Miami University's regional campuses may begin to offer bachelor's degrees.
President David Hodge formed a committee to consider the changing missions of regional campuses at Hamilton, Middletown and the new Voice of America Learning Center (VOA).
The committee, chaired by Robert Benson, professor of architecture and interior design, will take a closer look at the possibility of regional campuses offering bachelor's degrees in addition to the associate degrees currently offered.
"The work will be time-intensive and complex because we will need to hear from many people on the regional campuses in order to understand their positions, learn their frustrations and needs, and get a picture of their hopes and fears," Benson said.
According to Benson, Chancellor Eric Fingerhut of the Ohio Board of Regents has pushed for the move.
Regional campuses will review policies, procedures, staff, curriculum and budget.
Campus budgets are an area of particular interest for the committee. According to Kelly Cowan, the dean of the Middletown campus, Hamilton, Middletown and VOA campuses are currently operating on separate budgets, but the committee may choose to combine them.
"Our students often swirl under multiple campuses," Cowan said, pointing out students often sign up for one campus and wind up taking classes at other locations.
Cowan said it is important for the budget to be divided appropriately. Whether that is done by fixing the accounting system or by creating one distinct budget for the regional campuses is debatable.
One of the major concerns with regard to offering four-year degrees at the Hamilton and Middletown campuses is brand confusion among Miami degrees.
Benson said the committee was asked to consider ways of making degrees more distinct between campuses, whether the faculty appointment process should be changed, how to support a relationship with the Oxford campus, and if changes are necessary in the curriculum approval process.
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Cowan said it was important to have objective members on the committee, especially individuals with knowledge of multiple campuses.
"We obviously all have very strong opinions (on how we'd like the future of the regional campuses to go)," Cowan said.
The committee will issue a report on its findings and recommendations no later than April 1, 2009.
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