<p>A couple of things. First, the satellite campuses do not diminish the flagship’s stature and reputation the least bit. Everyone in the state of Michigan–I mean EVERYONE–knows the difference, and hardly anyone outside the state of Michigan has ever heard of UM-Dearborn or UM-Flint, nor would they give those schools a second thought if they were made aware of them.</p>
<p>Second, I wouldn’t get hung up on the low 4-year graduation rates at the satellites. These are primarily commuter schools with a very high percentage of part-time students, often people with jobs who are looking to upgrade their education but aren’t going to do it in 4 years. Also it’s not uncommon for full-time students to start at Dearborn or Flint and if they do well, transfer to Ann Arbor (or Michigan State or another 4-year “residential” college) to complete their degrees; those transfers all count against the satellites’ graduation rates. In part, then, the satellites are functioning like high-end community colleges for some of their students.</p>
<p>Third, I agree that the OP’s question is insulting and dismissive of the students and alumni of the satellite campuses. These schools are not academic powerhouses, but they serve a valuable purpose. They provide a quality education to thousands of students in major population centers in the state who, for personal, financial, or academic reasons are not in a position to go away to college, or simply prefer not to. And for the record, while I’m not sure I’ve ever met a UM-Flint grad (never having spent much time around Flint), every UM-Dearborn grad I’ve ever known was proud of their UM-Dearborn degree. I’ve never heard of a grad of one of the satellites trying to pass themselves off as an alum of the flagship; they have more self-respect than that, and in any event it wouldn’t work because sooner or later the truth will out and they’d end up looking foolish. I think this is just a figment of the OP’s imagination. The OP is reading way too much into the fact that a lot of students, faculty, and staff at the satellites are fans of Michigan Wolverines sports teams. But that’s also true of several million other Michigan residents who have no affiliation with any University of Michigan campus.</p>