Vol. 24 No. 36 - July 6, 2020

 
In accordance with CDC guidelines, and in consultation with the city of Kirksville and the Adair County Health Department, Truman made the difficult decision to move its Aug. 1 commencement ceremony to a virtual format.
 
In March, it was announced that the traditional spring commencement was postponed with the hope that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the ceremony would take place on campus Aug. 1 to give graduates and their families the opportunity to celebrate a significant milestone together. Knowing the importance of the ceremony, the University considered every option to conduct it in person. Concerns raised by the coronavirus continue, and the health and well-being of all those who would be in attendance must take precedence at this time. CDC guidelines still advise against gatherings of more than 250 people, with the highest risk of spreading COVID-19 occurring in large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least six feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area. With an estimated crowd size in excess of 3,000 people, it would not be possible to properly social distance nor is it logistically feasible to plan multiple ceremonies involving less than 250 people.
 
Truman’s virtual commencement ceremony will be broadcast at 11 a.m. Aug. 1 on YouTube and the University website. It will follow a similar format as a traditional event and feature remarks by selected speakers. All graduates’ names will be displayed during the presentation.
 
Part of the ceremony will involve a photo montage, and graduating students are encouraged to submit photos from their time at Truman. These can include pictures of students in their cap and gown at home, as well as photos of them at a campus location with a special personal significance or from events hosted by their student organizations. Photos can be submitted here by July 22.
 
Details for the December 2020 commencement ceremony have not been finalized. Any May or August 2020 graduates interested in the possibility of participating in the May 2021 commencement ceremony need to contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@truman.edu by Feb. 15, 2021 to be added to the event email list.
 
As announced June 15, Truman plans to conduct in-person classes this fall while observing CDC guidelines for higher education. Additional details will be announced July 9. Classrooms will allow for social distancing, and additional sanitation protocols will be implemented. Some courses will be offered through alternate delivery methods or a hybrid of online and in-person formats. Details on specific courses will be available after July 15. Due to the ever-changing circumstances related to COVID-19, the University will maintain as much flexibility as possible and will make any necessary adjustments as needed. Updates on the fall semester will be emailed to students and posted to truman.edu/fall2020 as they become available.

One of the ways Truman is working to create a more sustainable community is through its Compost Project.

By collecting food scraps from University dining halls, the Student Union Building and the Starbucks in Pickler Memorial Library, the Compost Project utilizes an effective form of waste management. Excess food is taken to the University Farm where Compost Project student workers start the six-month process of turning it into valuable material used to replenish soil and act as a fertilizer.

Since it began in 2004, the Truman Compost Project has diverted more than 100,000 pounds of food scraps from the landfill annually. Compost can be used for a variety of farming and gardening needs. Material from the University Farm has been shared with Kirksville and Truman community members for projects such as The Green Thumb Garden and the Dancing Rabbit eco-village/intentional community.

Since the purchase of a screener, made possible with funds from the Environmental Sustainability Fee, finished compost is now being sold to gardeners and landscapers in order to generate funds for student internships.

Truman had 14 squads recognized by the Great Lakes Valley Conference as recipients of the 2019-20 GEICO Team Academic All-GLVC Award.

The GLVC recognizes each team from member institutions that maintain a 3.30 grade point average for the academic year. The total of 207 honorees shatters the previous conference record of 152 set last year.

For Truman, its 14 recognized teams include: women’s golf (3.79); women’s track and field (3.72); women’s cross country (3.69); women’s basketball (3.60); softball (3.60); volleyball (3.53); men’s soccer (3.53); women’s swimming (3.50); men’s cross country (3.49); women’s soccer (3.43); men’s track and field (3.42); men’s basketball (3.40); women’s tennis (3.38); and men’s swimming (3.32).

Ten faculty projects have received financial support for the upcoming academic year.

The Office of Academic Affairs awarded $2,500 Faculty Scholarship Grants across a variety of disciplines. The grants provide an opportunity for faculty to seek funding for projects that would promote their continued development as teacher-scholars and positively impact their course content.
 
Proposals were reviewed and scored by the Office of Student Research Steering Committee. Faculty members receiving 2020 scholarship grants include:

Marc Becker
History

Brett Berke
Biology

Nancy Daley-Moore and Julene Ensign
Health and Exercise Science

Stacy Davis
Classical and Modern Languages

Cassidy Dobson
Chemistry

Lindsey Dunnagan
Art

Aaron Fine
Art

Jason McDonald
History

Bill Miller
Chemistry

Katrina Schmerold
Psychology

The Truman Virtual Town Hall regarding racial injustice and inequity is now available online for students, faculty and staff who were unable to watch live.

The purpose of the town hall is to take stock of where we are currently as a University and gain a shared understanding of what we must address to accomplish institutional change. This understanding will permit us to determine the meaningful, sustained, accountable ways Truman can be the change we wish to see.

Panel members included: Brad Turnbull, interim director of the Center for Diversity & Inclusion; Jason McDonald, assistant professor of history; Theo Dean, head coach for women’s basketball; students Reece Ellis and Elana Sanders-Braxton, selected by Student Government; and Bertha Thomas, Truman’s newly hired diversity and inclusion consultant.

A recording of the town hall can be accessed here.

Students, faculty and staff can register for parking decals online through TruView.

Students
Students who would like to register their vehicle should:
    Log on to TruView
    Scroll down to “View and Update My Personal Information”
    Click on “Register My Vehicle/Bicycle”
    Register with their Kirksville address; address and phone information are required
    To complete registration, license plate information is required

Student accounts will be charged $130 once Parking Services processes the request. Do not make changes to vehicle registration online. Any changes should be made by contacting Parking Services at 660.785.7400. A Truman ID is required to pick up parking decals.

Decals can be picked up two business days after the online registration. Registration is not complete until the decal is adhered to the vehicle.

Freshman parking decals will be in an envelope inside a Truman folder received at residence hall check in if the registration form is complete prior to Aug. 1. Late registrations, commuter decals and upperclassmen decals will be processed and distributed from Parking Services located in the General Services Building 100.

Distribution of fall 2020 parking decals will begin from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 5. Parking Services will have extended hours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 15-16.


Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff who would like to register their vehicle should:
    Log on to TruView
    Click on “View and Update Your Personal Information”
    Select “Register Your Vehicle”
    Complete a new vehicle registration for each vehicle requiring a parking permit
    Select whether they will pick up the permit or if it should be sent through campus mail

Faculty and staff are issued one parking permit. Additional permits are $20. Payments for additional permits can be made at the cashiers window in McClain Hall.

Those registering for permits should have all vehicle information ready, specifically the license plate number. All Missouri plates have changed with the issuance of the bicentennial plates.

If an on-campus address needs to be corrected, contact Human Resources at hr@truman.edu or 660.785.4031.

An email will be sent upon registration. Allow two business days for processing after receiving the email notification. Parking Services will be open 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Former employees who would like a parking permit will need to complete registration at the Department of Public Safety Office during Parking Services hours.

The Alumni Association recently hosted the first Alumni & Friends Virtual Book Club featuring alumna author Laura McHugh’s “The Weight of Blood.” To continue the reading excitement and foster engagement, learning and community, the Alumni Office is putting together a summer reading list to share with alumni and friends. Faculty and staff are invited to share their personal favorites to add to the list. Those interested in sharing their go-to reads can fill out a quick and easy online form here.

Jaden Barr, football
Carissa Bevans, women’s track and field
Tyler Blackington, baseball
Madeline Bostick, women’s cross country/track and field
Robert Campbell, men’s track and field
Thomas Cormier, men’s cross country/track and field
Amelia Coyne, women’s soccer
Allison Cross, women’s soccer
Tiffany Davenport, women’s basketball
Emily Ducaji, women’s golf
Emily Eberwine, softball
Morgan Eby, women’s tennis
Carly Garnett, women’s cross country/track and field
Brett Griesbaum, men’s track and field
Emily Harl, women’s cross country/track and field
Kara Hunt, women’s golf
Molly Jones, women’s golf
Shannon Jones, women’s cross country/track and field
Brendan Kelly, baseball
Blake Laird, men’s track and field
Hannah Liljegren, women’s soccer
Michael Lonnberg, men’s soccer
Lauren Massot, women’s swimming
Meredith McConnell, women’s soccer
Collin McDonough, men’s soccer
Cade McKnight, men’s basketball
Quinn Miller, men’s cross country/track and field
Zach Nay, men’s soccer
Spencer Newell, football
Madison Nguyen, women’s swimming
Kayla Peterson, women’s tennis
Alayna Pipkin, women’s track and field
Maddie Re, women’s basketball
Alyssa Rivera, softball
Gemma Saathoff, women’s cross country/track and field
Josh Scheiderer, football
Hannah Sells, women’s track and field
Ashleigh Sharkey, women’s track and field
Morgan Smith, volleyball
Sloane Totta, women’s basketball
Maddie Wilson, women’s swimming
Lindsay Woltering, volleyball
Sam Yancy, volleyball

Each year Truman nominates students for national fellowship opportunities who have shown outstanding academic performance and exceptional service accomplishments. The application process is very rigorous and highly competitive, but the University provides support as students prepare for and then apply to these prestigious scholarships. Listed below are several of the major national fellowships and their websites. More information about these fellowships is available at www.truman.edu/majors-programs/more-learning-opportunities/fellowships.

For Graduate Studies
Fulbright Grants
Research grants and teaching assistantships for a year abroad

Rhodes Scholarships
Grants for two years of study at Oxford University

Marshall Scholarships
Awards for two years of study in any British university

Mitchell Scholarships
One year of graduate study or research in Ireland or Northern Ireland

Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Awards for an advanced degree or second bachelor’s degree at the University of Cambridge

 
For Undergraduate Studies
Goldwater Scholarships
Up to $7,500 annually for tuition, fees, books, room and board for science and mathematics majors

Harry S. Truman Scholarships
For senior year and post-graduate study leading to a career in public service

Udall Scholarships
For students interested in careers related to environmental issues or for Native Americans and Alaskans interested in careers related to health care and tribal public policy

Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellowships
For students interested in international affairs to work as research assistants to the Endowment’s senior associates in Washington, D.C. for a full year

Boren Scholarships
To study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests