Effective May 1, 2026
Transfer credit for the Race and Ethnicity (R&E) requirement is only accepted for new and incoming transfer students by successful petition to the LSA Office of Student Academic Affairs. LSA students cannot satisfy the R&E requirement by electing out-of-residence credit after they have begun degree enrollment in LSA. Once enrolled in LSA, continuing students must fulfill the R&E Requirement in-residence at U-M Ann Arbor through an LSA R&E certified course.
What does this mean?
Students who earned transfer credit before enrolling in LSA may petition to have prior coursework evaluated to fulfill the R&E requirement. After a student begins their studies in LSA, they may not use coursework taken elsewhere to satisfy the requirement.
The ability to petition depends on when the course was taken:
- Coursework completed before May 1, 2026: Any LSA student may petition for this coursework.
- Coursework completed on or after May 1, 2026: Only new transfer or dual-enrollment students may petition these courses, and only for coursework completed prior to enrolling in LSA.
Why is this change being made?
LSA offers more than 350 R&E courses and is able to provide many options for students to meet the requirement through in-residence coursework. The R&E requirement is central to the LSA undergraduate experience and plays an important role in advancing the college’s mission. The revision to the transfer credit policy reflects a commitment to ensure that all LSA students benefit from a consistent experience that meets the learning goals established for the R&E requirement.
UM courses approved for R&E undergo a rigorous review process to ensure that they meet specific learning outcomes related to race, ethnicity, inequality, and systemic power. Because courses at other institutions vary widely in approach and depth, LSA cannot guarantee that out-of-residence credit meets these standards. Requiring in-residence completion ensures that all students engage with coursework that meets the full intent of the requirement.
The R&E requirement is also part of the shared intellectual experience among LSA students. Completing this requirement on campus allows students to learn within the context of the UM community and engage with faculty who specialize in these areas.
Why are transfer/dual enrollment students still able to petition to use previous coursework to fulfill the R&E requirement but other students are not?
The policy preserves flexibility for transfer students, who often enter with less time to complete degree requirements. If their prior coursework legitimately meets the R&E learning goals, they should have the opportunity to petition for it.Can incoming freshmen with dual enrollment credit petition for dual enrollment credit to fulfill R&E? Yes. Incoming first-year students with dual-enrollment credit may petition to use their prior coursework to fulfill the R&E requirement.
Can a transfer/dual enrollment student take a course elsewhere for R&E after they begin at Michigan?
No. Beginning May 1, 2026, transfer students may only petition coursework taken before their enrollment in LSA.
Do transfer/dual enrollment students have to petition for previous coursework to count toward R&E by May 1, 2026?
No. Petitions for coursework taken prior to enrollment in LSA may be submitted at any time.
Can non-transfer students petition after May 1 for coursework taken before that day?
Yes. Any out-of-residence coursework completed before May 1, 2026 may still be petitioned after that date.
Example: A student who began LSA in Fall 2023 and took a potentially R&E-eligible course in Summer 2024 may still petition that course after May 1, 2026.
Can a current UM student still complete SOC205 at Washtenaw Community College to complete the requirement?
No. Once a student begins their LSA coursework, the R&E requirement must be completed in residence at U-M. SOC 205 from WCC will continue to be accepted only for incoming transfer or dual-enrollment students who completed the course prior to enrolling in LSA.
Can students petition UM courses (including topics courses) that do not carry the R&E designation?
Only if the course was taken before May 1, 2026. Courses taken after this date must already carry the R&E designation to count toward the requirement.
What about Winter 2026 study abroad coursework that ends after May 1? Can that be petitioned?
If the coursework posts to the Winter 2026 term on the U-M transcript, it may be petitioned—regardless of the actual end date of the program.
Can a UM study abroad course be pre-approved to fulfill R&E?
No. U-M study abroad courses do not undergo the R&E approval process, so they cannot be pre-approved. They may only be petitioned if taken before May 1, 2026.
Are there any exceptions to this policy?
Exceptions may be considered when the in-residence requirement would impede a student’s graduation. These situations are expected to be rare.Example: A student who has left the Ann Arbor area and has only a few remaining requirements—including R&E—and no online R&E options are available.
