Truman State University ranks number 12 on U.S. News & World Report's list of best universities in the Midwest. The 1998 America's Best Colleges issue also recognizes Truman as the number one public school in the Midwest and fourth in the Midwest for operating efficiency. This is the first time U.S. News has ranked the nation's top public universities in a separate table. Truman is the only Missouri public university named to the lists.
"In a week's time, Truman has been recognized as one of the nation's best values by Money magazine, and now, by U.S. News for the quality of its educational program," said President Jack Magruder. "This latest ranking reinforces our commitment to providing an education that enables our graduates to compete nationally and internationally."
Truman's students consistently rank among the highest in their high school graduating classes. The fall 1997 freshman class has an average ACT score of 27 and a high school grade point average of 3.67 on a 4.00 scale. Some 98 percent had leadership roles in high school, and more than 26 percent of Truman's Missouri freshmen received the state of Missouri's Bright Flight Scholarship. Truman is Missouri's only highly selective university.
In addition to selectivity, the U.S. News rankings of each school are based on reputation, retention, faculty resources, financial resources and alumni giving. The quality rankings appear in the Sept. 1 issue of U.S. News & World Report and at U.S. News Online's Colleges & Career Center (www.usnews.com).
Vice President for Academic Affairs Garry Gordon has announced the appointment of Maria Di Stefano as interim associate vice president. Di Stefano, associate professor of physics, will also serve as graduate dean for the next year.
"Maria brings many strong qualifications to this position, among them, her excellent experience in teaching and undergraduate research, student advising and institutional service," Gordon said. "Her time as acting division head of science and convener of physics will also be a strong asset to her as she takes on the responsibilities of the associate vice president."
Gordon also announced that Tracey Sutherland, faculty development director, has resigned to take a position in Florida. As a result of Sutherland's departure and because of the challenges presented by the Liberal Studies Program implementation, the faculty development position will be reconfigured for the upcoming year. Alanna Preussner will serve half time in faculty development to focus on continuing the projects that had been planned for the upcoming year.
"Alanna's experience with programming and her collegial working relationship with faculty are positive strengths she brings to this important task," Gordon said.
Shirley Morahan will also serve half time in faculty development, assisting faculty to prepare courses for the Liberal Studies Program.
"Shirley's extensive experience in many related projects - the writing program, Sophomore Writing Experience, and university portfolio for example - makes her an excellent choice for this project," Gordon said.
In addition to their faculty development duties, both Preussner and Morahan will teach in the Language and Literature Division.
The second Truman Day Celebration will be held Aug. 27. Students, faculty and staff are invited to all of the Truman Day activities (see schedule to the left).
Truman Day was established in 1996 in recognition of the University's new name. This year's Truman Day activities are sponsored by Omicron Delta Kappa, SAB, Order of Omega, Funds Allotment Council, Cardinal Key, Dean of Student Affairs Office, Residential Living, Sodexho Food Service and Campus Activities/Student Union.
Tickets for the barbecue for faculty, staff and off-campus students are available for $3 in Human Resources, McClain Hall 106. Tickets must be purchased by noon, Aug. 26.
Darnell Ware, a senior sociology/ anthropology major, passed away unexpectedly in Boone County Hospital on Aug. 15. Funeral services were held Aug. 23 in Harvey, Ill.
Ware was a McNair Scholar and he worked in the Multicultural Affairs Office. The entire University community extends its sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Ware. A campus memorial service will be held Sept. 11 at 9:30 p.m.
Through private gifts made to the Truman State University Foundation, more than 200 scholarships are made available to Truman students annually. The following scholarships have not yet been awarded for the 1997-98 academic year. Students interested in these scholarships may apply at the Financial Aid Office, McClain Hall 103. Deadline for applications is Sept. 8, 1997.
Larry W. and Linda K. Boleach Scholarship ($500)
Student must be an exercise science or health major with demonstrated leadership potential and demonstrated outstanding academic performance.
Noma Blanche Glahn Scholarship-Sophomore ($1,200) and Junior ($1,200/ three to be awarded)
This is a renewable scholarship contingent upon satisfactory progress. Priority is given to students from Macon, Knox, Shelby or Sullivan counties in Missouri. Tony Mitchell Chemistry Scholarship ($1,000) This is a renewable scholarship offered to an incoming chemistry freshman.
The Department of Public Safety is seeking faculty, staff and students to serve on advisory committees for the 1997-98 academic year. Projects for the committees may include: giving input and providing assistance to the Public Safety Department in the review and revision of Public Safety and other related University policies; suggesting new programs or services; and serving as a sounding board for the Department of Public Safety in the structuring and/or implementation of new programs or services.
Anyone interested in serving on a committee is encouraged to contact Public Safety at 785.4177.
Michael Bird, assistant professor of exercise science, recently presented a paper titled "Measurement of Elastic-like Behavior in the Power Squat" at the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education and Recreation's annual national convention.
Bob Dobrow, assistant professor of mathematics, was an invited speaker at the 1997 Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) annual meeting for a special session o "Random combinational structures," in Park City, Utah. His presentation was titled "Total path length for recursive trees."
Teresa Heckert, assistant professor of psychology, was notified that her article titled "Shift differences in industrial injuries: Application of a new research method in fixed and rotating shift systems" was accepted for publication in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.
Brenda Higgins, assistant professor of nursing, and Susan Barrow, associate professor of nursing, have been notified that three of their manuscripts, "Survival Technology-Use of the Epinephrine Auto- Injector," "One Nurse's Story" and "Using Epinephrine Auto-Injector" have been accepted for publication in the peer- reviewed journal Advance for Nurse Practitioners. Their manuscript "Cardiopulmonary Arrest Secondary to Severe Asthma" has been accepted for publication as an Emergency feature in an upcoming issue of The American Journal of Nursing.
Paula Presley, associate editor of the Thomas Jefferson University Press, authored a chapter, "The Library Degree and Academic Publishing," that is included in What else you can do with a library degree: career options for the 90s and beyond, Neal- Schuman, 1997.
Jane Sung, associate professor of economics, recently presented her paper titled "Determinants of Real Estate Values in Taichung, Taiwan," with Jason Lin, associate professor of business administration, at the Seventh Annual Business and Economics Conference in Taipei, Taiwan R.o.C. The paper was awarded one of the six best paper awards and has been published in the conference proceedings (June 1997).
Thomas Trimborn, associate professor of music, wrote and illustrated a series of 15 articles that appeared in the Band Director's Guide magazine from 1987-1994. His portrait illustrations are of pioneers in the development of the band that include John Philip Sousa and the history of jazz that include Louis Armstrong. All of the originals were recently purchased by the Air Force and will be on permanent display in a new music rehearsal facility at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Recently, Trimborn also served as a guest conductor at Butler (N.J.) University, and with the Alton, Ill., Municipal Band in two concerts featuring the music of John Philip Sousa.
Richard Weerts, professor of music, has a doctoral dissertation critique published in the winter 1997 issue (distributed, August 1997) of the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, published by the University of Illinois. The dissertation topic was "The Artist-Teacher as College Music Educator" by Young Sook Kim, Columbia University, 1993.
Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi, associate professor of anthropology, has had two articles accepted for publication: "The Last Big Man: Development and Men's Discontents in the Papua New Guinea Highlands" in Oceania and "Mogo-Omoi's Daughters" in South Pacific Journal of Philosophy and Culture. Also accepted for publication are two book reviews: Anyan's Story: A New Guinea Woman in Two Worlds in The Contemporary Pacific and Women of the Place: Kastom, Colonialism and Gender in Vanuatu in Anthropological Forum and a review co-authored with anthropology major Jason Carter of Andrew Strathern's new video A Death to Pay For. Tamakoshi will be speaking on her use of the internet in teaching and her web site on "Fieldwork: The Anthropologist in the Field" at an NEH-sponsored workshop on "Developing Pacific Islands Curriculum at the Undergraduate Level" to be held at the University of Hawaii and East-West Center in mid-September.
Justice Systems majors Christy Wilson, Courtney Iverson, Jamie Fry, Wendy Howe and Brian Fox were recognized for their work in developing a mentoring program for at-risk youth, which has recently been implemented in Montgomery County, Mo. The program, called "Building Bridges," was initially developed as part of the requirements for their course, Contemporary Correctional Treatment Methods, taught by Lyn VanDolah.
Public Safety Officers Scott Thrasher and Faren Lindsey have successfully completed the 470-Hour Basic Law Enforcement Training offered by the Law Enforcement Training Institute School of Law and University Extension in Columbia, Mo. Thrasher was presented the Academy's top place honor for academics, and Lindsey received the top place honor for defensive tactics.
The Writing Across the Curriculum Program is hiring peer readers for the 1997 fall semester. Qualified candidates should possess excellent writing and interpersonal skills. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply. For more information and/or application forms, visit The Writing Center, McClain Hall 303, or call 785.4484.
The Writing Center will be open for walk- in consultations beginning Sept. 2. Writing consultants are available for conferences from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For information about evening or early morning consultation hours, or about other Writing Center services, visit The Writing Center, McClain Hall 303, or call 785.4484, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Recreation swim hours at the Natatorium are 7-8 a.m.,Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7-9 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; and 1-4 p.m., Saturday (subject to availability). Admission is free for all students, faculty and staff with valid IDs. Please bring ID when wishing to swim. One guest is permitted with faculty, staff or student. The Natatorium is closed for all University holidays and vacations. For more information, call 785.4470.
Fall swim lessons begin Sept. 6. Lessons are offered on Saturday mornings (10 total). Class choices include IPAP (6 mos to 5 years, parent in water with child) and three sections of levels 1-7. Classes are taught by American Red Cross Water Safety instructors and are limited to facilitate a close instructor-student ratio. For more information, call 785.4470.
The Women's Resource Center will open for the academic year on Aug. 25. The WRC, located in the Ryle Hall foyer provides weekly programs and resource materials for campus audiences. Staff positions are available.
The Student Union has opened an Information Center as a new service for the University. The Center is located at the lower level of the Union in the area of the Take Five Games Room and will be open from noon to 11 p.m. on Sundays, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday- Thursday, and 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Center will be staffed by desk attendants, who will serve as resources to members of the University community and guests.
Men's Rugby is open to everyone. No experience is necessary. For more information, contact Coach Bill Sexton at 626.2324 or Mike Arnold via e-mail at Q562. The Rugby Field is located behind the University Tennis Courts. Practices are held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Volunteers are needed for the Triathlon on Sept. 7. A wide variety of positions is available with hours varying according to assignment. Volunteers must be able to attend a training session and begin volunteering at 6 a.m. All volunteers receive T-shirts. For more information, call the Thompson Center at 626.2213. Cello and violin lessons for children 3 and up are available in both Suzuki and traditional teaching settings. For more information, call Jennifer Stromberg at 665.3851.
Faculty and staff, and their families, are invited to the University Club Fall Kick-Off BBQ at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 5 at the . This is a carry-in picnic, with meat, bread and drinks provided.
Congratulations to the 1997-98 University Scholarship Renewal participants. If you have not yet turned in your scholarship renewal proposal form, please do so as soon as possible. Return completed scholarship proposal forms to the drop box outside the Financial Aid Office, McClain Hall 103. There is no need to wait in line to return this form.
Please note the following:
IRS regulations require all scholarship hours to be completed during the semester in which the scholarship is earned.
There are no exceptions. All white time cards must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by the last working day of each month.
Cumulative scholarship hours worked for the semester will be posted directly outside the Financial Aid Office in Social Security Number order on the 20th of each month beginning in October. Please check this list for total semester hours. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you feel there are discrepancies.