About

The Michigan Debate Institutes are the most prestigious summer programs for policy debate in the United States, hosted at and operated in conjunction with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Policy debate — also called Cross-Examination debate or CX — is a two-person team format centered on a year-long national resolution, intensive evidence research, and extremely rapid delivery. It is a different activity from Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debate, and families researching debate summer programs should understand that MDI serves policy debaters specifically. Within that world, Michigan's institutional standing is unmatched: alumni have won 47 TOC bid tournaments and earned top speaker recognition at 49 others, and access to the University of Michigan's research databases — one of the most comprehensive academic library systems in the country — gives MDI an evidence production advantage that directly shapes competitive outcomes in the fall.

The institute offers five distinct tracks structured by duration and competitive level. The MNDI (Michigan National Debate Institute) is the most accessible entry point — three weeks, all experience levels, first-come-first-served admissions — making it the right choice for students newer to policy debate who want serious instruction without a selective screen. The Classic is MDI's flagship four-week program for more experienced competitors, with separate divisions for sophomores and junior/seniors, labs of 28–32 students, and three rounds of practice debates with rebuttal rework sessions. The Classic Plus adds a preparatory week before the Classic for students who want extended affirmative case development. The Seven Week Program sits at the top of the hierarchy — a continuous seven-week immersion for only the most competitive rising juniors and seniors, with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and a shared evidence set produced collaboratively across labs. The Kritik Lab offers a specialized track in critical and philosophical debate theory.

For serious policy debaters at any level, Michigan is the first program coaches and former competitors consistently recommend. The combination of institutional resources, competitive alumni density, and the sustained seven-week format for top competitors gives MDI a depth that shorter programs cannot replicate.