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Miami University trustees at their Sept. 15 meeting welcomed a $10.5 million gift from alumnus and former trustee Roger Howe and his wife Joyce, to Miami's For Love and Honor campaign to create the Roger and Joyce Howe Center for Writing Excellence. The intent is to make Miami the best university at teaching undergraduates how to write. See related story.
This was the first trustee board meeting for Miami's new president, David Hodge. "I thank Roger and Joyce most profoundly," said Hodge. "In my years of working in academia, I have observed that there is no single element of our educational process that is more central to what we do than writing."
Trustees also set room and board fees for 2007-2008 at $8,600, a 5.6 percent increase over this year.
The university usually sets room and board rates one year in advance so that current students can compare costs between on- and off-campus housing options.
Individual costs for room and board will vary, depending on which housing and meal plan is chosen. The plan for $8,600 includes a shared room and the 21-meal plan. Other room and board options cost less, some cost more.
The university's housing and dining operation is funded through its own revenues. No state aid or tuition money is used. Service and food are so popular that in addition to on-campus students, 5,200 off-campus students buy university meal plans.
Also, trustees approved the university's ratification of a contract with AFSCME Local 209, a three-year agreement reached in early August, effective July 1, 2006.
Trustees authorized development of the Voice of America Learning Center project in West Chester and assigned $6 million toward a total construction estimate of $7 million.
Among other actions, trustees:
• approved a new doctorate in student affairs in higher education and a new master of education and master of arts in instructional design and technology.
• approved awarding of contacts for the Hughes Hall Eminent scholar laboratory project and Hughes Room 100 project with a combined construction budget up to $2.53 million.
• authorized awarding of contracts for Warfield Hall rehabilitation up to $3.75 million.
• authorized awarding of contracts to reconfigure space on the Hamilton campus, including the admissions office, bookstore and dean's office area, up to $1.45 million.
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