Miami University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

The Division of ASPIRE is engaged in ongoing sustainability advocacy with the City of Oxford and the Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA). Among other things, the ASPIRE Vice President holds monthly meetings with the Mayor and the Assistant City Manager. The Vice President of ASPIRE is also in regular communication with the Executive Director of BCRTA. The University is the largest financial supporter of BCRTA. Sustainability is a primary reason for this support. Sustainability is also a constant agenda item in each University meeting with the City and BCRTA. High priority sustainability projects that the University, the City, and the BCRTA are engaged in include: an exploration of the development of solar fields, the work to secure an Amtrak stop in the City of Oxford, and the work on the development of a multi-modal transportation facility consisting of a train and bus terminal, a park and ride area, a large equipment wash bay, and a bike rental and storage area. The multi-modal hub was strategically designed by the parties to connect to the Oxford Trail system. This advocacy and having open lines of communication have advanced sustainability efforts regarding traffic safety with the University and the City partnering on the installation of numerous traffic calming measures and other street improvements. The University also has a partnership with the Northern Kentucky Airport, CVG. This relatively new partnership focuses on the daily operation of the airport, as well as, seeks to build a future air mobility hub around electric vehicles, new battery technology, and low-level airspace management system.

Miami University's ASPIRE works with the community, corporate, and government partners to advocate for and advance the Miami mission. ASPIRE is directed by a top administrator, the VP of ASPIRE. In FY22, the Division of ASPIRE is engaged in ongoing sustainability advocacy at the state level. This past year, the Vice Presidents of ASPIRE (reporting directly to the Presidents), ASPIRE team members, and the Director of Sustainability began advocating for sustainability in higher education and updating the following Ohio legislators about on-campus successes and cost savings with the:

Rep. Sara Carruthers & Andy Spencer, Legislative Aide
Michael Wing, Legislative Aide, Rep. Marilyn John
John O'Shea, Legislative Aide, Rep. Thomas Hall
Will Armbruster, House Majority Caucus Deputy Press Secretary
Ryan Hennigan, Senior Legislative Aide, Senator George Lang
Ian Kieffer, Legislative Aide, & John Wells, Senior Legislative Aide, Senator Steve Wilson

-Miami University has long supported DACA through advocacy on legislation and public statements. For example, in the fall of 2021, Miami advocated in support of the provision that would expand Pell Grant eligibility to DACA students as part of the university’s engagement with congressional offices on the Build Back Better reconciliation legislation.

-In June 2021, a Miami University faculty member testified before the House Science Committee at a hearing on the state of federal wildland fire science. In her testimony, she discussed the relationship between climate change and wildfires, how to reduce fire risk, proposed solutions for satellite-based fire detection and monitoring, and how federal and non-federal partners can better collaborate and coalesce around existing programs.

-In the fall of 2021, a Miami University faculty member provided technical assistance on the development of federal legislation - the National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act (HR 5781) which focuses on the wildland-urban interface, prediction of fire, fire weather, smoke and fire behavior, impacts of climate change and variability, and wildlife and ecosystem destruction. The University endorsed this piece of legislation.

Contact Randi Thomas - thomasrm@miamioh.edu