Coronavirus: 'Not clear if we will be back on campus this fall,' writes Miami U. dean

This story has been updated.

Miami University officials are considering the possibility that the novel coronavirus crisis will prevent students from returning to campus next fall, according to an internal email obtained by The Enquirer.

"Because it is not clear if we will be back on campus this fall, we would ideally like additional courses that could be modified to be offered remotely," wrote College of Arts and Sciences Dean Christopher Makaroff.

The email, addressed to department leaders, also outlines a number of possibilities under consideration to address "significant" financial consequences brought on by the pandemic, including an expected sharp decline in enrollment next fall.

Miami, like other area colleges, has shifted to remote learning for the remainder of the semester and canceled commencement. But the email indicates the effects of the virus will extend well past this academic year.

[The Enquirer's coverage of the new coronavirus is being provided for free to our readers. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to The Enquirer at cincinnati.com/subscribe.]

Makaroff's email, which The Enquirer has published in its entirety below, warns of possible impending budget constraints and gives insight into Miami officials' ideas for addressing them.

A proposal to cut certain teaching roles drew criticism from Cathy Wagner, the president of the American Association of University Professors, an advocacy group at Miami. Wagner said the potential cuts threatened Miami's fidelity to academics.

But student enrollment confirmations are currently down 20% at Miami, Makaroff wrote, and to compensate he asked department chairs to devise academic schedules for a series of hypothetical scenarios:

Student demand dropping 20% "across the board."

Cutting all or half the positions filled by visiting assistant professors, or VAPs. VAPs teach on one-year contracts for up to five years and receive benefits but are not tenured or on the tenure track.

Consolidating or increasing class sizes where possible.

Limiting the service and research faculty can perform.

Increasing faculty teaching loads



Wagner said the prospect of cutting visiting assistant professors concerns her, especially if they are the only group facing job loss.

"We think there should be shared sacrifice," said Wagner, who is a creative writing professor at the university. "I'm not sure we're seeing shared sacrifice."

More than 150 visiting assistant professors comprised more than 15% of Miami's full-time faculty in 2018, the last year data is available on Miami's website. Men and women evenly filled the roles. Other lower ranking positions at Miami – those that are not tenured or tenure-track – skewed female. Men hold three in five higher ranking full-time faculty positions at Miami.

Most VAPs hold Ph.D.s, Wagner said.

Cutting a portion or all of Miami's visiting assistant professors could overburden remaining faculty and create larger class sizes, hampering the overall education for students, Wagner added.

It could also limit the university's research capabilities.

"Think about the current crisis. The research we do is super useful," Wagner said, listing field such as psychology, logistics and economics. "We need the research."

Carole Johnson, a Miami spokesperson, downplayed the potential trouble facing the university in an email to The Enquirer.

"Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which is leading applicants around the world to delay their college decisions, we expect another strong incoming class," Johnson wrote. "Because there are no precedents for this situation, Miami, like all well-managed universities, must plan for a variety of economic scenarios. Miami is strong financially and academically."

Makaroff's email, with its warning of potential job cuts and heavier teaching loads, struck a bleaker tone.

Basak Durgun, a visiting assistant professor of global and intercultural studies at Miami, wrote in a post shared on the Miami AAUP website that eliminating positions like hers could hinder the university's ability to cover for instructors who may contract the virus.

Durgun added that VAPs help recruit students.

"At a time when MU needs to aggressively recruit in alternative and creative ways, and make a strong case for its value for incoming and returning students, why not keep us and use us to recruit our students?" she wrote. "We can give our students confidence that we are still here to serve them the best possible way, without any loss to the quality of education they are paying for."

Sara Kilpatrick, the executive director of the Ohio Conference AAUP, criticized proposals to cut instruction budgets as a first resort.

"I think that all colleges and universities are going to be facing some difficult financial realities, especially in the wake of COVID-19," Kilpatrick said, but "we have to remember this is about educating students."

Like Wagner, Kilpatrick said if academic cuts are made, proportionate ones should be made in areas like administration and athletics.

"There definitely could be resources redirected to the instructional mission so these (teaching positions) aren't cut," Kilpatrick said.

Wagner contrasted Miami officials' thinking with Ohio University. Though Ohio University had planned before the crisis to make $26 million in personnel cuts over three years, it recently announced it would pause the cuts.

OU President Duane Nellis wrote that “our current focus must be on the safety and well-being of our campus communities as we continue to ensure the education of our students and service to our region."

Miami had about $375 million more in unrestricted funds than Ohio University as of June 2019, according to state audit records, a discrepancy that Wagner emphasized as she discussed Ohio University's planned pause in cuts.

"It's remarkable that Miami, in a robust and strong situation ... was not able to do something like that," she said. "If there was ever a time to dip into (Miami's $349 million) rainy-day fund, I would think it would be now."

Johnson, the Miami spokesperson, wrote the university has "the highest financial score among Ohio's public universities based on the Ohio Department of Higher Education financial ratios."

The Miami AAUP has started a petition calling on the school to "practice shared governance and shared sacrifice."

"Miami's actions outstrip cost-saving measures other universities are taking," states the petition, which had about 150 signatures by 12:3 p.m. Monday, the day it was posted, "and there has been no indication that workload policy adjustments will be reviewed by Senate."

Wagner did compliment Miami administration's proactive response to the crisis, including its responsiveness to health guidelines, strong communication with faculty and dedication to training faculty in online teaching.

Makaroff's email also addressed more immediate concerns. He wrote only "essential spending," such as for supplies, would be approved for the remainder of the current school year. Guest lecturers will no longer be approved after March 20.

Fall registration, which is currently set to open April 22, will be postponed by two weeks.