Vol. 21 No. 34 - June 12, 2017

Janet Gooch has been selected to be the next executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

A member of the Truman faculty since 1995, Gooch currently serves as the dean of the School of Health Sciences and Education and the interim dean of the School of Science and Mathematics.

“I am honored and humbled to have been selected as Truman’s next executive vice president for academic affairs and provost,” Gooch said. “I am struck by the significance of the role and the extent of the responsibility, and I will do my absolute best to provide thoughtful, visionary and cooperative leadership to the University. I am continually impressed by the quality of our faculty, staff and students, our academic programs and the positive, can-do spirit that has perpetually defined our community.”

Gooch’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. in speech pathology from the University of Kansas, Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University respectively.

In addition to her time as dean, Gooch previously served as the chair of the Communication Disorders Department and was the interim director of the Ronald E. McNair Program. In 2008, she was the recipient of a Walker and Doris Allen Fellowship and was also named the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor. In 2003, she received the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award.

Gooch will begin her position July 1.

The names of the students who graduated during spring commencement are now available online.

Truman conducted graduation ceremonies May 13 for more than 1,100 students. The names of the spring graduates can be found at truman.edu/honors/spring-2017-graduation-list.

Students who graduated with honors will have that distinction noted by their names. Cum laude recognizes those who earned a grade point average between 3.50-3.74. Magna cum laude is for graduates with a grade point average between 3.75-3.89. Summa cum laude honors graduates with a grade point average above 3.9.

Master’s degree recipients will have that distinction noted by their names.

The list is organized by state and hometown. Hometowns are based upon the permanent address given to the University by the student. Students who have requested a directory hold on their information will not be included on the list. Students who participated in the May ceremony but who will not earn their degree until August or December are not included on the list. Any questions regarding student eligibility for inclusion on the list can be directed to the Registrar’s Office at 660.785.4143.

Truman’s Nursing Recognition Pinning Ceremony took place May 12 at the Catholic Newman Center.  

Thirty-four senior nursing students were recognized for their accomplishments. The ceremony marks the graduating students’ successful completion of a rigorous academic and professional program. The graduates received Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees during Truman commencement ceremonies May 13 and will become registered nurses after passing the NCLEX-RN examination.

Pictured, first row, left to right: faculty member Stephen Hadwiger, Julia Walther, Michaela Walsh, Lauren Smith, Kelsey Hamel, Ashley Coe, Hollie Urbeck, Mickenna Broman, Sierra King, Ashlee Thompson and faculty member Kit Hadwiger. Second row: Jessica Griffin, Aubrey Fulton, Holly Troyer, Nina Flynn, Rebecca Atchley, Kate Heman, Emily Coe, Kaleigh Wagoner, Laura Tarantino and Erin Jones. Third row: Maureen Hoffbeck, Catherine Daugherty, Taylor Marshall, Larissa Gunter, Kathryn Livengood, Sydney Cornett, Hannah Hopson, Scarlett Warner, Ashley Moll and Sara Aiken. Fourth row: J. Trent Hoover, Sandra Dostalik, John Collins III, Cory Bloom and Erin Fisher. Not pictured: Danika Rodriguez.

Students who received a grade point average of 3.5 or better during the spring semester can now find their honor roll information posted online.

The President’s List, for students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, can be accessed at truman.edu/honors/spring-2017-presidents-list. The Vice President for Academic Affairs’ List, featuring students with a grade point average between 3.50-3.99, can be found at truman.edu/honors/spring-2017-vice-president-academic-affairs-list. To qualify for either list, a student must be an undergraduate and complete at least 12 hours of credit during the semester.

Social media buttons on both pages make it easy for students and parents to share this accomplishment with friends and family.

Students who have requested a directory hold on their information will not be included on a list. Any questions regarding student eligibility for either list can be directed to the Academic Affairs Office at 660.785.4105.

The Center for Academic Excellence will offer INDV 115, “Personal Financial Wellness,” from 12-1:20 p.m. Tuesdays during the first block of the fall semester.
 
This one-credit course will focus on many different aspects of personal financial management that will aid you while a student, but even more importantly, will provide helpful tips that will assist you once you secure your first job. Class sessions will address: how to put your best foot forward in getting a job, the basics of credit and debt, financial aid basics, your rights under a lease, creating and living on a budget, investing for your future, how taxes and insurance impact your budget, evaluating benefit packages, and how to make big-ticket purchases. This class is open to all students.
 
Registration is available on TruView with the Course Reference Number (CRN) 7868. For more information, contact financialliteracy@truman.edu.

 
Please join us in celebrating Richard J. Coughlin upon his retirement as dean of libraries and museums and interim vice president for academic affairs and provost.
 
2-4 p.m.
June 30
Kirk Memorial

Candidates for the career-ready coaching positions will participate in open forums at the following times:

Mark Forster
10-11 a.m.
June 22
Student Union Building 3201

Bill Mitchell
3-4 p.m.
June 22
Student Union Building 3201

The 2017 Truman Homecoming Committee will be posting updates, contests and more on various social media outlets during the summer.

Accounts include a Homecoming Facebook page, a Twitter account with the handle @HomecomingTSU, an Instagram account @trumanstatehomecoming and a website.

Homecoming 2017 will take place Oct. 8-14.

June 12-16
7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

June 17-18
Closed

June 19-23
7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

June 24-25
Closed

June 26-30
7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

In case of emergency, call 9-1-1. To have an officer dispatched for a non-emergency, call 660.665.5621.

The next issue of the Truman Today will be available June 26.

Robert Tigner, professor of psychology, received the Advisor Award of Distinction from the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The award recognizes individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to guiding and mentoring a chapter, council or community. As a member of Phi Gamma Delta, Tigner demonstrates the value of interfraternal partnership and an overall commitment to advancing fraternity. He served on the steering committee for Beta Theta Pi’s Men of Principle Initiative and has facilitated the fraternity’s major leadership development programs. The organization awarded Tigner the Dr. Edward B. Taylor Advisor of the Year Award in 2005 and the regional Outstanding Friend of Beta Award in 2006. Truman recognized Tigner as the E.M. Violette Outstanding Advisor of the Year in 2009 and 2010.

Applications for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s German Chancellor Fellowship are now open. 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.