Vol. 29 No. 7 - September 30, 2024

Truman has again been recognized as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest Region by U.S. News & World Report.

The University earned multiple recognitions in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, including another year as the No. 1 public school in the Midwest Region. Among both public and private institutions, Truman was No. 5 overall for the Midwest Region. Notably, Truman was the only Missouri public school to be included in the top 60 spots.

“These rankings are additional validation of the power and value of a Truman education and recognize that through our distinctive curriculum and exceptionally dedicated and caring faculty and staff, Truman students are well-prepared to achieve success,” said University President Susan L. Thomas.

Truman faculty members’ commitment to students helped the University improve in another noteworthy category. Always a fixture in the Undergraduate Teaching Programs list, Truman improved seven spots to tie for the No. 3 position this year. This subcategory, compiled from peer assessment, highlights schools that emphasize providing high-quality instruction to undergraduates. Of the 13 institutions to make this ranking, Truman was the lone public school to be included.

“Our faculty members epitomize a teacher-scholar approach,” Thomas said. “They are highly motivated to share their expertise and knowledge to empower their students. Whether it is serving as a research mentor, advising a student organization or helping arrange an internship opportunity, Truman faculty members put students at the center of what they do, and they go above and beyond to make sure all students reach their full potential.”

As usual, the University fared well on a number of supplemental tabs included in this year’s Best Colleges rankings. Coming in at No. 11 on the list of Best Value Schools for the Midwest Region, Truman was the only Missouri public institution included in the top 40 spots. This ranking was determined by examining key indicators such as: academic quality; the percentage of full-time students receiving need-based scholarships or grants; and the average discount from a school’s sticker price for full-time undergraduates receiving the average need-based grant.

U.S. News & World Report also recognized Truman on its list of Top Performers on Social Mobility, and four of the University’s academic programs – business, computer science, nursing and psychology – again earned inclusion on rankings of their respective disciplines. The entire Best Colleges rankings can be found online at usnews.com/best-colleges.

 
The University will welcome hundreds of prospective students and their families during Truman Experience Weekend, Nov. 1-2.
 
A new twist on traditional college visits, the Truman Experience Weekend offers multiple opportunities for future students and their families to discover what Truman has to offer. Flexible scheduling allows for guests to personalize their visit and make the most of their time on campus through tailored presentations, special events and personal interactions.
 
“Instead of everyone attending the same presentations, students and families have an opportunity to select which activities to try,” said Tyana Lange, vice president of student engagement, enrollment and marketing. “There is no obligation to attend everything. By spacing events out over two days, we give guests a bigger window to learn about the aspects of college life that appeal to them.”
 
The first Truman Experience Weekend took place in March and exceeded its goal with more than 500 guests visiting campus at some point during the two-day period. Those attending the Truman Experience in November will have a variety of events to explore.
 
Friday evening President Sue Thomas will be on hand to engage with students in a unique activity. Staff members from the Admissions Office and the Center for Academic Excellence will be available for a question-and-answer session. There will also be food trucks in the parking lot between McClain Hall and the Student Union Building, as well as the regular on-campus dining selections.
 
Evening entertainment options include a Student Activities Board-sponsored speaker in Baldwin Hall Auditorium and a show at the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. Additional performances and presentations by campus departments may be added to the schedule. The complete itinerary for the weekend can be found at truman.edu/experience. Updates will be reflected as they are announced.
 
On Saturday, dining halls will be open for breakfast and lunch. President Thomas will kick off the day with a welcome address in Baldwin Hall Auditorium, followed by panel presentations specifically for students and parents.
 
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about many aspects of Truman throughout the day with presentations from academic programs, study abroad, Athletics, Residence Life, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and Financial Aid, among others.
 
Tours will be available of the entire campus, as well as residence halls and the Student Recreation Center. Truman football will take the field at 12 p.m. in Stokes Stadium. Visitors should also keep an eye out for Spike, the University mascot, and the world-famous Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.
 
“We have created an environment where prospective students can be active participants,” said Allison Schweizer, director of admissions. “The goal is to show our amazing students and campus in an energetic and fun way so prospective students can picture themselves at Truman.”
 
The Truman Experience Weekend is the newest addition to the variety of visit options for prospective students. The University continues to conduct individual in-person visits – complete with campus tours – every weekday. Other arrangements can be made for special circumstances, and Truman also offers donor-sponsored visit options for families that may need assistance with any associated costs.
 
Prospective students and their families interested in attending the Truman Experience Weekend can find more information at truman.edu/experience. Details about specific events will be posted to the site as they become available. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at 660.785.4114 or admissions@truman.edu.

As part of the TRU-Entrepreneur Speaker Series, Amanda Montgomery (’12) will speak from 12:30-1:20 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Doug and Diane Villhard Innovation Lab in Pickler Memorial Library.

A student-athlete at Truman, Montgomery competed on the swim team and earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. After graduation, she became a certified yoga instructor and pursued several opportunities related to sustainability, awareness of self and food knowledge while traveling both nationally and internationally.

Montgomery returned to Kirksville in 2017 and began teaching yoga classes to the community and at the University. She offered her first yoga teacher training in 2018 and opened Mystic Meadows Yoga in downtown Kirksville in 2021. She continues her personal mission of promoting a comprehensive awareness of self, both physical and spiritual, a more meditative lifestyle and an acute awareness of where food comes from and how it affects human beings.

The fall installment of “Films and Finger Foods” will be a screening of the 2024 version of “Mean Girls” in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium.
 
In a movie-related tie-in, pink-themed snacks will be included among the finger foods offered at the screening. Snacks will be available at 6:30 p.m. with the movie starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but space is limited. To reserve a seat, guests can RSVP here.
 
The film is a remake of the 2004 comedy of the same name. New student Cady Heron navigates the thorny jungles of teenage and high school drama. Led by Regina George, the elite clique The Plastics welcomes Cady into their exclusive group. When she falls for Regina’s ex, Aaron Samuels, Cady risks her social status and faces Regina’s wrath. With the help of her socially shunned friends Janis and Damian, Cady must survive high school, the most dangerous mission of her life.
 
This rendition of “Mean Girls” includes an appearance by Truman alumna Jenna Fischer, who plays Cady’s mother.
 
An offshoot of the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series, “Films and Finger Foods” is offered free of charge thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, the Friends of the Lyceum program and the Truman State University Foundation.
 

 
Some creative writing students recently received real-world experience through a collaboration with a respected literary journal.
 
Students in ENG 504/G: Flash Non/Fiction Workshop reviewed submissions for SmokeLong Quarterly, a highly regarded journal in the flash writing field. Flash is a genre primarily characterized by the length of the work, typically less than 1,000 words.
 
“Alongside that overarching definition, though, is the importance of compression – of an awareness that the story needs to feel complete within that space – and attention to word choice takes it into a realm close to prose poetry,” said Abby Manzella, assistant professor of English and creative writing.
 
In an effort to provide students with hands-on experience, Manzella reached out to SmokeLong Quarterly for a potential collaboration. As the class is comprised of graduate and advanced undergraduate students, the partnership was mutually beneficial. The journal got a fresh set of eyes on their submissions, and students gained more familiarity with the flash genre.  
 
“Flash – especially flash nonfiction – is by far what I write the most of, so I always enjoy every opportunity to learn more about it and especially find more great writing to be inspired by,” said Kat Butler, a student in the class.
 
The students spent a week reading submissions. The class then collectively recommended three pieces for publication. Manzella facilitated the opportunity so her class could develop their understanding of the genre, as well as the high-caliber of the writing considered for publication.
 
“This is work that first helps them as writers to see how the attention to character, setting, story and tone all need to be just right in order to be selected. It will help them to think about the process of refining their own work for publication,” Manzella said. “They also gain professionalization that will prepare them for future internships and employment in the publishing industry.”
 
The pieces the class recommended have moved on to the next round of the selection process. Students in the class also get a group publishing credit for an interview they did in SmokeLong Quarterly regarding the project.
 
ENG 504/G is part of the Master of Arts in English program. As an online course, it includes students from all across the country. Manzella plans to offer the class again in a future semester.

 
Sixteen McNair Scholars attended the MKN Heartland McNair Research Conference with approximately 200 other McNair Scholars from programs across the United States, Sept. 20-22 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Thirteen students gave oral presentations on original, independent, faculty-mentored research projects that are required of every student in the program. They also enjoyed a pre-conference session on publishing academic research, a graduate school fair with 60 program representatives, four concurrent sessions of student oral presentations and three keynote speakers that addressed strategies for success in graduate school.
 
Along with Jeremy Freese, McNair programming specialist and conference co-chair, the student delegates were joined by Vanessa Alexander, director of the Center for Diversity & Inclusion and a former Truman McNair Scholar, and Albien Rafael Tubongbanua, associate professor of nursing and a McNair faculty mentor.

The 34th Annual Philosophy and Religion Conference will take place Nov. 16 in Baldwin Hall 114.

Students can now submit papers to be featured at the conference. The submission deadline is Oct. 16. Papers from any area of philosophy and/or religious studies are welcome. This may include fields such as classics, anthropology and others. Papers should be no longer than 25 minutes reading time (approximately eight-10 pages). A review panel of Truman undergraduates will select the program. If a paper is selected, the author will be asked to provide a 100-word abstract upon acceptance of the invitation to present.

Papers should be submitted to Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy and religion, with the subject line: Undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference. Students should separate all identifying information, including name and school, from the body of the paper in either format – include this information only in the body of the email. The title of the paper should be listed in both documents.

The Del and Norma Robison Planetarium will participate in a global short-film festival that will allow attendees to vote for their favorite picture.

Manhattan Short 2024 will run simultaneously across the world for a one-week period. The planetarium is one of more than 500 locations around the world to participate in the screenings. The 10 films range in running time from five to 22 minutes. There will be two opportunities to watch, with the planetarium hosting screenings at 7 p.m. Oct. 4-5. There is no cost to attend the festival.

All 10 films will be screened at every showing, and attendees will be allowed to vote for Best Film and Best Actor. By virtue of their selection by Manhattan Short, each film is automatically Oscar-qualified.

The finalists hail from nine countries with films from Australia, The Netherlands, Italy, France, Croatia, Ireland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom alongside two films from the United States.

“The Talent”
United Kingdom
On the set of a luxury car commercial, an overlooked assistant seizes his chance to get noticed by the star in this lyrical meditation on masculinity, desire and becoming.

“I’m Not a Robot”
The Netherlands
A woman repeatedly fails a computer security test. Suddenly, her humanity is called into question.

“Mother”
Ukraine
At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Katya decides to leave her hometown and take her mother. But mother is getting her nails done.

“Dovecote”
Italy
A small boat navigates the canals of Venice, Italy, only to stop at a women’s prison where an inmate is poised to rediscover freedom.

“Pathological”
United States
A pathological liar wakes up one day to discover her lies have become true.

“Alarms”
France
Pierre is diligently overseeing the completion of the tumultuous construction site under his responsibility, ensuring progress doesn’t come at the cost of safety.

“Favourites”
Australia
Two parents face an impossible choice when their family camping trip goes terribly wrong.

“The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”
Croatia, Bulgaria, France
Bosnia, 1993: Paramilitary forces stop a train in an ethnic cleansing operation. Only one man out of 500 passengers dares to stand up to them. A true story and winner of the 2024 Palme D’Or at Cannes.

“Room Taken”
Ireland
A homeless man moves in with a blind woman who doesn’t know he’s there. A strange bond develops.

“Jane Austen’s Period Drama”
United States
In this period comedy, the sudden appearance of a blood stain stops a marriage proposal mid-sentence.

Starting Oct. 1, the Admissions Office will begin hosting “Transfer Tuesdays” for prospective students and their families.

During these virtual drop-in sessions hosted via Zoom, future bulldogs will have the opportunity to connect with dedicated transfer advisors and have all of their questions answers, including transferring credits, exploring scholarships and navigating the admissions process. New students will also learn about Truman’s academic programs and the resources available to support their success both inside and outside the classroom.

 
The course, “CML 200: Taiwan Connect” (CRN: 6112), is a service-learning experience that begins in the second block of the semester. Classes will take place every Monday evening in Baldwin Hall 309, starting Oct. 14. Before Nov. 3, the class will meet from 6:30-8 p.m., and after Nov. 3, the time will change to 5:30-7 p.m. The only requirement for participation is that students must be native English speakers.
 
Students enrolled in 12-16 credit hours can take CML 200 at no additional cost. For more information or an override to enroll in this course, contact Zhijun “David” Wen, assistant professor of Chinese, at zwen@truman.edu or in McClain Hall 313.

• a US Citizen
• a resident of the state, or attending a college or university in Missouri (students may not register to vote in both your home state and Missouri)
• 17 ½ years of age to register and 18 years of age by election day registered to vote on or before Oct. 9 to vote in the Nov. 5 election

• Students may register to vote in Adair County (the county where Truman located) and vote in person at their local polling precinct on election day.
• Students may request an absentee ballot in their registered county. Registration for an absentee ballot is usually open six weeks before election day. Ballots are due back to the county clerk’s office before the election. Absentee ballots in Missouri require notary service. There are notaries on campus to assist students in the Business Office in McClain Hall and in the Department of Public Safety in the General Services Building. A picture ID is required for notary service.     
• Students may vote absentee in person in their registered county at the county clerk’s office up to 5 p.m. the night before the election. This is for voters who will not be able to vote in person at their regular precinct the day of the election.

Voters should contact the county clerk’s office in the county in which they are registered if they would like additional information regarding this year’s election. Be sure to allow plenty of time before the election to meet the voting deadlines.   

AGSC 490 practicum class is working to create a community supported agriculture project for students, faculty and staff at Truman. By subscribing to the CSA, students and Truman affiliates would receive a weekly box of vegetables and herbs which would help support the farm and Truman community. A survey for this project can be completed here.

Foster intellectual and relational wellness by attending music therapy and ukuleles with Jocelyn Stevens from 12:30-1:20 p.m. Oct. 4 in Violette Hall 1146. RSVP here.

Recipients must be enrolled full-time during the term of the scholarship to receive the full amount. Applications can be submitted and revised at any time prior to the Oct. 16 deadline. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans then Foundation Scholarship Application.

These scholarships are available thanks to the private gifts of alumni and friends of the University.