News Archive

(10/27/05)

Scholarship Blitz Returns!

The Office of Student Financial Aid will have a "Scholarship Blitz" table for returning students in the lobby of Johnston Hall in early November. The dates are:

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1-5 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

By visiting the table, students can get information on when to apply, filing for Federal Student Aid, writing the scholarship essay and other scholarship options.

If none of the listed times are convenient, please call 727-3261 for an appointment with a financial aid adviser.

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(10/21/05)

High School Senior Night Is Set For October 25

High School Seniors and their parents are invited to attend High School Senior Night at Miami University Middletown at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25 in Johnston Hall.

The evening will feature information on Miami Middletown's schools (arts & science, business, engineering & applied science, education & allied professions and fine arts), campus life, financial aid and scholarships, the application process, student support services and relocating to Miami University in Oxford after starting at Miami Middletown. There will be an opportunity to meet faculty and staff while touring the campus.

Seniors who wish to apply for admission for fall 2006 may do so at this program by bringing a current high school transcript and the $35 application fee.

For more information, call the admission office at (513) 727-3216. Miami University Middletown is located at 4200 E. University Blvd.

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(10/18/05)

Middletown YMCA and Miami Middletown Work Together To Improve Pre-School Opportunities

With some colorful crayons and handprints, Miami University Middletown and Middletown Area Family YMCA officials, joined by children at MUM's Child Care Center, announced today a new collaboration to improve pre-school opportunities in the Middletown area.

Beginning January 1, the Middletown Y will begin operating the child care center at MUM, providing service to MUM students, faculty and staff, and families in the Middletown area, on an expanded schedule.

"This is a great opportunity for Miami Middletown to work with the YMCA," said Kelly Cowan, Interim Executive Director at MUM. "Our child care operations had been somewhat limited, following Miami's academic calendar. This collaboration increases opportunities for the children of our students, faculty, and staff, as well as the entire community as the Center will operate year-round."

Cheryl Gabe, the Middletown Y's Executive Director, shared Cowan's enthusiasm. "Working with community agencies, organizations, and businesses to improve opportunities for children is one of our most important goals. We are excited about what the future may bring with the Y and MUM working together."

Under the agreement, MUM is providing the space in Verity Lodge for the Center, and Miami students and personnel will be able to enroll their children at a specially discounted rate.

"The Center has been an important part of student recruitment and retention for Miami Middletown," noted Jim Ewers, MUM's Associate Executive Director for Student Affairs. "For families balancing work and studies, the increased schedule of operations will be a great support."

In adding his handprint to the document, Doug Mitterholzer, president of the Middletown Branch Advisory Board, cited the opportunities that the children will have with the Center located on the MUM Campus. "In addition to a marvelous facility, children will have a chance to explore unique opportunities available only on the Campus, like the performing arts events of the Fantastic Free Fridays series and the nature trails."

One of the special benefits for all children enrolled full time at a Y center is that, with full time enrollment, families receive a family facility membership at the Middletown Area Family YMCA. Families of children enrolled part time receive a family program membership.

Anyone interested in enrolling a child in the Center can contact Becky Zeiser at the Middletown Area Family YMCA by calling 422-9622.

(From left) MUM Executive Director Kelly Cowan and Middletown YMCA Executive Director Cheryl Gabe add their handprints to an agreement establishing a YMCA-operated child care center on the MUM campus.

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(10/14/05)

New "Degree Power Schedule" Designed for Busy Students

The Degree Power Schedule is Miami University Middletown's newest plan for students to earn a degree while balancing busy work and family commitments.

Using the Degree Power Schedule, students earn credit for three courses by attending class just two nights a week. A typical power schedule would be made up of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:30 - 6:45 and from 7:15 - 9:55 p.m. A student could earn an Associate Degree in seven semesters, or just over two years if some summer sessions are included.

"Our research has always indicated that there are many people in the area who want to take classes and earn a degree, but life gets complicated when they try to balance their goals with busy work and family schedules," said Dr. Jeff Sommers, acting associate executive director at Miami Middletown. "Our new Degree Power Schedule is our commitment to students that we will offer the classes they need at the times they need them."

The program is flexible in that students have the power to slow down, speed up, or even take a break in their studies, confident that the Degree Power Schedule will continue to offer the courses they need when they need to take them. The first two degrees to be offered using the Degree Power Schedule are the Business Technology Management Associate Degree and the Associate of Arts, Social Science.

The Business Technology Management Associate Degree, designed for individuals who want a broad-based education in general business and management, can be a "springboard" for people with several years of relevant work experience who want to re-direct their careers toward management positions. Students completing the first five semesters of this program are eligible to receive a Certificate in General Supervision. They may then continue on to complete the Associate Degree at Miami Middletown and Bachelor's Degree at other institutions..

Graduates with the Associate of Arts Social Science degree find entry level or paraprofessional jobs in private and government social service agencies, health and mental health settings, the corrections and criminal/juvenile justice fields and business and industry. This degree can also form the first two years of a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. "This is just the beginning," Dr. Sommers says. "Miami University Middletown plans to offer a variety of degrees using the Degree Power Schedule. We think students will appreciate both the convenience and personal empowerment that it offers."

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(10/11/05)

Regional Campus Open House Oct. 19 at Warren County Career Center

Miami University's regional campuses will host an open house at the Warren County Career Center on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

"This open house is an opportunity for prospective and returning students to learn about the Miami courses that are offered at the Warren County Career Center and at Miami's Hamilton and Middletown campuses," said Miami Middletown Admission Counselor Wendy Cappelano. "Information on courses, programs and financial aid will be available, as well as the 2006 spring semester course schedule. We will also have light refreshments and give-away items for everyone who stops by."

Representatives from Miami are at the Warren County Career Center, Room 505A in the Adult Education Main Office, every Tuesday (2:30-5:30 p.m.) and Wednesday (2:30-6:30 p.m.). Drop-ins are welcome or appointments can be arranged.

For more information on the Open House or to schedule an appointment to meet with a Miami representative, call (513) 932-5677, ext. 5279 or (513)727-3216. You can also email mumadmission@muohio.edu. The Warren County Career Center is located at 3525 North State Route 48 in Lebanon.

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(10/11/05)

Chemical Technology Program Approved at Miami Middletown

Miami University Middletown's Chemical Technology Program has been reviewed by and received approval from the American Chemical Society, becoming only the twelfth approved chemical technology program in the United States. The approval, granted following a rigorous evaluation process, will be in effect through 2009.

"Having ACS approval is very important for our graduates," said Dr. Susan Marine, associate professor of chemistry at Miami University Middletown. "Employers will know that our students have met the course requirements and lab standards that industry requires."

Every student graduating from Miami Middletown's chemical technology program will now receive an ACS certificate recognizing that they have met the voluntary industry standards of the region.

"This is wonderful accomplishment for Miami Middletown," said Dr. Kelly Cowan, Miami University Middletown's Interim Executive Director. "We talk a lot about the quality of a Miami education. Approval for one of our programs from a prestigious organization like the American Chemical Society substantiates our claim."

Miami Middletown's Chemical Technology Program was begun in 1996 under the direction of Chemistry Professor Mickey Sarquis. An NSF grant helped establish the program which was designed to meet local employment needs. Dr. Marine was hired in 1998 to develop the program.

The program has an active advisory council which includes representatives from the pharmaceutical, flavors and fragrances, soap-making polymer, pigment and manufacturing industries, as well as independent analytical laboratories. Many Chemical Technology students complete internships that often lead to employment after graduation.

Associate degrees in Chemical Technology, and many other disciplines, can be completed at Miami Middletown on a full-time or part-time basis in as little as two years. Chemical Technology graduates are members of research and development teams that investigate new materials to determine their reactions, test for quality and performance, act as troubleshooters and operate sophisticated laboratory instrumentation.

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(10/05/05)

"The Joy of Toys" celebrated at Miami University

Miami University's Center for Chemistry Education celebrates National Chemistry Week with 20 free activities available online.

Glitter Wands, Silly Putty, and color-change toys may sound like unlikely items to find at Miami University's Center for Chemistry Education (CCE), but these toys feel right at home there. The Center, located on the Middletown Campus, has a long history of teaching science with toys and Center staff members are thrilled about National Chemistry Week's 2005 theme: "The Joy of Toys." National Chemistry Week is October 16-22.

CCE is supporting National Chemistry Week efforts by offering 20 free science-based toys activities through their website, www.terrificscience.org.These activities include fun experiments along with science explanations of how the toys work. According to Mickey Sarquis, CCE Director, "These activities are a great resource for teachers and science professionals who wish to do community outreach and for interested parents as well."

Sarquis adds, "For many years, we've been teaching teachers how to use toys as scientific tools. As a result, thousands of teachers in Ohio and across the nation have gained confidence in teaching science and are more effective as a result. Through this user-friendly approach, student interest in science increases and so does their understanding of the science concepts."

National Chemistry Week is a community-based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Its mission is to reach the public, particularly elementary and secondary school children, with positive messages about chemistry. Through print efforts and local events, more than eight million people are reached each year through National Chemistry Week. CCE leaders Sarquis (Director) and Lynn Hogue (Associate Director) helped to shape this year's Joy of Toys theme.

For more information on CCE's contribution to National Chemistry Week and how you can participate, visit their website at www.terrificscience.org/ncw.

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(10/03/05)

Partnership Agreement Signed by MUM, Middletown Schools and City

The Middletown City School District (MCSD), Miami University Middletown (MUM) and the City of Middletown (COM) signed an agreement on Sept. 27 to develop a partner relationship that is dedicated to the betterment of both institutions and to their shared learning community. "We expect this relationship to be mutual and to improve the results for student achievement and enhance professional development opportunities for the respective faculty and staff at both institutions," the agreement said.

Attending signing ceremonies at Miami Middletown were representatives of the University, City of Middletown and Middletown City Schools.

While acknowledging that the relationship had heretofore been on a "slow simmer," Miami Middletown Interim Executive Director Kelly Cowan said that the partnership agreement would help it quickly rise to a "rapid boil."

As a result of this partnership, the three organizations will focus on the following areas:

- Cultivating mutual awareness of the opportunities provided by Miami Middletown, the Middletown City School District and the City of Middletown

- Increasing diversity of faculty, staff and students

- Organizing cultural/multicultural events

- Enhancing curriculum to meet the needs of our diverse student populations

- Fostering professional competencies and mutual exchange of services

- Working together to promote the City of Middletown's revitalization

Some initial activities will include:

- Instructional support for faculty and students in targeted curricular area

- Shared professional development opportunities for MCSD, MUM faculty and City staff

- Providing MUM summer college experience to students of MCSD

- Annual Multicultural Program

- Community involvement

- Miami/MHS/MCSD/COM Day

Shaking hands after the Sept. 27 signing were (from left:) MCSD Board of Education President Steve Lane, MCSD Superintendent Steve Price, Middletown Mayor Noah Powers and MUM Interim Executive Director Kelly Cowan.

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