Process Coordinator James Oris presented a resolution in University Senate Monday to transfer the departments of Business Technology, Computer and Information Technology, Engineering Technology, and Nursing into the regional campus academic division, rather than where they are currently located, on Miami's main campus in Oxford.
After passing through Senate, the resolution now goes to Provost Bobby Gempesaw who must review the proposal before it becomes policy.
One of the goals of this transfer is to create new four-year degrees, according to Oris.
Oris argued that with 35 other public or private community or technical college locations in the surrounding area and the cost of a Miami education, the regional campuses can only be competitive by offering more four-year degree programs, which few of the other schools offer.
Oris said enrollment has decreased at the regional campuses, and 87 percent of regional campus students are seeking four-year degrees with less than 5 percent relocating to Oxford.
The department transfer is critical for the success of the regional campuses, according to Oris.
The resolution passed with an amendment.
Senate also heard a report from Information Technology (IT) Services about the movement of faculty email from Exchange to Google Mail (Gmail). The change will save the university $175,000 over a five-year period.
The change also allows faculty to interact more with students and other faculty members, according to Brian Henebry, associate director for Enterprise Systems and Operations.
Debi Allison, vice president for IT Services, agreed.
"This isn't just about budget savings, there is more to it than that," Allison said. "We're working to improve the quality of our service to make collaboration tools more available to students, faculty and staff and improve the quality of services.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Senate questioned the presenters about whether Miami would be able to keep both the muohio.edu and miamioh.edu domain names.An answer from the Department of Commerce is expected in 2-3 months, according to Allison.
Senate expressed concern over who owns the email. Information Security Officer Joe Bazeley said Miami owns the email and in the event of a separation from Google that Miami will retain all of that information.
Senate also heard a report on the Miami Plan redesign from John Tassoni, director of Liberal Education.
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.