Vol. 25 No. 26 - March 29, 2021

Adding to its rich history of education curricula, Truman is offering a new online master’s program for teachers interested in working with gifted students.

The Master of Arts in Gifted Education will officially begin in fall 2021 with the goal of preparing teachers for roles in a learning environment with students who have been identified as gifted. A combination of Truman education faculty and active practitioners will work together to marry theory and practice for identifying gifted students, developing instructional strategies and assessing performance toward the goals of continuous improvement and effective student support.

“All students deserve a quality education, and we are excited to offer this learning opportunity to current teachers who may have students who demonstrate gifted characteristics in their classrooms and need support in meeting their needs,” said Wendy Miner, chair of Truman’s Department of Education.

Like the Master of Arts in Education program, the Master of Arts in Gifted Education is informed by the University’s strong cooperation with the pre-kindergarten through 12th grade learning community and is built on a sound foundation of research, essential knowledge and professional practice. The program requires 30 hours of credit, which can be completed entirely online.

Prospective students can apply now and begin taking courses as soon as summer 2021. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75, as well as valid teaching certification or eligibility to meet initial teaching certification requirements.

The program also includes an option for a certification credential in K-12 gifted education that culminates in an endorsement from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education but does not bestow a master’s degree.

More information about the Master of Arts in Gifted Education, including core courses, electives and application materials, can be found online at gifted.truman.edu or by contacting the Admissions Office at 660.785.4114 or admissions@truman.edu.

This grant will increase seat capacity and expand clinical partnerships for the Nursing Department. It will also provide funding to hire a full-time clinical coordinator to aid in clinical scheduling. A new computer and computerized scheduling system will assist in scheduling students among clinical sites. This grant will continue Truman’s partnership with ATSU in offering interprofessional, standardized patient encounters for mental health scenarios. The nursing program plans to expand undergraduate enrollment due to these enhancements.

The Nursing Education Incentive Program (NEIP) grants were established in 2011 to increase the physical and educational capacity of professional nursing programs in Missouri. The financial support comes from the Missouri State Board of Nursing’s funds through legislative appropriations.

In 2021 an additional 13 grant proposals were received. On March 2 the Missouri State Board of Nursing approved grant proposals to three universities for a total grant award of $418,864 this year, bringing total NEIP awards to more than $7 million. In addition to Truman, Missouri Western University and the University of Central Missouri also received grants.

Students participating in The Big Event are assigned simple services acts at sites throughout town. Projects can include raking leaves, washing windows or painting. This year, students will only be permitted to work in groups of four or less. Masks will be required at all times and only outdoor projects will be accepted from the community. Arrangements will be made with each requesting community member so that all projects this year are contactless.

Community members who would like to request assistance from Truman students can sign up at serve.truman.edu/community-request-form.

Students who would like to volunteer their time for The Big Event can sign up here by April 2. All projects will be scheduled between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 10. Unlike previous years, there will be no group photo at the start of the day, and check in will be virtual. Participating students will be able to report when they start and complete a project without having a face-to-face exchange.

For more information about The Big Event, visit serve.truman.edu, email trumanserve@gmail.com or call 660.785.7222.

The Department of Music will perform the first of three spring percussion ensemble concerts at 7:30 p.m. March 29 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall via livestream. The ensemble II is directed by graduate teaching assistants McKenna Blenk, Joshua Buettner and Ike Van De Vate. This performance will include Truman’s African drumming ensemble, led by Adam Grim, a graduate teaching assistant, which will offer a varied and eclectic program of percussion music. The program is overseen by Michael Bump, professor of music and director of percussion studies. Admission is free and the online link can be found here. For more information, contact Bump at mbump@truman.edu.

In addition to campus-wide recognition at the Strategic Planning and Assessment Workshop in August, the awardee receives a $1,000 grant to be used for the enhancement of student advising.  

To make a nomination for the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award, complete the online nomination form. Nomination deadline is 5 p.m. March 31.

All candidates are assigned to a specific ceremony based on their first degree program. Candidates may not make adjustments to the ceremony to which they are assigned. Candidates will be emailed instructions for their ceremony, arrival time, clearance process, graduation fair, etc. Candidates not planning to participate in commencement must notify the Registrar’s Office by emailing annare@truman.edu before April 12.

Specific details regarding each ceremony are also available at truman.edu/registrar/commencement.

Graduates will receive their tickets during the graduation fair. Family and friends who are unable to attend the ceremony in person can watch live online at truman.edu/registrar/commencement/commencement-broadcast.

May 7
11 a.m.
All undergraduate accounting, agricultural science, art, art history, biology and design degree candidates

2:30 p.m.
All undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology, business administration, chemistry, classics and communication degree candidates

6 p.m.
All undergraduate exercise science, French, German, health science and history degree candidates

May 8
9:30 a.m.
All undergraduate interdisciplinary studies, justice systems, liberal studies, linguistics, mathematics, modern language, music, nursing, and philosophy and religion degree candidates

1 p.m.
All undergraduate communication disorders, computer science, creative writing, economics and English degree candidates

4 p.m.
All undergraduate physics, political science and international relations, psychology, Russian, sociology/anthropology, Spanish, statistics and theatre degree candidates, as well as commissioned officers

7:30 p.m.
All master’s degree candidates

7 p.m.
April 1
Zoom Meeting ID: 849 8965 8796
Zoom Meeting Password: Cultural

Tapas de Espana
7 p.m.
April 20
Zoom Meeting ID: 210 630 1220
Zoom Meeting Password: 0ZQVcm

The Office of Student Research is accepting applications for Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research (GIASR) as well as Conference Travel Scholarships.

Conference Travel Scholarships are for students presenting the results of their research or creative scholarship at a conference between July and December 2021. Students applying must have completed or currently be involved in a faculty mentored research experience and plan on presenting at the conference. Due to COVID-19, the Conference Travel Scholarship will only cover student registration to attend a virtual conference.

GIASR applications are for research and creative scholarship conducted during the summer. Grant applications may request up to $750 and can cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research.

Complete guidelines for the Conference Travel Scholarship and GIASR applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications for both opportunities are due by 11:59 p.m. April 6. Questions can be emailed to osr@truman.edu.

Interns work approximately 32 hours per week and can choose to receive between six to nine credit hours. To maintain full-time student status, interns take two three-credit classes in addition to the internship credit hours. A small stipend is also included.

Primary responsibilities of the intern will include writing copy for and editing pages on the University website. Other duties could include creating content for the University’s online weekly newsletter. Interns may also help with projects related to social media or video production in addition to other office tasks.

Applicants should have a strong background in writing and editing. Communication majors are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to candidates with knowledge of Associated Press Style. Applicants must have the flexibility to work 32 hours a week.

To apply, send a resume, an advising transcript, two writing samples and contact information for two on-campus references to pr@truman.edu or mail to the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 202 no later than April 6.

 
The Economics Department Speaker Series will welcome Matt Zwolinski to present about universal basic income.

Zwolinski is a professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego. He is also the founder and director of USD’s Center for Ethics, Economics and Public Policy. One of Zwolinkski’s areas of expertise is universal basic income.

After the idea of a universal basic income gained national attention with the presidential campaign of Andrew Yang, people began to wonder where this idea came from and whether or not it made economic or moral sense. In Zwolinski’s talk, he will answer those questions and more. He will cover the history of UBI, the main arguments for and against it and the appeal not only on the political left, but among certain conservatives and libertarians as well.

Zwolinksi’s presentation will take place at 7 p.m. April 19 in the Student Union Budiling Georgian Room B and will be available as in-person or livestreamed event.

Lavender Graduation will occur from 4-6 p.m. May 2 in the Baldwin Hall Little Theatre. This event will celebrate LGBTQ+ undergraduates and graduates of spring, summer or fall 2021 classes. Friends, family, faculty, staff and allies are welcome to attend in support of the graduates. Attendance is free. For more information, and to RSVP by April 16, visit diversity.truman.edu/lavgrad.

Hannah Belanger, women’s basketball, was named an All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for the 2020-21 season, making her the fourth All-American in Truman history. Belanger was one of 10 players chosen by the WBCA for the Division II All-America team after being one of two players in the Great Lakes Valley Conference selected as a first-team recipient.

Starting every game, Belanger set a career high and had the season high in single game points when she scored 34 against Indianapolis in late November. She scored 20 or more points in 10 of the 22 games played. Belanger had six 20-point games during an eight-game stretch and earned a GLVC Player of The Week award. Her 18.5 points per game tied for fourth in a Truman single season, and her 69 three-pointers made in the abbreviated season tied for 10th most in a campaign.

Cade McKnight, men’s basketball, is one of 16 players from across the country to be named a Division II All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

McKnight was named GLVC Player of the Year and unanimous honoree on the GLVC First Team. He was also named MVP of the Midwest Regional and First Team All-Region this spring as Truman advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1999. The junior forward averaged 18.1 points per game and had a season high 34 in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Division II tournament.

Jacob Morris, men’s track and field, was selected as the Great Lakes Valley Conference men’s thrower of the week by conference coaches.

In his first outdoor meet of the season, Morris hit an NCAA Division II provisional mark in the discus throw with a distance of 50.51m/165-8ft. He placed second in the event at the Central Methodist Open while also placing fourth in shot put, fifth in hammer throw and eighth in javelin.

His mark was the ninth-best by a Division II athlete this season.

In their weekly meeting, Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group committee members Nancy Daley-Moore, Christine Harker and Scott Alberts took a closer look at the effectiveness of masks and increased vaccine availability.

The CDC recently released information on mask efficacy that has been misrepresented by some. Its report looked at a variety of counties with mask mandates and determined they were effective and statistically significant. While initial numbers showed a decrease of 2% in cases, Alberts, a professor of mathematics, pointed out that number was a slope, not a simple number. He noted that every 20 days a mask mandate was in place increased its effectiveness by another percentage point or two.

“Because of the way cases spread, if you can get even a small decrease at the beginning, it’s an exponential curve,” Alberts said. “It’s going to have a huge effect down the road.”

Adair County numbers rose steadily before a mask mandate was implemented in late November. Since that time, the daily average number of cases reported by the Adair County Health Department has dropped each month, from a high of about 19 in November to less than three per day through the first three weeks of March.

The group also discussed vaccine availability. Missouri is now in Phase II, meaning all Truman faculty and staff are eligible for a vaccine. Gov. Parsons recently announced all Missourians will be eligible for a vaccine starting April 9. Information on local vaccine options can be found here.

A recording of the committee discussion can be found here.

The Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, based in Columbia, Mo., will conduct a COVID-19 vaccination clinic April 10 in Kirksville for veterans who are eligible for VA health care. Vaccinations will be administered by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call 660.627.8387.

 
Listed below are several of the major national fellowships and their websites. More information about these fellowships is available at www.truman.edu/majors-programs/more-learning-opportunities/fellowships.

For Graduate Studies
Fulbright Grants
Research grants and teaching assistantships for a year abroad

Rhodes Scholarships
Grants for two years of study at Oxford University

Marshall Scholarships
Awards for two years of study in any British university

Mitchell Scholarships
One year of graduate study or research in Ireland or Northern Ireland

Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Awards for an advanced degree or second bachelor’s degree at the University of Cambridge
 
For Undergraduate Studies
Goldwater Scholarships
Up to $7,500 annually for tuition, fees, books, room and board for science and mathematics majors

Harry S. Truman Scholarships
For senior year and post-graduate study leading to a career in public service

Udall Scholarships
For students interested in careers related to environmental issues or for Native Americans and Alaskans interested in careers related to health care and tribal public policy

Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellowships
For students interested in international affairs to work as research assistants to the Endowment’s senior associates in Washington, D.C. for a full year

Boren Scholarships
To study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests

The Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation will offer the Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship, named in honor of Allan Walker Purdy.

Purdy was born in 1914 on a farm near Macon and was the first in his family to attend a four-year college. He worked in the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture before becoming the campus’s first director of scholarships and student financial aid.

The scholarship is designed to provide merit-based scholarships to emerging leaders who are outstanding students and have a need for additional resources for higher education. The scholarship amount can vary based on an applicant’s circumstances. The general range will be $1,000-$5,000 based on expected family contribution (EFC), unmet need and other factors.

Applicants must be a Missouri resident, typically a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA, a U.S. Citizen, and a sophomore, junior or senior attending a Missouri public four-year university or the State Technical College of Missouri. Deadline to apply is June 30, 2021. Applications should be submitted online through Scholarship Central at moslf.org. To access more information about this scholarship, click here, or contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130.