MU provost makes move for independence of regional campuses

Provost’s request outlines provisions for considering regionals division.

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By Richard O Jones Updated 11:57 AM Wednesday, February 1, 2012

By Richard O Jones

Staff Writer

OXFORD — Miami University Provost Bobby Gempesaw sent a request Monday to University Senate’s executive committee for the Senate to consider creating a new academic division for the regional campuses.

This proposal officially puts into motion recommendations from two university committees, the 2009 Regional Campus Committee and the 2010 Strategic Priorities Task Force, according to university News and Public Information Office.

Those committee reports reflect goals previously put forth by the Ohio Board of Regents, which wants more four-year degree programs to meet local workforce needs and changing economic conditions in Southwest Ohio.

Creating a separate academic division for the regional campuses would give them flexibility to develop such programs.

Gempesaw’s proposal specifies eight provisions to be considered.

Among them, the new division would have authority to develop new degrees and programs following the same procedure used by other academic divisions, but the new division “cannot offer the same degrees offered by other academic institutions.”

The proposal specifies that “the new division will continue to collaborate with Oxford divisions in enhancing teaching, research and partnership outreach.” New faculty may be hired through the new academic division, but there could also be joint appointments between Oxford divisions and the new academic division.

“Current faculty members on the regional campuses would be grandfathered in terms of promotion and tenure,” the proposal states.

After receiving the proposal, the Senate executive committee decided to ask the Academic Policy Committee to study the provost’s proposal and to provide a report for the Senate’s deliberation and action.

The complete proposal can be found online at www.muohio.edu/rcp.

The story so far:

• Jan. 19: Dean of Regional Campus Michael G. Pratt reveals at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce State of the Schools function that Miami University was putting a plan in motion to make the regional campuses a separate academic division.

• Jan. 26: The JournalNews reports that 72 Miami University faculty members signed a letter of protest, saying the plan would be detrimental to the finances and educational opportunities on all campuses.

• Jan. 30: Pratt meets with students on the Middletown campus to explain what this move would mean to students and the community. Provost Bobby Gempesaw submits a formal proposal to the University Senate requesting that two committees investigate and make recommendations on the matter.

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