New majors, a new department, approved by Miami trustees

With awareness of changing needs in the marketplace, Miami University trustees at their May 17 meeting approved the establishment of two bachelor of arts degrees — one with a major in data analytics and one with a major in organizational leadership — both in the College of Arts and Science.

Both degrees must be approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

With interactive media studies (IMS) as a long-time program at Miami, trustees approved it becoming an academic department in the College of Creative Arts. Within the IMS program, there are currently 449 students with IMS majors, 201 with IMS co-majors, 233 students with IMS minors, and 38 students with a digital games minor. There are 920 total students in IMS programs at Miami.

An enrollment report to trustees included news of a largest-ever first-year class. Trustees also received an update on marketing and communications, including areas of recent research, enhanced digital strategies and continuity of messaging.

Representatives from the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and of TIAA presented the board with the John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership, an award announced earlier this year.

In committee meetings May 16, trustees discussed budget projections and received updates on Miami’s information technology services, facilities conditions, investments and student life. Some Miami IT figures of interest: 

• Approximately 850 servers are supported, with a greater than 99% average uptime.
• About 25,000 help desk calls or emails per year are received, with an 85% overall customer satisfaction rate.
• Miami campuses have 45,000 data jacks and 35,000 active ports.
• Miami campuses host more than 5,000 wireless access points.
• There are more than 36,000 daily unique wireless users.

• Approved the rank of emerita/emeritus for several retiring faculty members and administrators.
• Approved the recommended naming of a room at Goggin Ice Center and at the Miami Middletown campus.
• Approved the granting of an honorary degree to Dinesh Paliwal (Miami ’85), president and CEO of Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.
• Approved the promotion of Angela Curl from assistant professor to associate professor in family science and social work.
• Approved the hiring of Keith Hohn as full professor of chemical, paper and biomedical engineering. Hohn joins Miami as chair of the department in August.