Vol. 26 No. 18 - January 18, 2022

Students who received a grade point average of 3.5 or better during the fall 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/fall-2021-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/fall-2021-vice-president-for-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.

This spring, there will be a second greenhouse installed at the University Farm thanks to a gift from Dr. Pete Goldman, professor emeritus of biology.  

Since 2011, the greenhouse at the University Farm has provided fresh local produce to Sodexo and the Adair County Food Pantry. The new greenhouse will double the capacity for students to grow fresh fruits and vegetables all year long.  

Goldman taught biology at Truman for 44 years. In 2008, he established a scholarship through the Truman State University Foundation for students in biology. The Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Biology Scholarship fund, designed to provide scholarships in perpetuity, has contributed nearly $18,000 in support to date. His most recent gift to the Foundation will provide the funding for construction of the new greenhouse. An avid hiker and bird watcher, Goldman is a community leader in the promotion of sustainability and environmental issues.

“The greenhouse is a match of Dr. Goldman’s interests with needs of the University, and it will make a significant impact for our program,” said Bill Kuntz, University Farm manager.   

Kuntz is overseeing the new greenhouse project, and Bob Johnson, assistant professor of agriculture, is helping with the design and construction.

“Our goal is to have plants growing in the new greenhouse later this spring,” Johnson said. “This gift will make such an impact on our program and we are very grateful for Dr. Goldman’s generous support.”

Johnson is also responsible for Truman’s farm-to-table program, established in 2011 through a grant secured by Michael Seipel, department chair. Seipel leads the composting project, which utilizes food waste on campus to provide mulch for the greenhouse.  

Students who major in agricultural science at Truman have more opportunities to get hands-on training than are typically found at larger institutions. Students work directly with the production of produce and marketing and learn about plants, crops and soil, as well as livestock management.  

Internship positions in fruit and vegetable production and marketing are available during the summer. Interns gain additional experience in safe production and handling procedures as they help research and develop protocols in preparation for the farm as it undergoes Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Good Handling Practice (GHP) audit verification procedures.

More information about the University Farm, including a virtual tour and details on available programs, can be found here. Learn more about the Truman State University Foundation and the Foundation scholarship program here.

The University Art Gallery will host an opening reception for two new exhibitions from 5-6:30 p.m. Jan. 18.

“Greener than Grass,” a new exhibition by emerging St. Louis-based artist Rachel Youn, will open in the main gallery. Youn repurposes cast-off massagers and other devices into sculptures and installations. These playful and sometimes funny works take on distinct personalities. Through them, Youn reflects on the experience of growing up in the Midwest as the child of an immigrant and explores how the American Dream often takes the form of material goods that do not always live up to expectations.

Youn will also give a virtual artist talk from 5-6 p.m. Feb. 16 as part of the Women’s and Gender Studies Forum.

In the Charlyn Gallery, Rachel Hubbard Kline’s exhibition “Ensemble of Fragments” engages historic archives and her background in textiles to create ceramic works that reexamine history and attempt to make connections to the current moment. Hubbard Kline is an artist and art educator based in Kansas City, Missouri. She completed her MFA in studio art at the Maryland Institute College of Art

The University Art Gallery is located in Ophelia Parrish 1114. Reception and events are free and open to the public. Masks are required for in-person events. For more information visit gallery.arttruman.com.

With on-campus housing renewals now open, this installment of “The Spotlight Series” features Megan England from Residence Life. As the housing placement specialist, England talks about the benefits of students living on campus. Studies indicate students who live on campus tend to be more academically successful. On-campus housing also provides benefits such as easy access to University facilities, unlimited high-speed internet, 24-hour access to laundry services and live-in support staff to help with any problems that may arise.

Step-by-step instructions on how to complete the housing renewal application can be found here. Questions or concerns about housing can be directed to the Residence Life Office at 660.785.4227 or reslife@truman.edu.

For more information about Pre-McNair, complete this eligibility form or attend one of the events. All eligible students are able to join with no application needed.

The Global Issues Colloquium will take place from 7-9 p.m. Jan. 20 via Zoom featuring two alumni who are also returned Peace Corps volunteers. They will reflect on their Peace Corps experiences and how they have shaped their perspectives on global issues and policy development.
 
Jessica Vandivort de Montiel served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala from 2008-2012 in the youth development sector. She partnered with education and health ministry officials to develop rural youth development programs, empowering youth to lead healthy lives and to commit to positive roles in their communities. She is currently a Peace Corps recruiter.
 
Alex Senger served as a community and economic development volunteer with Peace Corps Paraguay from 2013 to 2015.

Union & Involvement will host the Activities Fair from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 25-26 in the Student Union Building. This event is an excellent opportunity for students to find organizations to join on campus. Several organizations will be showcased each night. For more information contact Union & Involvement Services in the Student Union Building 2000 at 660.785.4222 or by email at orgs@truman.edu.

The Admission Office is now hiring student ambassadors for the 2022-23 academic year. Apply at tru.mn/ambassador. Scholarship, work-study and volunteer opportunities are available. Institutional opportunities are limited.

On-Campus Sessions
Feb. 2
5:30-6:30 p.m.

March 2
5:30-6:30 p.m.

April 13
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Virtual Lunch Sessions
Feb. 16
12-1 p.m.

March 30
12-1 p.m.

April 27
12-1 p.m.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be filed now for the 2022-2023 school year at studentaid.gov.

Even though a student may not qualify for grants or work-study, all students are considered for the Federal Direct Loan (no co-signer required). Filing the FAFSA does not commit students to taking a loan, but it does allow for more options.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA requires students to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. For the 2022-2023 FAFSA students will use their 2020 tax information.

It is strongly recommended to apply or renew before Feb. 1, 2022.

Brian Ott, assistant professor of sociology, recently had his article, “Minimum Wage Connoisseurship,”  published in Standart magazine issue 25. Standart is a magazine focused on the specialty coffee culture. Ott specializes in the study of work, culture, consumption and inequality with his most recent project focused on the specialty coffee industry.