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In the spirit of last week's Thanksgiving holiday, we extend our sincere thanks for entrusting your student(s) with us at Miami University. We hope you had a holiday filled with the happiness of good friends and family. We know that this short break provides many students with the energy and encouragement needed to persevere through the projects, papers, and exams of the coming weeks.
The next issue of eeweemakiki will be sent in January 2018. As always, find past issues on our Stay in Touch page.
Love and Honor,
Mark W. Pontious Director, Parent & Family Programs |
| In this issue: - Conversation Corner
- Miami Tribe and Miami University Relationship, continued from October eeweemakiki
- Jamaica Study Abroad Program Educates Through Giving Back
- Reminders from the One Stop
- Fraternity and Sorority Recruitment Information
- Fall Commencement
- Spring Meal Plan Reminder
- Mock Interview Program
- Study Abroad Options for Miami Parents
- New Course Explores African American Experiences Through Children's Literature & Art
- Winter Break Rates at The Marcum Hotel & Conference Center
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| Conversation CornerEvery student enters Miami University with dreams and goals, and the capacity to graduate from Miami and have a significant positive impact on our world. When a student is deprived of this opportunity, not only are they individually worse off, but the rest of us are diminished as well. A sense of belonging - feeling welcome and comfortable - is a necessary condition for any student to realize their full potential at Miami and beyond. Miami's Code of Love & Honor is vital because it recognizes this, and helps clearly define the community to which we aspire.
Most members of our Miami community attempt to live each day in a way consistent with the values outlined in our Code, but there are exceptions. While these incidents are not representative of our ideals, we must recognize that they have a profound negative impact that is difficult to repair. President Crawford and Miami's leadership team recently responded to just such an incident. We've pasted the response below. As we transition from the grace of the Thanksgiving holiday toward the longer Winter Break and its many opportunities for both celebration and reflection, we urge you to talk to your student. Talk about how destructive bias, intolerance, and hatred are, not just to those at whom it is directed, but to each of us who seek to nurture the best in each other and promote the greatest common good.
Dear Miami Community, We are writing to share our deep sense of anger, disappointment, and sorrow over recent acts of intolerance in our Miami community. Hatred, bigotry and intolerance have absolutely no place on our campuses or in our community. We must unequivocally reject all forms of hatred, racism, bigotry, intimidation, intolerance, and violence. The Miami community has worked hard to ensure that we foster an inclusive environment, one that respects each and every individual, and one that not only embraces diversity and inclusion, but values and respects it. Anyone who does not share our core values of Love and Honor or who chooses hate over compassion, intolerance over mutual respect, or who would rather denigrate than uplift, must ask themselves the fundamental question - Is Miami the right university for me? We are a community who cherish our values and respect the whole person - it is core to our educational mission and pedagogy. Individuals or factions that deny our values will not and cannot define us. We will redouble our efforts to ensure a more respectful and inclusive Miami. We have made progress, but much work remains to be done. Gregory Crawford, President
Phyllis Callahan, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
David Creamer, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Services and Treasurer
Tom Herbert, Senior Vice President for University Advancement
Michael Kabbaz, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success
Jayne Brownell, Vice President for Student Affairs
J. Peter Natale, Vice President for Information Technology
Robin Parker, General Counsel
Ted Pickerill, Secretary to the Board of Trustees and Executive Assistant to the President
David Sayler, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Ronald B. Scott, Associate Vice President for Institutional Diversity
Randi Thomas, Director of Institutional Relations
Dawn Tsirelis, Assistant to the President
Kathy Bishop-Clark, interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science
Jerome Conley, Dean, University Libraries
Michael A. Curme, Dean of Students
Michael Dantley, Dean, College of Education, Health and Society
Marek Dollár, Dean, College of Engineering and Computing
Christopher A. Makaroff, Jr., Dean, College of Arts and Science
Elizabeth Mullenix, Dean, College of Creative Arts
James T. Oris, Dean, The Graduate School
Marc Rubin, interim Dean, The Farmer School of Business
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Miami Tribe and Miami University Relationship, continued
The Miami Tribe and Miami University have a connection that is rooted in shared name, place, and education. In order to celebrate this relationship and create awareness, the Miami Heritage Logo (above) was created. The logo highlights the connection between the Tribe and the University. The designs and colors of the logo specific highlight aspects of the tribe-university relationship, including respect, history, responsibility, shared vision, and cooperation. Along with the logo, the relationship is described by the Myaamia word neepwaantiinki, or "learning from each other."
There are several locations on campus where you can learn more about the relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, including the Armstrong Student Center's Smucker Wiikiaami. Wiikiaami is the Myaamia word for the lodge or home, historically made by bending and tying saplings together to create a domed frame. This frame was traditionally covered in cattail mats and bark sheets peeled from trees. The original concept for the Wiikiaami Room was developed by students in a Winter Term 2009 course. Students in the course were determined to develop an idea focused on the Miami Tribe for possible inclusion in the new student center, which was in design phase at that time. The students' research and field study visit to the Miami Tribe in Oklahoma helped bring the wiikiaami idea to life. It was within the familial wiikiaami that life skills were taught and cultural knowledge was passed on to younger generations. The students concluding there was no more fitting symbol representing learning than the wiikiaami.
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The distinguishing feature of the Wiikiaami Room in Armstrong is its round shape, like that of a wiikiaami. The room's four display cases and two doorways are outlined with Myaamia diamond pattern wood inlay made by a Miami Tribe artisan. Flowing from each display case to the floor is a strip of wood inlay serving as an accent on the benches that line the walls of the room. The image created by extending those strips from the top each case to the center of the ceiling mimics that of the saplings used to create a wiikiaami frame. The display cases rotate information about the Miami Tribe and ways students engage with the Myaamia Center on campus. To find out more about the relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University, visit the Miami Tribe Relations page.
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Jamaica Study Abroad Program Educates through Giving BackWhen Davaughn Golden graduates in May 2018, he can truly say he made the most of his Miami Experience, though it was once a different story. A political science major with a philosophy minor, he serves in four student organizations, including the Black Student Action Association and Black Women Empowered, and works in the Office of Diversity Affairs. Last Winter Term he studied abroad in Jamaica, with support from the Miami Family Fund.
But during his first year, Davaughn didn't leave his room much. Finding his niche was not easy in the beginning, and he knew this had to change. "My sophomore and junior year, I applied for anything and everything I wanted to do, and study abroad was one of them," Davaughn said. After seeing an advertisement for the Miami University Globalization and Development in Jamaica program, and that one of his favorite professors, Dr. Abdoulaye Saine, led the trip, Davaughn sought out and found financial support through programs like the Family Fund. He had never been on a plane, let alone to another country, so he sought guidance from Dr. Saine and a roommate, who told him about the Family Fund and other resources.
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Once in Jamaica, Davaughn and his classmates traveled the island, serving communities and experiencing the culture. They helped build a house, served food to disadvantaged children, visited a boys school and a nursing home, and saw what drives the Jamaican economy with visits to a rum factory and sugar cane fields. The experience left a mark on Davaughn, solidifying his desire to pursue a career in service and ending his college career on a different note. Once the person afraid to leave his comfort zone, he now plans to enter Teach for America. "To the parents and families who support the Family Fund, I encourage them to continue to give back," Davaughn said. "The impact means so much to the students who receive it. I never thought I would study abroad. It's something I can carry with me for a lifetime." Made possible through the private support of Miami families, the Miami Family Fund strengthens the university’s efforts to provide a safe, vibrant, and well-rounded college experience by offering support in several areas.
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Reminders from the One Stop:Winter/Spring Bill: The Winter/Spring bill will be available for online viewing on December 11, 2017. Payment is due by January 10, 2018. The online account and payment center will be unavailable while bills are being prepared from December 6 through December 11. Payment plans are available. Enrollment for the four-payment plan opens on December 1, 2017 and enrollment for the three-payment plan opens on January 1, 2018. Find more information on the Billing and Payment page. 1098-T Forms: Did you know that you can receive your 1098-T form electronically? Payments received by mail must be postmarked by December 21 and electronic payments must be submitted by December 31 to be recorded for the 2017 tax year. More information and instructions are available on the Education Tax Credit page. 2018-2019 FAFSA Availble Now: The 2018-2019 FAFSA is now available. The FAFSA requires already completed tax data from 2016 and, with the IRS data retrieval tool (IRS DRT), tax data from the IRS can be imported automatically, saving time and ensuring accuracy. To learn more, visit the IRS Data Retrieval Tool page. Current federal aid recipients must complete the FAFSA each year to continue to receive federal aid, including grants, loans, and federal work-study funds. It is important that a student's FAFSA be filed no later than February 1, 2018 to be considered for all available need-based financial aid awards. Fall 2017 Final Exams: Final exam week is Monday, December 11 through Saturday December 16 (though very few Oxford-campus classes hold exams on Saturday). For various policies impacting exam week, check the Final Exams page for information. Students can see their final exam dates/times on their detailed course schedule in BannerWeb.
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Fraternity & Sorority Recruitment at Miami Formal Recruitment for Panhellenic sororities and Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities takes place within the first two weeks of the spring semester. In order to join any Greek-letter organization, students must have completed one full-time fall or spring semester, earned 12 credit hours with at least a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA from Miami, and have completed the online Orientation to Fraternity & Sorority Life. All students must register for the recruitment process (Sorority Recruitment, Fraternity (IFC) Recruitment), and the deadline is 5pm, January 3, 2018. There are no exceptions to the requirements for recruitment, nor for missing the registration deadline. Join us for a webinar about recruitment and tips for supporting your student:- Fraternity Recruitment: Wednesday, December 13, 12-1pm
- Sorority Recruitment: Thursday, December 14, 12-1pm
Visit the Webinars page to register for these sessions and see the Spring 2018 schedule. Explore the Parents section of the Fraternity & Sorority Life website for more information.
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Friday, December 15 | 3:00 p.m. | Millett Assembly Hall
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Spring Meal Plan ReminderAll on-campus residents with meal plans have the opportunity to review and make needed changes to their plan for Spring Semester.
Students review or change their meal plan in myCard, using their Unique ID and password.
Plans can be changed through Monday, January 29, 2018 and declining balance funds can be added at any time. Unused declining balance dollars automatically roll over to spring semester.
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New EHS Course Explores African American Experiences
Through Children's Literature and Art This spring, the College of Education, Health, & Society is offering a one-time-only class that uniquely combines art, children's literature, and African American voices. During the course, African American Children's Book Art (EDT 285), students will explore original art created by African American illustrators, interact with an illustrator, and learn about different cultural perspectives. The course is ideal for anyone interested in art, children's books, or social justice. But students are also encouraged to register if they hope to work in children's education or if they plan to share books with their own children or other young family members.
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"The art is from books about important aspects of history, such as the Civil Rights Movement, poetry by Langston Hughes and others, cultural stories, and books featuring significant individuals, like Lena Horne, Muhammed Ali, Sarah Breedlove Walker, and more," says EHS lecturer Brenda Dales. Because EDT 285 fulfills a Miami Plan requirement, all majors are welcome. "But more importantly," says Dales, "the course will suggest that books for children and young people of all ages are more than Dr. Seuss and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. While they are important touchstones of children's literature, there are also multiple concepts presented in books for young people that can lead to social change for all." EDT 285 will run in conjunction with Miami University Art Museum's Spring 2018 exhibition, Telling A People's Story: African American Children's Illustrated Literature.
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Current Miami graduate student and Miami parent, Sharon Montano, pictured here on Dragonfly's course in Costa Rica (left) and in the Amazon (right). Study Abroad Options for Miami ParentsAs a Miami parent, you, too, have the opportunity to earn credit at Miami, regardless of where you live in the U.S. and regardless of your profession. Designed for working adults with bachelor's degrees, Earth Expeditions graduate courses from Miami's Project Dragonfly take place online and in the field with visionary community leaders and conservationists in 16 countries. Students explore coral reef conversation in Australia, the role of sacred groves in biological and cultural sustainability in India, and human-wildlife coexistence in Kenya. If you hold a bachelor's degree in any field, you can apply for 2018 courses through January 28. Project Dragonfly also offers the Advance Inquiry Program (AIP) master's degree that combines Miami online instruction with experiential learning and field study through AIP Master Institutions in the U.S. Applications for Miami's 2018 cohorts are being accepted now, with place-based experiences provided at world-class zoos in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, New York, San Diego, and Seattle.
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Dropping your student off for Winter Term? Visiting for a weekend over Winter Break? Enjoy the warmth of The Marcum Hotel & Conference Center this winter! Our Winter Break Special offers rooms at $89 per night, December 15-January 2. Rate not valid with any other offer.
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