Vol. 19 No. 35 - June 29, 2015

Truman was rated as the No. 1 value in the nation among public colleges and universities in the current issue of Consumers Digest.

The magazine examined more than 2,000 U.S. schools that offer four-year degrees. In addition to a list of the top 50 public schools, separate top 25 lists for private schools and private liberal arts schools were combined to establish the top 100 best values.

Truman, which was also the No. 1 public school the last time Consumers Digest examined higher education in 2011, was the only Missouri public school to make this year’s list.

Consumers Digest compiles a unique ranking by measuring academic excellence alongside costs of education. Established indicators of quality, such as a school’s graduation rates, student-retention rates and percentage of faculty members with a Ph.D., are combined with the standardized test scores, high school rank and grade point average of first-time freshmen. Those factors are weighed against the cost of attendance to determine which schools offered the most academic value per dollar.

“This demonstrates that quality education can still be provided at a reasonable cost, and that we are filling that need better than anyone,” said University President Troy Paino. “Parents can rest assured that a Truman education means their student will leave school well prepared and without stifling debt.”

The Consumers Digest rankings were calculated using only nonresident tuition figures. Even accounting for the higher out-of-state rate, Truman’s annual cost of $21,018, which includes tuition, fees and room and board, was well below the average annual cost of $30,655 for top public colleges and universities on the Consumers Digest list.

The complete rankings, along with a feature story on how to make higher education more affordable, can be found in the May/June issue of Consumers Digest magazine, available now.

 
The Institute for Academic Outreach invites families of Truman faculty and staff to join 40 visiting Taiwanese high school students and their teachers for a picnic beginning at 5 p.m. July 19 at the Thousand Hills State Park Point Shelter and continuing until approximately 8 p.m.
 
The event aims to provide participants the opportunity to interact with American families, practice their English in conversation and play traditional summer picnic games. Families with children are strongly encouraged to bring the whole family, and it is hoped all will join in activities to create some of the atmosphere normally achieved with homestay visits. Food will be served beginning around 5:30 p.m., and families wishing to eat should plan to arrive during the earlier side of the picnic, as food tends to go fast.
 
Individuals or families planning to participate should RSVP to the Institute no later than 5 p.m. July 15 by calling 660.785.5384 or emailing Jared Young at jyoung@truman.edu. Please indicate the number of people expected to participate, as well as any food allergies for which the staff should be aware. Vegetarian options are already accounted for in the menu.
 
Taiwan at Truman hosts alternating classes of male and female students from Zen Del High School each summer for a five-week intensive English language and culture program. The object of the program is to strengthen student confidence in English communication and broaden students’ understanding of American culture.
 
The Institute appreciates the support of all who are willing to help make this an enriching experience for the students.

The Truman State University Board of Governors has extended the contract of University President Troy Paino through June 30, 2019.

Members of the Board of Governors made the unanimous decision during the closed session of the June meeting. In light of multiple factors, such as limited state resources, shifting demographics of students and the need to adapt to changes in the field of education, ensuring the leadership of the University for the foreseeable future was a priority of the Board.

“We are extremely fortunate to have a leader like Dr. Paino, especially given the climate of higher education today,” Board Chair Jim O’Donnell said. “Dr. Paino has proven he has the ability to succeed in difficult times, and we are confident that extending his contract now will give him the freedom to prepare Truman for the future.”

Of the 19 Truman programs competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), 207 student-athletes from the University garnered Academic All-GLVC honors.

The Academic All-GLVC honor is bestowed upon student-athletes who meet a cumulative GPA of 3.3 after two semesters at the institution. Truman, which ranked second in the conference in total honorees, easily surpassed the league average of 151 selections per school. Only Truman, Lewis and Indianapolis surpassed 200 total academic All-GLVC recipients.

The GLVC official total counts participants from each of the league’s 20 sponsored sports, meaning 19 of Truman’s 20 programs counted toward the University’s total. Wrestling is not yet a conference-sponsored sport. Ten of Truman’s teams placed at least 10 of its members onto the All-Academic GLVC squads, highlighted by women’s swimming’s at 17, which led all GLVC programs. The Bulldogs also had 16 student-athletes complete the year with a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average, accounting for nearly 14 percent of the 118 total athletes from 16 GLVC-member institutions to hit the perfect mark.

A complete list of 2014-15 Academic All-GLVC honorees is available at GLVCsports.com, as well as the league’s team Academic All-GLVC awards and its Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence honors.

A select number of Truman employees were recently acknowledged for their efforts with the designation of the Points of Excellence Awards and the Bulldog Awards.

The Points of Excellence Award recognizes Truman staff members that go above and beyond while fulfilling their duties. This can include exceptional work performance, customer service and service to students, as well as demonstrating Truman values or developing innovative problem-solving techniques. Points of Excellence recipients include: Michelle Boyd, Lori Gray, Julie Hanes, Connie Ikerd, Roger Johnson and Gwen Perrachione.

The Bulldog Award recognizes shared team achievement for outstanding customer service practices and honors individual departments that consistently strive to excel. Bulldog Award recipients include: the Electrical Sub-Meter team, the HVAC crew and the Mail Services Department.

Recipients of these awards are nominated at large and the Truman Staff Council selects the finalists.


Michelle Boyd accepts a plaque recognizing her for the Points of Excellence Award from University President Troy Paino.

Lori Gray accepts a plaque recognizing her for the Points of Excellence Award from University President Troy Paino.

Julie Hanes accepts a plaque recognizing her for the Points of Excellence Award from University President Troy Paino.

Connie Ikerd accepts a plaque recognizing her for the Points of Excellence Award from University President Troy Paino.

Roger Johnson accepts a plaque recognizing him for the Points of Excellence Award from University President Troy Paino.

Gwen Perrachione accepts a plaque recognizing her for the Points of Excellence Award from University President Troy Paino.

Members of the Electrical Sub-Meter team accept a plaque recognizing them for the Bulldog Award from University President Troy Paino. Pictured, left to right: Mark Schultz, Donna Liss, Tim Baker, Karl Schneider, Dustin Howard, Bill Maples and Troy Paino. Members of the team not pictured include: John Green, Ralph Miller and Bryan Waddle.

Members of the HVAC crew accept a plaque recognizing them for the Bulldog Award from University President Troy Paino. Pictured, left to right: David Cameron, Jesse Bartlett, Steve Peeler, Randy Lumsden, Dan Antal and Troy Paino.

More than a year ago, the Truman Board of Governors approved an update to the current no smoking policy to include the entire Truman campus grounds. The tobacco-free policy includes cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems, or e-cigarettes.
 
This past year, Truman’s Health Center, Student Affairs, the Student Rec Center, Residence Life staff and Human Resources have been offering smoking cessation programming to assist students and employees with this change to a tobacco-free campus.
 
That support is still available for any employee who wishes to become tobacco-free. Mindy Aucutt in Human Resources has been trained as a smoking cessation coach and is willing to meet individually with employees. In concert with a personalized coaching/support program, nicotine replacement products, such as gum, lozenges and/or patches, as well as other helpful habit-reducing products including flavored chewing gums and toothpicks, can be provided. The coaching sessions and the products are free of charge to employees. Anyone who believes they might benefit from these services can contact Aucutt at 660.785.4031 or maucutt@truman.edu to set up an appointment or to discuss a plan that might be helpful.

Students that wish to become tobacco-free, or believe they might benefit from the services of a coach and/or provision of nicotine replacement products and other habit-reduction products, can contact any of the Student Affairs smoking cessation coaches to set up an appointment or discuss a plan that might be helpful. The entire list of smoking cessation coaches, as well as additional information about the cessation program, is available at wellness.truman.edu/index.php/wellness/tobacco-free-on-campus/tobacco-free-programs. All smoking cessation products and services will be provided to students free of charge.

The NEMO Fair Board is once again asking the Truman staff to volunteer to help take tickets at the admission gates July 13. This is a great way to show support for the fair and demonstrate Truman’s commitment to service to the community. Openings are available at the following times:

6-9 a.m.
9 a.m.-12 p.m.
12-3 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
6-9 p.m.
9-11 p.m.

Call the Public Relations Office at 660.785.4016 to sign up for a shift. Those who are interested in volunteering on other days may contact Frank Vorhees at frankvorhees@gmail.com.

During the June meeting, the University Board of Governors reviewed recommendations for promotion and tenure. Faculty members who will be promoted and/or receive academic tenure effective at the beginning of the 2015-16 academic year are:

Promoted from assistant professor to associate professor:
Pamela Melvin, nursing
 
Promoted from associate professor to professor:
Roberta Donahue, health science
Mark Jennings, music
Andrew Klyukovski, communication
Mark Smith, communication
 
Granted academic tenure:
Pamela Melvin, nursing

In honor of the International Day of Yoga, the Student Recreation Center and the President’s Committee for Wellness are sponsoring an Upa Yoga workshop from 5:15-6:15 p.m. June 30 in Baldwin Hall 251.

Participants will practice invigorating physical postures (yoga namaskar), breathing methods and meditation. The workshop is free for students, faculty and staff.

For questions about the event, or about becoming an Upa Yoga instructor, contact Liyan Liao at lliao@truman.edu. For more information, click here.

Starting June 29, Bulldog Burn led by Kelley will be added to the instructional program schedule on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m-12:30 p.m. All other classes will continue their normal schedule. Classes are cancelled on July 3 and July 4. To view the schedule, click here.

Middle school students interested in health careers and science can get hands-on experience during the Adair County MASH Camp, July 21-22.

Each summer the Northeast Missouri Area Health Education Center (NEMO AHEC) presents a MASH (Missouri AHEC Science & Health) Camp for area middle school students. The camp exposes students to a variety of careers in the science and health fields.

MASH Camp will take place from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July 21-22 at Truman and the Northeast Regional Medical Center. Area health care providers and educators will combine their talents to present an impressive instructional program that will introduce students to the fascinating world of science and health care. Students will participate in biology labs, scrub labs, suture labs, hospital exploration, recreational activities and more.

Any student who will enter sixth, seventh or eighth grade in the fall is eligible to attend. Registration requires a $45 fee for meals, activities and T-shirt. A limited number of scholarships are available to families in need. Registration information can be found online at nemoahec.org.

MASH Camp is sponsored by A.T. Still University, Truman, Northeast Regional Medical Center and the Missouri Area Health Education Centers.

The University Bookstore, located in the lower level of the Student Union Building, is offering 30 percent off already reduced items through July 26. Offer does not include food items, Starbucks products or graduation items. Offer is only valid while supplies last and cannot be combined with any other offers. See store for details.

Every year, the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans awards 30 fellowships to immigrants and the children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate education in the United States. Each award is worth up to $90,000. This includes up to $25,000/year stipend and up to $20,000/year tuition support. Awards support up to two years of full-time graduate study in any field, including the visual and performing arts, and at any graduate-degree granting institution in the United States, with the exception of online programs. In addition to funding, Fellows join a community of more than 500 New Americans with family origins in more than 75 different countries.

The fellowship program looks for applicants who have demonstrated and sustained accomplishments that show creativity, originality and initiative. The fellowship looks for evidence that an applicant’s proposed graduate training is likely to enhance future creativity and accomplishment, and that the individual has a commitment to responsible citizenship in this country.

For information on eligibility requirements or to apply, visit the Fellowship website. Applications are due by Nov. 1.

Curtis and Michelle Blakely recently acquired an original edition of La Theorie du Rayonnement et les Quanta. Published in Paris in 1912 by Maurice de Broglie and Paul Langevin, it includes papers presented at the first Solvay Conference. This conference took place in Brussels from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, 1911. The Solvay Conference brought together European scientists who were responsible for creating the emerging field of quantum physics. The volume is comprised of papers authored by the 18 attendees, including such luminaries as Lorentz, Nernst, Planck, Rutherford, Poincare, Curie and Einstein. This meeting marked Einstein’s first public appearance as a world-renown physicist. He was also the youngest scientist in attendance. Original volumes of La Theorie are difficult to acquire since printing was limited and many of the surviving copies are held by museums and libraries worldwide. This copy belonged to one of Einstein’s colleagues and is available for viewing, upon request, to members of the Truman community.

Daniel Mandell, professor of history, served on the Advanced Placement U.S. History Standard Setting panel, Kansas City, June 12-13.

Applicants must be a junior or senior undergraduate or graduate student, studying in the field of interpretation (biology, environmental education, parks and recreation, wildlife management, history, etc.) to be considered for this scholarship. For more information, contact Cyndi Cogbill at cyndi.pawpawpatch@gmail.com. The deadline for application is July 15.