Vol. 25 No. 20 - February 8, 2021

According to a recent analysis, Truman ranks No. 1 for Certified Public Accountants (CPA) examination pass success among college accounting programs.

Researchers from Baylor University and the University of Northern Iowa used annual data released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to examine the data of 521 large and medium-sized accounting programs from 2019 and provided a top 40 for both categories, as well as overall. For this testing window, Truman ranked No. 1 overall with a CPA success index rating of 1.000. Truman’s 37 candidates passed 99 sections during the calendar year, which averages 2.67 sections per candidate. When the annual pass rate was adjusted to reflect the 18-month testing window, Truman’s success index of 1.000 was found.

Statistics showed that, on average, students across all universities only passed one section of the CPA exam on the first attempt, which resulted in an average success index of .397. Truman’s success index of 1.000 indicates that the University’s candidates can be expected to pass all four sections of the CPA exam within the testing window. The full article with the complete list of rankings can be found here.

This program is designed to honor Truman students, advisors and organizations for their dedication to their peers, campus and Kirksville community through various leadership roles during the year.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate exceptional student leaders, advisors, organizations and events on campus, particularly candidates whose achievements stood out after a year of constant adaptation to change.

The access link to the nomination form and packet can be found online at involvement.truman.edu/lrp. Nomination forms are due by 11:59 p.m. Feb. 28. The awards ceremony will take place April 13 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. There will be more than 30 awards to distribute.

Questions can be directed to Munkhjin Bat-Ireedui at csilrp@gmail.com. For more information visit involvement.truman.edu/lrp.

To continue to create a safe and socially distanced atmosphere the musical will be presented entirely online. All of the actors are Truman students, each with their own space where they will be preforming in front of a camera while the entire production is streamed live from the James G. Severns Theatre.

This musical by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, “[title of show]” follows two struggling writers on their journey to write a musical for a new theatre festival. However, the deadline for submission is only three weeks away. In an attempt to beat the clock, they enlist the help of their friends to create an original musical. With the cast in place, they hit another roadblock: what should they write about? They decide to follow the saying “write what you know” and embark on a unique adventure to write a musical about writing a musical. Taken from the space on the festival’s application form which asks for the “title of show” they draw the title inspiration for their work.  

“[title of show]” is appropriate for audience members 13 and older. It contains profane language, but ultimately features an inside look at the tough work of being a creative artist. Runtime is approximately 90 minutes.

Tickets are $6 and available now at boxoffice.truman.edu. Once a ticket has been purchased detailed information on how to access the live stream will be provided. There is a limit of 250 audience members per performance.   

For more information, contact the Truman Theatre Box Office at 660.785.4515 between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Every year the student body selects one professor and one research mentor to receive the Educator of the Year and the Research Mentor of the Year awards. This is an opportunity for students to show appreciation to their favorite educators and research mentors for their commitment to the Truman community and highlight their accomplishments.

Professors are also able to be nominated for the Faculty Mental Health Honoree of the Year award. This award is intended to honor an educator who is not only dedicated to education but to aiding students in one or more of the eight dimensions of wellness: emotional; financial; social; spiritual; occupational; physical; intellectual; or environmental.

To make a nomination, complete this form before 11:59 p.m. Feb. 15. Contact sqp6573@truman.edu with any questions.

A recording of the Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group conversation can be found here.

RSVP for either session by emailing Kevin Valleroy at kgv7478@truman.edu or Mason Chandler at mc6657@truman.edu. Reservations will be accepted until the events begin. Dress code for informational sessions is business casual.

The Student Recreation Center has invited two candidates to participate in open session forums for the director of campus recreation position. The resumes and Zoom links can be found here. Sessions will be recorded and posted for anyone that cannot attend in person or via Zoom. Open forums are scheduled for the following times:

Marcus Wirth
2 p.m.
Feb. 9
Student Union Building Alumni Room/Zoom

Todd Welscott
2 p.m.
Feb. 12
Student Union Building Alumni Room/Zoom

Meet the Members
9:30 p.m.
Feb. 10
Magruder Hall 2001

Game Night
8 p.m.
Feb. 11
Zoom

Demo Night
7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12
Magruder Hall 1023/1025/1029

Trivia Night
7 p.m.
Feb. 13
Magruder Hall/Satellite Classrooms

Clients who come to VITA should bring: social security cards for spouses and dependents; bank routing numbers and bank account numbers for direct deposit; wage and earnings statements such as W-2, 1098T and 1099; and a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available. VITA services will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, VITA services will only be offered to Truman students and staff. To prevent crowding and maintain social distancing, appointments are required. Walk-ins will be turned away.

Call 660.785.6064 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

Phi Sigma Pi will host its spring recruitment from Feb. 15-19. RSVP by email to receive the Zoom link for the first three events of the week. The rest of the week is invitation only, invitees will receive details after attending the open events.

Information Night
7 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 15
Zoom

Scholarship Night
8:30 p.m.
Feb. 16
Zoom

Fellowship Night
8:30 p.m.
Feb. 17
Zoom

Invite Only Event
Feb. 18
Zoom

Invite Only Event
Feb. 19
Zoom

This series seeks to share student and faculty research, creative work and discussions to address how activists and scholars from differing standpoints can come together toward equality for all. Each session will not only attempt to make subject matter visible but also to build the interdisciplinary studies and women’s and gender studies communities.

This forum will take place on Zoom on the following dates:

Self-care in Wild Times – Discussion
5-6 p.m.
Feb. 17

Language, Race and Gender
5-6 p.m.
March 3

Gender, Justice and the Arts
5-6 p.m.
March 17

Embodied Experience
5-6 p.m.
March 31

Environmental Justice
5-6 p.m.
April 14

Research abstract and proposals for 10-15 minute presentations or discussions should be 150 words or less. Experiences and topics for presentation could, but need not, include any of the following as foci: disability and embodiment; environment; education; sexuality; violence; inequality; poverty; criminal justice; creative work; and literary analysis. The deadline for proposals is Feb. 20. Visit docs.google.com for more information.

TruLifesaver program offers CPR certification to all members of the Truman and Kirksville communities. This course is designed to help recognize and respond to several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR, use an AED and relieve choking. Upcoming session dates are as followed:

Feb. 23
5-10 p.m.

March 21
12-5 p.m.

April 6
5-10 p.m.

April 21
5-10 p.m.

April 22
5-10 p.m.

The $75 course cost covers instruction materials and a two-year certification with the American Heart Association. All sessions will take place in Health Science Building 120. Truman instructors Liz Jorn and Jana Arabas will oversee the course.

To register visit institute truman.edu/trulifesaver and complete the online registration form. For any questions contact the Truman Institute by phone at 660.785.5384 or email at institute@truman.edu.

Truman has moved up to No. 12 in the Recreation Movement where more than 100 schools are competing to collectively log five million minutes of movement. To join the movement, sign up using a Truman email and log up to 120 minutes per day using the most appropriate category provided. Students can also participate in live fitness and instructional classes and pre-recorded classes.

Living on campus provides easy access to campus amenities, as well as built-in fun and friendship. Researchers have found living on campus improves the likelihood a student will persist in college and go on to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Residence Life has several options for students who want to live on campus including single residence hall rooms, apartments and suites for up to four roommates. Spaces are available in Blanton-Nason-Brewer Hall as well as Centennial, Dobson, Missouri and Ryle halls. West Campus Suites and Campbell Apartments are also available, and Truman will once again offer pet-friendly housing in Dobson Hall.

Housing renewal applications are currently open on TruView. Under the “Student” tab, click on “Housing Portal.” Some scholarships can be put toward the cost of living on-campus. For questions about the housing renewal process visit truman.edu/residence-life or contact Residence Life at 660.785.4227 or reslife@truman.edu.

For the competition, participants will create a single slide that conveys their study. They will then have three minutes to discuss their research and its importance. Any original graduate research qualifies. It can be a scientific study, a discussion on a student’s creative writing adventure or musical composition. Current graduate students cannot submit research completed as an undergraduate.

Due to the pandemic, the local and regional competitions are virtual. Students will record a three-minute presentation following the guidelines set forth by Queensland University. They will also need an introductory slide that will includes their name, title of presentation, faculty member and department. The single research slide appears right after, and as soon as the student starts speaking, the timer begins.  

The first-place prize is $75, with second place earning $50. The winner of the competition is then eligible to compete in the regional Midwest Association of Graduate Studies competition.  

Registration can be completed at Truman’s Three-Minute Thesis Competition website. The deadline for submitting a video is Feb. 24. The previous system for judging requires updating due to the virtual format. Final details will be provided when they are available. For more information, contact Julia Edgar, associate professor of communication disorders at jedgar@truman.edu.

This presentation will feature Sameetah Agha, a professor of social science and cultural studies at Pratt Institute. She is also the author of “The Limits of Empire: Sub-Imperialism and Pukhtun Resistance in the North-West Frontier.” Agha will focus on the imperial history of the Afghanistan/Pakistan borderland while situating the contemporary American experience in the context of Pukhtun history and resistance.

For further information, visit the Global Colloquium’s webpage at globalissues.truman.edu.

The 2021 Student Research Conference will take place April 22 as a hybrid event. Asynchronous virtual oral, poster, performance art and studio art presentations, as well as a limited number of face-to-face oral presentations, will be facilitated. This conference is a University-wide celebration of student research, scholarship and creative achievement. Both undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts.

Complete abstract guidelines can be found on the Office of Student Research website. All abstracts need to be sponsored by a Truman faculty or staff member. Students should work with their faculty mentor before submitting the abstract. For any questions about the Student Research Conference email osr@truman.edu.

Students interested in health care can consider a career in athletic training, which encompasses injury evaluation, rehabilitation and treatment, as well as program administration. Athletic training works closely with medical professionals to provide overall care and treatment to a variety of physically active individuals.

For more information contact Brandy Schneider or visit truman.edu/mat. Application deadline is April 1.

This exhibition features works that explore “drawing,” the verb, in the abstract, and test the limits of what one considers a drawing. Each artist created a wall-based installation that emphasizes formal decisions to create something that reads as a drawing, considers implied line or lines created by both traditional and nontraditional means, and intentionally incorporates light and shadow to draw in a three-dimensional space.

The gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday from 12-4:30 p.m. Contact lbigger@truman.edu with any questions.

Hannah Belanger, woman’s basketball, has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after scoring 25 and 26 points in two Bulldogs’ wins during the week of Jan. 25.

Two theatre faculty members and seven theatre students received recognition at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 5:

Brad Carlson
Technical Director/Designer
Virtual Production Design/Direction Certificate of Merit for “Ghosts in the Machine” and Scenic Design Certificate of Merit for “The Charm of Preparedness”

Michelle Elliot Winchester
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Directorial Concept Certificate of Merit for “The Charm of Preparedness”

Jacob Baxley
Sound Design Certificate of Merit for “The Charm of Preparedness”

Molly Garrison
Lighting Design Recognition for “The Charm of Preparedness” and Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Scholarship

Zac O’Keefe
Projections Designer Certificate of Merit for “The Charm of Preparedness”

Angel Lee
Directing Certificate of Merit for “Antigone”

Faith Nagel
Choreography Certificate of Merit for “The Charm of Preparedness”

Justin Sweeney
Stage Management Certificate of Merit for “Ghosts in the Machine”, Don Childs Cross Discipline Collaboration Award for “Ghosts in the Machine” and Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Scholarship

Teegan Winkler
Lighting Design Certificate of Merit for “Antigone”

Cast of “Ghosts in the Machine”
Ensemble Work Certificate of Merit

“Ghosts in the Machine”
Invited Production