The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Miami regional campuses to review proposal

Committee will explore possibility of creating a new academic division.

Inmate escapes sheriff’s car
5/26/12
Cable worker hurt on the job
5/25/12
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
5/25/12
Lakota to discuss open enrollment proposal
5/25/12
AD resigns to take job at Kettering
5/25/12
> More headlines

By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer Updated 9:38 PM Monday, January 30, 2012

MIDDLETOWN — The Miami University regional campuses have created an ad hoc committee to explore the idea of creating a new academic division for the campuses.

On Jan. 23, the Miami University Senate announced that President David Hodge asked it to continue evaluating the role of the regional campuses.

The Senate authorized the creation of an ad hoc committee to explore how the regional campuses can respond better to creating four-year degree programs that would respond to the changing local economy.

The seven-member committee, to be chaired by Rob Schorman, regional associate dean for academic affairs, includes three members appointed by Dean of Regional Campuses Michael G. Pratt and Provost Bobby Gempeshaw, and three members elected by regional campus faculty, Pratt said.

“This committee has not been given a charge,” Pratt said, but he expects it to receive one soon.

The provost’s office was expected to deliver a formal proposal Monday afternoon to the Senate’s executive committee to recommend the creation of a new academic division, Pratt said. This committee will work in conjunction with a committee from the Senate to formulate a plan that would respond to the 2009 report and make recommendations to be considered by the president and the university board of trustees.

The plan to create a separate academic division for the regional campuses would give them greater authority to create degree programs and to hire faculty.

Jan Toennisson, director of public affairs, said that an Internet site would go live this week to keep students and community members informed about the process. The website will also include a forum for people to ask questions and receive answers to their concerns.

Jody Hall, a junior at Miami University Middletown, set up a one-woman protest Monday morning with the hope of getting some answers about possible changes in the structure of the university system and the regional campuses.

“We weren’t being told what the changes are and how it is going to impact me and my fellow students,” Hall said. “We have great faculty here in every division and I’d hate to see that go away.”

She began planning her protest on Thursday of last week and sent an email to Pratt to inform him that she would be collecting signatures to push for more information about the changes from the administration.

Share this article