The search has begun for a person to fill the freshly established dean of regional campuses/associate provost position, after Miami University's board of trustees passed a resolution creating the spot.
The decision, made Sept. 18 with vote of 8 to 1, will eliminate the current positions of dean of Miami University-Hamilton (MUH) and dean of Miami University-Middletown (MUM). The new position would oversee these two campuses, as well as the Voice of America Learning Center.
This decision was made, Provost Jeffrey Herbst said, to develop a more centralized focus on the regional campuses.
"They need to be more distinctive and autonomous," Herbst said. "The dynamic of public education in southwest Ohio is changing."
Herbst said a position needed to be established in which one person oversees the regional campuses.
"I want to stress that this isn't a commentary on the holders of the current dean positions," Herbst said. "This will help the entire region in the future."
Harry Wilks, member of the board and the one opposing vote, expressed concern with this resolution.
"You would still need a head person at the three regional campuses, so I don't see how this wouldn't increase our costs," Wilks said. "Why go into added expense especially with this fiscal situation?"
Herbst assured the board the new position would not add any costs.
Wilks also said many individuals are confused about this upcoming change.
"People are asking how this would be of benefit and why it's necessary," Wilks said. "I don't understand the proposition, and I'm not ready to invest in it yet, that's not saying I wouldn't want to in the future."
This new position would report directly to Herbst's office and would receive assistance from the associate deans of the regional campuses.
Jeanne Hey, interim dean of MUM, said because her position as dean was meant to be temporary, the personal and professional effects this decision will have on her are different than that of Daniel Hall, dean of MUH since 2003.
Hey said this decision was not a surprise because the Regional Campus Committee had recommended it in the spring.
"Having a single individual thinking about the needs of these three campuses is good," Hey said, "but each regional campus will lose the person that's been running the shots. I hope they do it carefully so everything still gets done. It could go badly, but I don't expect that."
Donald Crain, vice chair of the board, said he was part of an advisory board for MUM for more than 20 years.
"This is long overdue and will strengthen the regional campuses," Crain said. "These campuses have been a major focus of the board of trustees for three years. It won't increase cost but might save (money) but that's not the point."
Fred Wall, a member of the board, also served on the MUM advisory board. He said people from the regional campuses feel they haven't received enough focus from the Oxford campus.
"This will give us an opportunity to reach more non-traditional students and the attention it will bring to the regional campuses is good," Wall said.
Co-chairs of the organization Friends of Miami University Hamilton, Jim Fitton and Jim Blount, were present at the meeting and addressed the board.
"The Friends of MUH aren't opposed to a regional campus plan - one that will continue and improve the effectiveness of MUH," Fitton said. "However, the group isn't ready to endorse a plan that hasn't been adequately explained to the MUH community."
Blount said he and others in the Hamilton community are disappointed with this decision, but are not surprised.
"They haven't considered any of our recommendations or offered to sit down and talk with us," Blount said. "It's their ball game and no one else can play."
Blount said he hopes the person chosen to fill this position will have an open mind and won't simply implement decisions that have already been made by administration.
Blount said he's received phone calls and emails from community members who are also concened with this decision.
"It's strictly within academia and they haven't shown any indication of listening or being interested in considering the community," Blount said.
