News Archive

(05/30/06)

Miami University Middletown notifying students of privacy breach

Miami University Middletown is notifying 851 students who attended the campus between July 2001 and May 2006 that a personal digital assistant (PDA) containing their names and Social Security numbers has been lost.

The missing PDA belonged to a staff employee at Middletown and was loaded with a calendar software program commonly used throughout the university for scheduling personal appointments. This employee put certain identifying student information and notes on her electronic calendar for informational purposes. Specifically, some of the entries on the calendar include students' names, Social Security numbers and short notes regarding the purpose of the meeting.

University officials said that at this point they have no evidence of illegal use of the information.

"This incident involves a potential exposure of data and a potential breach of privacy that Miami takes very seriously and which we deeply regret," said Miami Middletown Interim Dean Kelly Cowan. "I assure you that we have taken action to prevent this type of incident from happening again."

The university has written a letter to all those affected directing them to a website at www.mid.muohio.edu/publications/identitytheft.cfm which will provide additional information. All students who may have been affected are being encouraged to contact three credit bureaus and ask that an initial fraud alert be placed on their file. If it appears that there is unusual activity and that the activity may be related to this missing data, the University will make arrangements to help correct the identity theft on a one-on-one basis. Students notified by letter of the potential exposure of their data may call Miami University at (513) 727-3440 for more information.

Miami University is implementing a program to eliminate all Social Security numbers from calendar software and PDAs throughout the entire university.

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(05/26/06)

Rick Burns Named New MUM Women's Coach

Longtime Northridge HS basketball coach Rick Burns has been selected as Miami University Middletown's new women's basketball coach. Burns was the Northridge girl's varsity coach from 1987 - 2000. He then served as varsity assistant for Monroe High School from 2001-2005 before stepping down to coach Northridge this past year. He was voted the SWBL and District 15 Coach of the Year in 1997.

Burns takes over a Lady ThunderHawks squad that finished 5-22 last season. He will have some experienced players returning including former Carlisle High School standout Marianne Burgess and Monroe products Shelby Pettus and Julie Burns.

"Rick brings to our program a wealth of coaching experience and knowledge," remarked MUM Athletic Director Jim Sliger. "He is very familiar with the local high school programs which will be an advantage when recruiting student athletes to our campus."

Burns is currently conducting "open gyms" at MUM on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

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(05/18/06)

MUM Offers Summer Exercise Classes

Miami University Middletown will offer four exercise classes that begin in June. They are: Step Aerobics (Mondays and Wednesdays, June 12-Aug. 30, 5:30-6:30pm), Tae Kwon Do (Tuesdays, June 6-Aug. 29, 5:30-7:00pm), Yoga (Tuesdays, June 6-Aug. 29, 7:15-8:15pm) and Tae Kwon Do (Saturdays, June 10-Aug 29, 10-11:30 am).

The cost for these classes is $69-$79.

Tai Chi is on hiatus this summer, but will return in the fall.

To register or for more information, please call the Office of Continuing Education at 513-727-3300 or log onto http://www.mid.muohio.edu/conted. Miami University Middletown is located at 4200 E. University Blvd.

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(05/18/06)

I.U. East, Miami Regional Campuses Sign Transfer Agreement

Miami University's Regional Campuses at Middletown and Hamilton and Indiana University East announced a new partnership at the Preble County Educational Service Center today. Community members gathered to hear details on nine articulation agreements and witness their signing.

Kelly Cowan, interim dean at Miami University Middletown; Daniel E. Hall, dean at Miami University Hamilton; and David J. Fulton, chancellor at Indiana University East signed agreements that will allow Miami University graduates who take predetermined courses for their associate degrees to transfer with ease into a bachelor's degree program at Indiana University East.

"These agreements will give our students another option, another way to build on their Miami associate degrees," said Interim Dean Kelly Cowan. "It's nice to be doing something to make life a little less complicated for our students, especially with a respected partner like Indiana University East."

The agreements recommend courses for Miami students who wish to transfer to IU East and earn a bachelor's degree without loss of credit. Included in the agreements are specific guidelines for degrees in the areas of business administration, communication, criminal justice, elementary education, fine arts, general studies, humanities, natural science and math, and social work.

Chancellor David J. Fulton stated that he was pleased to partner with Miami University on this project. "We are delighted to offer graduates of Miami University's regional campuses an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree at Indiana University East," Fulton said. "These agreements, along with the Indiana Ohio Tuition Reciprocity Agreement, will help make the continuation of their education to the baccalaureate level not only seamless but also affordable."

In June 2004, various Ohio and Indiana institutions of higher education agreed to participate in a reciprocity agreement under the approval of the Ohio Board of Regents and the Indiana Commission on Higher Education. The agreement enables residents of certain counties in Indiana to take courses at specific Ohio institutions and pay in-state rates - likewise, Ohio residents in certain counties may take courses at specific Indiana institutions and also receive the benefit of paying in-state rates. For participating institutions and counties involved in the reciprocity agreement visit www.INOHReciprocity.org.

(From left) Indiana University East Chancellor David Fulton, Miami Middletown Interim Dean Kelly Cowan and Miami Hamilton Dean Daniel Hall sign agreements which will make it easier for students at Miami's regional campuses to transfer to I.U. East.

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(05/17/06)

Michelle Lawrence Named 2006 Darbyshire Award Recipient

Miami University Middletown Junior Michelle Lawrence has been named the recipient of the W. Lynn Darbyshire Award for 2005-2006. The Darbyshire award is given each year to a student who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in a student organization, student advisory council, student employment, community service or campus committee assignment.

Lawrence, a creative writing major from Centerville, is editor of Illuminati, Miami Middletown's creative arts magazine. She also writes for KAOS, the student newspaper, and is a member of Student Government and the Communications Board. Lawrence has been involved in organizing open-mic poetry readings at Miami Middletown and the Franklin Public Library.

For this academic year, she also received the Malcolm Sedam Writing Award for nonfiction and a Service Leadership Award.

Michelle Lawrence (left) was honored with the W. Lynn Darbyshire Award. She is shown here with Illuminati Advisor and Assistant Professor of English Dr. Eric Melbye.

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(05/16/06)

MUM Lists Departmental, Leadership/Service Awards

Miami University Middletown recently announced its departmental and leadership/service awards for 2005/2006. Departmental awards for academic achievement at Miami Middletown included:

Botany - Bethany Butler (Middletown), Jeremy Fruth (Middletown) and Keith Gilland (Middletown).

Business/Economics - Sarah Doll (Monroe), Jeremiah Long (Middletown), Mike Lockwood (Dayton), Kelly Trueman (West Chester).

Chemistry - Christina R. Van Sickle (Trenton).

Engineering Technology - Randy Meyer (Hamilton).

Mathematics - Emily Davis (Middletown) Sociology - Julie Angel (Middletown), Emma Ballinger (Camden), Gabe Campbell (Middletown), Jessica Campbell (Middletown) and Kaitlin Kubilius (Middletown).

Humanities and Fine Arts:

Art - Lindsay Shockley (Middletown)

Classics - Courtney Curtner (Dayton)

Communication - Chad Sebald (Middletown)

History - Brandon Soale (Camden)

Music - Sarah Jo Lewis (Middletown)

Philosophy - Amy Hedges (Trenton)

Malcolm Sedam Awards:1st Place Fiction - Chris Reeves (Franklin); 1st Place Poetry - Meghan Woods (Monroe); and 1st Place Nonfiction & Scholarship - Michelle Lawrence (Centerville).

Gardner Harvey Library - Tonya Albrecht (Middletown), Terry Barnum (Middletown), Sara Burden (New Lebanon), Samantha McGlothen (Middletown), Chris Mull (Cincinnati), Alisha Nolan (Middletown), Suzanne Pressler (Middletown), Carla Smith (Franklin) and Mike Tankersley (Hamilton).

Computer & Information Technology - Paul Rickie Bernard (Morrow), Matthew Allen Brookbank (Middletown) and Paula K. Holland (Middletown).

Leadership Service Awards were given to: Terry Barnum (Middletown), Sarah Binns (Middletown), Marianne Burgess (Miamisburg), Jeff Cryder (Mason), Sarah Doll (Monroe), Christina Dyas (Springboro), Laurie Flowers (Middletown), Kyle Gaston (Middletown), Jason Hightower (Middletown), Elke Holt (Franklin), Michelle Lawrence (Centerville), Mike Lockwood (Dayton), Lisa McGuire (Middletown), Chris Mull (Cincinnati), Shelby Pettus (Monroe), DeAnna Pretty-Jones (Middletown), Jason Rau (Franklin), Laura Richey (Middletown), Allison Singhoffer (West Elkton), Kelly Trueman (West Chester) and Dustin Turner (Franklin).

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(05/12/06)

Volleyball Coach Abby Johnson Steps Down

Abigail Johnson has resigned as Volleyball Coach for Miami University Middletown, after five very successful years. Johnson took the reigns in 2001 and, in her first season, led the Lady ThunderHawks to their first Regional Campus State Championship in 15 years. In 2003 she guided the team to a best ever record of 21-4. Johnson's teams compiled a five-year match record of 59-32 and finished in the top three of the ORCC every year.

This past season, the MUM women finished in second place in the ORCC West Division. They then advanced to the semi-finals of the Regional Campus State Tournament, before losing to the eventual state champions, OSU Newark.

The search for a new volleyball coach will begin immediately. Anyone interested should contact the Athletic Director Jim Sliger at 513-727-3317.

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(05/12/06)

Miami Middletown Graduates 45 in Nursing Class of 2006

Miami Middletown graduated 45 nursing students this spring.

The members of Miami Middletown's nursing class of 2006 are: Heather Couch, Anessa Greenwell, Mary Gregory, Aaron Hope, Julie Jervis, Michelle Lovejoy, Lisa McGuire, Jamie McGuire, Martha Neal, Rachel Nusbaum, Catherine Proffitt, Jennifer Springer, Jaime Swallow, Kristi Swanger, Michael Tunnell, Teresa Tunnell, and Heather White of Middletown; Stephanie Beltz, Jason Griffin, and Rachael Koeller of Trenton; Alicia Boeddeker of Liberty Township; Keeley Helling of Miamisburg; Kimberly Holliday and Kimberly Thomas from Centerville; Courtney Souers of Camden; Rebecca Keaton and Teresa Webb of Franklin; Leah Broderick, Alicia Davis, Ann Pohlman, and Kristen Williams of Lebanon; Elizabeth McDaniel of South Lebanon; Michell Pieschel of Blanchester; Kimberly Runnells and Jammie White of Cincinnati; Sarrah Schultz of Lockland; Sarah LaNicca of Mason; April Riedel of Morrow; Lindsey Rose of Monroe; Narinder Kaur and Jo Ann Lusk of West Chester; Angelia Jones and Catherine McLaughlin of Waynesville; and Renee Barnett of Brookville.

Sarrah Schultz received the Ruth Ann Busald Award for academic excellence and leadership potential. Ann Pohlman received the Nightingale Award, nominated by faculty or students. Alicia Boeddeker, Anessa Greenwell, Kimberly Holliday, April Riedel, Jennifer Springer, Teresa Tunnell received Clinical Achievement Awards for their ability to exercise nursing judgment in clinical situations. Sarrah LaNicca received the Special Clinical Practice Recognition Award for service above and beyond the normal clinical experience.

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(05/04/06)

Trueman Named MUM Student of the Month

Kelly Trueman has been named Miami University Middletown's Student of the Month for February. The junior from West Chester is majoring in business.

Trueman was nominated for the award for her outstanding work both on an off campus. She is a founding member of the Philanthropy Club at Miami Middletown. She is president of the Business Club and president-elect of Miami Middletown Student Government. She has been involved in raising funds and supplies for Katrina victims, the Animal Friends Humane Society and the American Cancer Society.

She received the Middletown Area United Way's Youth Angel Award in April in recognition of for her fundraising activities.

The Student of the Month award is given in recognition of students who make a significant contribution to the campus either in or out of the classroom.

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(05/02/06)

Free Symphonic Band Concert May 7

The Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band will perform at 2:30 pm on Sunday, May 7 in Miami University Middletown's Dave Finkelman Auditorium.

The band, directed by Chris Brandenburg, is in its thirty-ninth year and currently features approximately ninety musicians. William Stiehl, Coordinator of Fine Arts for the Middletown City School District, originally started the band in 1967.

This event is free and open to the public.

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