Vol. 28 No. 17 - January 16, 2024
- Truman has received a $150,000 grant as part of an initiative to continue enhancing nursing education programs statewide.
Twenty Missouri colleges and universities were awarded competitive grants through the Nursing Education Incentive Program (NEIP). For Truman, the funding will enable the Nursing Department to create more opportunities for associate degree nurses (ADN) in the area who want to continue their education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
“The purpose of this project will be to partner with the community colleges and health care facilities in north central and northeast Missouri where the RN vacancy rate is 16.4% and the RN turnover rate is 19.5%,” said Cynthia Waller, chair of the Nursing Department. “Because nurses tend to stay and work where they are educated, Truman has an opportunity to strengthen the nursing profession in this geographic area by producing more BSN-prepared nurses and subsequent nurse leaders in the communities in which we live.”
This is the third NEIP grant earned by Truman, each in the amount of $150,000. In 2019, the funding was used to provide more clinical experiences and purchase additional technology. The grant received in 2021 increased seat capacity and again expanded clinical partnerships, along with providing funds to hire a full-time clinical coordinator to aid in clinical scheduling.
Also in 2021, the Nursing Department received $500,000 from the state in the form of GEER funding, which allowed for an increase in the number of students in the program and the acquisition of a high-tech geriatric nursing simulator.
For those interested in pursuing a nursing career through Truman, the University offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, as well as an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) that can be completed in 15 months for qualified applicants. For more information, visit the department website, email email@example.com or call 660.785.4557.
Truman has released its academic honor rolls for the fall 2023 semester.
Students who received a grade point average of 3.5 or better during the fall 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-2023-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-2023-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.- Truman has released the names of students who graduated at the conclusion of the fall semester.
The names of the graduates can be found online at truman.edu/honors/fall-2023-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. 16 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. - Students volunteer their time during the Bulldogs in Action service event.The SERVE Center saw great success for the fall 2023 semester.
During Truman Week, more than 175 first-year students participated in the annual Bulldogs in Action service event at 14 community sites in Kirksville. More than 360 students were helped through the food pack request form and the pop-up events in the Student Union Building. During the 2023 Big Week of Giving, more than 457 pounds of food were collected to support the Adair County Food Pantry.
Those who would like to donate to the food pantry can do so by donating to the Truman Food Pantry Foundation Fund. Another way to donate is by purchasing items on the Food Pantry’s Amazon Wishlist. The list is filled with a variety of items, both food and hygiene products, that are high in demand when students request packs. Physical, non-expired, food donations can also be made in the boxes outside of the SERVE Center Office in the Student Union Building 1106.
Truman’s esports team earned their third national divisional championship during the fall 2023 semester.Esports had two “Super Smash Bros” teams, purple and blue, with the blue team going the entire season undefeated. Blue team finished the semester with a thrilling victory against North Central University. They began the best-of-three match with a loss, but battled to take the championship to the final game. Performances by players Peter “yolo” Guidry and Zach “dmlol” Miesner ended the game that made Truman national divisional champions for the third time. The other members of blue team are Cam “Inaba” Horosewski, Ethan “J3t” Becher and Noah “cobermai” Higgins.Open tryouts for esports will take place Jan. 20 at the esports lab in Barnett Hall. Current competitive game titles are “Rocket League,” “League of Legends” and “Super Smash Bros.” Those interested can sign up here. Questions regarding tryouts can be emailed to firstname.lastname@example.org.
Matches are livestreamed on Twitch at twitch.tv/trumanesports. More information about Truman esports is available on the team website, esports.truman.edu. Up-to-date information can also be found on the team Instagram and X, @TrumanEsports.- In the wake of massive changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, Truman’s Financial Aid Office is available to help students navigate the process and receive the maximum amount of support.All students in need of financial assistance are encouraged to complete the FAFSA. Federal Student Aid is the largest provider of financial aid for college students in the United States. Even though a student may not qualify for grants or work-study, all students are considered for the Federal Direct Loan (no co-signer required). Filing the FAFSA does not commit students to taking a loan, but it does allow for more options.
The 2024-25 FAFSA will use 2022 tax year information with a priority deadline of Feb. 1, 2024 for Missouri residents. It is strongly recommended to apply or renew before Feb. 1 Details about the FAFSA can be found online at studentaid.gov.
Truman’s Financial Aid Office is currently working on details of when aid offers will be available for students. This year it will most likely be March for incoming freshmen and April for current students.
For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130 or email@example.com. The Financial Aid Office website also has a variety of helpful resources for students and their families. - John Stewart (left), general manager of Sodexo, Zac Burden, assistant director of residence life, and Amanda Selby, 2023 United Way drive chair, display a check for United Way of Northeast Missouri.
Students with dining plans on campus donated nearly $1,800 through meal swipes to help sponsor United Way operations in northeast Missouri.
John Stewart, general manager of Sodexo, thanked students for their incredible generosity in supporting the people of northeast Missouri. Zac Burden, assistant director of Residence Life, managed a process for students to donate meal swipes securely online. Students with the Residence Hall Association and National Residence Hall Honorary staffed tables alongside United Way board members to encourage students to donate and learn about the member agencies and their work in the region.
Bill Castles, executive director for the United Way of Northeast Missouri, noted this donation will help to make possible the vital operations of various member agencies. He thanked campaign chair Amanda Selby for recruiting board members to assist with meal swipe donations and sharing information with students about how the United Way helps people in the community.
Truman Residence Life and Sodexo have partnered in this fundraiser for decades, raising tens of thousands of dollars throughout the program’s history. To learn more about local United Way efforts, get involved with fundraising or make a donation, visit liveunitednemo.org.
During winter break, several technology upgrades and maintenance were completed by Truman’s Information Technology Service team.
ITS staff visited nearly 150 classrooms to perform routine preventative maintenance. Approximately 113 classroom console machines were upgraded with a new system or new disk. Updates were made and are currently being tested for the Timeclock system, the Apple device management system and financial aid and tax regulatory updates. In addition, the main campus website was updated and is now in use.
Security patches were successfully updated on the W and Y drives, and ITS will continue to monitor future security patches that might affect access to the shared drives. Appropriate systems were updated with new security certificates, ensuring secure access to Truman websites and services.
Several changes were also made to Truman’s email and SPAM configurations to reduce the number of locations where email might be quarantined for review, but it is still an industry best practice to regularly check “junk” and “other” email folders. Those authorized to send Truman distribution lists and student distribution lists can do so through their Microsoft account rather than using Google.
For those who traveled outside of the country during break, if arrangements were not already made ahead of time, it is important to contact the IT Service Center at 660.785.4544 to ensure continued use of email while on the Truman campus.
The ITS Service Center offers many technical resources and assistance. Anyone having technical difficulties or needing additional technological services can call 660.785.4544 to contact the Help Desk, submit an online work request or visit the IT Service Center located in Pickler Memorial Library 203. Visit its.truman.edu/get-help for more information.
- Subs in the Hub will take place at 11 a.m. Jan. 24 in the Student Union Building. Free turkey, ham and veggie sandwiches will be available.
Throughout the spring semester, people will be able to join Roberta Donahue, professor of health science, for Fresh Start Fridays. This TruSolutions initiative seeks to offer accessible yoga and stretching activities to promote a balanced culture of wellness and academic focus. The sessions will occur from 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. every Friday in Pickler Memorial Library 308. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat. A limited number of mats will be available for those without one. For questions, contact Donahue at firstname.lastname@example.org.- The Activities Fair will take place from 12-5 p.m. Jan. 31 in the Student Union Building. This event is an excellent opportunity for students to find organizations to join on campus. A full list of organizations can be found here. For more information contact Union & Involvement Services in the Student Union Building 2000, at 660.785.4222 or by email at email@example.com. Registration deadline for organizations who wish to participate is Jan. 29.
- Environmental Sustainability Fee Allotment Committee (ESFAC) 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 Feb. 25.
Residence Life is looking for students who will create welcoming environments, develop connections with students and foster a learning-centered community to apply as student advisors for the 2024-2025 school year. Student advisors will have their room and meal fees fully covered.
Anyone enrolled in classes, has lived on campus for at least one semester once employed and maintained a 2.75 GPA, is qualified to apply. The application is open now until Jan. 19. Visit reslife.truman.edu or email firstname.lastname@example.org for more information.- Preceptors and night monitors are needed for Joseph Baldwin Academy, JBA Junior and ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy.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 2024 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.
- The Alumni Board of Directors represents Truman’s alumni population and helps stay connected with the interests of alumni. The board works with the Office of Advancement and facilitates the exchange of ideas between alumni, students and the University. The student representative to the Alumni Board will provide student perspective to board discussions and create awareness on campus of alumni involvement and benefits.
The board term is one year, July 1-June 30, with possible renewal for a second consecutive term. To apply, submit an application along with a current resume to Mandi Wiser at email@example.com.
Truman’s Upward Bound program is currently accepting applications for spring employment.
Upward Bound is a grant-funded college preparation program for income-eligible area students that hires Truman students to assist high school juniors and seniors with tutoring, workshops and the overall college application processes.
Students are compensated for all hours spent training, preparing, traveling and working with students. This position is good experience for those interested in education, social work or related fields.
Positions require regular weekly availability from 2:45-6:15 p.m. Tuesdays and/or 145-6 p.m. Wednesdays. Applicants must be juniors, seniors or graduate students. Applications are available online and review of applications begins immediately.
Jeff Romine accepts the Bulldog Forever Award from Jeanne Harding (left) and Michelle Mollick, vice president and chapter president, respectively, of the Northeast Missouri Alumni Chapter.Truman’s Northeast Missouri Alumni Chapter recently presented Jeff Romine with the chapter’s Bulldog Forever Award at a Rotary Club of Kirksville meeting, Dec. 6. This award recognizes individuals who truly express the Bulldog spirit through their dedication, support and involvement with both the Northeast Missouri Alumni Chapter and Truman State University.
In 2022 and 2023, Romine coordinated chapter efforts with the Rotary Club of Kirksville’s Fly-The-Flag Program. Using Rotary’s existing community contacts and flagpole bases, NEMO chapter volunteers have been able to display more than 100 purple flags in conjunction with Truman’s Family Day and Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival, Homecoming and spring graduation.- Truman was highlighted several times in the December 2023 issue of the residential life professional magazine, “Perspectives,” by UMR-ACUHO, which is sent to professional members throughout the upper Midwest.
The front cover includes a picture of Ryle Hall, and the back cover includes a picture of Missouri Hall. Page nine features an article by Roger Gasmann, hall director for Ryle Hall, about his first experiences in the residence life profession. Truman is also spotlighted throughout pages 14-15, and page 18 highlights Zac Burden, assistant director of residence life, as one of the top mini-session presenters. The full magazine can be found here. - Ethan Gabel (’11, ’13) and Matt Kennedy (’11, ’13) placed second in a national data science lesson plan competition hosted by Data Science for Everyone (DS4E).
Gabel and Kennedy, both teachers at Kirksville High School in the mathematics and history departments, respectively, were excited to collaborate across their subject areas to create an interdisciplinary lesson that utilized data science principles to address learning objectives in both classrooms, with the goal of meeting the DS4E challenge to “show students how data can help draw connections between subjects and further enhance their understanding of various school subjects.”
Gabel and Kennedy’s lesson plan “Data and Districts: Gerrymandering and Big Data in American Democracy” can be freely accessed at data.truman.edu/curriculum under “Statistics and Government” or on the DS4E website, along with the other DS4E competition winners.
In addition to teaching at Kirksville High School, both alumni are internship supervisors for Truman’s MAE program and are instructors for the Joseph Baldwin Academy (JBA). Kennedy also serves as a lecturer in the Department of Education, and Gabel is currently a graduate student in Truman’s Online Master of Science in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling.
Data Science for Everyone is a coalition advancing data science education so that every K-12 student is equipped with the data literacy skills needed to succeed in our modern world. Equitable access to data science education is an opportunity to open doors to higher education, high-paying careers, and an engaged community. Learn more at datascience4everyone.org.