Miami University Board Of Trustees To Consider Building Budgets, Room & Board Increases

BY MAGGIE THOMAS
Miami University journalism student

Miami University’s Board of Trustees on Friday will consider approving budgets of up to $13 million for renovations in Shriver Center and the Campus Avenue Building.

According to the board's agenda, of the $13 million, up to $9.5 million would cover Phase 2 of Shriver work, and up to $3.5 million would be spent for the lower level of the Campus Avenue Building.

After the renovations, both buildings will accommodate new users. Shriver Center will be the new home to the Rinella Learning Center and Student Disability Services, along with the mail center and a renovated bookstore. The University News and Communications staff will move to the lower level of CAB, along with the H.O.M.E. Office.

Claire Wagner, director of the News and Communications staff, said the department currently operates in three buildings on campus, with their associate vice president in a fourth location.

“We collaborate very often. We enjoy the creative work we do together, and so once we can be under the same roof together, in Campus Avenue next year, it will be even more exciting to work as a team,” said Wagner.

In other business, the trustees will consider a proposal to increase room and board rates for next year's incoming class by roughly 2 to 3.5 percent. The increases would also apply to current sophomores and juniors, since they are not covered under Miami's Tuition Promise Plan. Under the plan, enacted this academic year for freshmen, students pay the same costs for tuition, room and board for all four years at Miami.

If the proposed increases are approved:

• new first-year students would pay $6,931 a semester for a double renovated room, up 1.93 percent from this year. New students in non-renovated doubles would pay $6,243, up 3.5 percent.
• current sophomores and juniors would pay $6,765 a semester for a double renovated room, up 1.73 percent from this year, and $6,105, up 3.47 percent, for a non-renovated room.

All of the price tags include meal plans.

Trustees will also consider naming rights for campus buildings. Ted Pickerill, secretary for the Board of Trustees, explained that the board is working to create a set of organized criteria for the naming of buildings. In related business, the board will consider 21 proposed names in the Athletic Departments's new Academic Performance Center and one name in the Farmer School of Business.

Additionally, Trustees will consider expanding meal plan choices for next school year.

"Through work with students serving on a Dining Committee, Associated Student Government, and the Residence Hall Association, the proposed meal plan offering for next fall will be called Diplomat Plus," said Kim Kinsel, associate vice president for auxiliary services.

The new plan will have a lower number of buffet meals, at 115, and a higher balance for meals outside of dining halls, at $1,100. Existing meal plans will also be available next year.

The Friday meeting will also include updates on university fundraising from Tom Herbert, vice president for university advancement. According to the agenda:

• Miami's 2020 Fundraising Plan has raised $55.5 million -- or 112 percent of its $49.5 million 2016-17 goal.
• Miami's Promise Scholarship Campaign is at $54.4 million with a $100 million goal by 2018-19.
• The Graduating Champions Campaign, to support athletic endeavors, has raised $60.4 million of its $80 million goal.
• The Humanities Center has attracted more than $782,000 in donations toward a $1.5 million goal.

In her report, student trustee Ciara Lawson will note that students were upset about the limited seating and ticketing process for the Nov. 16 campus visit of "celebrity scientist" Bill Nye. "Many students slept in the cold overnight or camped out starting at 4 or 5 a.m. (for tickets)," her report says. "This was not a smart move for student health, especially when students who had been waiting in line for hours still did not get a ticket to the presentation."

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Marcum Hotel and Conference Center and is open to the public.

Photo: Renovations at Shriver Center are nearing completion. -- Photo by Maggie Thomas