Miami’s regional dean settles into his new job

G. Michael Pratt visits campuses in Middletown, Hamilton

G. Michael Pratt began his new job as Miami University’s dean of regional campuses on Thursday, July 1. Before he considers changes to the way the campuses are managed, he says he wants to get to know the faces and places and take care of personnel issues before classes start.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier G. Michael Pratt began his new job as Miami University’s dean of regional campuses on Thursday, July 1. Before he considers changes to the way the campuses are managed, he says he wants to get to know the faces and places and take care of personnel issues before classes start.

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G. Michael Pratt, the associate provost and dean of regional campuses for Miami University, at his office on the Miami University Middletown campus Thursday July 1.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman G. Michael Pratt, the associate provost and dean of regional campuses for Miami University, at his office on the Miami University Middletown campus Thursday July 1.

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer 1:54 AM Saturday, July 3, 2010

HAMILTON — The move to regionalize Miami University’s branch campuses under one administrative umbrella is going to take some time, said G. Michael Pratt, who began his job as Miami University’s dean of regional campuses on Thursday, July 1.

So his first order of business is to get to know the places and faces, then to get school started before thinking about any changes in the way the campuses are managed.

“I arrived here at the beginning of the fiscal year and just a couple of weeks before classes start, so the budget is in place and I’m dealing with some issues of personnel to make sure we have a full slate by the fall,” he said after having spent a day on the Middletown campus and a day on the Hamilton campus.

His duties also will include the management of the Voice of America Learning Center in West Chester Twp.

Pratt, 60, returns to the area after serving as the associate vice president for academic affairs at Heidelberg University in Tiffin. A Middletown native, he attended Miami University Middletown and graduated from the Oxford campus in 1973. He went on to earn a master’s and doctorate at Case Western Reserve University.

“Miami didn’t put me here to implement a plan, but to create a plan, and it has to be a collaborative effort on the part of all the people involved,” he said. “I don’t have a plan I’m going to impose.

“What I know is the general idea that we want to create a single unit with increased responsibility, greater flexibility and a stronger working relationship with the Oxford administration. The details of how that is to be worked out is why I’m here. It’s a challenge and it’s going to take some time to get to where we’re going.”

Pratt said that it will take his first year, maybe longer, to create a strategic plan for regionalization and to put a timeline on it, and he understands the importance of each campus to the communities they respectively serve as “a generator of economic, social and human capital.”

“These two campuses have their own personalities and have had for some time,” he said. “Being a regional operation doesn’t mean they lose that, won’t make them any less a part of the community.”

In the meantime, he’ll be working to make himself visible and accessible on all three campuses in an equitable way.

“The two administrative assistants have been wonderful in helping me schedule meetings on the campus where I’m supposed to be that day,” he said. “That’s going to allow me to effectively be on all three sites and still meet the needs of each campus in terms of internal operations.

“I’ve been meeting with the development people on both campuses trying to schedule activities so I can get to know key figures, become knowledgeable in the community.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

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