Miami uses long-term view in chair choice
Miami University is annually recognized by national publications as providing one of the best college educations in the nation, as well as one of the best values in public higher education. At Miami, long-term value is central to every decision that we make.
Recently, Miami's sense of value was questioned when our purchase of high-quality chairs for faculty and staff in the new Farmer School of Business building that will open fall 2009 was denied.
Thanks to generous alumni and other supporters, less than 5 percent of the cost of the new building is funded from state capital appropriations. Private funds are also providing scholarships and support for exceptional faculty-another reason why one of the best business educations in the nation, ranked No. 18 overall and No. 4 by employers in the recent BusinessWeek ranking, is available to Ohioans.
In the case of these chairs, we used our four standard criteria for purchasing furnishings and equipment: ergonomics, life of the product, price and appearance, in that order. When all factors were considered, the chair that was selected-the Aeron-with an estimated life of 15 years and a 12-year full warranty, offered the lowest long-term cost and best value. It is a widely used chair in every public four-year university in Ohio.
This chair is on the state's list of eligible items for $693. Miami could have purchased from that list without the approval of the controlling board. Instead, we solicited bids in order to purchase at the lowest possible price, leading to potential savings of $171 per chair over the state listed price.
The decisions that members of the controlling board and we have to make today are more important than ever because of the economic challenges facing the state and the nation. While I believe the university made the right decision about the chairs it recommended to the controlling board, we obviously failed to present the rationale for our choice effectively and will work with the controlling board to find an appropriate solution. As always, we will place long-term value as our key decision principle.
David CreamerVice President forFinance and Business Services Treasurer of Miami Universitycreamerd@muohio.edu
Campaign deserves credit for successes
There appears to be a large amount of misinformation circulating in regards to how the construction of the Bicentennial Student Center (BSC) will be funded. The implication that the focus of this year's Senior Legacy Campaign is part of a larger campaign to shift funds away from student scholarships to help pay for the building is misleading. A group of senior students has agreed to move forward with a switch from a class scholarship to leaving a lasting mark, a study room, in the Bicentennial Student Center. As you walk around campus, you will see that this is not the first time a graduating class has chosen to give back to the university in a way which enhances the life of students on campus. Keep your eyes open, and you will see what I mean.
Additionally, more than $80,000 has already been raised for the BSC through the Senior Legacy Campaign. An individual's money follows their support for a cause or idea. In a year of recession, it is no small thing to note the Senior Legacy Campaign usually sets their goal between $20,000 and $30,000. This year has far surpassed any Senior Legacy Campaign that has come before it. The majority of students on this campus, as reflected through these donations, the call of student leaders for the past 10 years and more than 2,000 students surveyed last year, agree this university needs a student center for a wide number of reasons.
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Be assured that we, as student leaders, have continued to demand that there be no increase in student fees to pay for the construction of the building, that money from scholarships is not diverted to pay for the building and that the core mission of the institution, which is academics, remains unaffected. The administration has been very responsive to this call. We now rely on the continued support and spirit of the Miami family not only to continue providing for the scholarships which have been so valuable to recruiting and retaining the top students in the state and country, but also to advance the legacy of all of those who came before us and who recognized the need for this student center.
Mike ScottStudent Body Presidentscottmj@muohio.edu
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