syverud and am optimistic about what’s next for Michigan.
Nearly 175 years ago, Michigan’s first president, Henry Tappan, issued a challenge at his inauguration that I believe should always serve as our North Star:
“This young University,” he said, “shall we not carry it forward to perfection?”
We all want the best for the University of Michigan. We will always – always – embrace bold challenges and perform consequential work for the betterment of society.
Michigan is and will always be the defining research university, advancing knowledge in enduring service to humanity, the planet, and the public good.
Thank you for the extraordinary privilege of playing a part in Michigan’s timeless saga – advancing its mission to leave a lasting, positive mark on the world, today … and for generations to come.
And, as always, Forever Go Blue.
