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President Hodge emphasizes the engaged learner in annual address

09/04/2008

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President David Hodge delivers annual address.

Miami University President David C. Hodge in his President's Annual Address Wednesday, Sept. 3, remarked on Miami's evolving engaged learning approach to education and student success.

Speaking on Miami's academic curriculum, the president drew on examples from across the university where deep engagement has been a hallmark of the Miami experience. Hodge explained Miami's tradition of the commitment to student success by developing the total person. He discussed the need to now move toward a more engaged learning model.

"Throughout Miami's history, the student experience has included both curricular and co-curricular activities, because we have intuitively understood the importance of intangibles like work ethic, initiative, social skills, leadership and personal values to the lifelong professional and personal success of our graduates."

To achieve higher levels of excellence, Hodge emphasized the importance of reconceptualizing what is expected of students - "the historic view of a student as a receiver of knowledge can now be replaced by a view of the student as a creator of knowledge" - and to focus all aspects of the Miami experience on this goal.

President Hodge introduced Miami's move to a more engaged learning model that is based on learning development theory. This is defined in a prepared document, "The Engaged University and Student Success: The Foundations of Intellectual, Personal and Professional Growth at Miami University," available online at www.miami.muohio.edu/president.

"This is an exciting time for Miami," Hodge said. "No university is better positioned - with the history, tradition and talent - to raise our sights for student success."