UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Act 151 of 1851
AN ACT to provide for the government of the state university, and to repeal chapter 57 of the Revised Statutes of 1846.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

390.1 University of Michigan; continuation.

Sec. 1.

That the institution established in this state and known as the university of Michigan, is continued under the name and style heretofore used.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2183 ;-- CL 1871, 3481 ;-- How. 4905 ;-- CL 1897, 1781 ;-- CL 1915, 1156 ;-- CL 1929, 7764 ;-- CL 1948, 390.1
Former Law: See 2 Terr. Laws, p. 104; 1 Terr. Laws, p. 879; Act 55 of 1837, Ex. Sess.; R.S. 1838, Part First, Title 11, Ch. 2; R.S. 1846, Ch. 57.

390.2 University of Michigan; object.

Sec. 2.

The university shall provide the inhabitants of this state with the means of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the various branches of literature, science and arts.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2184 ;-- CL 1871, 3482 ;-- How. 4906 ;-- CL 1897, 1782 ;-- CL 1915, 1157 ;-- CL 1929, 7765 ;-- CL 1948, 390.2

390.3 University of Michigan; government, board of regents.

Sec. 3.

The government of the university is vested in the board of regents.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2185 ;-- CL 1871, 3483 ;-- How. 4907 ;-- CL 1897, 1783 ;-- CL 1915, 1158 ;-- CL 1929, 7766 ;-- CL 1948, 390.3

390.4 Board of regents; body corporate; rights, seal.

Sec. 4.

The board of regents shall constitute the body corporate, with the right, as such, of suing and being sued, of making and using a common seal, and altering the same.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2186 ;-- CL 1871, 3484 ;-- How. 4908 ;-- CL 1897, 1784 ;-- CL 1915, 1159 ;-- CL 1929, 7767 ;-- CL 1948, 390.4

390.5 Board of regents; powers.

Sec. 5.

The regents shall have power to enact ordinances, by-laws and regulations for the government of the university; to elect a president, to fix, increase and reduce the regular number of professors and tutors, and to appoint the same, and to determine the amount of their salaries: Provided, That there shall always be at least 1 professor of homeopathy in the department of medicine.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- Am. 1855, Act 100, Eff. May 15, 1855 ;-- CL 1857, 2187 ;-- CL 1871, 3485 ;-- How. 4909 ;-- CL 1897, 1785 ;-- CL 1915, 1160 ;-- CL 1929, 7768 ;-- CL 1948, 390.5

390.6 Board of regents; power of removal of president, professor or tutor.

Sec. 6.

They shall have power to remove the president, and any professor or tutor, when the interest of the university shall require it.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2188 ;-- CL 1871, 3486 ;-- How. 4910 ;-- CL 1897, 1786 ;-- CL 1915, 1161 ;-- CL 1929, 7769 ;-- CL 1948, 390.6

390.7 Board of regents; appointive power.

Sec. 7.

They shall have power to appoint a secretary, librarian, treasurer, steward, and such other officers as the interests of the institution may require, who shall hold their offices at the pleasure of the board, and receive such compensation as the board may prescribe.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2189 ;-- CL 1871, 3487 ;-- How. 4911 ;-- CL 1897, 1787 ;-- CL 1915, 1162 ;-- CL 1929, 7770 ;-- CL 1948, 390.7

390.8 University of Michigan; departments.

Sec. 8.

The university shall consist of at least 3 departments:

1. A department of literature, science and the arts;

2. A department of law;

3. A department of medicine;

4. Such other departments may be added as the regents shall deem necessary, and the state of the university fund shall allow.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2190 ;-- CL 1871, 3488 ;-- How. 4912 ;-- CL 1897, 1788 ;-- CL 1915, 1163 ;-- CL 1929, 7771 ;-- CL 1948, 390.8

390.9 Provision for special courses.

Sec. 9.

The regents shall provide for the arrangement and selection of a course or courses of study in the university, for such students as may not desire to pursue the usual collegiate course, in the department of literature, science and the arts, embracing the ancient languages, and to provide for the admission of such students without previous examination, as to their attainments in said languages, and for granting such certificates at the expiration of such course or term of such students, as may be appropriate to their respective attainments.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2191 ;-- CL 1871, 3489 ;-- How. 4913 ;-- CL 1897, 1789 ;-- CL 1915, 1164 ;-- CL 1929, 7772 ;-- CL 1948, 390.9

390.10 Repealed. 1957, Act 87, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957.

Compiler's Notes: The repealed section provided for keeping set of meteorological tables at University of Michigan.

390.11 Authority of regents; president and faculty; degrees.

Sec. 11.

The immediate government of the several departments shall be entrusted to the president and the respective faculties; but the regents shall have power to regulate the course of instruction, and prescribe, under the advice of the professorships, the books and authorities to be used in the several departments; and also to confer such degrees and grant such diplomas as are usually confered and granted by other similar institutions.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2193 ;-- CL 1871, 3491 ;-- How. 4915 ;-- CL 1897, 1791 ;-- CL 1915, 1166 ;-- CL 1929, 7774 ;-- CL 1948, 390.11
Compiler's Notes: Near the end of this section, “confered” evidently should read “conferred”.

390.12, 390.13 Repealed. 2000, Act 123, Imd. Eff. May 30, 2000.

Compiler's Notes: The repealed sections pertained to fees and tuition policies.

390.14 Fees and tuition; payment to treasurer; expenditures.

Sec. 14.

The moneys received from such source shall be paid to the treasurer, and so much thereof as shall be necessary for the purpose, shall be expended by the regents in keeping the university buildings in good condition and repair, and the balance shall be appropriated for the increase of the library.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2196 ;-- CL 1871, 3494 ;-- How. 4918 ;-- CL 1897, 1794 ;-- CL 1915, 1169 ;-- CL 1929, 7777 ;-- CL 1948, 390.14

390.15 Board of regents; annual report to superintendent of public instruction; availability of report to public.

Sec. 15.

The board of regents shall make an exhibit of the affairs of the university, in each year, to the superintendent of public instruction, which sets forth the condition of the university, and its branches, the amount of receipts and expenditures, and the number of professors, tutors, and other officers, and the compensation of each officer, the number of students in each department, and in each class, the books of instruction used, an estimate of the expenses for the ensuing year, together with other information and suggestions as the regents consider important, or the superintendent of public instruction requires, to embody in the report. The report shall be made available to the public in compliance with Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2197 ;-- Am. 1859, Act 219, Imd. Eff. Feb. 15, 1859 ;-- CL 1871, 3495 ;-- How. 4919 ;-- CL 1897, 1795 ;-- CL. 1915, 1170 ;-- CL 1929, 7778 ;-- CL 1948, 390.15 ;-- Am. 1977, Act 253, Imd. Eff. Dec. 6, 1977

390.16 Interest on university fund; use for erection of buildings.

Sec. 16.

From the increase arising from the interest of the university fund, the board of regents may erect, from time to time, such buildings as are necessary for the uses of the university, on the grounds set apart for the same; but no such buildings shall be erected until provisions shall be made for the payment of the existing indebtedness of the university, nor until 1 branch of the university shall be established in each judicial circuit of the state.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2198 ;-- CL 1871, 3496 ;-- How. 4920 ;-- CL 1897, 1796 ;-- CL 1915, 1171 ;-- CL 1929, 7779 ;-- CL 1948, 390.16

390.17 Interest on university fund; use for improvement of grounds and purchase of apparatus.

Sec. 17.

The board of regents shall have power to expend so much of the interest arising from the university fund, as may be necessary for the improving and ornamenting the university grounds, for the purchase of philosophical, chemical, meteorological, and other apparatus and to keep the same in good condition.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2199 ;-- CL 1871, 3497 ;-- How. 4921 ;-- CL 1897, 1797 ;-- CL 1915, 1172 ;-- CL 1929, 7780 ;-- CL 1948, 390.17

390.18 Branches of university; limitations; support.

Sec. 18.

As soon as the income of the university interest fund will admit, it shall be the duty of the board of regents to organize and establish branches of the university, 1 at least, in each judicial circuit or district of the state, and to establish all needful rules and regulations for the government of the same. They shall not give to any such branch the right of confering degrees, nor appropriate a sum exceeding 1,500 dollars, in any 1 year, for the support of any such branch.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2200 ;-- CL 1871, 3498 ;-- How. 4922 ;-- CL 1897, 1798 ;-- CL 1915, 1173 ;-- CL 1929, 7781 ;-- CL 1948, 390.18
Compiler's Notes: In the last sentence, “confering” evidently should read “conferring.”

390.19 Branches of university; establishment.

Sec. 19.

The regents may establish and organize a branch or branches, by the creation of a trusteeship for the local management of the same, or they may in their discretion select for a branch, under the restrictions aforesaid, any chartered literary institution in the state.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2201 ;-- CL 1871, 3499 ;-- How. 4923 ;-- CL 1897, 1799 ;-- CL 1915, 1174 ;-- CL 1929, 7782 ;-- CL 1948, 390.19

390.20 Board of regents; meetings; notice; conducting business; quorum; adjournment.

Sec. 20.

The meetings of the board shall be called in the manner the regents prescribe which gives public notice of the time, date, and place of the meetings in the manner required by Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The business which the board may perform shall be conducted in compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976. Five regents shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a smaller number may adjourn from time to time.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2202 ;-- CL 1871, 3500 ;-- How. 4924 ;-- CL 1897, 1800 ;-- CL 1915, 1175 ;-- CL 1929, 7783 ;-- CL 1948, 390.20 ;-- Am. 1977, Act 253, Imd. Eff. Dec. 6, 1977

390.21 Repealed. 1957, Act 87, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957.

Compiler's Notes: The repealed section provided for board of visitors and made it duty of such board to examine condition of University of Michigan and report result to superintendent.

390.22 Board of regents and visitors; expenses, reimbursement from university fund interest.

Sec. 22.

The regents and visitors of the university shall each receive pay for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties, which shall be paid out of the university interest fund.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2204 ;-- CL 1871, 3502 ;-- How. 4926 ;-- CL 1897, 1802 ;-- CL 1915, 1177 ;-- CL 1929, 7785 ;-- CL 1948, 390.22

390.23 Required signatures for orders on treasurer.

Sec. 23.

All orders on the treasurer shall be signed by the secretary, and countersigned by the president.

History: 1851, Act 151, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2205 ;-- CL 1871, 3503 ;-- How. 4927 ;-- CL 1897, 1803 ;-- CL 1915, 1178 ;-- CL 1929, 7786 ;-- CL 1948, 390.23

Rendered 8/15/2025 6:56 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov