First pulling up to my freshman dorm at Miami University over three years ago, I never would have thought I would end up pursuing a career in journalism. But after a year of calculus equations and physics labs, I decided that the hard sciences were not for me. I had always been a strong writer and a moderate news junkie, so I signed up for the journalism program.
A few years and God knows how many bylines later, here I am – a senior with a focus in journalism and anthropology and an addiction to the New York Times that could make even the most desperate heroine junkie pale in comparison.
Though my journalism classes at Miami have been valuable in exposing me to a variety of material and focusing my writing skills, nothing compares to the experience of writing at an actual paper. Since my induction into the world of headlines, bylines, budget lines and just about every other kind of line, I have interned for two local newspapers and have spent a considerable amount of time with Miami’s student publication, The Miami Student.
The combination of my time in the classroom and in the real world has been invaluable in my development as a writer and as a responsible adult. I’ve learned to work under deadline and manage my own time in a realistic way.
Even if I don’t ultimately find myself in the professional world of writing, I have no doubt that my experiences at Miami will be well worth every minute spent and every paragraph written.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Fingerhut visits Miami; Discusses newly created University System
By Charlie Turner
Following the recent visit to Miami University by Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio board of regents, Miami administrators expressed varying levels of confidence in the newly created University System of Ohio.
The system works to allow the public universities and colleges of Ohio to work as a more unified entity, Fingerhut said. Instead of competing with other schools, the chancellor urged Miami to work together with them to accomplish more as a state education system.
“If Ohio State (University) and Miami, instead of competing with each other for support from the General Assembly for a program here or a program here, go together, they will get more for everybody,” Fingerhut said. “We’re competing against the world. Miami and Ohio State are not in competition. At least they shouldn’t be.”
Director of institutional relations, Randi Thomas, disagreed with Fingerhut and said that although the schools do and will continue to work together, competition will not end.
“The chancellor may have overstated when he said Miami doesn’t compete with OSU,” Thomas said. “We are competitors. It’s like a sports rivalry, you want to beat them on the field, but maybe go have a drink with them after the game.”
In past statements, Fingerhut said that each university should not offer a full spectrum of majors, but instead host “centers of excellence” at each school. The chancellor rebuffed his earlier remarks during his visit to Miami and said that while he hopes to create a system with these centers, he wants to see a full range of studies offered at each school.
“Pick some things you’re really good at and invest your money in those disciplines and make them world class,” Fingerhut said. “University of Akron has a great polymer chemistry program and to keep that up, they have to keep hiring new people and keep investing in it. I don’t want to spend the money for Miami to beat the University of Akron in polymer chemistry because I’ve got a great polymer chemistry program in Ohio.”
Citing Miami as one of the top universities in the state, the chancellor said that students attending the school would likely see few differences as members of the new system.
“To be completely candid, Miami students are going to see less effect than students in other schools. (Miami) is clearly a model we want to emulate across the system, but not tinker with,” Fingerhut said.
Jens Sutmoller, president of Miami’s associated student government, said that Miami’s position among the top Universities should act as an example for other schools.
“I truly think Miami is leading the change,” Sutmoller said.
Though Thomas said he was enthusiastic about the new revamped system, he said there are potential pitfalls, specifically regarding the potential unification of certain systems within the Universities.
Thomas said that the system might try to save money by creating one payroll department for the entire university system, a move that would save around $100,000 per year. However, according to Thomas switching Miami from the Banner system to People Soft, a system used commonly in other state schools, would cost the University close to $3 million.
The chancellor said he envisioned less homogenization. He emphasized scholastic programming among the institutions that would allow students to transfer more easily between schools without losing class credits.
Fingerhut said his main concern is keeping Ohio in competition with the world economy.
“This state, it’s economy has to deal with the world… and Ohio’s having a little bit of a hard time adjusting to the global economy… our university is the most adapted part of the state… So we need to help the rest of the state adjust to globalization,” Fingerhut said.
Following the recent visit to Miami University by Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio board of regents, Miami administrators expressed varying levels of confidence in the newly created University System of Ohio.
The system works to allow the public universities and colleges of Ohio to work as a more unified entity, Fingerhut said. Instead of competing with other schools, the chancellor urged Miami to work together with them to accomplish more as a state education system.
“If Ohio State (University) and Miami, instead of competing with each other for support from the General Assembly for a program here or a program here, go together, they will get more for everybody,” Fingerhut said. “We’re competing against the world. Miami and Ohio State are not in competition. At least they shouldn’t be.”
Director of institutional relations, Randi Thomas, disagreed with Fingerhut and said that although the schools do and will continue to work together, competition will not end.
“The chancellor may have overstated when he said Miami doesn’t compete with OSU,” Thomas said. “We are competitors. It’s like a sports rivalry, you want to beat them on the field, but maybe go have a drink with them after the game.”
In past statements, Fingerhut said that each university should not offer a full spectrum of majors, but instead host “centers of excellence” at each school. The chancellor rebuffed his earlier remarks during his visit to Miami and said that while he hopes to create a system with these centers, he wants to see a full range of studies offered at each school.
“Pick some things you’re really good at and invest your money in those disciplines and make them world class,” Fingerhut said. “University of Akron has a great polymer chemistry program and to keep that up, they have to keep hiring new people and keep investing in it. I don’t want to spend the money for Miami to beat the University of Akron in polymer chemistry because I’ve got a great polymer chemistry program in Ohio.”
Citing Miami as one of the top universities in the state, the chancellor said that students attending the school would likely see few differences as members of the new system.
“To be completely candid, Miami students are going to see less effect than students in other schools. (Miami) is clearly a model we want to emulate across the system, but not tinker with,” Fingerhut said.
Jens Sutmoller, president of Miami’s associated student government, said that Miami’s position among the top Universities should act as an example for other schools.
“I truly think Miami is leading the change,” Sutmoller said.
Though Thomas said he was enthusiastic about the new revamped system, he said there are potential pitfalls, specifically regarding the potential unification of certain systems within the Universities.
Thomas said that the system might try to save money by creating one payroll department for the entire university system, a move that would save around $100,000 per year. However, according to Thomas switching Miami from the Banner system to People Soft, a system used commonly in other state schools, would cost the University close to $3 million.
The chancellor said he envisioned less homogenization. He emphasized scholastic programming among the institutions that would allow students to transfer more easily between schools without losing class credits.
Fingerhut said his main concern is keeping Ohio in competition with the world economy.
“This state, it’s economy has to deal with the world… and Ohio’s having a little bit of a hard time adjusting to the global economy… our university is the most adapted part of the state… So we need to help the rest of the state adjust to globalization,” Fingerhut said.
Trustees to discuss smoking ban
Among other topics, Miami University’s Board of Trustees will consider a controversial smoking ban this Friday says Stephen Snyder, secretary to the trustees.
The vote will give president David Hodge and Miami’s administration permission to draft and implement a plan they deem as fair and effective – it does not specifically address the stipulations of the ban.
After this vote, the trustees will need not vote on any further issues related to the prohibition of smoking on campus said Snyder.
This Friday’s vote was put on the board’s agenda following a recent e-mail from Hodge to the students and faculty.
“I take this action in light of numerous studies finding that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution, and that breathing secondhand smoke is a cause of disease in healthy nonsmokers, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and lung cancer,” Hodge said.
Some students disagreed with Hodge’s proposal.
According to Hodge’s e-mail, the proposed smoking ban would include all of Miami’s campuses, including Luxembourg, but would include “hospitality” areas where smoking is permitted for visitors.
Snyder said that the hospitality areas are important for visitors who might be unaware of the smoking ban.
“You can’t expect someone who smokes regularly to suddenly go cold turkey when they come to Miami,” Snyder said.
Nancy Cornthwait, director of Marcum Conference Center and the Miami Inn – both areas that would include hospitality areas – estimated that over 50% of full time employees who work at the Miami Inn or Marcum are regular smokers.
On the whole, Cornthwait said, she has received mixed feedback from employees regarding the ban.
“I think it’s mixed. I think some people are very pleased with it and other people are concerned. And obviously the university is taking great efforts to help people who want to to quit smoking,” Cornthwait said. “Its also been impetuous for some of them to try to quit smoking, but some say ‘it’s my right to smoke and I don’t want to quit smoking.”
To be discussed this semester, but perhaps not at the upcoming trustees meeting, said Snyder, is the renovation of residence halls’ internal systems.
According to Snyder as students begin using more electric and electronic equipment, the demand on the electrical infrastructure in many of the residence halls can become too much.
Jay Mabry, director of support services said that particularly with the recent installation of window air conditioners in several halls, there is even more demand on the wiring –especially in many of the halls that date back 50 or 60 years.
Snyder also said that the trustees will be looking at the possibility of changing the setup in many of the residence halls.
“Does it make sense to continue having long corridors with common bathrooms, or is the suite style better?” Snyder said.
Although there have been no serious problems with halls yet, Snyder maintained that it is important for the university to remain proactive in its renovations.
The trustees will also be looking to change the name of the School of Education and Allied professions to the School of Education, Health and Society.
Snyder said that the new name is more precise in that is better defines what the school consists of.
“What does ‘allied professions’ mean? So, by saying School of Education Health and Society, I think they are trying to define what the allied professions are,” Snyder said.
The vote will give president David Hodge and Miami’s administration permission to draft and implement a plan they deem as fair and effective – it does not specifically address the stipulations of the ban.
After this vote, the trustees will need not vote on any further issues related to the prohibition of smoking on campus said Snyder.
This Friday’s vote was put on the board’s agenda following a recent e-mail from Hodge to the students and faculty.
“I take this action in light of numerous studies finding that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution, and that breathing secondhand smoke is a cause of disease in healthy nonsmokers, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and lung cancer,” Hodge said.
Some students disagreed with Hodge’s proposal.
According to Hodge’s e-mail, the proposed smoking ban would include all of Miami’s campuses, including Luxembourg, but would include “hospitality” areas where smoking is permitted for visitors.
Snyder said that the hospitality areas are important for visitors who might be unaware of the smoking ban.
“You can’t expect someone who smokes regularly to suddenly go cold turkey when they come to Miami,” Snyder said.
Nancy Cornthwait, director of Marcum Conference Center and the Miami Inn – both areas that would include hospitality areas – estimated that over 50% of full time employees who work at the Miami Inn or Marcum are regular smokers.
On the whole, Cornthwait said, she has received mixed feedback from employees regarding the ban.
“I think it’s mixed. I think some people are very pleased with it and other people are concerned. And obviously the university is taking great efforts to help people who want to to quit smoking,” Cornthwait said. “Its also been impetuous for some of them to try to quit smoking, but some say ‘it’s my right to smoke and I don’t want to quit smoking.”
To be discussed this semester, but perhaps not at the upcoming trustees meeting, said Snyder, is the renovation of residence halls’ internal systems.
According to Snyder as students begin using more electric and electronic equipment, the demand on the electrical infrastructure in many of the residence halls can become too much.
Jay Mabry, director of support services said that particularly with the recent installation of window air conditioners in several halls, there is even more demand on the wiring –especially in many of the halls that date back 50 or 60 years.
Snyder also said that the trustees will be looking at the possibility of changing the setup in many of the residence halls.
“Does it make sense to continue having long corridors with common bathrooms, or is the suite style better?” Snyder said.
Although there have been no serious problems with halls yet, Snyder maintained that it is important for the university to remain proactive in its renovations.
The trustees will also be looking to change the name of the School of Education and Allied professions to the School of Education, Health and Society.
Snyder said that the new name is more precise in that is better defines what the school consists of.
“What does ‘allied professions’ mean? So, by saying School of Education Health and Society, I think they are trying to define what the allied professions are,” Snyder said.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Miami to revamp most enrolled courses
Though still in its beginning stages, Miami University has already begun to implement the Top 25 initiative – a program that works to revamp and reorganize some of the University’s most popular classes.
Despite its name, the Top 25 program works to restructure the 30 most enrolled in classes at Miami in an effort to create more student initiative when it comes to learning, said Jerry Stonewater, project director of the Top 25 program.
Stonewater, a professor of mathematics, tried this “student inquiry” method of teaching in a calculus class.F
“We learn best by doing, not by being told, and if you invent the notion of finding the area under the curve, you own it,” Stonewater said.
For many classes in the Top 25 program, more learning will be expected of students outside of class. Stonewater said he does not anticipate this extra time dedication to be an issue for students because he said that students do not spend enough time studying in the current lecture based format.
“In class time is more freed up for you to work on solving problems, working with other students, giving students feedback,… to do simulations or to do some really interesting simulations people are proposing in different disciplines,” Stonewater said.
The project comes as an echo of Miami President David Hodge’s inaugural address.
“Unfortunately, throughout most of higher education, the common approach to undergraduate education does not engage students as active research agents,” Hodge said. “In my experience, we spend too much time telling students what we think they need to know, and not enough time using their curiosity to drive their learning.”
Marjorie Nadler, professor of communications, is working to implement an accepted proposal to revamp public speaking classes (COM 135).
The class involves students delivering a series of speeches, both planned and impromptu, over the course of the term. According to Nadler, it can be difficult for students to improve their public speaking if there is no good way to go back and review the speech.
With the funding the department received from the accepted proposal, speeches will, beginning in the spring, be recorded with digital video cameras and uploaded to a blackboard website. From there, students and professors will be able to go back and review the speech and even add commentary that plays during the speech.
Nadler said she is confident the digitalization technique will work well as several grad students in the communications department have already begun doing this on an experimental basis.
Although the students enrolled in COM 135 have only delivered two speeches this semester, Nadler said she is already seeing improvement over the old system.
“What we’re seeing in the pilot program is the progress is much greater and much faster,” Nadler said. “We’re seeing a bigger leap between the first and second speech.”
The accepted proposal also calls for a communication web for COM 135 instructors.
As Nadler explained, most of the classes in the Top 25 program are large lecture halls, so the change only affects a small number of instructors. Due to the nature of the public speaking courses, however, the classes only enroll 24-26 students per section.
“We don’t always have the intereaction among the three campuses and among the faculty,” Nadler said. “(But, with the new system,) instructors, no matter where they are will have access to new approaches and what we are doing.”
Nadler said she hopes that instructors will be able to effectively share anything from lesson plans to new concepts to new techniques for teaching the course.
The other six courses whose Top 25 proposals were accepted as of April of 2007 include, CSA 141 and CSA 148 - Personal Computer Application and Business Computing, GEO 101 – Global Forces, Local Diversity, MIS 235 – Making Information Systems Fun, From a Students' Perspective, PSY 111 – Introduction to Psychology, MKT 291 – Principles of Marketing and THE 191 – Theatre Appreciation.
Stonewater said that despite the new learning techniques, retraining of instructors will not be necessary, although a summer workshop is in planning.
Despite its name, the Top 25 program works to restructure the 30 most enrolled in classes at Miami in an effort to create more student initiative when it comes to learning, said Jerry Stonewater, project director of the Top 25 program.
Stonewater, a professor of mathematics, tried this “student inquiry” method of teaching in a calculus class.F
“We learn best by doing, not by being told, and if you invent the notion of finding the area under the curve, you own it,” Stonewater said.
For many classes in the Top 25 program, more learning will be expected of students outside of class. Stonewater said he does not anticipate this extra time dedication to be an issue for students because he said that students do not spend enough time studying in the current lecture based format.
“In class time is more freed up for you to work on solving problems, working with other students, giving students feedback,… to do simulations or to do some really interesting simulations people are proposing in different disciplines,” Stonewater said.
The project comes as an echo of Miami President David Hodge’s inaugural address.
“Unfortunately, throughout most of higher education, the common approach to undergraduate education does not engage students as active research agents,” Hodge said. “In my experience, we spend too much time telling students what we think they need to know, and not enough time using their curiosity to drive their learning.”
Marjorie Nadler, professor of communications, is working to implement an accepted proposal to revamp public speaking classes (COM 135).
The class involves students delivering a series of speeches, both planned and impromptu, over the course of the term. According to Nadler, it can be difficult for students to improve their public speaking if there is no good way to go back and review the speech.
With the funding the department received from the accepted proposal, speeches will, beginning in the spring, be recorded with digital video cameras and uploaded to a blackboard website. From there, students and professors will be able to go back and review the speech and even add commentary that plays during the speech.
Nadler said she is confident the digitalization technique will work well as several grad students in the communications department have already begun doing this on an experimental basis.
Although the students enrolled in COM 135 have only delivered two speeches this semester, Nadler said she is already seeing improvement over the old system.
“What we’re seeing in the pilot program is the progress is much greater and much faster,” Nadler said. “We’re seeing a bigger leap between the first and second speech.”
The accepted proposal also calls for a communication web for COM 135 instructors.
As Nadler explained, most of the classes in the Top 25 program are large lecture halls, so the change only affects a small number of instructors. Due to the nature of the public speaking courses, however, the classes only enroll 24-26 students per section.
“We don’t always have the intereaction among the three campuses and among the faculty,” Nadler said. “(But, with the new system,) instructors, no matter where they are will have access to new approaches and what we are doing.”
Nadler said she hopes that instructors will be able to effectively share anything from lesson plans to new concepts to new techniques for teaching the course.
The other six courses whose Top 25 proposals were accepted as of April of 2007 include, CSA 141 and CSA 148 - Personal Computer Application and Business Computing, GEO 101 – Global Forces, Local Diversity, MIS 235 – Making Information Systems Fun, From a Students' Perspective, PSY 111 – Introduction to Psychology, MKT 291 – Principles of Marketing and THE 191 – Theatre Appreciation.
Stonewater said that despite the new learning techniques, retraining of instructors will not be necessary, although a summer workshop is in planning.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Michael Dantley to assume position of associate provost
With the upcoming retirement of vice provost John Skillings, Michael Dantley, a professor of education and associate dean of the school of education and allied professions will take the position of associate provost.
Effective on June 30, 2008, Dantley will bring a strong background of education and dedication to the office, said Mary Woodworth, the current associate provost who will ascend to the rank of senior associate provost upon Skillings’ departure.
“I’ve worked with him and I think he takes initiative, he wants to make sure things are done right and I think he’s going to provide good leadership in that position,” Woodworth said.
Those who currently work with Dantley agree. Carine Feyten, dean of the school of education and allied professions said that Dantley will be missed when he transfers to the office of the provost.
“He has really been my right hand and we work really well together as a team, he is extremely reliable and trustworthy – he’s very caring for the faculty,” Feyten said. “He’s a very caring individual.”
Woodworth described the office of the provost as a team mechanism. She said that the provost and associate provosts operate more as a collective group than independent positions with specifically outlined responsibilities.
The professional titles within the office are earned rather than appointed, said Woodworth.
“It’s kind of like being a sophomore, junior or senior,” Woodworth said.
Reflective of this operation, Woodworth said the specifics of Dantley’s responsibilities have yet to be determined and will be decided after the spring semester in 2008 when Dantley officially assumes the position of associate provost.
“We don’t do exactly the same thing every year – we shift responsibilities partly depending on the person,” Woodworth said. “We’ll try to figure out what seems most appropriate.”
Dantley said he looks forward to the opportunity to work on a level that affects the entire university.
“The opportunity to really impact the academic life of the entire university and not just one division, to work in a position that really influences policy and the day-to-day operations, that was especially appealing to me,” Dantley said.
Dantley’s background includes a master’s degree from Miami, followed by a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati and post-doctoral studies at Harvard. Outside of his own education, Dantley served as principle at two Cincinnati public elementary schools and has taught as a professor at several Cincinnati area institutions including UC where he taught a doctoral capstone course in administrative theory.
Dantley said that his extensive background in the fields of education will allow him to bring a unique perspective to the office of the provost.
“I think it (his experience) allows me to have a much broader perspective that I need to be an associate provost,” Dantley said. “It has really allowed me to understand the plight or journey of a faculty member because I have had this kind of experience… I think it allows me to not just have a broader perspective, but a greater sensitivity to what it means to go through the ranks of promotion and tenure.”
In addition to his work in education, Dantley has been the pastor of the Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship church for over 30 years.
According to Dantley, his spiritual life is intrinsic in every part of his life and he plans to adapt his spirituality to serve him in his new office.
“I honestly believe my religious or spiritual life is grounded in treating people fairly or justly,” Dantley said.
After his move to associate provost, Dantley will continue to teach one class a semester in the school of education, though he admits he’ll miss regular teaching.
“I love to teach, I think teaching is especially life giving,” Dantley said. “It’s life giving for me and I think it’s also life giving for the students.”
Effective on June 30, 2008, Dantley will bring a strong background of education and dedication to the office, said Mary Woodworth, the current associate provost who will ascend to the rank of senior associate provost upon Skillings’ departure.
“I’ve worked with him and I think he takes initiative, he wants to make sure things are done right and I think he’s going to provide good leadership in that position,” Woodworth said.
Those who currently work with Dantley agree. Carine Feyten, dean of the school of education and allied professions said that Dantley will be missed when he transfers to the office of the provost.
“He has really been my right hand and we work really well together as a team, he is extremely reliable and trustworthy – he’s very caring for the faculty,” Feyten said. “He’s a very caring individual.”
Woodworth described the office of the provost as a team mechanism. She said that the provost and associate provosts operate more as a collective group than independent positions with specifically outlined responsibilities.
The professional titles within the office are earned rather than appointed, said Woodworth.
“It’s kind of like being a sophomore, junior or senior,” Woodworth said.
Reflective of this operation, Woodworth said the specifics of Dantley’s responsibilities have yet to be determined and will be decided after the spring semester in 2008 when Dantley officially assumes the position of associate provost.
“We don’t do exactly the same thing every year – we shift responsibilities partly depending on the person,” Woodworth said. “We’ll try to figure out what seems most appropriate.”
Dantley said he looks forward to the opportunity to work on a level that affects the entire university.
“The opportunity to really impact the academic life of the entire university and not just one division, to work in a position that really influences policy and the day-to-day operations, that was especially appealing to me,” Dantley said.
Dantley’s background includes a master’s degree from Miami, followed by a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati and post-doctoral studies at Harvard. Outside of his own education, Dantley served as principle at two Cincinnati public elementary schools and has taught as a professor at several Cincinnati area institutions including UC where he taught a doctoral capstone course in administrative theory.
Dantley said that his extensive background in the fields of education will allow him to bring a unique perspective to the office of the provost.
“I think it (his experience) allows me to have a much broader perspective that I need to be an associate provost,” Dantley said. “It has really allowed me to understand the plight or journey of a faculty member because I have had this kind of experience… I think it allows me to not just have a broader perspective, but a greater sensitivity to what it means to go through the ranks of promotion and tenure.”
In addition to his work in education, Dantley has been the pastor of the Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship church for over 30 years.
According to Dantley, his spiritual life is intrinsic in every part of his life and he plans to adapt his spirituality to serve him in his new office.
“I honestly believe my religious or spiritual life is grounded in treating people fairly or justly,” Dantley said.
After his move to associate provost, Dantley will continue to teach one class a semester in the school of education, though he admits he’ll miss regular teaching.
“I love to teach, I think teaching is especially life giving,” Dantley said. “It’s life giving for me and I think it’s also life giving for the students.”
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Survey ranks Miami among the best
A new survey conducted through Indiana University ranks Miami among the best Universities in the region in terms of student engagement.
According to the National Survey of Student Engagement, Miami University 88% of first year students feel that Miami places a substantial emphasis on academics, compared to only about 80% of those at peer regional universities.
The NSSE, conducted through the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University, examines academic experience and involvement of students and is used regularly to influence Miami’s policies, said Denise Krallman, director of institutional research at Miami.
“I think the reason this one is important is it looks at student engagement,” Krallman said. “It’s not student attitudes, it’s not their behavior outside of the classroom. It’s looking by and large at their academic experience. That’s what we’re here for – to educate a student. This survey shows that we do a good job of educating a student that comes in the door.”
Krallman said that although she regularly runs analyses and compares the surveys to previous years, Miami has maintained relatively consistent scores. The scores in areas where Miami falls below the average, however rare, have also remained about the same.
“Miami doesn’t score low on anything – to try and find something is a stretch,” Krallman said. “The one that we are a little bit below, is the supportive campus environment – does the campus provide you support to succeed academically, socially?”
The survey is conducted every two years since 1999 and is distributed to 610 schools across the nation. At Miami, 1,407 students participated in the survey.
According to the National Survey of Student Engagement, Miami University 88% of first year students feel that Miami places a substantial emphasis on academics, compared to only about 80% of those at peer regional universities.
The NSSE, conducted through the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University, examines academic experience and involvement of students and is used regularly to influence Miami’s policies, said Denise Krallman, director of institutional research at Miami.
“I think the reason this one is important is it looks at student engagement,” Krallman said. “It’s not student attitudes, it’s not their behavior outside of the classroom. It’s looking by and large at their academic experience. That’s what we’re here for – to educate a student. This survey shows that we do a good job of educating a student that comes in the door.”
Krallman said that although she regularly runs analyses and compares the surveys to previous years, Miami has maintained relatively consistent scores. The scores in areas where Miami falls below the average, however rare, have also remained about the same.
“Miami doesn’t score low on anything – to try and find something is a stretch,” Krallman said. “The one that we are a little bit below, is the supportive campus environment – does the campus provide you support to succeed academically, socially?”
The survey is conducted every two years since 1999 and is distributed to 610 schools across the nation. At Miami, 1,407 students participated in the survey.
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