State of the University Address introduces new initiatives for Miami

In his State of the University address on Sept. 25, Miami University President Greg Crawford praised the improvements Miami made and introduced Miami Thrive, a new initiative to make Miami a leader in higher education.

“We’ve seen a disruption across multiple factors of the college experience in recent times since the events of the COVID-19 lockdowns,” Crawford said. “Miami Thrive is meant to be the next step for transformational change and visionary innovation in Miami’s policies.”

Miami Thrive addresses many factors, including technology, perceptions, professions, funding, cost of attendance and student demographics. In particular, Crawford stated that these factors have all changed after the critical “inflection point” of COVID-19, and that they would require the initiative to help the university address the past and move into the future.

“In a changing national landscape, we want to be able to empower students to continue past the shocks caused by recent events in the country,” Crawford said.

Crawford then identified the steps of Miami Thrive and the communities it hopes to interact with at Miami. Groups such as the town of Oxford, Miami alumni, and undergraduates are all part of Thrive’s goals for connection.

“In essence, Thrive is at the intersection of efforts concerning the future, the present and the past,” Crawford said. “By looking back from the future, forward from the present and fulfilling the goals of the past, we hope to attain a transformative future.”

The presentation closed with Crawford honoring the accolades and efforts of Miami students, faculty and staff.

Sean Wiesemann, a junior media communications major, expressed his satisfaction with the event as a first-time attendee.

“I just feel that it was a good event,” Wieesemann said. “It was very well done, very engaging.”

Steve Gordon, a retired curator at Miami’s McGuffey House Museum, also praised the address as a long-time attendee of the presentations.

“It brings a lot of Miamians together and is a great way to learn about the future of Miami,” Gordon said. “In particular I’m hopeful about the school’s demographics in the coming year, especially because of our large freshman class.”

Gordon also expressed his admiration for Crawford's preparation and eloquence.

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“I’ve come to the State of the University [Address] [Address] 15 times in the past, and I can tell you that Crawford is a very dynamic speaker who truly cares about what he is presenting and how it will affect Miami.”

kwanwz@miamioh.edu