Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger, Captain of US Airways Flight 1549, will be Truman’s Holman Family Distinguished Speaker in April.
 
Sullenberger became internationally renowned on Jan. 15, 2009, when he and his crew safely guided their disabled jetliner to an emergency water landing in New York City’s frigid Hudson River during what has been called the “Miracle on the Hudson.” All 155 aboard survived. Sullenberger and his crew received international acclaim for their actions, including the passage of a Congressional resolution recognizing their bravery. Sullenberger was ranked second in TIME’s “Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009.”
 
Born in Denison, Texas, Sullenberger pursued his childhood love of aviation, learning to fly at 16. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He went on to be an airline pilot, instructor and accident investigator. He still flies privately.
 
Following the “Miracle on the Hudson,” Sullenberger became a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author with “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters.” The book was adapted into the major motion picture “Sully,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks in the lead role. Sullenberger also wrote “Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders.”
 
Recently, Sullenberger served as the U.S. Ambassador and Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations Specialized Agency. As a global thought leader, he has now resumed his profession as a sought-after keynote speaker to audiences around the world and continues his advocacy for safety in global air travel and for the cause of democracy.
 
The Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series is named in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation. Sullenberger’s presentation will take place at 7 p.m. April 11 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium. Tickets are free and will be available in mid-March. More information about the presentation will be posted online at lyceum.truman.edu as it becomes available.

Students from the Homecoming Committee present a check to representatives from the Pantry for Adair County. All totaled, more than $23,000 was raised for the organization during Homecoming festivities this year.
 
As part of Truman Homecoming activities, students raised more than $23,000 in support of the Pantry for Adair County.
 
The PAC assists in providing supplemental food for food insecure residents of Adair County. PAC distributes fresh produce as available, meats and other grocery products, using the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri as a primary resource, along with local donations from groceries and individuals.
 
At halftime of the Bulldog football game, Oct. 26, representatives from the Homecoming Committee awarded a check for $23,067.32.
 
For years, students and organizations have used Homecoming as an opportunity to support philanthropic causes. Previous local organizations supported during Homecoming include the Special Olympics of Northeast Missouri, the Kirksville FLATS project, the Adair County Humane Society, the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, the Kirksville Child Development Center and the I Think I Can Foundation.
 
Truman will celebrate Homecoming next year the weekend of Oct. 18.

West Campus Suites is designated as the allergy-conscious residence hall for this event. Students in that hall will only be providing small toys or candy that does not contain peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, gluten or soy.

This event is sponsored by Truman’s Office of Residence Life in coordination with the Residence Hall Association. For more information, call 660.785.4227 or email reslife@truman.edu.

 
Truman recently earned a new status in rankings compiled by the Society of Actuaries.
 
Among the organization’s listing of Universities & Colleges with Actuarial Programs (UCAP), Truman is now categorized for having Advanced Curriculum. Truman is one of only four public universities in the state, and one of only 79 schools nationally, with that designation or higher from SOA.
 
Actuarial science is the discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in insurance, pension, finance, investment and other industries. It involves analyzing the financial implications of uncertain future events, making it a crucial field for managing risk and ensuring financial stability.
 
Placement in the SOA list is based on how many topics schools prepare students for in advance of actuarial exams. The University recently underwent an application and review process with SOA and was approved for exams FAM and ASTAM, bringing Truman’s total coverage to exams P, FM, FAM and ASTAM, as well as and the Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) topics of economics, accounting and finance, and mathematical statistics.
 
“This move will make our program more attractive to students who are looking for actuarial programs and will have the potential to prepare our students better for the workforce,” said Tim Walston, dean of the School of Science and Mathematics. “With our curriculum, students will now be able to pass two to three exams prior to graduation and have the foundational knowledge to take and pass the fourth exam shortly after they are hired.”
 
Another benefit of being a UCAP-AC school is that Truman can now file for exam fee reimbursement for up to three students who pass one of four advanced actuarial exams.
 
At Truman, the actuarial science program is a multi-disciplinary minor requiring courses from mathematics, computer and data sciences, and business and economics. For more information, including details on prerequisites and suggested coursework for a career in the field, click here, or contact Sunghoon Chung, assistant professor of statistics, at schung@truman.edu.

 
A new twist on traditional college visits, the Truman Experience Weekend offers multiple opportunities for future students and their families to discover what Truman has to offer. Flexible scheduling allows for guests to personalize their visit and make the most of their time on campus through tailored presentations, special events and personal interactions.
 
“Instead of everyone attending the same presentations, students and families have an opportunity to select which activities to try,” said Tyana Lange, vice president of student engagement, enrollment and marketing. “There is no obligation to attend everything. By spacing events out over two days, we give guests a bigger window to learn about the aspects of college life that appeal to them.”
 
The first Truman Experience Weekend took place in March and exceeded its goal with more than 500 guests visiting campus at some point during the two-day period. Those attending the Truman Experience in November will have a variety of events to explore.
 
Friday evening President Sue Thomas will be on hand to engage with students in a unique activity. Staff members from the Admissions Office and the Center for Academic Excellence will be available for a question-and-answer session. There will also be food trucks in the parking lot between McClain Hall and the Student Union Building, as well as the regular on-campus dining selections.
 
Evening entertainment options include a Student Activities Board-sponsored speaker in Baldwin Hall Auditorium and a show at the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. Additional performances and presentations by campus departments may be added to the schedule. The complete itinerary for the weekend can be found at truman.edu/experience. Updates will be reflected as they are announced.
 
On Saturday, dining halls will be open for breakfast and lunch. President Thomas will kick off the day with a welcome address in Baldwin Hall Auditorium, followed by panel presentations specifically for students and parents.
 
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about many aspects of Truman throughout the day with presentations from academic programs, study abroad, Athletics, Residence Life, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and Financial Aid, among others.
 
Tours will be available of the entire campus, as well as residence halls and the Student Recreation Center. Truman football will take the field at 12 p.m. in Stokes Stadium. Visitors should also keep an eye out for Spike, the University mascot, and the world-famous Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.
 
“We have created an environment where prospective students can be active participants,” said Allison Schweizer, director of admissions. “The goal is to show our amazing students and campus in an energetic and fun way so prospective students can picture themselves at Truman.”
 
The Truman Experience Weekend is the newest addition to the variety of visit options for prospective students. The University continues to conduct individual in-person visits – complete with campus tours – every weekday. Other arrangements can be made for special circumstances, and Truman also offers donor-sponsored visit options for families that may need assistance with any associated costs.
 
Prospective students and their families interested in attending the Truman Experience Weekend can find more information at truman.edu/experience. Details about specific events will be posted to the site as they become available. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at 660.785.4114 or admissions@truman.edu.

Visiting trucks include: Coffee Cravings, a mobile trailer that serves coffee and lotus drinks; Good Food Good Eats, which offers breakfast and dinner items; Kurbside Kitchen & BBQ, which serves appetizers, loaded nachos and more; Nolia Jeans, which serves Cajun seasoned foods; The Peppered Heifer, a food trailer specializing in smash burgers with fried cheese; Roll N Blue BBQ, which offers pulled pork, brisket and chicken; and Uncle Kristi’s Doughnuts, which serves different flavored mini-doughnuts.

The parking lot between the Student Union Building and McClain Hall will be blocked off for the entire day to accommodate the trucks and to set up tables and chairs for diners. To provide handicap parking, two additional handicap spots have been designated in the small parking lot between McClain and Baldwin. These temporary spots will be available all day, Nov. 1.

Students and employees who may have received vouchers can redeem them at any of the food trucks. The $5 vouchers can be stacked up to $10 to apply toward the cost of a meal. Cash and card will also be accepted methods of payment. Meal swipes and Bonus Bucks cannot be used at the food trucks.

The food trucks are open to the Kirksville community, as well as prospective students and their families visiting for Truman Experience Weekend.

Union & Involvement Services will begin accepting room lottery requests for the spring 2025 semester from 8 a.m. Oct. 31 to 4 p.m. Nov. 8.

Recognized student organizations must be in good standing in order for requests to be processed. Any submissions received after 4 p.m. Nov. 8 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis once lottery requests have been processed. Forms can be found here. Paper forms will not be accepted.

Contact the Union & Involvement Services Office at union@truman.edu or 660.785.4222 for more information.

The 14th annual Communications Disorders conference will take place from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.

Hosted by the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and the Communication Disorders program, this event is a workshop for speech-language pathologists, general education teachers, special education teachers, reading specialists and anyone interested in learning about phonological processing. This year’s conference will feature Jennifer Brodell as the keynote speaker.

Brodell provides individual and group therapy services to a variety of pediatric clients from birth to young adulthood and serves on the board for the Autism Society of Iowa where she acts as the department’s interprofessional education liaison to the university. Her primary area of clinical focus is pediatric speech and language disorders with an emphasis on autism spectrum disorders. A secondary area of clinical focus is interprofessional practice. She participates in several interdisciplinary diagnostic clinics for autism evaluations and leads an interdisciplinary therapeutic group for parents of young children with autism.

Brodell’s first talk of the day from 8:45-10:15 a.m. will focus on “Models of Effective Outpatient Autism Evaluations.” Her second talk will take place from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on “Applying Interprofessional to Early Intervention Approaches in Autistic Populations.” The conference will end with her discussion on “Supporting Autistic Kids’, Teens’, and Young Adults’ Access and Participation Through Interprofessional Practice Models” from 1-3 p.m.

A registration fee of $75 for professionals, $20 for graduate students and $15 for undergraduate students will be collected at the door. RSVP here.

Students interested in living on campus during the 2025-2026 school year can now make arrangements to do so.

Living on campus provides students with a built-in community of peers, in addition to offering a variety of amenities. All campus residence halls feature furnished rooms, access to laundry facilities and a meal plan. On-campus residents also have all of their utility costs included in the price of their room. More information about applying to live on campus for the 2025-2026 academic year can be found online here.

“Students who live on campus perform better academically because of the close connections to fellow students that develop,” said Jamie Van Boxel, director of residence life. “It is also more convenient to focus on your academics when you are close to your classrooms, study areas, labs and performance spaces. Having an on-campus meal plan makes it easy to eat a well-balanced meal without taking the time to shop for groceries, prepare meals and do the dishes. When you compare housing options side by side, living on campus has value when it comes to the conveniences, flexibilities and supportive environment offered to residents living on campus. Successful students often find that living on campus was part of their success in college.”

There are many on-campus living options to choose from, including single-, double- and triple-occupancy residence hall rooms and single- and double-occupancy apartments available in Campbell. Upperclass students can select deluxe double residence hall rooms or a deluxe double apartment in Campbell. Deluxe double residence hall rooms offer more living space at the same price as a standard double room. Deluxe double apartments allow each roommate to have their own private bedroom in a shared apartment. Deluxe double spaces are limited and upperclass students who apply for housing and follow the room self-selection timeline outlined on the website will have priority in being able to select deluxe accommodations while supplies last.
 
“Returning students living on campus have more options than a first-year student because returning students self-select their room earlier,” Van Boxel said. “Returning students can group up with their friends to take over a section of a residence hall or a group of apartments in Campbell. Returning students also have the opportunity to live in larger rooms or in an on-campus apartment with more space with a roommate of their choosing.”

The housing portal is open now and can be accessed through TruView. Room selection will take place in the spring semester. Questions about the housing process can be directed to Residence Life at 660.785.4227 or reslife@truman.edu.

Residence Life is looking for students who will create welcoming environments, develop connections with on-campus residents and foster a learning-centered community to apply as resident advisors for the 2025-26 school year. Resident advisors will have their room and meal fees fully covered.

Anyone enrolled in classes, who has lived on campus for at least one semester and maintained a 2.75 GPA, is qualified to apply. The application is open now until Jan. 14. Visit reslife.truman.edu or email reslife@truman.edu for more information.

Students may receive their flu shot and COVID booster vaccination at the Student Health Center. Appointments are preferred to ensure supplies are in stock but walk-ins are welcome. The vaccinations are not free and students should call the health center at 660.785.4182 for more information. The SHC is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday.

AGSC 490 practicum class is working to create a community supported agriculture project for students, faculty and staff at Truman. By subscribing to the CSA, students and Truman affiliates would receive a weekly box of vegetables and herbs which would help support the farm and Truman community. A survey for this project can be completed here.