Deciding to become a member of the ICC is one of the best decisions you can make! You will learn new things, develop
leadership skills, meet wonderful people, and make lifelong friends. Here are some questions and answers about the
ICC co-ops. If you have any additional questions, please call the office at 734-662-4414.
- What are the ICC office hours?
- What types of contracts does the ICC offer and what are the ICC contract periods?
- Can I sign for only four months in the fall?
- How do I figure out if co-ops are for me?
- How do I get in touch with a house to set up a visit?
- How do I join a co-op?
- What does it cost to join the ICC?
- What is boarding and how do I sign a contract?
- What counts as being a student and how do I prove it?
- How do I get house approval?
- What are shares?
- How do I get my shares back?
- What is an assessment or rebate?
- What is a membership fee?
- What are monthly charges and why isn't it called rent?
- Why are house charges estimated? When will I know the real cost?
- Why are charges quoted per term? Wouldn't monthly be easier?
- When are charges due?
- What about alcohol, cigarettes and drugs?
- What if I need some accommodation in housing to meet my special needs?
- Where does my money go?
- What room will I live in at the house?
- Do I get to pick my roommate?
- Can I move in early?
- What is a new member orientation?
- What do you mean by a work requirement?
- How am I a part of the decision making at my house?
- Does the ICC offer outside boarding to non-members? (Meal plans)
The Benefits of ICC Cooperative Living - view a brief slide show!
What are the ICC office hours?
What types of contracts does the ICC offer and what are the ICC contract periods?
The ICC operates under two contract periods: Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer. The periods of ICC membership contracts correspond
generally to the academic terms of the University Of Michigan College Of Literature, Science and the Arts. The standard
ICC Housing Contract types are:
8-month Fall/Winter contract,
4-month Fall Only contract
4 month Winter Only contract
4-month Spring/Summer contract
2-month Spring Only contract
2-month Summer Only contracts.
Any standard contract can be signed when they are first offered. The only exception is Fall only contracts for New Members;
they will be available January 16 of the academic year in question, and the ICC Membership Desk will contact the new member
when a space is available.
ICC's Membership Committee may define other standard contract periods corresponding to specific academic programs. We currently
offer this type of contract for the ICPSR sessions and the Global Reach program.
Non-Standard contracts are available during the Fall/Winter contract period and the Spring/Summer contract period. Fall/Winter
Non-Standard contracts can only be signed beginning October 1. Spring/Summer Non-Standard contracts can be signed at the
same time as standard Spring/Summer contracts.
For more information on contracts please call the Member Services Staff at 734.662.4414 x100.
Can I sign for only four months in the fall?
A contract for fall term (~September-December) is considered a Fall Only contract.
Fall Only contracts are limited in number. Current members can sign a Fall Only at the beginning of the Fall/Winter signing
period. New members can begin signing Fall Only contracts starting January 16th. There is a required $500 Fall
Only Fee. This fee will be waived or refunded if you extend your contract into the Winter Contract Period.
You can sign a full Fall/Winter contract (September to April) and actively recruit someone to take over the entire winter
portion of the contract (January to April). The drawback is that if you don’t find someone you will still be obligated financially
until the end of the Winter contract (April).
For more information on a Fall Only Contract please call the Member Services Staff at 734.662.4414 x100.
How do I figure out if co-ops are for me?
You've already taken the first step! The website is a great place to start. Here you can search and learn about
all the houses and find out a little about what they are like, what they look like, where they are, how many rooms they
have, and information about house policies.
The next step is to narrow down your search based on some of the above categories. Then go and visit the houses.
Our members love to meet potential co-opers and are expecting you to stop by and ask for a house tour. See rooms,
talk to people living at the house now, and stay for dinner. The best way you’ll ever be able to tell what an ICC
co-op house is like is to go and see the house for yourself! If you’re an international student or otherwise would
not be able to visit the house yourself, it is very important that you contact the house president to ask any questions
you may have about the house. The ICC membership office staff can help you with general information but the members
in the houses are the best source for house information!
How do I get in touch with a house to set up a visit?
You can find contact information for each house president online in the Available
Spaces section. On each house page, you will find the house telephone number and address. You can get in touch
with the house before you stop by or you can just come on over. A word to the wise: if you'll be coming to visit during
the day, call ahead, as many of our members are at work or school. The best time to see a house and meet the
people is on a weekday for dinner. Bring questions and an appetite. Also, please feel free to call or stop by the
ICC Office for any information you may need.
How do I join a co-op?
After you have done some research, visited a few houses, and picked at least one you like, the next step is for you to submit
an application online. Each house is different as the members set their own budgets
and various policies. After you apply, you may place a hold for a space in preferred houses by clicking
here.
To sign a contract you need to make an appointment by calling 734.662.4414 x100. You need to come to the ICC office
to sign a contract unless you are not living in the area; in that case, we can email you a contract. Expect to spend up
to an hour signing the contract as you will want to read it completely and know what you're signing. You also need to bring
your check book, proof of student status and a government-issued photo ID. Be prepared to write a
check for your shares and membership fee. If you are
not considered a student according to ICC policy, you will need house approval (see FAQ #13) prior to signing a contract.
The ICC accepts checks and money orders but no cash. If you don't have someone who can write a check for you, you can buy
money orders at the post office or at several local party stores. If you bring cash to the ICC office we will send you next
door to the University of Michigan Credit Union with a cashier’s check request form (cost:
$1.50).
How much does it cost to join?
What is boarding and how do I sign a contract?
If you do not live in an ICC coop but would like to eat meals in a group setting, then you may consider signing a boarding
contract for an ICC house. Fourteen ICC houses have the capability to accept outside boarders. Some houses offer
partial boarding during the Fall/Winter Contract Period for people with busy schedules or as a supplement to residence hall
dining plans.
What counts as being a student and how do I prove it?
The ICC is a student housing organization. You are considered a student if you are:
- Enrolled for at least 6 undergraduate credits during the period of your contract, OR, if the contract is for Spring/Summer,
during the following fall.
- A graduate student officially recognized by your departments as an active participant in your program.
- A visiting scholar, an ICPSR participant, Access International student, or are part of another academic-related programs
considered to be eligible by the Membership Committee.
- A staff member of the ICC or NASCO employed in at least a half-time
appointment.
- A current member who has lived in the co-ops for the four months prior to your graduation. This gives you a four month
"grace" period after graduation during which you are still considered a student.
If none of the above apply, you are considered a non-student, and must obtain house approval
before signing a contract. Those taking fewer than 6 undergraduate credits are considered non-students.
Accepted proof of student status (as approved by Membership Committee):
- A class schedule for the term in question.
- Unofficial transcript with student ID
- Letter of Acceptance on educational institution’s letterhead
How do I get house approval?
If you are considered a non-student, you need to fill out the Approval Request Form.
The ICC Member Services staff will forward your request to the house president(s) and they will use the information provided
to make a decision.
You are then responsible for contacting the house president to follow up on obtaining house approval. You can email, call,
or stop by the house and tell them your situation. Each house has a different procedure for approvals; for instance, some
houses may require you to attend a house meeting, etc.
Finally, the house president and another house officer need to notify the ICC office by returning the Approval Request with
their signatures indicating that you have been approved before staff can offer you a contract.
What are shares?
To become a member of the ICC you must purchase shares, pay a membership fee, and sign a contract. Each member becomes a
part-owner of the organization by purchasing shares, which represent a contribution to the working capital of the ICC. They
do not constitute stock under Michigan Law, a damage deposit, or a prepayment of house bills. Each ICC share has a value
of $10.00. Each contract type requires different share amounts:
- For Fall/Winter housing contracts a member must buy 50 shares for $500.
- Spring/Summer rooming and Non-Standard members must buy 25 shares for $250.
- Boarding-only members must buy 10 shares (or $100).
- Membership Committee approved Non-Standard members must buy 5 shares for $50.
The shares are refundable and are returned twice a year based on the end of the
contract period with the ICC, not the date you leave, or necessarily the end of your contract. For more information
on share costs and associated contracts, please inquire at the ICC Office. You may have
to pay more to sign a different contract, like if you were a Spring/Summer member and want to become a Fall/Winter member.
How do I get my shares back?
Before you move out of the ICC you should fill out a Share Return form. It is from this form
that we will know where to send your shares and alumni information. Shares are returned twice a year (March and October)
when the books are closed. Closings happen after the end of the Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer contract
periods in order for the house finances to be set in order. If your last contract period falls anytime in Fall or
Winter terms, your shares are returned the following October. If your last contract period falls any time during the Spring
or Summer terms, you can expect your share check in March of the following year.
Because the ICC can have a lien against the member's shares for all debts to the ICC or to any ICC house, any money you
owe to the house or to the ICC will be deducted or assessed from your shares before reimbursement.
By this same principle, if you overpaid or are owed money from the house or ICC as a rebate, that
amount will be added to your shares.
What is an assessment or rebate?
Each house sits down at the beginning of the contract period and elects house officers. At this meeting a Treasurer will
be elected. They will be in charge of writing the house budget and collecting charges and paying
bills. As a house member you have the right to be informed of the budget and vote to approve or change it. You should also
get a monthly update of your house budget at the house meetings. Ask questions about any money that has been spent over
budget or without house approval.
At the end of the term, when all the bills have been paid everyone can see where the houses went over or under budget. Twice
a year, at closing time, rebates and assessments are calculated. If you spent less money as a house than you budgeted, each
member receives a rebate or more money than just their shares, or a credit on their account. If your house spent
more money than you budgeted, each member will be assessed and the difference will be taken out of your shares or
added to your account. Each house member is responsible for asking the Treasurer questions and staying on top of spending.
Rebates are much better than assessments.
What is a membership fee?
Aside from your shares, the membership fee is also paid up front when you sign your contract. The membership fee is $100.
Once you pay your membership fee you will never need to pay it again. It is a one-time, non-refundable fee. If you leave
and come back, you are still a member when you return.
What are monthly charges and why aren't they called rent?
Each month members pay charges for services they receive from the ICC. There are two parts to these charges: house charges
and ICC charges.
- House charges cover your food, electricity, water, internet access, and whatever else your house buys like newspaper
subscriptions or party decorations.
- ICC charges pay for the mortgages and insurance on our properties, ICC full and part-time staff, and costs incurred by
the co-op as a whole.
The difference between monthly charges and rent is a co-op. Rent is paid to a landlord, who pockets the money and usually
makes a profit. Here at the ICC, there are no landlords, each one of us owns a piece and contributes charges to the whole
organization. It sounds better too!
Why are house charges estimated? When will I know the real cost?
The Fall/Winter 2010-11 estimates on the “What will it cost” page are based on the actual cost to live in an ICC house during Fall/Winter 2008-2009 and the Spring/Summer 2010 estimates are based on the actual cost to live in an ICC house during Spring/Summer 2009. Houses need money to pay bills before they have a budget meeting, so members pay our estimated cost for the first payment of a contract (May or September).
At the beginning of every term, each ICC house has a budget meeting where the members decide how much they think it will cost to live in their particular house. The members look at past years costs and then set a new budget. They account for many factors and preferences including how much it costs to heat their building, what kind of food they want to eat, how much water they use, and what kind of social events they want to host. Once the members of the house have decided the total cost to live in their house they calculate the cost per member per payment.
After the end of the contract period ICC staff members close the house books and find out how good the house was at estimating their costs. If house members spend less than they paid, they get that extra money back as a rebate. If house members spend more than they paid, each member is assessed for their portion of the overage.
Why are charges quoted per term? Wouldn’t monthly be easier?
Most of our members are affiliated with the University of Michigan (UM), so our contract periods follow the UM academic calendar. The academic terms do not follow calendar months, so neither do our contracts. For example, UM Spring term is from May 4th – June 25th and our Spring contract is from May 3th to June 26th. The Spring contract is 53 days long and does not end on the last day of a month, so it doesn’t make sense for us to quote a monthly cost.
We do offer 30 day contracts to serve our members who are not University of Michigan students. If you are interested in a 30 day contract please call the Member Services Staff at 734.662.4414 x100.
When are charges due?
Charges are due on the first of every month to your house Treasurer. Checks and money orders must be made payable to "ICC"
or "Inter-Cooperative Council". Be sure to include your name, your house name, and if applicable your room number
on the check.
Payments received after the fifth of the month will be assessed a $15 late fee. Payments may also be dropped in the secure
drop box on the front porch of the ICC office, 337 East William Street, Ann Arbor MI 48104.
If you are mailing a payment for someone else be sure to include the member's name, their house name, and if applicable
their room number on the check. Checks and money orders must be made payable to "ICC" or "Inter-Cooperative
Council" and sent to ICC, Attn. Front Desk, 337 East William Street, Ann Arbor MI 48104.
What about substances in the house like alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs?
ICC members are required to comply with all applicable laws and ordinances. The ICC also has an alcohol policy: no ICC or
house funds can ever be used to purchase alcohol. We encourage all our houses to post signs about the legal drinking age
when they have a party.
All illegal substances are prohibited on ICC property.
Some house policies allow for cigarette smoking in the bedrooms and or common rooms of the house. Others don't, and
Gregory House is entirely Substance Free. Please look at the house pages for more information.
What if I need some accommodation in housing to meet my special needs?
The ICC is committed to making it possible for people who want and need our services to have
access to them. If you have a special need, talk to the house president and the Director of Member Services about how we can make you feel at home and comfortable.
Where does my money go?
The shares act as a deposit and earn interest for the organization while you remain a member.
The Membership fee you pay helps to cover other fees or dues the ICC pays to other cooperative
organizations that we are members of.
The monthly charges that you pay can be best understood if split up into two parts. One part of what you pay every month
is house charges. This is the amount that the fall and spring house members at each house vote from the budget that the
House Treasurer writes. These costs include money that the house has to or decides to spend on their particular house. This
includes: food, heat, electricity, local phone, laundry costs, house furniture, house amenities like internet, magazine/newspaper
subscriptions, cable etc. As members of the house, you get to pick what you want to spend your money on.
The other part of your monthly charges is called ICC charges. This amount is set by the Board of
Directors (which is made up of members from each house in the ICC). The money covers some of the bigger costs the
ICC has such as, property insurance, major maintenance, property taxes, equipment, and staff. This money pays for things
that everyone in the ICC uses (though may not see all the time). It also ensures that should a major cost come up at your
house, the members at the house don't pay more because the money comes from each of us.
What room will I live in at the house?
Most houses invite the new members for the following contract terms to the last meeting in April to vote on a new president
and pick rooms for next year. Room picks are based on house seniority, as determined by the rules of that house’s constitution.\
Do I get to pick my roommate?
Room picks are determined at the house level with the exception of houses with specific room contracts, such as Baker, Renaissance,
and O’Keefe. If you want to live with a particular person be sure to let your house president know—especially if you want
to live in a room with a person of a gender different than your own. If there is only one space left in a house you
may not be able to choose your roommate, but because our houses are run cooperatively, members may be able to negotiate
other options at the house level.
Can I move in early?
The contract dates are set by the Membership Committee. There is a period between summer
term and fall term where the comings and goings and room assignments at the house are in flux. This time is known as interim.
During this period, members who are moving out late may overlap with members that are moving in early. Not to worry! If
you know what to expect you can prepare for anything. Get in touch with your house president and find out when your room
will be available and what can be worked out if you have to get in before hand. They'll be able to work it all out for you.
What is new member orientation?
New Member Orientation is planned by the Education Committee and is required of all new members.
It is a chance to meet people and learn about the ICC. You'll learn more about the history of the organization, get door prizes, and find out about services that are there for you to
use and enjoy.
What do you mean by a work requirement?
This varies from house to house, however most houses require that each member put in 4-6 hours of work per week to make
the house or organization run. The jobs vary from cooking to cleaning to being a house officer to sitting on an
ICC committee or doing office work.
How am I a part of the decision-making at my house?
We adhere to a cooperative principle involving one member = one vote. Each ICC house is autonomous from the organization
with regard to house policy decisions. At least one member from each house serves on and has a vote on the
Board of Directors so each member is represented at the ICC board level. The Board sets policies for the entire organization
by drafting proposals and voting on them. The policies governing the organization are gathered in a document called the
Standing Rules. Changes can be made to the standing rules through the proposal/voting process at the regularly scheduled
board meetings.
Each member is intimately involved with the governing of their own house. House members elect a representative to vote on
their behalf, and for the house as a whole, at the board meetings. Even though the Board does the day to day governing,
each and every member together makes up the most powerful body in the ICC.
Does the ICC offer meals plans to non-residents (outside boarding)?
Yes, the ICC offers meal plans to people not already living in our houses, we call this "outside boarding". Not
all co-op houses, however, provide this option, only the Boarding Houses do and only some of the houses offer boarding during
Spring/Summer.
Boarding contracts are a great way for the average busy student to enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal every weeknight. Please
check with the office or view our amenities chart, here, to see which houses offer
meal plans. Outside boarders must be individually approved by the house. Monthly boarding charges can also vary per house.
House-Specific New Member FAQs
North Campus (Renaissance and O'Keeffe Houses) |
