Duderstadt Center FAQs

The James and Anne Duderstadt Center (DC) is an ecosystem for creativity and innovation that enables you to engage, hands-on with more than $5 million in advanced digital-media creative resources and information technologies, collaborate with peers and expand the vision for your academic and career future. It’s been said, “If you can imagine it, you can make it happen here!”

From the beginning, the DC has provided open access for anyone in the U-M community to the newest generations of information technology and digital media tools, expert support, and collaborative spaces for research and creative work. Access to costly and complex resources, and the training to use them, is available without cost.

While many of the resources of the Duderstadt Center are tailored to the curricula of the North Campus schools and colleges (architecture, the visual and performing arts, engineering and information science), they are available to students, faculty, and staff regardless of their U-M unit affiliation.

For more on how the Duderstadt Center came to be, and the central role it has played in the development of the North Campus schools and colleges, see The History of The Duderstadt Center.

The James and Anne Duderstadt Center (DC) is an ecosystem for creativity and innovation that enables you to engage, hands-on with more than The full name of the DC is The James and Anne Duderstadt Center. Dr. James J. Duderstadt served as the president of the University of Michigan from 1988-1996, at a time of significant change as the university explored the application of digital technologies in all aspects of the university’s learning, teaching and research mission. In collaboration with the North Camps deans, Dr. Duderstadt was instrumental in realizing both the facility and its unique resources.

Throughout their careers, James and Anne Duderstadt have shared a deep partnership in their service to the U-M, as well as in national and international programs advancing higher education. Including both James and Anne Duderstadt in the name of the center reflects the U-M’s deep appreciation for their shared contributions.

What is the connection between the DC and the Media Union?

When this unique facility first opened its doors it was known as the Media Union; a hub of academic resources and student activities on the North Campus, echoing the role of the Michigan Union on the U-M Central Campus. The deans of the North Campus schools and colleges also wanted to emphasize the advanced information technology, networks, and rich digital media resources of the center tailored especially to their disciplines and accessible to all students and faculty. Hence “Media” Union. You will still hear long-time campus dwellers refer to it as the Media Union.

The Digital Media Commons (DMC) is a unit of the Duderstadt Center. The DMC’s role is helping to coordinate the services provided by multiple partner organizations, and to see that the Duderstadt Center’s resources reflect the priorities of the DC’s Executive Committee and the Office of the Provost for serving the academic community.

The DMC staff also provide specialist expertise to support the technologies, spaces, and curricular programs of the advanced digital media resources and studios in the DC.

Find more details on the Digital Media Commons (DMC) Page.

The CAEN is the College of Engineering’s IT services organization. The CAEN staff were deeply engaged in the early development of what is now the Duderstadt Center before the DC was organized as part of the Office of the Provost.

CAEN provides computing, instructional, and information technologies for the College of Engineering, and replicates these services in the DC. Additionally, CAEN offers the extensive Windows and Linux software environment available on hundreds of computers in the Duderstadt Center.

CAEN staff expertise has also helped shape the DC’s network infrastructure, computing environment, and unique study spaces throughout the facility. Many of them have their offices in the DC.

The Art, Architecture and Engineering Library (AAEL) has its home in the Duderstadt Center. Along with the DMC and CAEN, AAEL is one of the three partner units that manage the DC’s operations.

The AAEL is also part of the larger U-M Library system. It curates many unique collections and provides services essential to the academic programs of the North Campus schools and colleges. AAEL Librarians and staff have offices in the DC.