from the hub
Time to Write a New Chapter By President Greg Crawford Communities can respond to challenges by becom-
ing either dispirited, divided, and debilitated or energized, innovative, and empowered. Preferring to embrace the positive, we at Miami are drawing on our resilience and commitment to students and writing a new chapter of learning, discovery, creativity, justice, and service. Our faculty, as the lead authors, are introducing numerous ingenious ways to teach our students and stay connected to them. Political science Professor Monica Schneider, for instance, has created a video-based speaker series in her Campaigns and Elections class, giving her students exceptional access to national experts on polling, unions, Washington “ Our community media, and election law. is facing so Some of these experts would never be able to carve out time to come to her much change class in person. with resolve, Norm Krumpe MS ’05, who teaches computer science, has set up a home humility, mutual studio with the help of his wife, Miami encouragement, mathematics Professor Jane Keiser. Located in their basement, the studio and confidence in comes with a green screen, professional our purpose.” lighting, and two GoPro cameras. How awesome is that? With the flip of a switch, he can toggle between sharing his computer screen and his iPad screen with his students. Sometimes he even opts for his favorite old-fashioned whiteboard. If you’re like me and keep forgetting to unmute your mic during meetings, you may find comfort in knowing that even technology experts like Norm struggle now and again. “The first day went absolutely miserably,” he admits. “But I quickly got things going. What I’ve done is recreated the classroom in a way that I like to teach.” Our faculty and staff have pulled together and faced COVID’s challenges head-on. As a result, we are undergoing a renaissance.
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Ellen Yezierski, director of Miami’s Center for Teaching Excellence, experienced this firsthand when — in partnership with the Howe Center for Writing Excellence and eLearning — she conducted online training in advance of fall semester. These sessions drew hundreds of faculty. Ellen says she’s observed more discussion this year on how to improve instructional skills than ever before. “People are applying a lot of scrutiny to the way they teach,” she says. While our faculty showcase their inventiveness, our staff are working diligently as well. Because of their success in implementing new ways to keep our campuses safe, a fair number of our students were able to move into the residence halls in September. To provide help, we have invested a record amount in aid — $36 million to the entering class and $114 million overall. We couldn’t do it without all of you, who have offered invaluable support, including $875,000 for the students’ You are invited to write to President Greg Crawford emergency needs fund. at president@MiamiOH.edu. As we continue to overcome Follow him on Twitter @MiamiOHPres. both predictable and unexpected obstacles this academic year, I feel blessed that our community is facing so much change with resolve, humility, mutual encouragement, and confidence in our purpose. We will not retreat or retrench. We will continue to invest in bold, forward-looking initiatives that meet the needs of our society and ensure the success of our students and our university, just as Miamians have for the past 211 years. Even when up against seemingly insurmountable hurdles, the unwavering dedication of our Miami community — which you are very much a part of — shines through. This is what it truly means to be One Miami.
