Michigan Colleges Considered for New Military Education Programs
The U.S. Department of Defense is proposing a shift in its educational affiliations, eyeing two Michigan colleges as potential new partners. Hillsdale College and the University of Michigan have been named as prospective institutions to host service members for higher education.
In a recent memorandum, the Department of Defense—referred to by the Trump administration as the Department of War—announced plans to phase out certain Senior Service College (SSC) Fellowship programs. This decision impacts several Ivy League schools starting from the 2026-2027 academic year.
The memorandum states, “This decisive change will ensure our leaders receive a more rigorous and relevant education to better prepare them for the complexities of modern warfare.”
Prominent institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Princeton, and MIT are among those experiencing fellowship cancellations. As a replacement, the University of Michigan and Hillsdale College are being considered to offer alternative programs.
Derek Peterson, who chairs the Faculty Senate at the University of Michigan and is a professor of History and African Studies, described the university’s inclusion on the list as unexpected. “U of M, historically, has been an institution that’s identified with the left, broadly,” he remarked. Peterson noted a shift since Trump’s election, citing the university’s decision to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs following executive orders from the Trump administration.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his stance in a post on X, stating that the era of subjecting military personnel to “woke indoctrination” is over. “We demand that Senior Service Colleges work to sharpen our warfighters on genuine national security issues, not social justice activism,” Hegseth asserted.
Peterson conveyed a welcoming attitude towards ROTC students and military officers at the University of Michigan. “We need to have military officers in educational institutions like this if we’re going to have a responsible, accountable officer corps heading up the most powerful military in the world,” he stated. However, he emphasized the importance of integrating the existing curricular structures, saying he supports the initiative if it aligns with the university’s focus on critical thinking.
The University of Michigan is preparing an expedited review process for military applicants already admitted to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, as indicated by a university spokesperson. “Michigan welcomes the opportunity to remove unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles as active-duty military leaders pursue an education,” the university acknowledged.
A statement from Hillsdale College voiced support for the proposed changes: “If senior officers want serious education in the principles they swear to defend, Hillsdale College is exactly where they should be.”
Peterson highlighted the university’s mission, stating, “We want them to know about the violence of America’s empire overseas. We want them to think about history and military conflict, not just as technical questions, but as human problems.”
Editor’s note: The University of Michigan holds Michigan Public’s broadcast license.
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