Dear Alumni and Friends:
This fall, we welcomed the class of 2024, with about 4,100 students representing one of the largest incoming classes in Miami’s history. The class of 2024 is a diverse one—with 16% identifying as domestic multicultural. And they seem to keep getting younger—98% born in 2001 or 2002 (while I keep getting older).
This class is also highly talented and driven academically. In fact, 42% of the incoming freshmen received college credit—the average was 20 credit hours—from AP, CCP, or some other programs. Even more impressive, nearly one-third of the incoming students graduated in the top 10% of their high school class, and the average ACT score was 28 with over one-third of the class scoring 30 or higher. We are working toward recruiting our next talented class of young Miami leaders, partnering with Admissions to conduct virtual open houses and to make videos with CAS departments, including our own in Harrison Hall to showcase some of what we offer in Political Science.
Fall semester began with five weeks of all remote learning, but in September we had many of our students return to campus and to some classrooms. We have been following a robust plan of action called Healthy Together, designed to keep our university community as safe as possible from COVID-19 while still delivering on Miami’s trademark high quality education. The University has designed and implemented a regimen for aggressive testing and support for students that have contracted COVID-19. We have all been working together and the success we have had protecting each other speaks volumes about our students and our community.
Despite the many challenges, we have continued to have our share of exciting activities in the department. Professor Bruce Petri (Graydon Law) led our 2020 Constitution Day Zoom event, The Constitution Needs a Friend Like You, along with a panel of students. It was a wonderful discussion open to all students and revolved around how the Constitution impacts each of us as individuals.
We were very fortunate to also have two of the 18 of the Last 9 Honorees for 2020 from the Department of Political Science, Elizabeth Dent (2011) and Jim Nardelli (2011). And many of the Honorees were able to join in classrooms and interact with our students to share their career pathway stories and advice. You can read more about this year’s 18 Honorees here.
On October 28th, the Janus Forum and the new Menard Family Center for Democracy hosted a very exciting debate, “Election 2020” between Donna Brazile and Joseph Grogan. This was the first-ever Zoom event in the Janus lecture series, but it attracted significant student interest and delivered on some remarkable insights revolving around the presidential campaigns and differing perspectives on the 2020 election dynamics.
Our students have confronted many challenges this year from the ongoing pandemic, phased return to campus, and a great deal of tension and uncertainty in the world around them. But they fought through it all, demonstrating the Miami values that make our students (and our alumni) special. They have shown incredible poise and determination that gives me both pride and confidence in the great things they will accomplish.
I know that you continue to play a key role in the success of our students and their future. We’re extremely lucky to have alumni that care so much about our students and are willing to open doors of opportunity or share your wisdom. You have helped our students be successful in so many different ways—whether it is returning to campus to mentor students, helping us find internships or fellowships (remote or in-person), or lending a hand in opening career pathways. I can’t thank you enough for all you do for our students and the many ways you ‘pay it forward’ to our Miami family.
Please keep our students in mind and I wish you and your families a happy and safe New Year.
