Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

If Butler County is to compete economically in the 21st century, education will be the key factor. The number of industrial jobs this county has enjoyed over the past several decades has declined significantly and the work force must adjust accordingly in order to keep up with the changing economy and job scene, and to attract employers in need of well-prepared, knowledgeable workers.

So it was welcome news this week to learn that Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, has approved a new four-year degree program for Miami University's branch campuses in Middletown and Hamilton.

The new Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree program will begin this fall and be available for new students or those who have already earned associate degrees. It will offer seven concentrations, including applied sociology; contemporary American experience; environmental studies; families, gender and society; information technology; organizational leadership; and understanding media and visual culture.

The new program will be the third bachelor's program offered at the Middletown and Hamilton branches. Nursing and technology degrees are available now.

Since their startups some 40 years ago, the branch campuses have been extraordinary assets for the cities of Middletown and Hamilton, offering new students a way to start their college careers at an affordable cost and offering working adults an opportunity to add new knowledge and skills. And now, with three bachelor's degree programs in place, the campuses will give many students the ability to earn four-year degrees without having to transfer to Oxford or to another university.

"We're really excited about it," said David Hall, dean of Miami-Hamilton. "This provides an opportunity for students to finish their degrees in their own community." This undoubtedly will be a boon for many area residents who might consider a four-year degree out of their reach.

It also demonstrates Miami's commitment to Middletown and Hamilton and to Fingerhut's 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education, a vision for increasing the state's economic competitiveness through accessible, low-cost and high-quality educational programs throughout Ohio, and for increasing the number of Ohioans with college degrees.

Miami has been busy over the past couple of years, establishing regional partnerships and downtown presences in Middletown and Hamilton (in addition to the outstanding branch campuses). The addition of the new Bachelor of Integrative Studies program is just one more sign that Miami University is serious about serving all residents of Butler County who want to improve their education and to be part of the always-changing economy.