Vol. 15, No. 16 - Jan. 11, 2011

Truman has again been recognized for its high academic standards and affordable cost.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance included Truman on its newly released list, “The Kiplinger 100: Best Values in Public Colleges.” Truman has become a fixture on the annual list, which ranks four-year institutions that deliver a stellar education at an affordable price.

Truman was the top-ranked Missouri school, coming in at No. 31, and was the only school from Missouri to be listed in the top 50. Of schools from Missouri and the eight neighboring states, Truman is the highest rated university on the Kiplinger list.

The complete list for “Best Values in Public Colleges” can be found online at http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges. Visitors will find special interactive features, including a reader’s choice poll and data sortable by criteria such as state, tuition cost, average debt, student/faculty ratio and admission rate.

“Best Values in Public Colleges” can also be found in the February 2011 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

In an effort to increase the use of locally grown foods, Truman will host a free “Missouri Farm to School” workshop from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Student Union Building Activities Room.

“Missouri Farm to School” helps connect schools and universities with farmers. By using more locally grown food, schools can increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and create new market opportunities for farmers.

The workshop will include first-hand accounts from farmers, food service directors and distributors involved in farm to school programs. Farmers, K-12 and college food service directors, food distributors, food service management companies, school administrators and representatives from agencies and institutions are among those encouraged to attend.

For more information, go to http://agriculture.truman.edu/farmtoschool or contact Bill McKelvey at 573.746.0770 or McKelveyWA@missouri.edu.

The Washington Center will be offering contract government internships for Summer 2011.
 
Students selected for the program will intern for 10 weeks at offices within the U.S. Department of Defense, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury or other government agencies.

The Washington Center especially encourages students of business, computer science, mathematics, statistics and engineering, as well as students from diverse backgrounds, to apply.

Accepted interns will receive significant financial assistance and, if needed, will have access to furnished apartment housing. Students must be U.S. citizens, have at least junior standing with a GPA of 2.5 or above, be available for a 10-week period beginning May 25, 2011 and demonstrate experience and/or a strong interest in working for the federal government.

Students interested in applying should visit http://www.twc.edu/internships/competitive-government-programs or contact Truman’s Washington Center liaison, Diane Johnson, at djohnson@truman.edu. Applications are due Feb. 4, 2011.

Jennifer Hurst, assistant professor of health and exercise sciences, will host an informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 in Pershing Building 232 to discuss a new summer excursion course offering for 2011.
 
The five-week course focuses on learning about the national parks through different physical activities. Students will explore the unique geology, history, biology and specific conservation issues of both Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national parks.

In addition, the course will introduce students to skills and techniques for engaging in outdoor physical activities safely, which will be used to explore these two unique environments.

An 11-day excursion trip to the national parks will be taken in the middle of the course to include hiking in Yellowstone, whitewater rafting on the Snake River and a one-day beginner mountain climbing course in the Grand Teton mountains.

Students are encouraged to come and hear more information about the course (e.g., fees, schedule, topics and activities) and to see some of the places they could be studying and traveling.

For additional questions, contact Hurst at jhurst@truman.edu or 785.4464. This course is open to anyone who wants to enroll.

This year, the Office of Student Research will once again sponsor the TruScholars Summer Undergraduate Research Program that will support up to 25 undergraduates to conduct intensive research during the summer months.

The focus of the program is intensive, mentor-student collaborative activity in original efforts directed toward the advancement of knowledge and understanding within all academic disciplines.

The formal part of the 2011 TruScholars program will coincide with the eight-week Summer semester, beginning June 6 and ending July 29. During this time, students should devote full-time effort to their projects, and research mentors should be continuously available for consultation and collaboration. There are no restrictions against completing additional work for the research project outside of the formal program period.

Information about the 2011 TruScholars Program can be found on the Office of Student Research website at http://osr.truman.edu/truscholars, and students can download a summary sheet in PDF format that describes the program expectations and application process at http://osr.truman.edu/truscholars/truscholars2011.pdf.

While the 2011 TruScholars Program is largely similar to the 2010 offering, there are some notable differences. Faculty and students are encouraged to review the program announcement carefully.

Questions about the TruScholars Program can be directed to osr@truman.edu or 785.4455.

After being closed for mold remediation, the Special Collections Department, located on the third floor of Pickler Memorial Library, reopened Jan. 10 with regular service hours of 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

A reception has been scheduled for 4-5:30 p.m. Jan. 20 in the Special Collections Department. There will be some special collections items on exhibit and staff will be discussing the treatment of the special collections materials. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Last fall, an early detection of mold resulted in the temporary closure of the Special Collections Department. Due to the early detection, none of the documents in the collections were damaged.

For any questions about the Special Collections Department, or to schedule an appointment to visit, contact Amanda Langendoerfer at 785.7546.

This year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Collegiate Challenge will take place from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 17. The Multicultural Affairs Center is looking for at least 150 students to participate in this day of community service in Kirksville. Interested students are encouraged to pre-register online at
http://mac.truman.edu by Jan. 10. Make it a day ON and not a day OFF. For more information, contact Kati Smith at katismith@truman.edu or 785.4142.

For the first time, there will be two Faculty/Staff Challenges during the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Collegiate Challenge Jan. 17. Faculty and staff will be divided into two teams or more, depending on the number of participants, to spend the day completing a service project in the community. Alongside 150 student volunteers, faculty and staff can attend the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m., serve from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and then enjoy a reflection dinner from 4-5 p.m. Recipients will receive three free meals and a free t-shirt. Make it a day ON and not a day OFF. Pre-register by Jan. 10 to bcloyd@truman.edu.

Jan. 17  
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Feb. 24  
University Conference

March 3  
“Bus Stop”*

March 7-11
Midterm Break

April 5  
Romance de Tango*

April 12  
Student Research Conference

April 25  
Spring Break

April 29  
Last day of classes

May 2  
Finals begin

May 4  
Reading Day

May 6  
Finals end

May 7  
Commencement

*Kohlenberg Lyceum Event

Missouri Campus Compact (MoCC) is offering $300 micro-grants for faculty members to conduct course-based service-learning or research during 2011-2012. View the Request for Proposals and download an application at http://missouricompact.missouristate.edu/75746.htm. Applications are due March 1.

Contact Baillie Cloyd (bcloyd@truman.edu) with questions, to discuss project ideas or for assistance with the grant application. More information is also available at http://servicelearning.truman.edu.

Truman Foundation Study Abroad Scholarships are being offered for Summer 2011. Ten $1,500 scholarships will be awarded for summer faculty-led Truman study abroad programs based on financial need, statement of purpose and academic achievement. Applications are now available in the Center for International Education Office (Kirk Building 114). These applications are due in the CIE Office by noon on Jan. 28 and recipients will be notified by the end of February.

Activity: Basketball
League: Men's/Women's/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Jan. 18
Captains’ Meeting: Jan. 19
Play Begins: Jan. 24
 
Activity: Wiffleball**
League: Men's/Women's
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 18
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 22-23
 
Activity: Badminton-Singles
League: Men's/Women's
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 25
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 29 & Feb. 5
 
Activity: Badminton-Doubles
League: Men's/Women's/Co-Rec
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 25
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Jan. 29 & Feb. 5
 
Activity: Super Bowl Pickem
League: Open
Division: Open
Deadline: Jan. 21
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Feb. 6
 
Activity: Raquetball-Singles***
League: Men's/Women's
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Feb. 15
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Feb. 19-20
 
Activity: BAGGO
League: Men's/Women's/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Feb. 22
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Feb. 27
 
Activity: Volleyball
League: Men's/Women's/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 1
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 2
Play Begins: Mar. 14
 
Activity: Outdoor Soccer
League: Men's/Women's/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 1
Captains’ Meeting: Mar. 2
Play Begins: Mar. 14
 
Activity: NCAA March Madness BB
League: Open
Division: Open
Deadline: Mar. 14
Captains’ Meeting: NA
Play Begins: Mar. 15
 
Activity: Closest to the Pin
League: Men's/Women's
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Mar. 29
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 3
 
Activity: Swim Meet
League: Men's/Women's/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 5
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 7
 
Activity: Ultimate Frisbee
League: Co-Rec
Division: Open
Deadline: Apr. 12
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 16-17
 
Activity: Punt Pass & Kick
League: Men's/Women's
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 19
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 20
 
Activity: Track Meet
League: Men's/Women's/Co-Rec
Division: Open/Org/Greek
Deadline: Apr. 19
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: Apr. 21
 
Activity: T-shirt Design Contest
League: Men's/Women's
Division: Open
Deadline: Apr. 29
Captains’ Meeting: E-mail
Play Begins: NA
 
All information, rules and registration requirements are online at http://recreation.truman.edu/intramuralrec.asp or contact the Intramural Office at 785.4467. Captains’ Meetings will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the SRC Conference Room.
**New Sport
***All racquetball matches will be played at the A.T. Still Thompson Campus Center.

Aaron Fine, professor of art, and his brother Peter Fine, associate professor of art at New Mexico State University, recently had their paper “Whiteout” published in “Racism and Borders: Representation, Repression, Resistance.” This paper was written collaboratively and was originally presented at the College Art Association Annual Conference in Los Angeles in 2009.

Amanda Krus, a chemistry and biology major, has been honored with the 2011 Student Leadership Award by the American Chemical Society. Krus, a junior, is one of only 15 students in the nation chosen to receive the award. The award recognizes her leadership activities over the past several years as part of Truman’s student chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS), as well as her potential for leadership in the future. During this time, Krus has, among many other activities: organized Musical Demo Shows both on and off campus; helped produce an award-winning YouTube video about chemistry; and organized the Chemistry Department’s weekly seminar series. As part of the award, Krus will attend the 2011 ACS Leadership Conference in January where she will interact with national leaders from throughout the ACS. Krus is the first Truman student to receive this honor.

H. David Wohlers, professor of chemistry, and his wife Debra were invited guests of Kareem Dale, special assistant to the president for disability policy, for a special holiday open house at the White House Dec. 3 as part of the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This holiday was established by the United Nations in 1981 to focus attention on the rights of persons with disabilities and the gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities around the world. Wohlers and his wife Debra, executive director of the Adair County SB40 Developmental Disabilities Board, also attended a conference at the U.S. State Department on the same day, hosted by Judy Heumann, special advisor for international disability rights in the Department of State. A variety of internationally recognized experts and advocates in the field of disabilities presented information at the conference regarding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, violence against women and girls with disabilities, and HIV/AIDS and disabilities. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, based on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, represents the first human rights treaty of the twenty-first century. President Barack Obama made the United States a signatory nation in July 2009, but the U.S. Senate still needs to ratify the treaty, which requires 67 votes.