The Miami University Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a Health Professions Education Master of Education degree during its Dec. 12 meeting at Marcum Conference Center. During the meeting, Miami also announced an innovative Northeast Ohio Nursing Program, in which Miami will partner with NEOMED for a 24-month intensive program for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

The new Master of Education degree, part of the Educational Psychology Department in the College of Education, Health, and Society, will now go to the Ohio Department of Higher Education for approval.

Also during the meeting, David Dafoe was appointed for a three-year term as a national trustee to end in 2028. Dafoe graduated from Miami in 1984 and went on to found Flavorman, a beverage development company based in Louisville.

Following a presentation by interim provost Chris Makaroff in the Academic and Student Affairs Committee on several new Senate Bill 1 requirements impacting policies that the university is required to adopt by Dec. 31, trustees voted to approve policies governing faculty workload, annual faculty performance evaluation, faculty post-tenure-review, promotion and tenure, and retrenchment.

Other trustee actions included:

• The approval of one to the rank of professor emerita; two to the rank of professor emeritus; one to the rank of clinical lecturer emeritus; six to the rank of administrator emerita; and five to the rank of administrator emeritus;
• The naming of the Makino Subtractive Lab in the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub;
• The authorization of an additional $35 million for MiamiTHRIVE initiatives for a total commitment of $70 million;
• The authorization of up to $7 million to execute contracts for the Spring Street Removals and Hot Water Conversions project;
• The authorization of up to $3.5 million to award contracts for the Goggin Ice Center Refrigeration Replacement project;
• The authorization of up to $90 million to award contracts for the Morris, Emerson, and Tappan Halls Multi Phased Renovation;
• The approval of a resolution setting Miami University President Gregory Crawford’s salary and that of University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford; and
• The approval of a resolution extending the MOU with the Ohio Department of Medicaid.