Fall 2006

Writing Center inspires learning

Roger and Joyce Howe of Cincinnati have given a $10.5 million gift designed to make Miami the nation’s best university at teaching undergraduates how to write.

The importance of good writing has long been recognized by Howe, retired chairman and CEO of U.S. Precision Lens and former chair of Miami’s board of trustees, and his wife, Joyce, an artist. The couple, both of whom are 1957 Miami graduates, have a history of supporting efforts to enhance writing, including a previous $1.8 million gift that established the Roger and Joyce Howe Professorship in Written Communication.

Their latest gift “addresses an important issue at the heart of the university, our ability to prepare students to write well. This magnificent initiative will measurably improve the writing skills of virtually every Miami student and assure that every student appreciates that being a strong writer brings many valuable personal and professional benefits,” said Miami President David Hodge.

The Howes were honored with a dinner in October, capping a day of writing sessions for faculty and a month of writing activities for students.

Roger Howe noted that while most employers today are impressed by recent graduates, the one criticism he hears consistently is that too many college graduates cannot write clearly. “Almost without exception, the successful people I have observed over the years, regardless of their professions, have been clear and persuasive writers. The ability to write well seems to be a common thread for future achievement,” said Howe.

Hodge agreed that even though few in academia dispute the centrality of writing, there is growing concern about the capabilities of college graduates to write clearly. For example, the National Commission on Writing reported in 2004 that American corporations spend an estimated $3.1 billion annually to remedy deficiencies in their employees’ writing, “an alarming fact that should call universities to action,” the Miami president said.

The gift will be used to make writing an even more central aspect of the college experience by creating the Roger and Joyce Howe Center for Writing Excellence, explained Provost Jeffrey Herbst.

“The extraordinary generosity of the Howes challenges us to change the culture of writing at Miami,” said Herbst. Hersbt said the Howe Center will help faculty both improve writing of undergraduates and better use writing in the learning process by:
• Stimulating and supporting writing initiatives throughout the university;
• Encouraging academic departments to incorporate writing assignments into courses and seminars;
• Assisting faculty members in the preparation of and evaluation of writing assignments; and
• Providing individualized writing assistance to all undergraduates.

Hodge said that the work by Dr. Kate Ronald, who has held the Howe Professorship in Written Communication since it was established by a gift in 1992, shows that a writing initiative that provides support for both faculty and students can bring about results.

“The support by Roger and Joyce Howe allows Miami to stimulate and coordinate efforts to teach writing and aspire to become the best university in the country devoted to the teaching of writing,” said Hodge.

The Howe Center will be administered by the provost’s office as befits a university-wide initiative of such magnitude, said Jayne Whitehead, vice president for university advancement. A major symposium on how to teach college students to write better in all disciplines is planned as part of the opening ceremony in 2007.

Howe has a long history of volunteer service to Miami University. He served on the Business Advisory Council from 1977-1979, was a member of the Campaign for Miami University steering committee from 1990-1995, and is a member of the current Miami University Campaign For Love and Honor Steering Committee as well as the Campaign Corporate Gifts Committee. Howe has also led the university by serving as a member of the Miami University Board of Trustees which he chaired for three years. He has also served as a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

He and Joyce are the parents of three children including Edwin ‘89 and Karen Gingold ‘83. They have nine grandchildren.