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Miami University
Miami University (colloquially and incorrectly referred to as Miami of Ohio for clarification purposes) is a coeducational public university founded in 1809 in the college town of Oxford, Ohio with its primary focus on educating undergraduates.[1][2]
OverviewThe tenth public college founded in the United States, Miami University dates back to a grant of land made for its support by the United States Congress and signed by George Washington on May 5 1792. The university's first president, Robert Hamilton Bishop, envisioned Miami as the "Yale of the West" and planned the first several buildings accordingly.[3] Miami is located in southwestern Ohio approximately thirty miles (50 km) northwest of Cincinnati. The Miami in this school's name refers to the Miami River valley, cut by two medium-sized rivers, the Little Miami River and the Great Miami River, that flow through southwestern Ohio; the rivers were in turn named after the Miami Indians who lived in the area before European settlement. Miami ranks in the first tier of the U.S. News & World Report college rankings at 66th[4] among 252 "National Universities". In this same report the university ranks, tied with Purdue University, as 26th[5] among public National Universities. BusinessWeek ranks the undergraduate business program for the Farmer School of Business at 24th[6] among U.S. business schools, 8th among public business schools, and 1st among Ohio business schools. 
The Phi Delta Theta Gate was built through contributions by the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, which was founded at Miami in 1848. Miami was named one of eight original "Public Ivys" in Richard Moll's 1985 book, The Public Ivys: America's Flagship Undergraduate Colleges. Miami is known as the "Cradle of Coaches" because several prominent football coaches were student/athletes and/or coaches at Miami before achieving greater fame at more prominent college programs or the National Football League. Among these coaches were Earl Blaik, Paul Brown, Sid Gillman, Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, Weeb Ewbank, Bo Schembechler, Randy Walker, Ron Zook, Joe Novak, and Jim Tressel. Miami graduated an American President, Benjamin Harrison, placing the school in a prestigious category of Presidential alma maters. Miami is only one of four colleges (Stanford, Michigan, and the U.S. Naval Academy) to produce both a U.S. President and a Super Bowl winning quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger). It is also the alma mater of many U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, U.S. military leaders, State Governors and Fortune 500 business executives. For many years, the athletic teams at Miami were nicknamed Redskins, but in 1997 the nickname was changed to RedHawks. Some controversy surrounded this change and some aspects of the old identity persist. The RedHawks compete in NCAA Division I in all sports (I-A in football). Miami's primary conference is the Mid-American Conference; its hockey program is a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Miami is also known for its School of Education, housed in McGuffey Hall, named for Professor William Holmes McGuffey (called the "Schoolmaster to the Nation"), who was a Miami Classics professor and wrote America's most widely used pioneer text books - the McGuffey Readers - while on faculty at Miami University. Miami also was the first U.S. public university to have an "Artist-in-Residence" program, with Percy MacKaye as the first poet in residence. The Miami Student claims to be the oldest university newspaper, tracking its founding to 1826, although Dartmouth College's student newspaper contests this claim. Freedom Summer training took place at Western College (which was then a separate campus) in the summer of 1964. History
Elliott Hall was modeled after Yale's Connecticut Hall. The 10th oldest public university in the nation, Miami University took students from all over the West, and was known as the "Yale of the Early West". It was at one point the 4th largest university in the United States after Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth. As the East-West rivalries subsided, but the North-South rivalries surged, Miami University split apart at the time of the Civil War. Most graduates volunteered for the Union, more than any other school except the military academies. The majority of those that didn't, primarily from Southern states (such as Jefferson Davis' nephew) volunteered in the Confederate armies. Miami contributed significantly to the leadership of both sides of the war. Of the ten members of Lincoln's Cabinet, two were from Miami: Secretary of the Interior Caleb Blood Smith and Postmaster General William Dennison. When the Civil war began, there were five governors of thirty-three states who were Miami graduates (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Mississippi). Also, Ohio would have two and Iowa one civil war governor, California one governor before the war and Missouri two governors just after the war, all from Miami University. Ten Union generals were alumni of Miami, including 23rd President of the U.S., Benjamin Harrison (class of 1852) and three Confederate generals were graduates of Miami. Of the three Admirals in the Union Navy, two were Miami graduates, including Stephen Clegg Rowan.[8] Because most of its all-male student body had left for and fought in the war (leaving four years with virtually no student fees to sustain the University), because many alumni and professors died in the War, because the West opened up to other universities, and because Southern families no longer sent their sons to the North for an education, "Old Miami" passed on and Miami University nearly died. The university, unable to pay its huge debts, closed in 1873 and did not reopen until 1885 (when the Civil War ended, only 104 out of 516 American colleges would survive). 
Alumni Hall 
The "Beta Bells" of Miami University were built with funds donated by the Beta Theta Pi fraternity on its Centennial in 1939. Over the course of the twentieth century, Miami has absorbed two women's colleges located in Oxford: Oxford College (1854?1929) and Western College for Women (1853?1974, a daughter school of Mount Holyoke. Oxford was also home to Oxford Theological Seminary (1838?1858) and the Oxford Female Institute (1849?1867), which was absorbed into Oxford College in 1867. Miami University was coeducational long before most schools in the Ivy League. Miami has been a non-sectarian school as were other pioneer universities in the Midwest, though its early leaders were often Presbyterians. Miami University's current enrollment on the Oxford campus is approximately 15,000 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students. In addition to its Oxford campus, Miami has additional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, Ohio, and a Voice of America Learning Center, West Chester, Ohio (Cincinnati) and European Center in Differdange, Luxembourg, with approximately 6000 more students. Miami University is known around the Greek World for the Miami Triad, three fraternities founded in the 19th century that spread throughout the United States, and is called "Mother of Fraternities." These were Beta Theta Pi (1839), Sigma Chi (1855), and Phi Delta Theta (1848). The Delta Zeta sorority was also founded at Miami University in 1902 as was the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity in 1906. Alpha Delta Phi was the first fraternity to arrive on campus in 1833. Phi Delta Theta was founded in Elliott Hall and two of Phi Kappa Tau's four founders lived in the same room at the time of its founding. In an effort to make college more affordable to Ohio students, Miami offers a varied in-state tuition based on financial need as well as state-identified key areas of study including engineering and mathematics. In 2007-08, the highest tuition paid by Ohioans is $11,643; 60 percent pay less, as low as $8,900. Ohio families earning $35,000 or less annually pay no tuition courtesy of the Miami Access Initiative. Miami University System
Academic divisionsMiami University has six academic divisions?the College of Arts & Science, the Farmer School of Business, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the School of Education, Health, and Society, the School of Fine Arts, and the Graduate School. The College of Arts and Science is the oldest and largest college at Miami, with nearly half of the undergraduate student body enrolled. The college offers 56 majors, 48 minors, and 2 co-majors (Environmental Science and Environmental Principles & Practice). Ten of the eleven doctoral degrees offered by Miami are provided through the College of Arts and Science.[9] Miami's Farmer School of Business offers eight majors, and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report (as of 2007) as 21st among the top public universities in the nation.[10][11] The School also offers graduate MBA, Accountancy, and Economics degrees. Although the Farmer School of Business is currently housed in multiple academic buildings on campus, construction is underway on Farmer Hall, which "will house all aspects of the Farmer School of Business under one roof, enabling us to pursue our mission and make significant progress in achieving our goal of excellence in business education."[12] The School of Engineering & Applied Sciences offers 12 accredited majors at the Oxford Campus[13], and recently moved into the new Engineering Building?a $22 million-dollar facility finished in 2007[14]. The School also offers masters degrees in Computer Science and Paper & Chemical Engineering[15] The School of Education, Health, and Society?formerly known as the School of Education & Allied Professions?offers 26 undergraduate degrees[16] spanning areas from teacher education, kinesiology & health, educational psychology, and family studies & social work.[17] As of fall 2007, nearly 2,800 undergraduates were enrolled in the School.[16] Miami's School of Fine Arts comprises four departments?Architecture & Interior Design, Music, Theater and Art. Each department has its own admission requirements separate from the standard admissions requirements for the University. Art majors choose a concentration in areas such as ceramics, metals, photography, printmaking, sculpture, graphic design, and interior design. Music majors specify either music performance or music education.[18]. Miami offers master's degrees in 50 areas of study, and doctoral degrees in 11. In order to enroll in graduate courses, students must first be accepted into The Graduate School, and then into the department through which the degree is offered.[19] For all students (in-state and out-of-state), tuition for the Graduate School is roughly the same as for an undergraduate degree. Out-of-state students still pay approximately $13,000 more than in-state students.[20][21] Mission statementThe mission of Miami University is to preserve, add to, evaluate, and transmit the accumulated knowledge of the centuries; to develop critical thinking, extend the frontiers of knowledge, and serve society; and to provide an environment conducive to effective and inspired teaching and learning, promote professional development of faculty, and encourage scholarly research and creativity of faculty and students. 
Miami University logo Miami is committed to serve the community, state, and nation. It offers access to higher education, including continuing education, for those who can benefit from it, at a reasonable cost, without regard for race, creed, sex, or age. It educates men and women for responsible, informed citizenship, as well as for meaningful employment. It provides both disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to the pursuit of knowledge and to the solving of problems. It sponsors a wide range of cultural and educational activities which have significance beyond the campus and the local community.http://www.miami.muohio.edu/about_miami/mission/ Alma MaterThe alma mater was written by Alfred H. Upham, the 16th President of Miami[22]. His original verses are as follows: Old Miami from thy hillcrest, Aging in thy simple splendor, Now of late thyself envigored, Thou shalt stand a constant beacon, Chorus*: *The chorus is sung between each verse and at the end. The Miami Men's Glee Club often performs the alma mater at University events such as convocation, guest lectures, or commencement. A sample of the glee club singing the alma mater can be heard here. In 1989, after consultation of alumni, faculty, students, and staff, four additional verses were added to the alma mater[23]. It is customary to play the first verse and chorus of the alma mater at the end of Miami athletic events, usually when the marching band or pep band is present. Fight SongMiami's fight song was composed in 1908 by Professor of Geology Raymond H. Burke. Before the music was composed, students sang the words to the tune of "Oh My Darling Clementine"[24]. The lyrics are as follows: Love and honor to Miami, Alma mater now we praise thee, Presidents of Miami
Commencement speakers
Athletics
A football game at Yager Stadium Miami historically has had some of the highest graduation rates of student-athletes in the NCAA, second only to Navy. Football and Ice Hockey are the most popular according to the student body. Miami is a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). Fred C. Yager Stadium is the main football facility on the Oxford campus. Track and Cross Country have been prominent over the last decade, producing several All-Americans and multiple top 3 conference finishes. Daniel Huling recently placed third in the steeple chase at the US Championships. Previous alumni include Brian Godsey (former world record holder in the backwards 800 m, 3000 m, video confirmation by Assistant T&F Coach Ceith Creekmur), Steve Padgett (a sub 9-minute two-miler in high school), David Mitchell (an All-American in NCAA Cross-country). Miami has a number of sports rivalries, among them those with the University of Cincinnati called the 'Battle for the Victory Bell' and the Ohio Bobcats called the 'Battle of the Bricks.' Miami and the University of Cincinnati square off each fall for the famed Victory Bell. The original bell hung in Miami's Harrison Hall (Old Main) near the site of the first football game in 1888 and was used to ring in Miami victories. The traveling trophy tradition began in the 1890s when some Cincinnati fans, purportedly led by local gunslinger Jeff Orlick, "borrowed" the bell. The bell went to the winner of the annual game for the next 40 years until it mysteriously disappeared in the 1930s. The original bell reappeared in 1946 and is on display in the lobby of the Murstein Alumni Center in Oxford. The current trophy is a replica of the original bell and is kept in the possession of the winning team each year. One side of the bell is painted red and black and shows Cincinnati's victories while the other side is red and white and shows Miami's victories. Miami leads the series 59-44-7 but has lost three of the last four games to the Bearcats. The Miami-Cincinnati series ranks fifth on the list of the most played rivalries in college football and the oldest rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains. Of the more than 30 rivalries that include at least 89 games, none are older than Miami vs. Cincinnati. The Battle of the Bricks is an annual all-sports rivalry competition between the Ohio Bobcats and the Miami RedHawks athletic programs. The name "Battle of the Bricks" evolved from each school's reputation of a pristine campus of red brick buildings. Each varsity athletic competition in which the Bobcats and RedHawks meet, including tournament play, is counted as part of the year's series record. At the conclusion of each academic year, the school with the most varsity wins takes the trophy back to its campus for the following year. In October 2006 the Goggin Ice Center, a $34 million hockey arena seating 3,642 spectators, was christened. The old arena was opened in 1976, and closed in mid-2006, giving way to the new arena. It is now home to both the Miami University men's Ice Hockey team and the Women's Synchronized Skating team, which is the largest women's sport on campus. The Miami University Senior Synchronized Skating team has earned a spot in the World Synchronized Skating Championships in five of the past seven seasons. The RedHawks have finished among the top four teams at the past two World Championships, including a silver-medal 2nd-place finish at the 2007 World Synchronized Skating Championships -- the first time a U.S. team has medalled at the event. In its past five appearances at the World Synchronized Skating Championships, Miami has finished no lower than ninth. The collegiate Synchronized Skating team has won an unparalleled 10 U.S. championship titles since the division was created 12 seasons ago. The newly formed junior level team has also won great acclaim, earning a spot to compete internationally as part of Team USA in its first season (2006-2007). Notable sports alumni include Ben Roethlisberger, the current quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ara Parseghian, a former Notre Dame football coach, Milt Stegall, the current all time touchdown leader in the CFL, Weeb Ewbank, a former New York Jets football coach, Paul Brown, the founder of the former Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, Charlie Leibrandt, a Major League Baseball pitcher, Ron Harper, a former NBA basketball player, Wally Szczerbiak, a basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ira Newble, hockey players Kevyn Adams, Andy Greene, Brian Savage, Dan Boyle and Bo Schembechler, a former Miami and University of Michigan football coach. Recognition
Harrison Hall at sunrise A July 2006 New York Times article cited Miami University as a "hidden gem" stating the "focus is truly on educating undergraduates. This is a medium-size institution with the advantages that confers but it still has the feel of a small liberal arts college."[27] The Kaplan-Newsweek College Catalog calls Miami a "hidden treasure-terrific schools that deserve more national attention". A 2004 article from The Education Trust, a non-profit program of the American Association for Higher Education, praised Miami University for its statistically superior graduation rates among both its student body and student athletes. [28] At the same time, The Princeton Review (of 2009) ranks Miami University 17th for best food on campus, 4th for most homogeneous1 population, 19th for Greek Life, 11th for alternative lifestyle rejection, and 2nd for little race/class interaction. In 2007, Business Week released their official rankings of the top undergraduate business schools in the United States and Miami's Farmer School of Business ranked 35th among all American universities, 12th among all public universities and 1st among all Ohio universities.[29] Also, The (October) 2007 Public Accounting Report named Miami's undergraduate accountancy program 11th in the nation[30] The business school is endowed by Richard T. Farmer, founder and chairman of the Cintas Corporation and one of the wealthiest men in Ohio (according to Forbes).[31] Miami also offers one of the nations largest senior scholarships, the Goldman Prizehttp://casnov1.cas.muohio.edu/honors/current/goldman.html. The prize is awarded to one graduating senior and is valued at $26,000 for use in a year long independent research study. Greek LifeMiami University is home to the only endowed fraternity and sorority life and leadership office, The Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership with about one out of three Miami undergraduate students claiming membership in a Greek letter society. This puts Miami among the top public universities in America in student Greek letter organization member percentage with the spring semester (when fraternity/sorority recruitment is held) percentage in some years having been possibly the highest of any public university in the nation.[32] A current roster of active general Greek letter societies include: Interfraternity Council-member Fraternities
Panhellenic Council-member Sororities
Professional and Fraternities and Sororities
Honorary Societies Notable campus features
Closing of Western College ProgramOn June 23, 2006, the Board of Trustees passed a controversial decision to remove the Western College Program as a separate college within Miami University.[33] Originally founded in the early 19th century as the Western College for Women by westward travelers from Mount Holyoke College, the women's college functioned for more than 100 years until financial difficulties forced the Western College For Women into near bankruptcy. Through a partnership between Miami University and the Western College for Women, Miami agreed to purchase the Western College for Women and promised to preserve its unique character. It operated as the School of Interdisciplinary Studies for more than 30 years until 2006 when it ceased being a separate academic division. The Western Campus, its distinctive stone buildings and bridges providing a contrast to the red brick of the main campus, remains a part of Miami University. Historic landmarks
See alsoReferences
External links
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