All across campus items have been marked to show they are gifts from generous donors. In addition to honoring those who made contributions to the University, Spike has slipped in five golden tickets that can be redeemed for a prize package. Golden tickets are attached to some of the highlighted gifts. Once found, they can be returned to the Office of Advancement, McClain Hall 205, to be redeemed for a prize.

Students can follow Tag Day activity on Instagram. Updates on golden tickets that have been found, as well as where remaining ones might be hidden, will be posted throughout the day.

The goal of Tag Day is to show appreciation to donors who have given back to the University, as well as to raise awareness of how they impact day-to-day life at Truman. The University has more than 700 funds, and donors support a variety of causes across campus including scholarships, athletics, fine arts and academic departments.

 
The Institute for Academic Outreach has summer positions available for:
 
• Joseph Baldwin Academy
• JBA Junior
• ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy
• Taiwan at Truman

Each academy is in search of preceptors and night monitors. Joseph Baldwin Academy is also in search of a videographer.
 
In order to be a preceptor, applicants must:
1) currently be a full-time student at Truman
2) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of application
 
Preceptors are expected to be supportive of the University goals, responsible, enjoy working with high-ability teenage students and be high-energy individuals.
 
Applicants should prepare a letter of interest which should include: the skills they possess that will assist them when working with high-ability teenage students; related work experiences; and why they are interested in the summer academy for which they apply. Applicants will also need to complete the online application and provide a current resume.
 
Applications are due Feb. 3. Information about each available position and the online application is available at tiacademies.truman.edu/employment.

Truman is inviting those interested in a career in data science, or those wanting to train their employees in the field, to attend a free seminar in Kirksville or Hannibal.

The world is full of data, and even small and medium-sized businesses can be overwhelmed with actionable data from their sales, social media posts and marketing efforts. Meanwhile, major corporations are competing for the small pool of talented data analysts emerging from America’s colleges and data science programs.

Northeast Missouri businesses, employees and students do not need to be left behind by businesses and the technological revolution. Training in the fundamentals of data science is possible – even for those without a statistics or computer science background – and data analysis techniques can be applied to a wide range of local fields.

During this seminar, participants will hear about career opportunities in data science, learn how data science techniques can help businesses and employees, explore the topics students study in data science courses and hear from actual data science practitioners about their careers. Participants can also learn about Truman’s new graduate certificate in data science and get information about discounted pre-requisite courses available this December through the spring 2020 semester. There will be free heavy hors d’oeuvres and other refreshments to follow.

Truman will host seminars in Kirksville and Hannibal. Two sessions in Hannibal are scheduled for 2-4 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. In Kirksville, seminars will take place on campus from 2-4 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 26 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

Those wanting to attend any session can RSVP at institute.truman.edu/data-science-workshops or call 660.785.5384.

The English and Linguistics Senior Seminar Capstone Conference will take place Dec. 2-3 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A and B.

Student capstone presentations will take place from 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Dec. 2 and 9 a.m.-4:20 p.m. Dec. 3. For the full schedule of student presentations, click here.

Alumnus Conor Gearin (’15) will be the keynote speaker. He graduated with degrees in English and biology then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate program in science writing. His essay “Little Golden Floor-Room: On Wild Places and Intimacy” was selected for the Best American Science and Nature Writing 2019. Gearin is the co-host of the podcast “Biogenesis,” and his poetry, watercolor paintings and science writing have appeared in Mochila Review, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, The Millions, New Scientist and The Atlantic.

Gearin will present “Generative Ground: Finding My Way to Writing Through Reading and the Natural World” at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A. He will follow that with “Racing Your Ghost: On Going Backwards in My Career and Ending up Somewhere Better” at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A.
 
The School of Arts and Letters Alumni Visit Grant contributed to Gearin’s return to campus.

Truman will begin offering payroll deductions for MO ABLE accounts in its benefits package for employees in January.

Launched in 2017, MO ABLE allows individuals with disabilities and their families to save up to $15,000 per year, tax-free, without losing federal benefits like Medicaid and SSI. Payroll deductions make it easier for employees to save for their children with disabilities and for individuals with disabilities to use MO ABLE accounts.

“Truman State University is pleased to offer MO ABLE accounts via payroll deduction to our faculty and staff,” said Sally Herleth, executive director of human resources at Truman. “This program allows families and individuals with disabilities the opportunity to create tax-advantaged accounts that can be used to help maintain health, independence and quality of life, and we thank Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick for his work on this important endeavor.”

For more information about the MO ABLE program and to take an eligibility quiz, visit moable.com.

The Economics Department Speaker Series will host guest speaker Romina Boccia, who will present on socialism and the national debt.

Boccia directs the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., whose budget analysts and economists cover taxes, labor policy, pensions, appropriations, infrastructure and transportation. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from George Mason University. A member of the Foundation for Economics Education alumni board, she has appeared before live audiences across the globe.

Boccia will present on the allure of socialism in a class at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 in McClain Hall 208. Her talk will address the philosophy and workings behind socialism and capitalism and explore which economic system is best at promoting human flourishing.

Later in the evening in a free event open to the public, Boccia will speak on the national deficit and debt at 7 p.m. in Baldwin Hall Little Theater. She will explore the driving forces behind the growing debt and its impact on the economy and financial future.

These events are hosted by the Economics Department.

Auditions for a fundraiser cabaret benefitting the Truman Theatre Department will take place from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Black Box Theatre.

Anyone wanting to perform should prepare a song, preferably a musical theatre piece, that is no longer than four minutes. Performers will need to provide their own music. Performances can be solo, duet or groups.

The cabaret performance will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 in Severns Theatre. All proceeds will go to funding the theatre department’s trip to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in January. The department is taking 34 students to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the festival.

The Truman Public Relations Office is now accepting applications for the spring 2020 internship.

Interns work approximately 32 hours per week and can choose to receive between six to nine credit hours. To maintain full-time student status, interns take two three-credit classes in addition to the internship credit hours. A small stipend is also included.

Primary responsibilities of the intern include assisting with the production of the University’s online weekly newsletter, as well as contributing to the Truman Review alumni magazine. The intern will also help with special events throughout the semester, write press releases and fulfill other office tasks.

Applicants should have a strong background in writing and editing. Communication majors are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to candidates with knowledge of Associated Press Style. Applicants must have the flexibility to work 32 hours a week.

To apply, send a resume, an advising transcript, two writing samples and contact information for two on-campus references to the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 202, no later than Nov. 22. For questions about the internship, contact Travis Miles.

Students for a Democratic Society will sponsor guest speaker Tony Pecinovsky for a presentation at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 in Baldwin Little Theater. Pecinovsky will be discussing the 1960s youth and student upsurge, as well as the role of communists in this upsurge and prospects for a renewed radical movement.

The current standard hourly wage rate for student workers is $8.60. Missouri’s minimum wage law raises the rate beginning Jan. 1, 2020, through 2023. Public employers such as Truman are exempt from this law. However, to keep wages competitive, the wage rate for students will be increased to $9 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2020. 

Barry Poyner, professor of communication, served as parliamentarian for the National Communication Association during their annual convention in Baltimore, M.d., Nov. 12-26.