Vol. 26 No. 5 - September 20, 2021

Masks are required inside all campus buildings, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status. The only exceptions are for dining and when in a personal residence hall room or office.

Extension of the mask policy is done in consideration of the community as a whole. Cases in Adair County continue to be substantial and are predicted to remain so over the next four weeks. As such, based on information from the CDC, the community transmission risk remains “high.” Everyone in the county is advised to wear a mask in public, indoor settings, according to the CDC and the Adair County Health Department.

While recent surveys of all students and employees suggest a large portion of the campus community is vaccinated, a significant segment is not. The faculty/staff response rate was 66% and of those who responded the vaccination rate was 97%. For students, the response rate was 53% and for those who responded the vaccination rate was 93%. This makes the known vaccination rate for faculty/staff 65% and students 50%. While these numbers are promising, the University needs more people to complete the survey and get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the Truman and Kirksville communities. Everyone who can get the vaccine is encouraged to do so.

Truman recently created incentive programs for student clubs/organizations, athletic teams and residence halls, as well as for employees. The last date for the incentives to be earned is Nov. 1. Therefore, the mask mandate will be reviewed Nov. 5 to ensure the full benefit of the incentive programs can be considered.

The vaccine is readily available at local pharmacies, and the University will conduct an additional on-campus clinic that meets the date requirements of the incentive programs. A new link for the survey will be provided for those who have not yet participated.

In an effort to increase vaccination rates, the University is implementing two incentive programs – one for student groups and another for employees.

Recent surveys indicate the known vaccination rate is 65% for employees and 50% for students. While these numbers are promising, an increase in the rate would help mitigate spread in the Truman and Kirksville communities.

Student clubs/organizations, athletic teams and residence halls are eligible to receive a cash award for their group if 85% of the registered members have verified being vaccinated with the University. Cash awards are related to the size of the organization: groups with less than 10 members can earn $50; groups with 10-19 members can earn $100; groups with 20-29 members can earn $200; and groups with 30 or more total members can earn $300.

Club/organization official rosters will determine the total size of the group. Rosters are due by Oct. 1, through the normal process with Union & Involvement Services. Athletic teams will be based on official rosters. Residence halls will be based on student advisor groups.  

While left to the discretion of the organization, the cash award may be used for things such as speakers, events, travel, organization purchases or philanthropic donations.  

Specific details about the incentive program, including how to provide vaccination verification, will be sent on Wednesday. For student organizations, these details will be sent to the organization and advisor emails on file with Union & Involvement Services; please be sure those emails are up to date. Athletics and student advisors will be emailed the details for their groups.   

The Student Health Center will host vaccination clinics for both first and second shots Sept. 30 and a second-shot clinic Oct. 28.

For employees, the incentive program includes the possibility of an additional two paid days off. If the University reaches a vaccination rate of 75% among all employees, Nov. 23 will be awarded as a paid day off and offices will be closed. If a rate of 85% is achieved, Nov. 22 would also be awarded. Additional details for employees will be emailed on Wednesday.

For student groups and employees to earn the incentive, vaccination verification must be provided by midnight, Nov. 1.

Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Thanks to everyone who has already been vaccinated and to those who will soon be vaccinated; it truly matters for our community.

The weekend will kick off with a performance by the Statesmen Marching Band at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 1 on the quad. The planetarium will host “Final Frontier Friday: Race to the Moon” at 6 p.m. in the Del & Norma Robison Planetarium located in Magruder Hall. Admission is free with limited seating and the showtime is 30 minutes. Truman Theatre will perform “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” by Christopher Durang at 7:30 p.m. in the Severns Theatre located in Ophelia Parrish. Tickets are required and can be purchased at boxoffice.truman.edu. Jazz bands will also perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

The annual Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival will take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 2 in downtown Kirksville. There will be arts, crafts, music, dance, food and much more. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. there will be a welcome tent set up on the quad where families can receive a free gift and schedule of events. Library tours will be available from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Pickler Memorial Library. This is a chance to tour the library and view a variety of historical items in the Special Collections Department. SAB will host a photo mosaic event from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on the quad. New or old pictures can be brought for a chance to be included in a photo mosaic wall.

The University Art Gallery in Ophelia Parrish 1114 will host open galleries from 12-4:30 p.m. Oct. 2. The main gallery features “New Work” by Truman faculty members Rusty Nelson, Matt Derezinski and Aaron Fine. The Charlyn Gallery features “Recording Place” by Marcie Miller Gross. Women’s soccer will face the University of Southern Indiana at 2:30 p.m. at the Bullldog Soccer Park. No ticket is required. SAB will sponsor a speed painter performance from 4-5 p.m. in the Baldwin Auditorium. Football will face Lindenwood at 6 p.m. at Stokes Stadium. Tickets are required and can be purchased at the gate or online here. Deadline for ordering tickets is 11 a.m. Sept. 29. The planetarium will host “Stellar Saturday: Satellites” at 6 p.m. Tickets are required and are $5 per person. Kids age 3 and under get in for free. Seating is limited and showtime is 60 minutes. University Orchestra will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. in Ophelia Parrish 1393. Truman Theatre will perform “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” by Christopher Durang at 7:30 p.m. in the Severns Theatre located in Ophelia Parrish. Tickets are required and can be purchased at boxoffice.truman.edu. The day will end with an evening at the observatory at the University Farm.

Men’s soccer will face McKendree University at 12 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Bulldog Soccer Park. No ticket is required. Wind Symphony will perform a concert at 2 p.m. in the Baldwin Hall Auditorium. The weekend will end with a women’s soccer game versus McKendree University at 2:30 p.m. at the Bulldog Soccer Park.

The schedule will continue to be updated. Visit truman.edu/parents-families/family-day for more information.

In their weekly discussion, the Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group committee members Scott Alberts, Nancy Daley-Moore and Christine Harker discussed the importance of testing. They encouraged anyone with symptoms to get a test. This time of year, many people might associate mild symptoms with allergies or other seasonal sickness. The group stressed the importance of getting tested in order to be sure and to prevent possibly exposing others and contributing to spread. To view the recording of the discussion, click here.

The History Society is hosting an informational event on museum and archive internships at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in McClain Hall 210. Jason McDonald, assistant professor of history, will outline the museum and archive internship opportunities available to Truman students in the spring, summer and fall of 2022. He will also explain how to submit applications and earn academic credit for internship placements.

Every Friday Sodexo offers $5 Lunch Fridays in all dining halls. Mein Bowls in Mainstreet Market also offers $5 Friday sushi specials on most sushi.

This exhibition runs through Dec. 18 and is free to view for all Truman students, faculty and staff, as well as the community. There will be a reception for all to attend from 5-6:30 p.m. Sept. 23.

Pickler Memorial Library is hosting a fall book sale from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 28-30 outside on the south side of the library. Accepted payments are cash or check.

On-Campus Sessions
Sept. 21
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Oct. 5
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Oct. 19
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Nov. 2
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Nov. 16
5:30-6:30 p.m.

The Education Department is hosting an ice cream social at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Red Barn pavilion. Students are encouraged to come to mingle with fellow education students and faculty as well as representatives from different education clubs. RSVP here. For more information, email ang4652@truman.edu.

The first event in the MAE Professional Development Series will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 via Zoom. It will feature Saint Rice, director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, who will talk in depth about the social justice disposition. RSVP for the event is available here. For more information, email la6272@truman.edu.

Students who do not currently live on campus but are interested in doing so can now fill out an application for the spring 2022 semester. Living on campus provides easy access to campus amenities, as well as built-in fun and friendship.

Housing applications are currently open in Campus Portal. Under the “Student” tab, click on “Housing Portal.”   

There students will be able to list housing preferences and select a meal plan. There will need to be a housing deposit on file before being assigned a room in November. Applications will close in January. For questions, contact Residence Life at 660.785.4227 or reslife@truman.edu.

The new Blackboard tool, Ally, will be officially activated in all spring 2022 courses on the first day of winter interim. So far, 37 instructors have been trained and 167 courses have been enabled with Ally.

Both faculty and students will benefit from this tool. Faculty will have the ability to perform accessibility checks on course content and edit materials posted in Blackboard that need improvement. Students will have the ability to choose from several course content formats such as MP3 text-to-speech, e-reader supported files and Beeline Reader files which help readers keep track of their place in text.

Training sessions for faculty have begun and will continue through October. Faculty that would like to take advantage of these workshops can find the schedule and registration form here. Many workshop dates and times have been added or changed to accommodate teaching schedules. Preregistration is required so that Ally can be enabled in participants courses to provide guided training. Other helpful links are Learning Technology’s support web page, which can also help answer any questions.

Jack Marth and Jaylen Jefferson were named Great Lakes Valley Conference Special Teams and Defensive Players of the Week after the Bulldogs 27-9 win over Wayne State University, Sept. 11.

Jefferson took the second-half kickoff 92-yards to put Truman up 27-3. It was his second kickoff return touchdown in his career. He also had five rushes for 22 yards and one reception.