Vol. 30 No. 4 - September 8, 2025

The first home football game of the 2025 season will kick off at 12 p.m. Sept. 13 at Stokes Stadium against Davenport (Mich.) University.

Truman is using the home opener for Student and Community Appreciation Day. Tailgate Avenue will feature yard games and activities, free food and a Meet-the-Bulldogs tent featuring student-athletes. Those attending the game will receive free keychains while supplies last. 

Coming off an 8-4 season that culminated with a victory in the America’s Crossroads Bowl, the Bulldogs started the year picked to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Truman will open GLVC play Sept. 20 at Missouri S&T.

Tailgating will take place in the lot on Stadium Drive located south of the Stokes Stadium. The lot opens three hours before game time. No one under the age of 21 is permitted to consume or possess alcohol. 

New this year is a clear bag policy for entry into Stokes Stadium. Bags must be clear 12”x12”x6” or a one-gallon resealable plastic bag. Small clutch purses are also acceptable. Clear bags are available for purchase at the University Bookstore or online. Exceptions are made for diaper bags and for medically necessary items.

The U.S. Army Cadet Command will continue its affiliation with the University’s ROTC program for the foreseeable future.  

At the end of June, Truman’s program was one of more than 80 across the country slated for inactivation or reclassification as part of the Army Transformation Initiative. After extensive input from President Sue Thomas, members of the Board of Governors, the TSU Alumni Regiment, members of the Missouri federal delegation and friends of the University on the state and federal levels, the Truman ROTC program is no longer in consideration for inactivation.

In a letter from the Department of the Army dated Sept. 2, Brigadier General Maurice O. Barnett informed President Thomas the Truman ROTC program will be reclassified to an extension unit and merge with the University of Missouri Columbia Army ROTC program. He went on to add “[t]he Army recognizes the integral role Truman State plays in developing exceptional leaders” and that the University’s program “will remain a distinct unit preserving the historical significance of the program.” 

Truman’s program will retain its distinct heraldry, unit patch, Battalion designation and history. The Army will continue to offer classes on campus. 

“The Bulldog Battalion has been an integral part of Truman for 56 years,” President Thomas said. “We are enormously proud of our ROTC graduates who admirably and impressively serve the country. They are leaders who demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills – skills that are essential for the armed forces of today and the future.”

The ROTC program began at the University in the 1969-70 academic year. In 2023, the Truman program was ranked No. 12 among the 270 programs nationwide by the Cadet Command. Those rankings were derived from a variety of metrics calculated yearly during the fall semester including academic excellence across all classes that students are enrolled in, physical fitness, leadership development and aptitude as evaluated during summer training opportunities.

The Office of Citizenship and Conduct is recruiting students, faculty and staff members to join the University Conduct Board. 

Serving on the conduct board is an excellent opportunity to build professional skills and uphold shared University values as outlined in the Student Conduct Code. Members of this board are trained to serve primarily on conduct hearing panels to review allegations of actions from students and student organizations that are more serious in nature and/or risk more serious outcomes if found responsible.

University community members wishing to serve should complete the short application available online at conduct.truman.edu by Sept. 17. If selected, board members will receive training and will be available through Dec. 31, 2027 for assignment to conduct hearing panels as situations arise, which is infrequent at Truman.

Questions can be directed to Zac Burden, director of citizenship and conduct, at zburden@truman.edu and 660.785.4141.

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program helps first-generation, Pell-eligible and underrepresented students interested in graduate study learn about, apply for and get accepted into graduate school – usually with funding.  

The program organizes seminars describing graduate school, how to pay for it and how to apply. Students also receive paid summer research internships opportunities, funds for graduate school visits and conferences, and general academic counseling. These are just a few of the many benefits McNair has to offer. 

Applications are open now with a priority deadline of Nov. 9. Check eligibility here. For more information, visit mcnair.truman.edu or email Charlotte Klimovich at charlottek@truman.edu. 

Starting in late September, the McNair program will have open house events in the Adair Building located at 210 E. Patterson Street. Students can learn more about the program or get help filling out an application. 

Upcoming Open Houses
Sept. 24
2-5 p.m.

Sept. 25
1-4 p.m.

Oct. 8
2-5 p.m.

Oct. 9
1-4 p.m.

Oct. 22
2-5 p.m.

Oct. 23
1-4 p.m.

Nov. 5
2-5 p.m.

Nov. 6
1-4 p.m. 

Truman will celebrate National Play-Doh Day from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 16 in the Student Union Building Down Under.

Students are invited to drop in and make their own creations. Free samples will also be available to take home.

Playing with Play-Doh has been proven to promote wellness. The therapeutic benefits apply to all ages and include stress release, mindfulness, a sense of grounding and nostalgia. 

National Play-Doh Day is celebrated every year on Sept. 16 to recognize the classic modeling clay and encourage hands-on creativity and fine motor skill development in children and adults. The day also commemorates Play-Doh’s history, which began as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s before being repurposed as a toy in the 1950s.

Michael “Mike” Schwend will speak at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Doug & Diane Villhard Innovation Lab located in the Pickler Memorial Library, as part of the TRU-Entrepreneur Speaker Series.

Schwend is the president and chief executive officer of Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH), headquartered in Kirksville. PFH is one of Missouri’s largest comprehensive healthcare organizations, offering services in addiction recovery, mental and behavioral health, and
integrated health across multiple states. Under his leadership, PFH has expanded significantly, becoming one of the largest community-based healthcare providers in the Midwest. 

In 1983, Schwend earned his Bachelor of Science degree in social science (psychology) from Truman, followed by a Master of Arts degree in counseling and guidance in 1990. He is a former member and past president of the Truman Board of Governors, serving from 2001-07, including roles as secretary in 2002, vice president in 2003 and president in 2004. During his time as a student at Truman, he was actively involved in Alpha Kappa Lambda, Blue Key, The Newman Center, Psi Chi and the Psychology Club.

Schwend served on the White House Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse under President Ronald Reagan, and was recognized nationally by the National Council for Behavioral Health for PFH’s innovative approaches in behavioral health treatment. Additionally, he served on the Missouri Alcohol and Drug Abuse State Advisory Council and the Missouri Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Providers. He received a Governor’s appointment to a purchasing review committee to evaluate the purchase of services by the Department of Mental Health. In 2014, he was appointed to the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s Coordinated Plan Steering Committee to help advance public awareness regarding the issues, challenges, successes and opportunities facing higher education institutions in Missouri.

As a resident of Kirksville, Schwend and his wife Mary Jo (Fitzpatrick) are active in the community and their church. They are also the proud parents of 10 children and 27 grandchildren.

Minor Detail, the all treble acappella group on campus, is hosting auditions from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 9-10 in Student Union Building 3203. Those interested will need to sing 30-60 seconds of a song of their choice. Audition forms can be found here.

For any questions email orgs@truman.edu.

 
Truman will be conducting photo sessions on campus, Sept. 18, as part of the process to create new promotional materials. Students who may be interested in participating in one or more of the photo sessions should fill out this form by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 10. 
 
Photos from these sessions may be used on the University website, in recruitment materials, the campus virtual tour and social media advertisements/posts. Students who participate in a photo session will receive a free T-shirt.