News Archive

(10/31/07)

Check, Please Debuts This Weekend

Miami University Middletown's Bunny Hollow Players will perform Check, Please on Nov. 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 4 at 3 p.m.

Check, Please is a one act comedy by Jonathan Rand that takes a look into the hardships of dating, especially when the date happens to be a raging kleptomaniac, or your grandmother's bridge partner, or a mime. Check, Please follows a series of blind dinner dates that couldn't get any worse -- until they do. Could there possibly be a light at the end of the tunnel?

A $12 admission includes dinner, show, and a special musical performance. A portion of the proceeds will benefit a local high school arts program. Tickets can be purchased at the cashier's office in Johnston Hall or by calling (513) 727-3200 or 1-86-MIAMI-MID (toll-free).

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(10/29/07)

Gustin Named Student of the Month

Cathy Gustin has been named Miami University Middletown's Student of the Month for September. The senior from Trenton is majoring in nursing.

Gustin was nominated for the award for her outstanding work as President of Miami Middletown's Student Nurse Association. She has organized a welcome lunch and provided care packages for new nursing students, coordinated nursing students to assist with athletic physicals for Miami athletes and updated Miami Middletown's Student Nurse Association elections to include students from all four of Miami's nursing tracks. She oversees a student mentoring effort and has helped raise money for Down's Syndrome and for Butler County Children's Services. Gustin has also reached out to Miami Hamilton's Student Nurse Association and formed an alliance to strengthen the level of service both groups can offer, encouraging 20 Middletown nursing students to walk with Hamilton nursing students at a walk for Mental Health. She was also involved in hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Table on campus.

Nominator Carolyn Burger says, "Cathy is so enthusiastic, caring and organized that she makes it easy to follow her leadership. She has a servant's heart."

"Our nursing instructors have set a high standard to follow," said Gustin. "This semester I have been blessed with many classmates who are willing to work hard to get the job done. I am in awe of the passion shown by our new nursing students, as well as those preparing for graduation."

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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(10/24/07)

Miami Middletown to Host Adult Open House

Miami University Middletown will host an open house for adults interested in starting classes next semester. The program will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14 in the Campus Community Center located in Johnston Hall.

The session will also include information for students who might need a more flexible format for their classes, like Miami's Saturday Select and Degree Power Schedule programs, online or offsite courses.

"It's not too late to start or finish your college degree or just take courses to update your employment skills," said Miami Middletown Director of Admission and Financial Aid Stacey Adams. "Financial aid and scholarships are also available for degree seeking adult students." For more information, call (513) 727-3216 or 1-86-MIAMI-MID toll-free or email mumadmission@muohio.edu. Miami University Middletown is located at 4200 E. University Blvd.

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(10/23/07)

MUM's Williams Wins Seven Marketing Awards

Miami University Middletown's Director of Marketing Communications Michael Williams won seven Medallion awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) at their District Three regional conference October 15th in Cincinnati.

The campus won gold awards for its Artist & Lecture Series brochure and degree brochure series; silver awards for its 2005-06 annual report, 40th anniversary logo design and 40th anniversary campaign brochure; and bronze for its 2006-07 Viewbook and 4 Pianos Concert poster.

NCMPR has more than 1,500 members from more than 600 colleges across the United States, Canada and the Bahamas. NCMPR's District Three includes two-year colleges from Illinois; Indiana; Ohio; Wisconsin; and Ontario, Canada.

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(10/19/07)

¡Fiesta! ¡Fiesta! Returns on October 27

Tropicoso, one of the region's hottest Latin bands, will be featured for Miami University Middletown's "¡Fiesta! ¡Fiesta!" at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 in the Campus and Community Center.

¡Fiesta! ¡Fiesta! began more than five years ago as an annual event celebrating Latin music, and the evening combines dance lessons, food, and live Latin music for an evening for the entire family.

Cincinnati's premier Latin ensemble, Tropicoso, first came together in January of 1999, specializing in performing high-energy hits from the genres of salsa and merengue along with their own compositions and arrangements. The band received the 2002 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards' "Best World/Ethnic/Reggae" award, the 2003 Cammy award for "Best World Beat Band," and in 2005 released their first CD, Un Cuento.

Cincinnati CityBeat reviewer Mike Breen praised Tropicoso's music which "burns with authenticity in both the feeling and musicianship," and Larry Nager of the Sunday Challenger noted Tropicoso's "pulsing percussion, fiery horns, passionate vocal..Tropicoso is the real deal, bringing the true Latin sound to Cincinnati.."

Local instructor Michael Scoggins of Ohio Ballroom, who will be teaching social dance at MUM beginning in January, will provide some basic Latin dance lessons at the beginning of the evening.

¡Fiesta! ¡Fiesta! Is sponsored by Miami University Middletown's Artist and Lecture Series together with the student organization FACES (Faces and Cultures of Every Student).

Tickets for Fiesta! Fiesta! Are $15 for general admission; $10 for Miami faculty, staff and students (K-college). They can be purchased at the cashier's office in Johnston Hall or by calling (513) 727-3200 or 1-86-MIAMI-MID (toll-free).

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(10/17/07)

Miami Middletown, MVCTC Partnership Makes College Transition Easier

Miami University Middletown and the Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) are working together on a program that could help fill Ohio's need for college graduates by making it easier for high school students to make the transition to college.

The Dual Credit Program began earlier this year when Miami Middletown physics and math faculty teamed up with teachers at MVCTC to offer intermediate college algebra and college physics at MVCTC. Dual Credit allows students to take a college level course and earn both high school and college credit. In the spring, 38 students completed these courses. This fall, pre-calculus, statistics and another physics class have also been offered, with 28 students enrolled.

Dual Credit differs from the Post Secondary Enrollment Option in that it removes travel and transportation barriers for the students, which can be significant, as well as allowing them to continue to participate in high school activities.

"The collaborative goal of the program is to develop a replicable model based on rigor, relevance and relationships," said Miami Middletown Dean Kelly Cowan. "We're also trying to focus on students who may not consider college as an option. It's a bridge for first-generation college students."

MVCTC is located in Clayton and serves 27 area high schools in five southwestern Ohio counties (Montgomery, Warren, Preble, Darke and Miami.) High school juniors and seniors are enrolled in one of 52 career technical programs. Tuition for the dual credit classes has so far been covered by a state grant.

"The Dual Credit courses are taught by highly qualified MVCTC faculty mentored by Miami Middletown faculty and the students have to test into the course that they want to take," said Miami Middletown Assistant Dean Cathy Bishop-Clark. "The high school versions of the class have assignments, exams, lectures and labs that are similar or identical to the college class. The same text and same syllabus are used and the high school students actually complete the work at a faster pace than their college counterparts."

The push for dual credit classes began when Ohio State Bill 311 was passed in Dec. 2006. It offered 16 grants statewide to develop a replicable model of a dual credit program that would include students who might not have considered college as an option. The $225,000 grant that MVCTC was awarded helped it partner with Miami Middletown to develop the program and continues to pay for the tuition of students in the program.

"We have seen some very positive outcomes from this program for our students, beyond the course curriculum," said Mary Beth Freeman, director of instructional development at MVCTC. "Our students put forth more effort, developed positive study habits and had an increased awareness of college expectations. This program and the relationship with Miami Middletown are a perfect fit for us."

Online tutoring has also made available to the MVCTC/Dual Credit students on four evenings each week.

"Ohio needs 230,000 new college graduates in the coming years to be able to compete globally,' said MVCTC Superintendent John Boggess." If we can get high school juniors and seniors started on that path and show them that they can do college work, then we all benefit."

"This has encouraged me to go to college even more," said Miami East High School Senior A.J. Plantz, a student in MVCTC's Electronics Engineering Tech Prep program. "I'm very proud to be a Miami student."

Almost 90 percent of the program's first group of students and their parents said that the course had helped them prepare for full-time college.

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(10/16/07)

MUM Citizens' Advisory Council to Meet

The Citizens' Advisory Council of Miami University Middletown will hold its regular meeting at noon on Friday, Nov. 9. The public is invited to attend this meeting, which will be held in Room 136 of the new Campus Community Center in Johnston Hall.

The Citizens' Advisory Council is composed of 15 members from Miami Middletown's service region who serve as a channel for community interaction with the campus. The purpose of the Council is to represent the community's expectations and needs to the campus and to provide the campus with a direct means of communication to the community.

Time will be allotted for public comment. Faculty, staff and students are also encouraged to attend this meeting. For more information on this meeting, call (513) 727-3379.

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(10/15/07)

MUM Holiday Bazaar Set for Nov. 8, 9

Get a head start on the holidays at Miami University Middletown's Sixth Annual MUM Yum Holiday Bazaar, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8 and 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 in the Campus Community Center.

This year's MUM Yum will include: home made crafts, Longaberger baskets, holiday centerpieces, baked goods, fudge, hot cider and the traditional "MUM Yum" tree. The Bazaar proceeds will benefit the "Feed the Hungry" project at Middletown's Dream Center.

This event is sponsored by Miami Middletown's C.I.V.I.C. (Campus Individuals Volunteering in the Community) organization. For more information, call (513) 727-3205.

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(10/05/07)

"Old Standards in New Space" Concert Scheduled for October 14

Combining the old and the new, Miami University Middletown's Artist & Lecture Series is presenting a free concert featuring local jazz players in a new venue.

"Old Standards in a New Space" will feature local musicians such as Sam Ashworth, Brad Angolini, Chuck Evans and Jim Olcott, together with other jazz players starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 14th. The concert is free and open to the public.

The "old standards" will be old jazz standards ranging from swing to ballads.

The "new space' is the lobby of the former Bank One building at the corner of Main and Central in downtown Middletown.

Miami's Applied Research Center has been located in the rear portion of the building for a year, and the possibility of using the lobby as a new downtown performance venue was intriguing for Rod Nimtz who is coordinating the series this year.

"With its high ceilings and open spaces I often thought the lobby would be great performance venue," Nimtz said. "It's a smaller type of venue, probably better suited to events drawing 100 to 200 people. This will be an inaugural venture to see how well it works for both artists and audience members."

Judy Bober, who manages the property for owner Perry Thatcher, was glad to see Miami expanding its presence in the downtown area. "We are excited to have Miami expanding its programming and outreach into downtown, and hope that this may open doors for other Miami events."

The Manchester Inn's Sunday brunch is available prior to the concert, from 11 am to 2 pm at the Manchester Inn. Parking for the concert is available next to the building.

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(10/05/07)

Candidates' Forum Set For Oct. 18

Do you have a question that you would like the candidates for Middletown mayor, city council or board of education to answer?

Voters will have an opportunity to ask questions to candidates seeking to become mayor of Middletown, as well as those seeking seats on the Board of Education and City Council.

All candidates in the Middletown mayoral, city council and school board races were invited to participate.

Submit your questions via e-mail at news@middletownjournal.com; drop them off in writing at The Journal, 52 S. Broad St.; or call reporter Ed Richter at (513) 705-2871.

Questions will be accepted through Oct. 10.

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(10/04/07)

Fall Campus Visit Day Set For October 25

Miami Middletown will host a Fall Campus Visit Day at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25 in Johnston Hall.

Topics will include the application process, financial aid and scholarships, academic programs, student support services and campus life. Discussions will include options for first-time, transfer and adult students. Parents and spouses are encouraged to attend. A light meal will be served.

This program is free and open to the public. Reservations are encouraged at (513) 727-3216 or 1-86-MIAMI-MID (toll-free) or email l mumadmission@muohio.edu. Miami Middletown is located at 4200 E. University Blvd.

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(10/04/07)

Campus has $36 million impact on region

Miami University Middletown contributed an estimated $36.2 million to the regional economy in 2005-06, according to a new study sponsored by the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE).

During fiscal year 2005-06, Miami University Middletown spent $20.8 million on its operations, almost all of which was spent within Butler and Warren Counties. This spending by the University for staffing, maintenance, utilities and other administrative costs generated an additional $14.9 million in economic activity within Butler and Warren Counties. When these expenditures and impacts are combined, the total economic impact of operations comes to $35.8 million.

Miami University Middletown employed 358 individuals, which resulted in a total direct and indirect employment creation of 459 jobs for Butler and Warren Counties. This overall impact on employment is the sum of all jobs created or maintained as a result of the economic activity generated by the University.

Together with the impact of other expenditures by the University, this resulted in an overall impact on household income of $16.3 million for Butler and Warren Counties.

Miami University Middletown also attracts contributions and other types of revenues from outside. This is a cash inflow to the region, i.e., new money. This new money accounts for an estimated $18.1 million (49.9%) of the total economic impact of $36.2 million. This new money is very important for its role in replenishing the local economy.

Spending by students and visitors who come to the University generates additional economic impacts. These economic impacts are estimated at $1.4 million to $1.8 million.

"Miami University Middletown plays a significant role in our local economy," said Middletown Economic Director Bill Murphy. "As the economic impact study shows, not only is MUM one of the city's top employers, it is also part of a major economic engine in Butler and Warren Counties."

"Colleges and universities provide community benefits such as social and human capital, creativity, culture and arts, and numerous other resources that contribute to a higher quality of living," said Sean Creighton, SOCHE executive director. "While other industries slow down, higher education continues to evolve and contribute significantly to the vibrancy of the region. The potential of colleges and universities to transform our economy and community further is enormous."

SOCHE is a consortium of colleges and universities in a 10-county area in southwestern Ohio; 19 of the 21 SOCHE members participated in the study. The study is available online at www.soche.org.

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