The Miami University Senate recommended the creation of the Miami Center for Artificial Intelligence, discussed a new faculty evaluation process and a potential diploma redesign in its meeting on Oct.12.
Jayne Brownell, senior vice president of student life, provided updates from the Student Life Council Committee.
The council reviewed proposed changes to the student code of conduct, residence hall regulations, Associated Student Government (ASG) legislation and other student policies. There are 28 members who serve on the committee, including students and faculty.
Brownell discussed changes from the 2025-26 year. One change allows students suspended from the university for lower-level misconduct to earn transfer credit while away from Miami. She also announced the creation of Student Transitions and Family Engagement and the relocation of Title IX responsibilities within the administration.
“We pulled Title IX out of HR, and since 96% of cases involve students, it makes sense for that to sit in the Division of Student Life, even though it is a university function,” Brownell said. “We want to protect us and students and all the other things and do this as right as possible. These are also incredibly messy, painful, confusing, hearings, and I am so grateful that we have faculty and staff who are willing to sit on these boards.”
Associate professor Sarah Watt provided special reports from the University Senate task force on faculty evaluations.
The proposed model would incorporate peer review, faculty reflection, evidence of student learning and student perspectives on teaching effectiveness. Watt said this new system would be integrated into the current system, rather than an entirely new process.
Senators raised concerns about the weight of student evaluations, and said students may use course difficulty and personal performance as a measure for evaluation.
Watt said this is already a consideration in conversation, and the task force will decide how to weigh the various components of evaluation.
The committee plans to refine the model and seek formal Senate approval during the spring semester. The anticipated timeline to have the new model integrated in fall 2028.
The senate made a final recommendation to approve Miami University Center for Artificial Intelligence (MCAI).
MCAI plans to provide resources and guidance for incorporating AI into majors, expand funding and communicate AI initiatives effectively. The recommendation also requested that the center’s director, Dennis Cheatham, return in the spring to provide an update.
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Charlie Merrill, student body president, and Quinn Ahler, ASG speaker, discussed a proposal to change the university’s diploma.
The ASG representatives advocated for changes to the diploma’s design to better reflect Miami's history and traditions by going back to its original font. Ahler said conversations with ASG members and the student body promoted the initiative.
“I ended up engaging in conversations with students about the diploma, and the result was the same all across,” Ahler said. “Every single student and our entire student senate voted in support of the original [diploma], specifically from 1979.”
Ahler said students expressed a preference for an older design, describing the current version as too modern and minimalistic compared to the traditional diploma.
Senators questioned whether the proposal included graduate and regional campus students. Ahler clarified that ASG has a separate body for graduate students and that this initiative was primarily focused on undergraduate Oxford campus students.
A vote for recommendation is scheduled for a future meeting.
ASG has also made resolutions to facilitate allergy shots at the student health clinic.
“As it exists now, many students drive all the way to Columbus for their allergy shots,” Merrill said. “There was a spot in Oxford, but that business closed about two years back.”
Merrill also announced an upcoming podcast, “Slant Talk,” which will feature students, faculty and administrators to talk about campus issues.
The University Senate’s next meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, in the Joslin Senate Chamber.
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