Vol. 17 No. 32 - May 20, 2013

Andrew Robson, a music major from St. Louis, Mo., has been named a Presser Scholar for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award is given to an outstanding music major at the end of his or her junior year. The Presser Foundation honored Robson with this prestigious award this spring. Robson is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, with additional studies in conducting. He is the son Jeffrey and Karen Robson, and is a graduate of Oakville Senior High School.

While in high school, Robson was a member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. In 2009, he won their concerto competition and performed Mozart’s Concerto in G Major in Powell Hall. During his senior year Robson was Principal Flute in the Missouri Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra.


At Truman, Robson studies flute with Julianna Moore, professor of music, and performs as Principal Flute in the University Orchestra and Wind Symphony. He has received additional instruction from Mark Sparks and Jennifer Nitchman of the St. Louis Symphony, and participated in the Professional Flute Seminar at the Innsbrook Institute.

Robson has won Truman’s Gold Medal Concerto Competition twice, performing Chaminade’s Concertino and Mercadante’s Concerto in E minor with the University Orchestra. Additionally, Robson was the 2010 MMTA Woodwinds winner, and was selected as a member of the 2012 All-Collegiate Band and Principal Flute of the 2013 All-Collegiate Orchestra.

Along with his performance activities, Robson has maintained a strong academic and research record. He was invited to be a music theory mentor, and he has published an article in the Flutist Quarterly entitled “York Bowen’s Sonata for Two Flutes, op. 103: The Discovery of the Rough and Sketchy Score.”

Robson is a member of the National Flute Association and the professional music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha.

Huping Ling, professor of history, was honored with the distinguished Changjiang Scholar Chair Professorship by the Central China Normal University, May 7.


The New Changjiang Scholar Program, which began in 2012, is funded and administered by the Chinese Ministry of Education. It is designed to select eminent scholars in the world to help internationalize China’s higher education and research. The program awards only 50 prominent scholars overseas annually, mostly in STEM and only a couple in social sciences, to teach and conduct research with leading Chinese scholars at selected institutions of higher education.

During her tenure, academic years 2012-2015, Ling will work jointly with prominent Chinese scholars, conducting research on Chinese Overseas Studies, giving public lectures at conferences and universities, launching cutting-edge research projects, initiating new research institutions and programs, teaching courses in Asian-American studies and supervising doctoral dissertations.

Earlier this year, Truman welcomed Paul D. Callister, professor of law and director of the Leon E. Bloch Law Library at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, to present information on the key copyright issues encountered by faculty and staff in higher education.
 
The workshop was sponsored by Pickler Memorial Library and Information Technology Services in an effort to continue to provide opportunities for faculty and staff to discuss and further their knowledge of the topic.  

“Copyright law is dynamic. It is a topic we frequently receive questions about,” said Diane Richmond, director of Learning Technologies. “As faculty members build course content, and as more and more information is being disseminated via Blackboard, professors have a heightened awareness of their responsibility to respect copyright law and review their materials. In education, we use the guidelines of Fair Use as our ‘litmus test,’ but this is not a law, it is a set of principles by which we make our decisions about what is ethical to use in our courses. Needless to say, the discussion of copyright is not straightforward. There are many factors that weigh into the decision-making process.”  

During the workshop, a variety of prevalent topics were covered, including aspects of copyright related to Fair Use, the TEACH Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Blackboard and use of media materials. This event was open to a diverse audience, including individuals who had prior knowledge regarding copyright who were looking for a refresher, as well as individuals looking for an introduction to copyright law.  

The workshop was interactive in format and provided attendees with the opportunity to work in small groups to discuss and provide resolutions to typical copyright problems.

By using a scenario-based presentation, Callister showed faculty how to work through a series of questions about licensing and possible copyright exemptions that might apply to their particular situation. Callister also the stressed the importance of keeping up with recent court decisions regarding copyright cases.

Members of the faculty and staff who are celebrating their retirement, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th and 50th anniversaries of service to Truman were honored at the annual Service Recognition Luncheon April 29 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.

Twelve students were recognized as Honors Scholar graduates for Spring 2013. Honors Scholar medals were awarded at a pre-commencement ceremony May 10. Truman’s Honors Scholar Program offers outstanding students the opportunity to select rigorous courses in the liberal arts and sciences component of their degree programs. The honor is awarded to graduating seniors who have completed five approved courses, with at least one from each of the four areas of mathematics, natural science, social science and humanities. They must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.5 in those courses and an overall grade point average of 3.5.

At 8 p.m. May 22 Blackboard will be taken down for maintenance. ITS will be adding disk storage to the Blackboard application server and this process takes several hours to complete. The maintenance will begin at 8 p.m. and is expected to last until approximately 9 a.m. the next day.

JUNE
June 3-Summer Orientation
June 3-Eight-Week Summer Classes Begin
June 7-Summer Orientation
June 12-Summer Orientation
June 15-Board of Governors Meeting
June 17-Summer Orientation
June 20-Summer Orientation
June 21-23-Taste of Truman
June 24-Summer Orientation
June 28-Summer Orientation
June 28-First Five-Week Summer Classes End

JULY
July 1-Second Five-Week Summer Classes Begin
July 4-Independence Day (no classes, offices closed)
July 26-Eight-Week Summer Classes End
July 27-Interim Begins

AUGUST
Aug. 2-Second Five-Week Summer Classes End
Aug. 3-Board of Governors Meeting
Aug. 10-Interim Ends
Aug. 14-Faculty Begin Work
Aug. 16-Summer Orientation
Aug. 17-Freshmen Move-In
Aug. 17-21-Truman Week
Aug. 22-First Day of Classes

The creators of the “Student Award Search Aid” website are renewing the B. Davis scholarship for 2013. For more information on this $1,000 scholarship, visit studentawardsearch.com/scholarships.htm. Questions can also be sent to awards@studentawardsearch.com. Deadline to apply is May 27.

DAZ 3D is offering a $1,000 scholarship to 3D graphic design students seeking financial aid for tuition, books and education related costs. For more information, go to www.daz3d.com/3d-graphic-design-scholarship. Submission deadline is June 1.

USDirect is offering a $1,000 scholarship where they are asking students to show them their school spirit and team pride with a photo. To obtain more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit usdirect.com/scholarship. Deadline for entry is June 15.

The CEO of Tomorrow Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship for students interested in business leadership and/or entrepreneurship. Applicants must answer a short online survey and submit a 500-1,000 word essay on “the CEO of tomorrow.” Possible topics could include (but are not limited to) company structure, company culture or utilization of technology. For more information, or to apply, go to ceo.com. Deadline is July 1.

Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants will be awarding up to $1,000 each year to a scholarship winner. To apply, students will submit an essay on the topic that appears on the scholarship page of their website at abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm.

AES Engineers is committed to continuing its support of higher education by providing scholarships to deserving students. To be eligible the student needs to answer one of the essay questions that they will find online at aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm. A $500 scholarship will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by evaluating the essays that are submitted. Deadline for entry is Oct. 4.

The Streamline Refinance Scholarship for Finance and Economics Scholarship is now available. Details can be found at streamlinerefinance.net/finance-economics-scholarship.html.

StudentScholarships.org has scholarships available to Missouri residents on their website, studentscholarships.org/2013scholarships.php. Truman students should specifically look for the following scholarships: Gilbratti Scholarship, Youth Volunteer Scholarship Award, Healthy Choices Scholarship, Scholarship by Design Award, Black and Lee Scholarship, Caretenders Scholarship Program, LM Scholarship Program, Rogers Community Volunteer Scholarship Program, Sedary & Associates Scholarship and Lift Parts Express Scholarship.

U.S. Bank will award 40 scholarships of $1,000 through a random drawing process. Undergraduate students attending an eligible four-year college or university participating in the U.S. Bank No Fee Education Loan Program are eligible to apply. Further details regarding this scholarship opportunity can be found at usbank.com/scholarship.

A-Z Printing has announced a scholarship opportunity for students in the amount of $1,000. More information about this “Impact a Life” college scholarship may be found at raffleticket.com/raffle-tickets-scholarship.html. Deadline to apply is Dec. 31.

The next issue of the Truman Today will be available June 3. Submissions can be made by sending an email to tmiles@truman.edu or by completing a Truman Today form available in the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 202. The form may also be accessed online at
trumantoday.truman.edu/pdf/submissionform.pdf. All submissions are subject to editing for clarity and style.

Elizabeth Clark will serve as the Interim Dean of the School of Social and Cultural Studies. Clark’s appointment officially begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2014. Clark has served as the Communications Department chair for six years.

Sarah Miller, a justice systems student, has been awarded third place in the American Criminal Justice Association’s National Paper Competition. Miller’s paper entitled, “The uncertain future of the juvenile court system,” earned a cash prize and a certification of recognition.