Culture Club
Miami University Student Culture
Chad Austin
Lindsay Dobucki
What is culture?
 Culture is a very elusive term to define.

Most definitions focus on various levels including:
1. Artifacts (traditions, dress, signs, language, etc.)
2. Values (what we believe to be important)
3. Basic Assumptions and Beliefs (guide behavior and
determine how reality is perceived)
 Looking at the culture of an institution better
informs our practice.
 Remember, culture is not an independent
reality, but is co-created by individuals within
a culture. And, change is usually slow (but
can occur).
Dobucki, L. 2003. Comprehensive Examination: Student Cultures Emphasis. Miami University CSP.
Quick Facts
Affiliation: State-assisted university of Ohio
Philosophy: Miami is a residential university with a focus on
teaching undergraduates. A liberal education core
complements the more specialized studies of the majors.
Established: 1809; named for the Miami Indian Tribe that
inhabited the area now known as the Miami Valley Region of
Ohio
Locations: Main campus in Oxford, Ohio (35 miles north of
Cincinnati); European Center in Luxembourg; commuter
campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, Ohio
Enrollment: 15,300 undergraduates on the Oxford campus;
1,400 graduate students; 2,200 students on each regional
campus
Quick Facts - continued
 Diversity: Multicultural students make up 8.8 percent
of the incoming first-year class (based on Fall 2005
enrollment) and 8.6 percent of the entire student
body (based on Fall 2004 enrollment)
 Degree Programs: Miami offers bachelors degrees in
over 100 areas of study, masters degrees in more
than 50 areas, doctoral degrees in 14 areas. Regional
campuses offer associate degrees in 14 areas.
 Cost: For 2005-2006, tuition and fees for
undergraduates total $21,586 per year; Ohio
residents receive a minimum of $10,000 in Ohio
resident scholarships. Room and board charges are
$7,610.
STATISTICS –
Perceptions of First Year Miami
Students (taken from 2004 CIRP survey)
 47.1% believe that most Miami students
drink 5 or more alcoholic drinks, 2-3 times
a week
 24.4% believe that racial discrimination is
no longer a major problem in America
 82.4% plan to obtain a graduate degree of
some kind
 6.5% are not sure they will have enough
funds to complete college
STATISTICS –
Reported by First Year Miami
students (taken from 2004 CIRP survey)
 58.2% said that Miami University is
101-500 miles away from their home
 13.4% said that Miami University is
500 or more miles away from their
home
 1.9% said that English is not their
native language
STATISTICS - continued
 59% come from a household with an
annual income of $100,000 or more
 6.6% come from a household with an
annual income of less than $50,000
 82.1% come from a home where both
of their parents are alive and living
together
**Note: 10.9% of the incoming first-year class
are “legacies”
STATISTICS - continued
 37.9% worked 10 or more hours a
week during high school
 6.3% reported having a disability
 88.9% have participated in volunteer
work in the last year
 73.1% reported that they decided to
attend Miami because it has a “very
good academic reputation”
Political Views of Students
 When asked to characterize their
political affiliation:





2.2% - far left
23.6% - liberal
40.4% - middle-of-the-road
31.5% - conservative
2.3% - far right
Student Organizations at Miami
 Miami has more than 300 student
organizations to choose from, in
areas ranging from careers to
volunteer service.
 Social Fraternities – 26
 Social Sororities – 21
 Religious Groups – 26, ranging from
Campus Crusade for Christ to Miami
University Pagan Student Association
Student Organizations – continued
 43 sports clubs, ranging from sailing, tae
kwon do, boxing, and ice hockey
 64 clubs focusing primarily on
professional career development and
enhancement, ranging from The
Chemical Society to Economics Club
 44 special interest student groups,
ranging from SPECTRUM to The
Shakerettes
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 The Sundial
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 The Miami University Seal in “The Hub”
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Beta Bells
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Green Beer Day
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Cornhole
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 House Signs
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Upham Arch
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Miami Merger
 Fun Fact: Over 12,000 Valentine’s cards
were mailed to Miami Mergers this past
Valentine’s Day
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Tuffy’s Toasted Rolls
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Cradle of Coaches
MIAMI TRADITIONS
 Fraternities and Sororities
Resources
 http://muohio.edu/university_offices/
adminoffices/index.cfm
 This website can take you any where you
need to go!
 2004 CIRP Survey
 Miami University Advancement
Services Office
 Office of Admissions Statistics
Conclusion
 Questions??