Feb 07, 2014

Trustees approve promotion and/or tenure for 50

Miami University trustees at their Feb. 7 board meeting approved the promotion and/or tenure of 43 faculty members and the continuing contract and/or promotion of seven librarians.

Provost Bobby Gempesaw commended the group overall for its commitment to students, classroom innovations, research and service. "The granting of tenure and promotion is one of the most important decisions made at the university as the excellence of a university begins with outstanding faculty," said Gempesaw. "The faculty recommended to the board for promotion and tenure are considered to be teacher-scholars and engaged learners, challenging students to become involved in creative and scholarly activities."

Trustees received a report that applications to Miami to date for the fall class reached 24,801, a school record. Last year’s total, also a record, was 22,520.

Trustees approved the awarding of numerous contracts to support building or renovation as part of the university’s Long Range Housing Master Plan. They also authorized Miami Vice President for Finance and Business Services David Creamer to request approval of the Ohio Board of Regents to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $200 million to fund the next phase of the plan and to potentially refund bonds issued in 2005.

Approved projects include:

  • the HDRBS (Housing, Dining, Recreation & Business Services) Improvements 2014 Project with a total project budget not to exceed $1,500,000, for improvements and repairs to 13 residence halls and the 20-year-old recreational sports center.
  • the East Quad Renovation Project with a total project budget not to exceed $93,330,000 to upgrade five residence halls and one dining hall.
  • the Peabody Hall Renovation Project with a total project budget not to exceed $1,900,000. This will allow for changes to enable Peabody Hall to be served by the new geothermal plant in the future.


Among other actions, trustees also:

  • approved a new undergraduate degree program, the bachelor of science degree in forensic science and investigation, within the College of Professional Studies and Applied Science.
  • approved a new undergraduate degree program, the bachelor of science degree in civic and regional development, within the College of Professional Studies and Applied Science.
  • approved a new graduate degree program, the low-residency master of fine arts in creative writing.
  • authorized, in anticipation of state capital appropriation for construction, the awarding of a contract for the preconstruction phase of the Shideler Hall Renovation Project which includes planning, design, estimating and all related preconstruction services necessary to prepare the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for a budget not to exceed $2,500,000.
  • authorized the awarding of contracts for the HUB Quad Tunnel Top Replacement Project, CPA HVAC Replacement Project, Hamilton Campus Phelps Hall HVAC Improvements Project, the Hayden Park Addition – Baseball Support Facility Project and a change order to the Western Campus Residence Halls Project.
  • affirmed the appointments of Matthew Myers as dean of the Farmer School of Business and Mitchell P. Rales Chair in Business Leadership effective May 1, and Jerome Conley as dean of university libraries effective Jan. 1.
  • warded the rank of administrator emerita/us to several retiring staff members.
  • voted to extend the term of C. Michael Armstrong as a national trustee for a term ending June 30, 2014, and
  • offered a resolution of appreciation to student trustee Arianne Wilt, whose term expires this month.