Vol. 14, No. 14 - Dec. 8, 2009

Students may now use C-Level Smart Classroom technology for student organization meetings and presentations. 

Pickler Memorial Library 103, a C-Level Smart Classroom with student computer stations, is now available for use by students in the evenings, thanks to IT Services and the Library.

Students using the room must complete a scheduled, one-hour orientation to learn how to use the technology in the room. Visit http://classroomcapture.truman.edu/request to request training. Once training has been completed, reservations for the Smart Classroom can be made via the Reference Desk.

Available reservation hours are Monday through Thursday from 5-10 p.m. and Sundays from 1-10 p.m.

The state of Missouri is providing Truman and 25 other public institutions with $40 million to increase enrollment in health care programs.

The “Caring for Missourians” program initiated by Gov. Jay Nixon provided Truman with $756,000 to be utilized over a three-year period. The initiative is set to increase the number of students accepted and completing health care related programs. Truman’s focus will be on the nursing and communication disorders departments.

Janet Gooch, professor and department chair of communication disorders, said the department’s long-term goals for the funds include implementing new marketing strategies to attract students from other undergraduate institutions and establishing a relationship with these institutions so the referral process will increase. She said the benefit to the state of Missouri should not be overlooked.

“If we have more health care professionals out there working in the state, then it will have a positive effect on health care in Missouri,” she said. “That’s the whole purpose, and it’s a good one.”

Gooch said the marketing efforts would also aid in attracting more students internally to the graduate program.

“We are using some of the money for student support such as assistantships for graduate students,” Gooch said. “We will now have more resources to offer students who might have made the choice to go somewhere else.”

Gooch said the curriculum and the number of faculty would basically stay the same with a few minor adjustments to provide the students with easier access to the clinic when acquiring their 375 clinical hours.

“We are using part of our money next semester to hire clinical supervisors to help us keep the speech and hearing clinic open in the evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Gooch said. “It’s hard for a faculty of our size to provide that supervision in a regular teaching day.”

Stephanie Powelson, chair of the nursing department, said her goal mirrors the communication disorders’ objective of increasing the number of students enrolled in the program.

The nursing department also is looking to continue to update its technology and renovations in a nursing lab.

To accommodate additional students the department has been able to hire an additional part-time faculty member.

Powelson said most state nursing programs receive more applications than they have available seats in the department. Last year the Truman nursing department received 150 applicants and admitted 62 students to the program. Her goal is to use the “Caring for Missourians” funds to increase the number of seats available in the program.

Both the communication disorders and nursing departments are exploring grants to receive additional money to fund their initiatives and keep their efforts supported.

The Career Center is working to improve its mentor database, BulldogNet, which is housed on the eRecruiting/Experience job-posting network.

By logging onto an eRecruiting account, students and alumni can contact mentors for advice on careers, internships and graduate study.

Mentoring is an essential component to the career decision-making process and Truman has many alumni and friends who want to help.

Alumni, faculty, friends and even older students may register to become mentors for current Truman students of all majors and ages.Departments wishing to increase the interaction between current students and alumni should visit the following links for more information:
*http://career.truman.edu/Experience/Bulldognet.asp
*http://career.truman.edu/Experience/Become_Mentor.asp
*http://career.truman.edu/web/form_builder2/form_builder.asp?testId=200.

A discussion focusing on ways to better coordinate campus service projects between the Truman and Kirksville communities will take place at 12 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room A.

The Social Stratification Class (SOAN 310) and the Center for Teaching and Learning will sponsor the discussion between campus and community leaders. 

The event will include a brief panel presentation on current initiatives from the Community Needs Assessment, the SERVE Center and the Service-Learning Coordinator followed by a roundtable discussion between students and community leaders.

Please RSVP to bcloyd@truman.edu or 785.7753.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides faculty and students the opportunity to present their research at various conferences throughout the year. During the Fall 2009 semester, the CTL sponsored a dozen faculty and student trips to three different conferences.

The CTL sponsored faculty and students to attend and present at the Missouri Campus Compact annual conference. Attendees at this year’s conference on Sept. 25 in Jefferson City were: Teak Nelson, assistant professor of nursing, who presented “Lessons Learned: Striking a Balance between Student Voice and Faculty Facilitation,” along with two of her students, senior Emily Reinhart and junior Rebekah Weicken; Julie Lochbaum, director of the CTL and Baillie Cloyd, of Americorps VISTA, presented, “How to Succeed with Co-Curricular Service-Learning: Learning from Snags, Missteps and Failures”; and Sally Cook, associate professor of linguistics, and graduate student Amy Bockelman, presented “Working with an Immigrant Community: Learning Flexibility as Part of the Service Learning Experience.”

Nelson, Reinart and Weicken also traveled to the International Research Conference on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement in Ottawa, Canada, Oct. 9-12 to present “The Secret Ingredient for Critical Thinking and Community Engagement.” Truman students were the first undergraduates ever to present at the IRCSL. The Center for Teaching and Learning partially supported their trip with a grant from Missouri Campus Compact.

The CTL annually provides fellowships to several faculty members to assist them with their Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL). This is systematic inquiry about course or program level student learning conceived and undertaken by faculty in such a way that the findings may be reviewed, critiqued, replicated and extended by peers.

This year, the CTL sponsored five faculty members and one student to present their work at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference at Indiana University Oct. 22-24.

Communication Disorders graduate student, Kimberly Fitzgerald, and Janet Gooch, professor and chair of communication disorders, presented the poster “Assessing the Student-Initiated Course as a Novel Approach to Increasing Self-Efficacy Through Multiple Sources.” Fitzgerald and Gooch also did a 30-minute presentation on “Student-Initiated Courses as a Source of Experiential Learning.”

Dawood Afzal, professor of chemistry, presented the poster “The Interdisciplinary Course at Truman State University and SOTL.”

Hena Ahmad, associate professor of English, presented the poster “Sustaining SOTL Work in the Future: Evidence of Student Productivity Enabled and Generated by Encouragement.”

Julie Lochbaum, director of the CTL, presented a paper and facilitated dialogue on “A Rubric for Evaluating SOTL Work in Promotion and Tenure.”

John (Zhong) Ma, assistant professor of biology, presented the poster “Promoting and Assessing Biology Student Learning through Laboratory Exercises,” based on work done by Zhong Ma, Cynthia Cooper, Hyun-Joo Kim and Diane Janick-Buckner.

Sally Cook, associate professor of linguistics, had her study “The Plagiarism Learning Curve for International Students,” accepted but was unable to attend the conference.

The CTL wishes to thank staff member Barb Bevell for supporting these scholarly efforts through poster consulting and design.

The CTL also annually provides Civic Engagement fellowships to several faculty to assist them in focusing on revising existing experiences for Truman students so that students’ civic engagement is enhanced. This can be through infusing service-learning, but can also include infusing other methodologies such as community oral history, public policy/legislative communication or other forms of publicly engaged scholarship.

These fellowships are made possible due to external grants from Missouri Campus Compact.

Former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan will present the commencement address during Truman’s December graduation ceremony at 11 a.m. Dec. 19 in Pershing Arena.


As part of the commencement ceremonies, Carnahan will also be accepting an honorary degree on behalf of her late husband who was the governor when the University was renamed Truman State University in 1996.

In addition to being the first woman in Missouri history to serve in the U.S. Senate, Carnahan worked with her husband, Mel Carnahan, for 40 years of public service. She played an active role in her husband’s political career. Mel served as a State Legislator, State Treasurer, Lt. Governor and Governor.

As Missouri’s First Lady from 1993 to 2000 she worked to improve the lives of the state’s children as an advocate for childhood immunization, abuse centers and on-site day care centers for working families. She was also a champion of the arts and Habitat for Humanity.

In 2000, her husband was campaigning for the U.S. Senate when he, their son Randy and a campaign adviser were killed in an airplane crash just three weeks before the election. Voters posthumously elected Mel to the Senate and Jean agreed to take her husband’s place in Washington.
 
During her two years in Washington, Carnahan continued to be a leading advocate for working families. The Senate voted to include her first bill, the “Quality Classrooms Act,” in the “Leave No Child Behind” law. Following the Enron scandal, she introduced the “Informed Investors Act,” which passed into law and required corporations to make swift, electronic reporting of insider trading. She also secured an extension of health care benefits for returning reservists and National Guard personnel.

Carnahan served on the Commerce Committee, the Governmental Affairs Committee, the Special Committee on Aging and the Small Business Committee. She was also the fifth woman to ever serve on the Armed Services Committee. Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001 she was a member of the first Congressional delegation to Afghanistan and conferred with heads of state in Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Oman.

In recent years Carnahan has been able to watch as her children have started their own political careers and businesses. Her son Russ and daughter Robin won public offices in 2004 and were re-elected in 2008. Russ serves in the 3rd U.S. Congressional District seat while Robin serves as the Missouri Secretary of State. Her son Tom is the founder and CEO of Wind Capital, a wind energy company.

Outside of politics, Carnahan is an accomplished author, having written five books. The most recent, “The Tide Always Comes Back,” a collection of inspirational essays, was released in November. Other works include “If Walls Could Talk,” a history of the state’s first families, and her autobiography “Don’t Let the Fire Go Out.”

The honorary degree is one of three, originally announced in the spring, to be awarded to individuals who played pivotal roles in shaping Truman State University into a premier liberal arts and sciences university.

The other two degree recipients are Charles McClain, the long-time school president who envisioned the University’s mission change, and John Ashcroft, the Missouri governor who formally designated it as the state’s only public liberal arts institution.  

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Scholarship Program is now accepting scholarship applications for 10-week summer internships at federal research facilities or DHS Centers of Excellence. Positions are open to undergraduate students with U.S. citizenship. The award includes full tuition and fees and a monthly stipend. Application deadline is Jan. 5, 2010. Send questions to dhsed@orau.org or visit http://www.orau.gov/dhseducationprograms.

Scholarships are available through Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc., for the 2010-2011 academic year. Stop by the Financial Aid Office in McClain Hall 103 for more information on eligibility requirements or to obtain an application. One winner from each state may be submitted for the National Garden Club scholarship in the amount of $3,500.

The Missouri Travel Council will offer two $1,000 scholarships to currently enrolled sophomores, juniors or seniors in an accredited college or university in the state of Missouri. Applicants must be pursuing a hospitality-related major such as hotel/restaurant management, parks and recreation, etc., must be a current resident of Missouri, and must have a grade point average of at least 3.0. For more information, visit http://www.missouritravel.com. The deadline for applications is March 2, 2010.

Collegium Civitas is now accepting applications for its professional internship program in Warsaw, Poland (June 1-July 31, 2010). Civitas offers students a unique opportunity to undertake professional internships in various areas, including politics, European integration, human rights, civic and political education, civil society, arts, history, Jewish culture and history, economics, business, media and journalism, legal and constitutional affairs, the environment and more. For details, visit http://www.globaleducationleadership.org/.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security HS-STEM Summer Internship Program is accepting applications from undergraduate students with U.S. citizenship for 10-week summer research experiences at federal research facilities. Participants receive a stipend of $500 each week plus transportation expenses to/from their internship location. Deadline to apply is Jan. 5, 2010. Send questions regarding DHS Education Programs to dhsed@orau.org or visit http://www.orau.gov/dhseducationprograms for more.

The Institute of International Education has announced the inauguration of the Freeman Indonesia Nonprofit Internship Program (FINIP), funded by the Freeman Foundation. The internship aims to develop student leaders and strengthen the nonprofit sector in Indonesia. IIE will select and pair 10 Indonesian students pursuing U.S. degrees with 10 U.S. undergraduates and arrange internships for them to work together in an Indonesian nonprofit organization. The internship lasts from June 15- Aug. 17, 2010, and will take place in three cities: Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta. Interested American and Indonesian sophomores and juniors enrolled in U.S. institutions are encouraged to apply, using the online application at http://www.iie.org/programs/finip. The deadline for submission of completed applications is Feb. 15, 2010. Contact finip@iie.org or visit http://www.iie.org/programs/finip for more information.

The Truman in Washington Program facilitates internship opportunities in the Washington D.C. area. Students can intern in their area of interest by working with Truman alumni, The Washington Center (TWC), or independently identified internships. Truman in Washington helps students locate housing in the D.C. area and provides students with support throughout the internship experience. Most internship programs have specific application processes with strict deadlines. Students also have the opportunity to earn academic credit through Truman in Washington, if they choose. Visit the Truman in Washington website at http://twp.truman.edu for more information. The site includes application materials, cost estimates, photographs taken by past interns and general information about the D.C. area. Applications for internships through The Washington Center are due by Jan. 19, 2010. Contact Diane Tobin Johnson at djohnson@truman.edu or 785.7852 with any questions regarding an internship in the Washington, D.C. area.

Financial Aid has added the option to participate in a service-learning project in order for students to complete scholarship service hours. Service-learning projects will allow students to interact with the Kirksville community while having the freedom to design and implement projects with off-campus organizations. The objective of these projects is to give students an option to apply what they have learned in the classroom toward a real-world experience. These positions are now available on the Tru-Positions website. Tru-Positions can be found online at https://trupositions.truman.edu. Any questions or feedback can be directed to Tom Stuart at tstuart@truman.edu.

The Student Health Center will again be offering free H1N1 vaccinations from 3-4:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 9, 11 AT THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER. No appointment is necessary. Please bring your Truman ID, and remember, this clinic is for current Truman students, faculty & staff ONLY. Both the nasal and injectable vaccines are available.

Health officials warn that several peaks of H1N1 infection will occur, all the way up to Spring 2010.

Elise Bailey, a senior accounting major from Wildwood, Mo., was named the October Student of the Month by the Missouri Society of CPA’s LEAP program. The MSCPA is the premier professional development organization dedicated to certified public accountants in the state of Missouri. It represents nearly 10,000 CPA members in public practice, industry, government and education.

Sana Camara, associate professor of French, had his article, “Aimé Césaire et Léopold Sédar Senghor face à l’historicité nègre,” published in “Ethiopiques, Revue Négro-africaine de Littérature et de Philosophie.” The article appeared in the Fall 2009 special issue honoring late Martinican mayor and poet-laureate, Aimé Césaire. In May 2009, Camara was invited by the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley, to participate in one of their graduate student’s Qualifying Exams.

Tom Capuano, professor of foreign language, had his article “Early Catalan Agricultural Writing and the Libre o regla o ensanyament de plantar o senbrar vinyes e arbres...” published online by the Universitat de Barcelona’s Biblioteca Digital de Sciència.cat. It can be viewed at http://www.sciencia.cat/biblioteca/documents/Palladi754_Capuano.pdf. This publication was made possible in part by a 2008 summer faculty research grant from the Office of the Provost.

Arnold Preussner, professor of English, attended the 5th bi-annual Blackfriars Conference in Staunton, Va., Oct. 21-25, where he presented the paper, “Crowd Control in Act Five of Jonson’s The Alchemist.” Alanna Preussner, professor of English, also attended the conference and assisted in the presentation.

Steven D. Reschly, professor and chair of history, along with M. Lynn Rose, professor of history, visited the University of Rostock, Germany, Nov. 23-28, as invited guests. In an ongoing effort to forge a Truman-Rostock partnership and exchange program of professors and students, they met with students, professors, administrators and administrative assistants, and attended classes. They were also guests, along with representatives of other Rostock partners in the U.S. and U.K., at the “Gender Generation Ageing” Interdisciplinary Colloquium at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock. Rose presented “Gender, Ageing, and Physical Disability: The Case of Cheryl Marie Wade,” during the colloquium, organized by the interdisciplinary Gender Research Working Group.

Megan Sharpe, a nursing major from Edwardsville, Ill., has been named the Division II National Freshman of the Year, as well as an honorable mention all-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She is Truman’s first freshman to receive all-American honors and the University’s second National Freshman of the Year following Sarah Shearman receiving the award in 2003

H. David Wohlers, professor of chemistry, spoke at the Shrine Club Nov. 6 during Disability Awareness Day activities. The event was sponsored by the Rural Advocates for Independent Living (RAIL), People First, Circle of Friends and the Kirksville Regional Office of the Department of Mental Health. The theme for this year’s event was “Celebrating Our Abilities.” Wohlers gave a talk entitled “Overcoming Stereotypes, describing how a person with a disability can gain the confidence of a potential employer.”  

The Women’s Resource Center will sell beaded jewelry from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m Dec. 7-11 in the Student Union Building. The jewelry is made from recycled colored paper by women in Uganda. Proceeds benefit “Bead for Life,” an effort that works to eradicate extreme poverty by creating understanding between impoverished Africans and concerned world citizens.

Sigma Kappa will sponsor “Twisting for Alzheimer’s,” a tournament of the game Twister, beginning at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. Entrance fee is $6 for a two-person team.

The Jazz Combo will perform a concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

Minor Detail will host its annual holiday concert beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Student Union Building Down Under.

Franklin Street Singers will perform their winter concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

True Men will perform in concert at 9 p.m. Dec. 11 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

The Quincy Symphony Chorus will present "A Christmas Gloria" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ on the corner of 9th and State streets in Quincy, Ill. Free admission for Truman students, faculty and staff who present a Truman ID at the door.

The University Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The Cantoria fall concert will take place beginning at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The Annual Finals Scream will take place from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Dec. 13 in the Student Union Building and Student Recreation Center. Activities include: volleyball, badminton, table tennis, basketball, scooter races and FREE massages in the Rec Center. Enjoy a movie in The Hub, arts and crafts, and late-night yoga (9:30-10:30 p.m.-bring a towel or mat) in the Student Union Building. FREE pancakes will be available in Mainstreet from 9 p.m.-12 a.m.