When Miami President Phillip Shriver awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Earl Thesken in 1973, he saluted Theskens work related to regional campuses: In development of regional campuses, Miami became a pioneer; Dean Thesken was the scout, trapper and settler.
John D. Millett was Miamis 16th president from 1953 to 1964, a time of unprecedented growth for Miami as enrollments doubled, residence halls and academic facilities were added, and Miami reached out into the area to provide instruction in local communities.
In Miami University, 1809-2009: Bicentennial Perspectives the authors noted that the history of Miami University offering extension courses dates as far back as 1914 with courses being offered by the Teachers College (the forerunner of the College of Education, Health and Society).
After World War II, enrollment in colleges and universities skyrocketed as returning veterans took advantage of the GI Bill of Rights educational benefits.
It was cold that day Wednesday, January 28, 1965 but that did not deter citizens of Middletown, representatives from Miami University, the Middletown High School marching band, and Ohio Governor James Rhodes from the task at hand breaking ground for the Miami University Middletown.
