Vol. 23 No. 28 - April 8, 2019

In rankings recently released by Business First, the University comes in at No. 64 in the nation and No. 14 in the Midwest for schools that offer the best educational experiences to their students. 

The annual rankings are based on a 22-part formula that analyzes the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau. It gives the highest marks to schools with highly selective admissions processes, strong retention and graduation rates, impressive earnings by alumni, generous resources, affordable tuition and housing costs, diverse faculties and student bodies, and economically robust communities.

To see the full list, click here.

Initial plans for the NEIP grant include partnering with A.T. Still University to design and set up simulated mental health scenarios using standardized patients. Additionally, funds will be used to purchase a new, more realistic nursing manikin for use in simulations.

The NEIP was established through legislative action and appropriation of Missouri State Board of Nursing funds to increase physical and educational capacity of professional nursing education programs in Missouri. This is the fourth time Truman has received the grant. Among the needs filled by previous grants were the addition of faculty members and the creation of new programs. 

More than 40 entries were submitted for this year’s Bulldog BITE pitch competition.

Bulldog B.I.T.E., which stands for Business Innovation by Truman Entrepreneurs, is an elevator pitch competition. In such a competition, a 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.

The competition was open to any student or team of students — up to three members — enrolled during the 2019 spring semester. Participants were able pitch both for-profit or not-for-profit concepts.

Students submitted their concept or idea for a product, service or project in a video pitch. First round judges then reviewed and scored the video submissions and the top six scoring entries were advanced to the finals. Finalists include: Danny Alter, Allee Bernier, William Fries, Joseph Lomo-Mainoo, Mackenzie Matthews and Kailey Micek.

The finals will take place at 4 p.m. April 12 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. After the presentation, finalists will answer questions from the judges. The Q&A will be limited to four minutes.

The top-scoring pitch will receive a $3,000 prize, while second and third will receive $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Pitch participants, judges, alumni and audience members are invited to attend a networking reception following the competition.

The Bulldog B.I.T.E. is sponsored by Villhard Growth Partners and is coordinated on campus by the Office of Advancement and the Career Center.

The University Concert Percussion Ensemble I, under the direction of Michael Bump, will perform their Spring Concert at 8 p.m. April 8 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The program will feature senior Joshua Buettner, recipient of the 2019 Michael Hooey Memorial Percussion Award, as the guest soloist. Buettner will perform Michael Burritt’s “White Pines” for solo marimba and percussion ensemble. Steve Reich will also perform a wide variety of new and classic works for the quintessential minimalist percussion work, drumming, part one. This event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Michael Bump.

The Upward Bound Project is searching for career mentors for high school students who are looking to gain work experience this summer. Students will be able to contribute 26 hours of volunteer work from June 10-July 2.

The Upward Bound Career Internship Program is designed to provide potential first-generation college students with mentoring, work experience and impact from a professional who encourages them toward a postsecondary education and careers. Students are available to assist with summer projects, perform basic clerical duties or provide office coverage. The Upward Bound administration tries to match students with faculty and staff working in their intended area of college study.

Career mentors must have a college degree and be able to provide supervision during work times since these students are minors. High school interns will be available to work Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons and will be paid from Upward Bound funds.

William J. Convery, director of statewide initiatives at the Minnesota Historical Society and the former state historian of Colorado, will present “Confronting Controversy: History Museums in a Troubled World” at 7 p.m. April 9 in Violette Hall 1010.

The Student Run Business Initiative will host a fundraising event entitled “Hug a Dog” from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 10 on the Quad. Funds raised will be donated to Field of Dreams, a local animal shelter. It will cost $2 to play with the puppies and to get a Polaroid photo taken with them. The event may be rescheduled if there is bad weather. For more information contact Neer Patel.

Uncommon Practice, Truman’s new music ensemble, will perform chamber music in the upcoming spring recital at 8 p.m. April 10 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The program will include a new composition by alumnus Richard Crowder, as well as a special performance of Charles Ive’s “The Unanswered Question,” featuring Eric Dickson, professor of trumpet.

Would having some free groceries help you make a rent or utility payment? Are you limiting your food intake? Daily food packs are now available. The food packs are free to all Truman students. Just bring a Truman ID to the SERVE Center, Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Student Union Building 1105 to pick up a bag.

The University Board of Governors will meet at 1 p.m. April 13 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

Timothy Clasby will conduct the wind symphony in a celebratory event at 4 p.m. April 14 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

The concert is the culmination of hard work and commitment to musical excellence exhibited by all of the students in the Music Department. It will elicit a spectrum of emotions, from the serenity found in the Bjork Overture, to the angst felt in Divertimento to the light-hearted nostalgia of shared childhood experiences watching from watching cartoons. Clasby has crafted an engaging, uplifting and thought-provoking program that will delight all who attend.

The Holi festival will be celebrated from 12-3 p.m. April 14 at Red Barn Park. One ticket will cost $3 and $12 for a group of 5. Tickets will be sold at the Student Union Building from 12-4 p.m April 9-11.

Title IX Talk with Dr. Millot
7 p.m.
April 15
Student Union Building 1101
Learn more about sexual assault prevention and bystander protocol with Title IX officer Lauri Millot.

The Truman Way Pledge Drive
12-3 p.m.
April 16 and 18
Quad
Come out and give a pledge to stand against sexual assault and be a part of the “Truman Way”

Empowering Yoga with Anna Nicks
7 p.m.
April 17
Student Union Building 2105
Anna Nicks, Truman yoga instructor, will lead participants through empowering yoga. Feel the strength of the Truman community and take a stand against sexual assault.

The opportunity is available for Truman emeritus faculty, current full-time faculty and current full-time staff with a family member graduating in spring 2019 to present their diploma at the May 11 commencement ceremony. Family member for purposes of the diploma presentation means spouse, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, step-son, step-daughter, step-grandson, step-granddaughter.

In order to participate, notify Nancy Asher or call 660.785.4143 no later than 5 p.m. April 19 and provide the following information
1.    Your name (presenter)
2.    Your employment title/position
3.    Name of the degree candidate
4.    Degree (BA, BFA, BM, BS, BSN, MA, Mac, MAE) and program name the candidate is to graduate from
5.    Your email address
6.    Your phone number

Family presenters are expected to be dressed in full academic regalia. If the presenter does not own these items, a robe and cap may be purchased through the University Bookstore.

The Communication Disorders Department will host the annual Language and Literacy Conference from 8:45 a.m.-2 p.m. April 26 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.

Alumna Jennifer Walz Garrett, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, will present on “Theater, Drama & Pragmatics and Expository Texts.” Garrett is an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Northern Iowa. She received her doctoral degree at University of Cincinnati in 2007, prior to which she worked as a school speech-language pathologist. Garrett has interest in school-aged literacy and language disorders, genetics/syndromes and counseling skills.

Truman’s Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee will accept applications for a new chair until April 26. Students who are interested can fill out an application here.

This committee was created when the student body voted to implement the Environmental Sustainability Fee in the spring of 2015 with the purpose of improving sustainability on campus. For more information about the Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability click here or email Kyle Weber.

Student Government is seeking speakers, hosts and committee members for the second annual TEDx Conference this fall.

Speaker applicants who are accepted will be filmed and featured on the TEDx website reaching thousands of people and giving speakers an international platform. Committee members will have the opportunity to help select speakers, create advertisements and program the conference.

Committee member applications are due April 20. Speaker and host applications are due April 27. Further questions can be directed to Shania Montúfar, committee chair. Applications can be found here.

TED is a non-profit organization that sponsors independent conferences all over the world. These conferences strive to spread new ideas through short, powerful talks that can cover a wide range of topics. TEDxTrumanStateUniversity, sponsored by Student Government, will consider students, faculty and staff and community members for the speaker and host positions. Current students are preferred for the TEDx planning committee. Students Government hopes to showcase presentations which encourage the audience to approach a topic from a unique or unconventional perspective.

The Advancement Office would like to thank the following offices and groups that helped make the Jenna Fischer visit to Truman a success.

Admissions
Athletics
Randy Bame
Blue Key
CSI staff and student workers
Communication Department
Health and Exercise Science
IT Services
Kirksville Country Club
Kirksville Police Department
Physical Plant
President’s Office
Public Safety
ROTC
Sodexo
Student Activities Board
Student Union Building
Theatre Faculty & Ron Rybkowski
Truman Volleyball
University Bookstore

April 19
7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

April 20
Closed

April 21
Closed

April 22
3 p.m.-10 p.m.

April 23
Resume Regular Hours

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

Marc Rice, professor of music, presented his paper “’For Colored Devotees of Terpsichorean Delight’; Kansas City’s Paseo Dance Hall 1924-31” at the meeting of the American Musicological Society Midwest Chapter, March 30.