Vol. 21 No. 19 - January 30, 2017

Beta Alpha Psi will host Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) sessions from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 18, Feb. 25, March 4, March 25 in Violette Hall 1424.

VITA offers free tax assistance for clients with low to moderate income levels filing simple tax returns. The tax assistance will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.

Clients who come to VITA sessions should bring: social security cards for spouses and dependents; bank routing numbers and bank account numbers for direct deposit; wage and earning statements such as W-2, 1098T and 1099; and a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available.

For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

Alumna Jasmine Cloud will return to present “Taking Possession of the City: Papal Ceremony and Urbanism in the Early Modern Roman Forum,” at 5 p.m. Feb. 6 in Ophelia Parrish 2210.

A 2005 graduate of Truman, Cloud went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Ph.D. from Temple University. She is currently an assistant professor at the University of Central Missouri and has published her research in “Reflections on Renaissance Venice, Perspectives on Public Space in Rome, from Antiquity to the Present Days,” and “Venice in the Renaissance: Essays in Honor of Patricia Fortini Brown.” Cloud was the recipient of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation’s Institutional Fellowship, which included a residency at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome.

The presentation will focus on the historic ceremony of the posseso, in which a newly elected pope processed through the streets of Rome from the Vatican to the Lateran. The posseso took on new significance in the early modern period. This ceremonial procession presented the pope and his entourage to the people of Rome, and renewed the urban landscape of the city for the new spiritual ruler. The Roman Forum became a particularly charged site in this spectacle, featuring elaborate displays and rituals that tied the papacy to the ancient city’s emperors, whose triumphs this religious ceremony emulated in structure and route.

All are invited to attend the lecture, especially those interested in art history, Italian studies, and early modern (Renaissance) studies.

Cloud’s visit is funded by the School of Arts and Letters Alumni Visit Grant in support of the School of Arts and Letters strategic goal of enhancing interaction between alumni, faculty and students.  Visits by alumni include substantive interaction on campus with students and faculty, and at least one public presentation as part of the visit.

 
In 2016, graduates from Truman’s Department of Nursing exceeded the state average pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nurses.
 
According to the NCLEX-RN pass rates recently released by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 97.73 percent of Truman nursing graduates passed on their first attempt. By comparison, the overall Missouri rate was 85.50 percent.
 
Truman offers both the traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, as well as an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. For the ABSN, students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject can earn a nursing degree in 15 months.
 
The Truman Department of Nursing has the seal of approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The priority deadline for Missouri’s largest student financial aid program, the Access Missouri Grant Program, is Feb. 1.  

The Free Application for Student Financial Aid, commonly known as FAFSA, must be completed by the priority date to guarantee a grant award if students meet all eligibility requirements.

Maximum grant amounts are determined primarily by available state funding and the number of students eligible to receive the grant each year. Specific award amounts are based on students’ financial need, the type of college they attend and other financial aid they receive.

Students completing the FAFSA after Feb. 1, but before the April 3 final deadline, could still receive a grant if funding is available.

In order to be eligible for most federal and state financial aid programs, including the Access Missouri Grant Program, students must file a FAFSA every year they are in school.

For more information about the Access Missouri Grant, including all eligibility requirements, visit dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/accessmo.php.

The Student Run Business Initiative is looking to recruit new members who are interested in furthering the organization’s mission of creating hands-on, real-world experiences for Truman students. Its goal is to have a fully functioning, student-lead business by 2018.

For students interested in helping the program, there will be information nights from 7-7:45 p.m. Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 in the DSP conference room on the second floor of Violette Hall.

For more information, or any questions about the Student Run Business Initiative, contact Andy Eckhard.

Students for Middle East Peace will host the Middle East Colloquium from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 2 in Magruder Hall 2001. Members will present on the following topics: Saudi Arabia; the crisis in Aleppo; a personal account of a trip to Iran; and the effect of Syria on Turkey. Additionally, Mark Appold, associate professor of philosophy and religion, will present on the current settlement conflict.

Cardinal Key is a national honor society devoted to serving the school, community and each other, as well as upholding the four virtues of faith, trust, fortitude and wisdom. The chapter at Truman is made up of 25 women, each with a desire and commitment to service.

Applications are due Feb. 3. For more information, visit cardinalkey.truman.edu.

Alpha Phi Omega, a national coeducational service fraternity at Truman, is looking for new members for the spring 2017 semester. Joining APO entails gaining leadership opportunities, finding new friends and providing service for others. Students who would like to learn more about the organization can come to one of the information nights in Violette Hall 1412. Rush week will take place Feb. 5-10.

Information Nights
Jan. 30
8 p.m.
Violette Hall 1412

Jan. 31
7 p.m.

Feb. 6
8 p.m.

Alpha Sigma Gamma is hosting its annual spring rush from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 7-9 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. Interested students can get to know the ladies of ASG, what the non-selective service sorority does, and how to get involved. The informal event consists of three information nights to get to know members of ASG, play games and ask any questions regarding the organization.

Rush nights include:

Sisterhood Night
Feb. 7
7-9 p.m.
Student Union Building Activities Room 3200

Service Night
Feb. 8
7-9 p.m.
Student Union Building Activities Room 3200

Fellowship Night
Feb. 9
7-9 p.m.
Student Union Building Activities Room 3200

Attendance at all three nights of rush is mandatory to be eligible for the organization. While prior notice of emergencies and late classes may be excused to avoid absence, homework is not considered a valid excuse. ASG allows every woman rushing an equal chance to be a member. For more information, contact ASG public relations chair Kailey Micek.

In addition to ranking among the top 20 volunteer-producing mid-sized schools in the nation, Truman offers a Master’s International Program in conjunction with Peace Corps service.

The Peace Corps Prep Program will prepare students for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service through interrelated coursework, hands-on experience and professional development support. The program adds value to the Truman experience and prepares students for international service while they pursue their passion to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

No matter what major students are pursuing, they are eligible to enroll in Truman’s Peace Corps Prep Program, completing coursework and field experiences relevant to international service. When students successfully complete the program, they will receive recognition on their co-curricular transcript and a signed certificate from the Peace Corps. While certification does not guarantee acceptance into Peace Corps, it does offer a competitive advantage when applying.

There will be an information meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A. For more information, contact Mary Shapiro or visit truman.edu/majors-programs/more-learning-opportunities/peace-corps-prep-program.

Applications are now being accepted for “Flavors of India,” a faculty-led course to be offered in Winter Interim 2017-18 and open to all majors.

Students will feast their senses with an immersion into a land with a rich diversity of traditions and cultures. India is the world’s largest democracy with a rich history and cultural tradition going back uninterrupted for almost five thousand years. A visit to India offers a rare opportunity to see the diversity of the modern emerging high-tech sectors and economic prosperity of modern India and also the traditions of an ancient country co-existing side by side.

The itinerary will provide students an opportunity to observe the contrasts of ancient and modern India by visiting Agra, Chandannager, Delhi, Jaipur and Kolkata. Excursions will include trips to the Taj Mahal, Ranthambore National Park, service work at Missionary of Charity and much more.

For more information, contact Dawood Afzal or Stephanie Foré. In addition to the informational meetings listed below, they will also be at the Study Abroad Fair, Feb. 20.

Informational Meetings
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Feb. 2
Magruder Hall 2090

5:30-6:30 p.m.
March 2
Magruder Hall 3000

The Office of Admission is looking for enthusiastic student leaders with a passion for sharing their positive Truman experience.

Applications are open for student ambassadors for the 2017-18 academic year. Student ambassadors guide visiting students and their families on campus tours, assist in the recruitment of prospective students and represent the University.
 
Scholarship, institutional, work-study and volunteer opportunities are available. Applications can be found online and are due by midnight, Feb. 17. Questions should be directed to Shari Fieser, student ambassador adviser.

Have you had an incredible professor or research mentor during your time at Truman? Don’t forget to nominate them for Educator or Research Mentor of the year. Submissions are due no later than Feb. 10 and are available at senate.truman.edu/nominations. Don’t let their hard work go unnoticed.

Applications for the TruScholars and Interdisciplinary Research Community Grant programs are due Feb. 6.

TruScholars Program Details
The Office of Student Research will once again offer intensive, summer TruScholars undergraduate research experiences. The purpose of the TruScholars program is to foster collaborative faculty-student research and creative activities to enhance undergraduate student learning. Projects supported by this program should exhibit the potential for scholarly publication, presentation at a regional or national conference, public performance or a gallery showing.

The formal part of the 2017 TruScholars program will coincide with the eight-week summer semester, beginning June 5 and ending July 28.

During the program, students should devote full-time effort to their project, and faculty mentors should be continuously available for consultation and collaboration. If student-faculty teams would like to begin their research earlier than June 5 because of the nature of the research, or enthusiasm for the project, they are encouraged to do so. The student-faculty team should develop a schedule that is best for the project with the understanding that there will be intense effort during the eight-week session. Application guidelines, important dates and frequently asked questions can be found at the OSR website.
 
To optimize the quality of the TruScholars experience, there will be a number of required elements including an orientation during the spring semester, attendance at two of three professional development workshops during the eight-week summer program, and presentation at the TruScholars Research Symposium, Aug. 26. Specific dates are given at the OSR website. Faculty will be asked to attend the orientation and research symposium as well as either lead or attend two of the three workshops.

The application includes a project description among other components and therefore students are encouraged to identify a faculty mentor as early as possible.

Interdisciplinary Research Community Grant Details
The OSR is continuing with an initiative to support interdisciplinary research teams over the summer of 2017 to serve as models for interdisciplinary undergraduate research and creative activities, and to foster a sense of community among Truman faculty, staff and students.

These Interdisciplinary Research Community Grant proposals should be written by two mentors, each from different departments, who will collaborate on a research project that involves and trains two undergraduate students, one from each of the mentor’s departments. Projects may be new or ongoing. Mentors choose student participants. Projects will be funded up to the maximum value of $9,500 per team and should equate to an eight-week equivalent period of time during the summer, June 5 to July 28. Budget may include $1,500 max stipend per mentor, $3,000 max stipend per student, and $9,500 max allocation for materials. Any material budget greater than $500 must be subtracted from the stipend budget amounts at the discretion of the mentors.

See the OSR website for full details of the program, program requirements and the proposal guidelines. Students and faculty involved in the IRC grant program will be required to participate in TruScholars summer workshops and the TruScholars Research Symposium. The deadline for applications, written by the two mentors, will be Feb. 6.

The newly formed Kirksville Natural History Club will host speaker John Lorenzen, a fisheries management biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, to discuss “Monitoring Topeka Shiners in the Spring Creek Watershed” at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 in Magruder Hall 1098. Topeka shiners are an endangered species, and MDC has tried to improve their prospects by introducing them to favorable habitats in north Missouri. Among these is Spring Creek, a small stream at Union Ridge Conservation Area just northwest of town.

The Environmental Sustainability Fee charges all students $5 per semester to fund environmentally friendly and sustainable projects on campus. To ensure students, faculty and staff have a loud and clear voice on environmental issues and projects they wish to see implemented, the Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee will host constituent meetings until Feb. 17. Students, faculty and staff can present their ideas for programs or projects the fee could fund during the upcoming school year. For information on presenting an idea or submitting a proposal, email esfeecommittee@truman.edu.

Truman’s Funds Allotment Council is now accepting new member applications. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 15. The Funds Allotment Council is committed to helping various organizations fund campus events. This is an excellent opportunity for students of all majors to make a difference on campus and connect with new people. Applications are available at fac.truman.edu. For more information, contact Tori Wallis.

The Center for International Education would like to invite all students to the Study Abroad Fair from 12-4 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. Talk with students who have studied abroad and speak with representatives from universities in France, Israel, England, Costa Rica and representatives for the Semester at Sea program, faculty-led programs, internships abroad and many more. For more information, stop by the Center for International Education and Study Abroad, located on the first floor of Grim Hall.

The Pickler Memorial Library Gallery is now accepting submissions for solo or group art shows for fall 2017. The student body will be able to decide the winners through voting at 15 For Art, the Truman Jazz Festival, a basketball game and the Big Event.

Students who would like to show their art can fill out the application and send it to kappa.pi.truman@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Feb. 10.

The 30th annual undergraduate and 15th annual graduate research conference will take place April 20. The deadline for abstracts is Feb. 20.

2017 SRC Important Dates
Go to the SRC Website

The Leadership Recognition Program recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding organizations and organizational members, advisors and faculty. Nominations can be submitted online at wp-internal.truman.edu/csi/leadership or in person at the Center for Student Involvement Office. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 17.
 
Contact Alex Ward at csilrp@gmail.com with any questions regarding the program and nomination process.

This semester, an elevator pitch contest named Bulldog B.I.T.E. could win aspiring entrepreneurs more than just bragging rights as the contest offers a top prize of $3,000.

An elevator pitch outlines the concept or idea for a product, service or project in a short period of time, typically from 30 seconds to three minutes. The length of the pitch mirrors the time spent waiting for and riding an elevator in a high-rise building. The purpose of the pitch is to spur the interest of a potential investor or financial backer.

Bulldog B.I.T.E., which stands for Business Innovation by Truman Entrepreneurs, is open to any student or team of students — up to three members — enrolled during the 2017 spring semester. A student or team may submit only one pitch concept for the contest. Participants may pitch for-profit or not-for-profit concepts.

Students will submit a concept or idea for products, services or solutions to problems facing humanity in a video pitch no longer than two minutes by 11:59 p.m. March 6. The video should not include any props, except the product prototype, and should be one continuous shot. The video submission should include: name of the individual or team members; problem or issue being addressed by the concept; product description; target market; competitive advantage of the concept; value creation; and expected future use of prize money.

Judges will select six finalists to present their pitch to a live panel of judges, April 7. The top three finalists will receive cash awards: the cash prize for first place is $3,000; second place is $2,000; and third place is $1,000. Pitch participants, judges, alumni and audience members are then invited to a networking event following the competition.

The Bulldog B.I.T.E. is sponsored by Villhard Growth Partners and Mastercard. On campus promotion is provided by the Career Center.

For complete details and entry information, click here.

Alumnus Doug Villhard (center) talks with the finalists of the first Bulldog B.I.T.E. elevator pitch competition in March 2016. The competition is returning for the spring semester, and student entrepreneurs will compete for $6,000 in total prizes.

New summer and semester programs are available for study abroad in Australia at Bond University.

Located on Australia’s Gold Coast, Bond University is an hour’s drive from Brisbane, with easy access to attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef, some of the world’s finest beaches and the large rain forest areas of the north. The university is Australia’s first and largest private university and offers courses in a variety of disciplines, including accounting, communication and media, health sciences, psychology and more.

For more information, visit ccisabroad.org/program.php?link=australia_bond. Applications for the summer semester are due March 1. For more information and to apply, contact the Center for International Education and Study Abroad, located on the first floor of Grim Hall, at 660.785.4076 or at ciea@truman.edu.

Huping Ling, professor of history, was featured in the Jan. 22, 2017 issue of The World Journal, “Huping Ling Uncovers Unknown Chinese History at Hoover Institution Archives.” The World Journal is a daily Chinese-language newspaper serving overseas Chinese in North America. The largest Chinese-language newspaper in the United States, Ling has been featured in The World Journal frequently. Since 2016, Ling has served as a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University collecting sources for a book project, “Sword Blue: A Chiang Kai-shek’s Man.” It depicts a century-long history of China from 1910 to 2010 through the glories, sufferings and adventures of Sword Blue, a top-ranking Nationalist government official in Shanxi. Ling recently donated her father’s archives “Papers of Linghu Pu” to Hoover. The collection spans from 1910 to 2000 and includes photos, diaries, confession papers, official certifications and government papers, Linghu and Ma family genealogies, and oral history interviews. Hoover also houses the personal diaries of Chaing Kai-shek.

Antonio Scuderi, professor of Italian, was invited to chair a session entitled “In Celebration of Dario Fo,” for the annual American Association of Italian Studies conference, April 21-23, in Columbus, Ohio.

Marine Corps Officer Recruiting
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Feb. 1
Student Union Building

KPMG Office Hours
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 1
Violette Hall Counter

Enterprise Info Table
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Feb. 2
TBD

PWC Office Hours
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Feb. 8
Violette Hall Counter

PWC Open Hours
1-3 p.m.
Feb. 8
Violette Hall Lobby

Anders CPAs Application Deadline
Feb. 9

Expo Bootcamp
7-8 p.m.
Feb. 21
Student Union Building 3202, 3203, 3204

Entrepreneurship Conference
All day
Feb. 27
TBD

Career Week
Feb. 27-March 2

Resumania
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 27
Barnett Hall

Resumania
12-2 p.m.
Feb. 27
Ophelia Parrish

Resumania
2-4 p.m.
Feb. 27
McClain Hall

SCORE Mock Interviews
9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 28
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203, 3204

Etiquette Dinner
5:30-7 p.m.
Feb. 28
Student Union Building Alumni Room

Employer Info Sessions
7:15-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 28
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203, 3204, 3000

Career & Grad School Expo
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building

Professional Photos by Tim Barcus
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building 3204

MAE Leadership Series
6-7 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building Alumni Room

Employer Presentations
6-7 p.m.
March 1
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3204, 3000

Interview Day
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 2
Student Union Building

Deloitte Interviews
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 6
Student Union Building 3201, 3203, 3204

Aldi Dinner
6-7:30 p.m.
March 6
TBD

Aldi Interviews
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 7
Student Union Building TBD

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
March 7
Student Union Building 3202

BKD Interviews
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
March 8
Student Union Building 3204

PWC Preview Session
4-6 p.m.
March 8
Off Campus

PWC Interviews
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 9
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203, 3204

Ernst & Young Interviews
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
March 21
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
March 28
Student Union Building 3202

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
April 4
Student Union Building 3202

KPMG Interview
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
April 6
Student Union Building 3201, 3202, 3203

Advanced Sports Management Interviews
8:30-9:30 a.m.
April 19
TBD

Advanced Sports Management Interviews
8:30-9:30 a.m.
April 21
TBD

Real Life 101
7-8 p.m.
April 25
Student Union Building 3202

The Fulbright UK Summer Institute Programmes offer students the opportunity to be immersed in the study of British academics and culture. Students will take part in research, collaboration, presentation and cultural events at a British university. They will enhance their leadership skills, develop knowledge and understanding of new subjects and become ambassadors for the United Kingdom and the United States. The awards will cover the majority of all costs incurred, including flights to and from the U.K., university fees and room and board at the host university.

Students from all areas of study are encouraged to apply. To meet the minimum eligibility, applicants must:

• be a U.S. citizen and possess a U.S. passport;
• be at least 18 years old;
• have a high level of academic achievement with a minimum GPA of 3.7 (confirmed by grades, awards and references);
• have at least two years of university study upon their return (i.e. applicants should currently be a freshman or sophomore in college/university)
• be mature, responsible, independent and open-minded

The deadline for 2017 applicants is Feb. 23. Questions should be sent to the Fulbright Awards staff.

Applications for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s German Chancellor Fellowship will open March 15. The German Chancellor Fellowship allows recent university graduates to spend one year conducting a project of their design with the host of their choice in Germany. The project can be in any field, but should be research-based and create a positive social impact. Benefits include full financial support, a language course, and a study tour culminating with meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel. For more information on the German Chancellor Fellowship and application process, visit humboldt-foundation.de/web/german-chancellor-fellowship.html. Although applications will not be due until Sept. 15 applicants are encouraged to begin drafting project proposals and securing host affiliations early.

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program online application is open for students participating in credit-bearing study abroad programs and international internships during the summer 2017 and fall/academic year 2017-18 terms. The Gilman program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries where they go.

There will be presentation and information sessions from 6-7 p.m. Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 in Magruder Hall 1098. Interested Truman students should contact the Center for International Education/Study Abroad at ciea@truman.edu. Summer 2017 and fall/academic year 2017-18 applications are both due by 11:59 p.m. March 7.

For more information about the Gilman scholarship, webinar schedules and other helpful resources, including subscription to Gilman advisor newsletters, visit iie.org/gilman. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who receive federal Pell Grant funding.
 
Truman Gilman alumnus Shannon Marshall will be available for assistance in developing an application at the following times:

Feb. 6
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Magruder Hall

Feb. 8
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Magruder Hall

Feb. 22
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor

Feb. 24
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor

Feb. 28
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor

March 2
4-5 p.m.
Study Abroad Office
Grim Hall, First Floor