2022 in Review: Michigan Impact

Public Engagement Michigan Impact

The need to demonstrate the immense impact that the University of Michigan has on communities throughout the state of Michigan is not only integral to the institution’s mission, it is crucial to increasing understanding surrounding the immense importance of higher education and the critical role public institutions play in helping to contribute to the greater good. The Michigan Impact email newsletter, distributed monthly, provides valuable information regarding new research discoveries, community impact projects and engagements around the state, and thought-leadership reflections and perspectives to legislators, alumni, high school counselors, and other interested stakeholders throughout Michigan. With stories that touch and highlight the University of Michigan’s presence in counties all across the Great Lakes state, each edition is designed to thematically elevate presidential priorities, institutional projects, timely leadership perspectives, and research being conducted to address pressing societal concerns.

Redesigned and relaunched in October 2021, interest in the newsletter continued to grow throughout the year as new content features were offered and engaging design elements were incorporated. In total, the newsletter was opened more than 592,000 times in 2022, driving over 14,000 people to U-M websites via embedded links.

When asked, Regent Sarah Hubbard said the newsletter not only provides valuable information, but also allows the university to interact with individuals all across Michigan.

“University of Michigan faculty, researchers, students, alumni, and staff strive every day to enrich communities — not just in Ann Arbor but across our great state,” Hubbard said.

“It’s so important for the university to connect with our communities throughout Michigan so they can learn about the impactful research, education, and community collaboration being conducted, — and so we can hear how they are feeling and what would help them further succeed. The Michigan Impact newsletter allows us to do that each month.”

U-M Regent Sarah Hubbard

One of the highest performing issues of the year featured a Leadership Q&A from Jonathan T. Overpeck, Samuel A. Graham Dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability. In the piece, Dean Overpeck shared insights into the breadth of our robust sustainability efforts and how they impact Michigan communities in honor of national Sustainability month and Earth Day 2022.

“Having a channel for reaching out to in-state alumni, elected officials, and other stakeholders in Michigan is critical for ensuring U-M’s impact across the state continues to grow. The process for collaborating with the U-M team was simple and had great results; the results and impact could be found throughout social media channels and other forums,” Overpeck said. “In order to address the impacts of climate change in Michigan and beyond, we need communication and collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders, and the Michigan Impact newsletter is one channel for getting the message of climate impact and the urgency of action out to those who can help us make a lasting impact for our state, planet, and future.”

The Michigan Impact newsletter is developed and distributed by the Office of the Vice President for Communications in collaboration with the U-M Office of Government Relations, Public Affairs, Office of the Vice President for Research, Michigan News, Public Engagement & Impact, and various other stakeholders across the institution. 

To see some of the most popular items featured in the newsletter in 2022, view each edition of Michigan Impact below. 

Most opened edition

July 2022: Beyond the Big House: Michigan’s Up North Impact 

Most clicked edition

October 2022: My First Day at Michigan 

Most clicked article

May 2022: Money Magazine ranks U-M No. 1 for value 

Most clicked video 

October 2022: Michigan Students and Leaders Welcome President Santa J. Ono to Ann Arbor

Most clicked “in the news” feature: 

October 2022: MLive: Another enrollment record broken this fall at University of Michigan

2022 Michigan Impact

By Erica Colaianne