This fall, Truman will celebrate Family Day Sept. 16, with Homecoming set for Oct. 21.

Because both events include Bulldog football home games, Truman was waiting for the GLVC schedule to be released before setting dates. Gametimes and opponents for both events are to be announced and will be available at trumanbulldogs.com.

Family Day is a way for students and their families to meet up after Move-In Day. It is a celebration of the many special connections forged on campus between students, alumni, faculty, staff and the whole Kirksville community. Traditionally, it coincides with the annual Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown Kirksville. Updates will be posted at familyday.truman.edu as they become available.

Each year, Homecoming is a celebration of athletic events, entertainment and organizational competitions with lots of opportunities to show Truman spirit. Events are open to all students, alumni, faculty, staff, families, friends and community members. More details will be available at the Alumni Homecoming website as they become available.

The Truman Bulldog Battalion was recently ranked 12th out of more than 270 Army ROTC programs nationwide.

This ranking is part of an annual placing of programs by the U.S. Army Cadet Command, the national headquarters for all ROTC programs. Rankings are derived from a variety of metrics calculated yearly during the fall semester. Several of the key criteria include academic excellence across all classes that students are enrolled in, physical fitness, leadership development and aptitude as evaluated during summer training opportunities. To the program’s knowledge, this is the highest they have ranked and places them in the top 5% nationally.

Senior ROTC students were some of the most competitive cadets across the nation through extracurricular participation, volunteer work within the Kirksville community and excelling in their coursework at Truman.

“For being such a small program among hundreds of others, this is a phenomenal achievement,” said Kate Benzing, Army ROTC cadet. “Our cadets work extremely hard to become successful and well-rounded individuals while displaying exemplary leadership qualities on our campus.”

The purpose of the Army ROTC program is to train and prepare college students as commissioned officers for the United States Army and its reserves components. There are more than 30,000 Army ROTC cadets enrolled in 274 ROTC programs at major universities throughout the United States. Truman’s program currently has 52 cadets enrolled.

“We work with students to help them succeed in the degree of their choice while earning a minor in leadership and a commission in the active, reserve or National Guard components of the U.S. Army,” said John Clark, professor of military science. “Through shared values, advanced training and experience, men and women can achieve their goals.”

Army ROTC is open to all full-time enrolled students on campus. There is no binding obligation to participate as a cadet. However, if a student makes the commitment to commission as an officer in the United States Army, students must graduate with their declared degree, complete the necessary military science classes, and attend and complete additional summer/weekend training requirements throughout their four years on campus. There are several other secondary requirements that must be met in order to receive a commission as a U.S. Army officer. Leadership and management training can also be completed in conjunction with any chosen academic major. In addition to gaining valuable skills from the program, students can also develop friendships, relationships and memories to last a lifetime.

Those interested in the program can email Justin Hirniak, Army ROTC scholarship and enrollment officer.

Teak Nelson, professor of nursing, recently completed the rigorous process of earning Quality Matters certification for DS 120 – Introduction to Disability Studies.

Nelson completed the work as part of an incentive program managed by Academic Affairs. This is the first Truman course to achieve the Quality Matters (QM) distinction. The certification applies to all sections of the course that start the disability studies minor, not just Nelson’s.

“The QM review and certification process was invaluable,” Nelson said. “Those who have taught online courses recognize that to do it well requires significant work from design through implementation – even more than for in-person classes, in my experience. To have this effort recognized both internally and externally is really an honor.”

To earn QM certification, a team of trained peer reviewers evaluated the course against the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric. The team reviewing Nelson’s course included faculty from California and Minnesota, as well as a Truman representative. The rubric contains eight general standards and 42 specific standards used to evaluate the design of online and blended courses. The standards represent best practices in online course construction and are based on a periodic review of education literature and community input. The certification is good for five years and allows the University to display a certification seal when promoting the course.

Truman adopted the QM rubric as an underlying framework for online training in 2010 and formally joined Quality Matters in 2019.

“We formally engaged Quality Matters just before the pandemic struck in 2020,” said Kevin Minch, associate provost. “Since then, we have trained most of our faculty for online teaching using Quality Matters resources. Additional faculty are following Teak Nelson’s footsteps in pursuing certification this year.”

Truman eventually hopes to have entire online programs certified through Quality Matters as a way to further promote the excellence of its teaching and to provide the maximum support for student success.

“I entered this process with hopes of having the faculty members’ work on this course recognized,” Nelson said. “What I came away with was a much deeper understanding of how to integrate course design, learning technologies and student engagement strategies through both horizontal and vertical course alignment. The QM reviewers provided thoughtful and meaningful feedback and suggestions, and our Learning Technologies team was an invaluable resource throughout the process. QM review and certification has the potential to improve the consistency of quality online teaching and learning across the curriculum, with subsequent effects on student learning. I encourage others to take advantage of this opportunity as it is made available.”

Faculty interested in pursuing QM certification for their courses or programs should contact Minch for more information.

Linda Smith joined the University Counseling Services staff as a virtual counselor and started seeing patients at the beginning of the spring semester.

Smith is a licensed clinical professional counselor for the State of Kansas, Texas and Missouri as well as national certified counselor. She received her Master’s of Counseling at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas and is currently in process of achieving Registered Play-Therapist credentials. She has experience working at private practice, community non-profit organizations, mental health hospitals and as a volunteer counselor at churches.

Anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, along with other mental health diagnoses, are Smith’s specialty. She has worked extensively with adults and children of all ages, providing individual, couples, marriage and family counseling. She believes each person should be treated as an individual, bringing self-awareness to his or her own unique strengths and individualized coping skills.

To make an appointment call 660.785.4104, email ucs@cfmcares.com or stop by the UCS office during the business hours of 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday.

Truman has released its academic honor rolls for the fall 2022 semester.

Students who received a grade point average of 3.5 or better during the spring 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-2022-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-2022-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.

Lists are organized by state and hometown. Hometowns are based upon the permanent address given to the University by the student. Students who have requested a directory hold on their information are not included on the lists. Any questions regarding student eligibility for inclusion on the lists can be directed to the Academic Affairs Office at 660.785.4105.

The names of the graduates can be found online at truman.edu/honors/fall-2022-graduation-list. Students who graduated with honors will have that distinction noted by their names. Cum laude recognizes those who earned a grade point average of 3.50-3.74. Magna cum laude is for graduates with a grade point average of 3.75-3.89. Summa cum laude honors graduates with a grade point average of 3.9 or better.

Master’s degree recipients will have that distinction noted by their names.

The list is organized by state and hometown. Hometowns are based upon the permanent address given to the University by the student. Students who have requested a directory hold on their information will not be included on the list. Any questions regarding student eligibility for inclusion on the list can be directed to the Registrar’s Office at 660.785.4143.

Truman conducted commencement ceremonies Dec. 17 at Pershing Arena. A recording of the ceremony is available at truman.edu/registrar/commencement/commencement-video. A photo gallery can also be found at photos.truman.edu/home/commencement.

The Ofstad Reading Series will host scholar Anand Prahlad at 12 p.m. Jan. 26 in Student Union Building 3000.

Prahlad is a curators distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of English at the University of Missouri, Columbia. He is a scholar, poet, essayist and musician. His critical books include “Reggae Wisdom: Proverbs in Reggae Music” and the edited three-volume set, “The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Folklore.” His creative works include three collections of poems, “Hear My Story,” “As Good As Mango” and “Dreaming of Endangered Species,” as well as the award-winning memoir, “The Secret Life of a Black Aspie” and a music CD, “Hover Near.” Prahlad is currently working on a second CD, a fourth collection of poems, a community memoir about the plantation where he grew up and a scholarly book on disability and the imagination.

This presentation will include readings from Prahlad's most recent collection of poems, “Dreaming of Endangered Species,” which explores intersectional identities of disability and illness, queerness and blackness in an age of political collapse and environmental crises.

Northeast Missouri’s own Rhonda Vincent will headline the next Kohlenberg Lyceum Series event at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

Vincent began her music career as a child in her family’s band The Sally Mountain Show.  She picked up the mandolin at eight and the fiddle at 10, performing with the family band at festivals on weekends. Vincent first achieved success in the bluegrass genre in the 1970s and ’80s, earning respect for her mastery of the progressive chord structures and multi-range, fast-paced vocals intrinsic to bluegrass music. She recorded her first single, a version of “Mule Skinner Blues,” in 1970. Her passion for traditional bluegrass music flourished when she signed with Rounder Records, and she made her label debut in 2000 with “Back Home Again,” recorded with her band, The Rage.

Throughout her career Vincent has appeared on recordings by Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, Tanya Tucker, Joe Diffie, Faith Hill and other notables. In 2000, Vincent won her first string of seven Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and in 2001, she won the Entertainer of the Year award. She is an eight-time Grammy nominee, winning the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2017. In 2020, she was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Vincent and The Rage are the most awarded band in bluegrass history.

Admission is free, but tickets are required and there is a two ticket per person maximum. Tickets can be obtained at the ticket window in Baldwin Hall the night of the event, or they can be reserved in advance at the Sue Ross Arts Center in downtown Kirksville, the Advancement Office in McClain Hall 205, the Admissions Office and the Union and Involvement Office main desk in the Student Union Building. For additional information, visit lyceum.truman.edu, call 660.785.4133 or email lyceumseries@truman.edu.

Feb. 28
President Sue Thomas will give an address at 3 p.m., followed by Mini Strategic Planning and Assessment Workshop (SPAW) session. Additional details will be provided within the next few weeks.

Info Night
6 p.m.
Feb. 6
Student Union Building Down Under 1101

Service and Sisterhood Night
6 p.m.
Feb. 7
Baldwin Hall 114

Interview Night 1
6 p.m.
Feb. 8
Violette Hall 1400s wing

Invite Only Event
6 p.m.
Feb. 9

The Office of Student Research is accepting TruScholars proposals for research and creative scholarship conducted during the eight-week summer term, June 5-July 28.

During the program, students should devote full-time effort to their project and faculty mentors should be continuously available for consultation and collaboration. Grant applications may request up to a maximum value of $5,750, including a $3,500 max student stipend and $1,750 max mentor stipend.

Complete guidelines for the TruScholars applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications are due Feb. 15. Questions can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

The deadline to submit a nomination form is Feb. 24. Email sab5631@truman.edu with any questions.

The Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee is currently seeking proposals for improving sustainability and environmentalism on campus. Any member of the Truman community can propose a project idea to the committee for consideration. In the past they have funded projects such as updated compost equipment, bee houses, solar power for the University Farm and reusable water bottle fillers. Proposals can be completed using this form. The deadline for proposal submission is Jan. 31. Any questions can be emailed to dwa8863@truman.edu.

Applications are now being accepted for summer internships at the following locations in Missouri:

•    Independence: Harry Truman Presidential Library (full-time)
•    Kansas City: National World War I Museum (part-time)
•    St. Joseph: St. Joseph Museums (part-time)
•    St. Louis: Field House Museum (part-time), Missouri History Museum (part-time), Mercantile Library (part-time)
•    Springfield: MSU Special Collections and Archive (part-time)

The summer internships are open to all Truman students and are especially relevant for those considering careers in archives, museums and teaching. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until all positions are filled. Email jasonmcd@truman.edu to find out what the internships entail and how to apply.

Foundation loans can come in the form of short-term loans, long-term loans, access loans and cultural loans. Applications go through the Financial Aid Office and are repaid directly to the University. Banks and outside lenders are not involved in the process.

To be eligible for a Foundation loan students must be enrolled on a full-time basis and be in good academic standing. Students also need to demonstrate an ability to repay the loan in a timely manner. Deferments of up to five years are available for cultural and long-term loans, provided the student is enrolled on a full-time basis.

In addition to scholarship assistance, the loan program is an example of the immediate impact of donations to the Truman State University Foundation. Gifts from alumni and friends allow Truman to provide assistance directly to students as they pursue their education.

For more information on the Foundation loan program, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@truman.edu, at 660.785.4130 or in person at McClain Hall 103.

The ATSU Area Health Education Center is hosting a Living a Healthy Life event every Monday night at 6 p.m. starting Feb. 6 through March 6 via Zoom. This free workshop is ideal for people with ongoing health conditions or who care for someone with an ongoing condition. Participants will receive a “Living a Health Life with Chronic Conditions” book and a “Relaxation for the Mind and Body” CD. Register by calling 660.626.2887 or by emailing cht@atsu.edu. A workshop Zoom link will be emailed upon registration.

 
Sodexo is now piloting the new Everyday app that will allow faculty, staff and students to order Einstein Bros. Bagels and Starbucks online.

The plan is to pilot this new app for the spring and do a campus-wide rollout in the fall.

The Everyday app allows users to order online and skip the line when it is ready. Apple Pay, credit/debit card and dining dollars are the current accepted methods of payment. Using dining dollars requires a meal plan. The option to combine meal swipes and dining dollars together is not available yet, but is a function planned for the next academic year.

John Stewart, director of Sodexo Dining Services, asks that people download the app and try it out with the understanding this is a pilot, and minor issues may arise. People testing the app last semester reported the basic ordering functionality was good, but Sodexo would like more people to use it to determine how it flows with customers at the counter and multiple orders coming in at the same time. They are asking for patience as further testing is conducted.

The Everyday app is available at Apple App and Google Play stores. Search Everyday by Sodexo. Compliments and concerns with the app can be shared directly with Stewart at John.Stewart2@sodexo.com.

Preceptors are needed for the following academies:

• Joseph Baldwin Academy (June 7 - July 1 and/or July 5 - 29)
• JBA Junior (July 16 - 21)
• ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy (June 23 - 30)

The Institute for Academic Outreach is seeking applications for each academy for programs ranging from one to three weeks during June and July. Stipends vary based in the length of the program and nature of the work.

To be eligible as a preceptor, applicants must be a Truman student or a May 2023 graduate, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and not have outside commitments while working for the program(s). Individuals hired for these programs will also be required to complete a criminal background check, pre-academy trainings and pre-academy orientations.

“To me, the best thing about JBA is the connections you make,” said Holly Peters, former preceptor. “The lasting friendships and memories I’ve made over the years have truly been what keeps me coming back each year.”

Applications are currently being accepted, interviews will take place in February. Information about each available position can be accessed at Institute for Academic Outreach Summer Employment or by emailing Michelle Wilson at mwwilson@truman.edu.

The COPLAC Board of Directors, in memory of the contributions of David J. Prior to the advancement of the consortium and to student success in the public liberal arts sector, are sponsoring the second annual student essay prize in his name.

The David J. Prior COPLAC Award recognizes two senior-level undergraduates whose academic careers and future goals have been shaped by the transformative power of the liberal arts and sciences experience at a COPLAC institution. Each student’s reflective personal essay will highlight one or more of the following features of COPLAC’s student-centered approach to teaching: emphasis on active learning; ethical reasoning; interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge; community engagement; critical and reflective skills; and connections between liberal learning and informed, active citizenship. Essays should focus on the value of a public liberal arts education and avoid multiple references to the particular virtues of one’s home institution.  

David Prior’s career-long commitment to superior undergraduate teaching, his desire as a consortium leader to make the outcomes of an education at our public liberal arts institutions widely recognized, and his deep concern that all students, regardless of financial circumstances, have equal access to a high-quality education anchored in the liberal arts and sciences, will be reflected in each of the prize-winning essays.

All submissions should be sent via email attachment to bailey@coplac.com no later than March 1.

Every Friday there will be free testing available for Covid-19, RSV and Influenza available on campus. A drive-through clinic will be sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services in the parking lot at the corner of S. First and W. Randolph streets from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Testing is provided free of charge and is open to all. For more information, contact the Adair County Health Department at 660.665.8491.