Roudebush Hall

Roudebush Hall, built in 1956 as Miami University's administration building, took the place of the under-equipped Benton Hall with the influx of a larger student body. At the time it housed the offices of many major departments including, the Director of Admissions, Registrar and the Bursar, now these departments have been moved to the Admissions Building across campus. It now holds the Office of the Present, Finance and Business Services, Office of the Provost among others. The building was dedicated the year of its completion and named after Wallace Pattison Roudebush in 1965.
Justification of Construction
Before the construction of the Administration Building, Roudebush, the general administration offices of Miami University were located in Benton Hall along with the University’s auditorium. Benton Hall was erected in 1908 when the university’s enrollment was around 580 students as compared to 3,300 in the pre-war decade. This increase in the numbers of students caused many of the offices in the current space to become insufficient. Also, there was an increase in the administration personnel and faculty members of different functions university-wide to accommodate for this increase in enrollment. The University sought to find offices wherever space could be found in other buildings across campus. The efficiency of the University had been greatly hindered by this disorganized system of administration, so it became a priority to bring all these offices together in one building. The original plan for the Administration building included:
Basement:
• University Bookstore
• Post Office
• Storage for Business office
• Storage for registrar’s office
• Mimeograph and other services
First Floor
• Director of Admissions
• Dean of Women
• Dean of Men
• Alumni Secretary
• University Editor
• Registrar
• Bursar
Second Floor:
• Board of Trustees
• President’s Office
Wallace Pattinson Roudebush
W.P. Roudebush was born in Owensville, Ohio on April 15, 1890. He attended Miami University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911. While at Miami he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and won the Bishop Latin Prize as a sophomore. He also served as business manager of the Miami student, president of the Athletic Board of Control, senior senator in the Student Forum and the president of the Class of 1911. Upon graduation, President R.M. Hughes hired him as a secretary to the president.
Throughout the next 45 years, Roudebush served under various titles associated with the administration of the University. Namely:
1913-1919: Assistant professor of Accounting and Insurance
1922-1956: Professor
1911-1917: Secretary to the President
1915-1917: Financial Secretary
1917-1950: Secretary to the Board of Trustees
1945-1953: Vice President of Finance
1953-1954: Vice President
1954-1956: Vice President and Treasurer
He received his D.B.A. degree from Bowling Green State University in 1946. Roudebush passed away in 1956. He was survived by his widow Mrs. Dorothy Roudebush, a son, Warren, of Washington, D.C., and a daughter Jane of Oxford and seven grandchildren. Following his death a portrait was hung in the main lounge of the University Center and the Roudebush Development Fund was established in the Miami University Foundation.
A plaque was dedicated to Roudebush (a man of shining integrity) by the 1955-1956 student body that states, “An alumnus of Miami University, class of 1911, he served his alma mater from graduation until his death of April 14, 1956, with rare devotion, uncommon ability, and genuine unselfishness, his lifetime of service adding luster to Miami’s name and setting an example to those who study, or teach, or labor in this fair place”. 4.
General Accounting Office
Housed within Roudebush Hall, the General Accounting Office’s primary purpose is to process the accounting transactions of Miami University. Also, the office provides timely internal and external financial reports to track all financial activity associated with the university. All actions align with the accepted standards of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
The office has the power to both review and track all accounting activity to ensure that it complies with the funding restrictions and tax regulations. In addition, the office maintains documents and reports of Miami University in such a manner that will allow for review or audit of the financial statements as necessary. In its daily operations, they provide services to students, university departments, vendors, state agencies and other external groups.

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