Diversity
“Miami’s School of Education, Health and Society has an abiding commitment to the belief that embracing diversity and inclusion benefits each of us.” –Dean Carine M. Feyten
Diversity is more than just talk at Miami’s School of Education, Health and Society. We believe that all students need the kinds of training, exposure, and experiences that will allow them to function effectively in an increasingly diverse society. It is an ambitious goal, but real progress is being made.
Our programs, curriculum, and research reflect this commitment. Here is a sampling:
Helping all students succeed
Miami faculty are in the forefront of preparing schools to address the challenge of teaching the growing number of students from families who may not speak English at home.
A $1.5 million five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition is being used to enhance the preparation of teachers who work with English language learners in mainstream classrooms throughout Ohio.
Starting with introductory courses, all teacher education majors at Miami will receive instruction on how to integrate English for speakers of other languages into their classrooms. In the past, only language teachers have received training in working with such students.
Supporting teacher education majors who want to teach in 
inner cities
Because at least a third of our teacher education majors want to work in urban settings, Miami has developed a new Urban Teaching Cohort initiative.
"Forget 'No Child Left Behind.' We want every child to absolutely thrive," says Dr. Tammy Schwartz, director of the initiative and a faculty member in the teacher education department. Her goal is to convince smart, talented Miami students to not only teach in urban classrooms, but to bring their high expectations for academic performance with them.
Conducting research
Many School of Education, Health, and Society faculty members are involved in scholarly efforts that look at how poverty and race affect learning, health, families and communities. The quality of that research is reflected not only in publications and national recognition for faculty members, but also in the success of Miami graduate students.
Learning Community
A group of interested faculty across EHS meet monthly to discuss ways to improve curriculum related to diversity issues. The group also addresses standards, achievement gaps, candidate selections and other issues.
Making a difference in the classroom
Doors on the Oxford campus—about 400 in all—feature information that make the university more welcoming to the disabled thanks to students in the disability studies minor and special education major. Entrances that are accessible are clearly marked and those that are not direct visitors to the nearest building entrance that is accessible. The educational psychology class project was done in cooperation with Miami administrators.
More:
Alexandria Espy, a health studies major at Miami University, received the Legacy Award at the Black Student Leadership Development Conference held in Washington, D.C. in January of 2009. The award, which includes a $500 prize, recognizes the accomplishments of a sophomore college student who has demonstrated leadership potential, academic excellence, community service and a commitment to continuing the legacy of building on unfurnished dreams.
Miami is a partner in a $3.5 million initiative by the Ohio Board of Regents to create two regional academies for high school students—one will recruit future math teachers from underrepresented groups and the second will develop Chinese language teachers. Go here to read the article.