Dear Campus Community:

As we relaunch our search  for a Vice President for University Advancement, I am pleased to announce that the following six members of the Truman community have graciously agreed to serve on the Search Advisory Committee:

Janet Gooch, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Amanda Langendoerfer, Associate Dean for Libraries for Special Collections and Museums
Mike McClaskey, President of the Foundation Board of Directors
Sharron Quisenberry, Chair of the “Pursue the Future” Campaign Steering Committee
Jason Turk, St. Louis Alumni Chapter Member and 2015 Young Alumnus of the Year
Tim Walston, Interim Dean of the School of Science and Mathematics

Janet Gooch will serve as committee chair.  Qualifications of the position and application requirements can be found at vpua.truman.edu.  The committee will be assisted in the recruitment phase of the process by RPA, Inc.  Review of applications will begin March 29 with the goal to have the new Vice President for University Advancement in place by July 1, 2018.

This is a very talented and dedicated committee, and I thank each of them for their willingness to take on this important assignment.

Best regards,

Sue

President Sue Thomas will hold her first Coffee (and chocolates) for the spring semester on Tuesday, February 27, at 1:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Student Union Building.

This session provides an opportunity to continue the conversation started at the All-University Meeting held on February 13.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The recording of the All-University Meeting hosted by President Sue Thomas and held on February 13 is now available and has been posted at http://wp-internal.truman.edu/presoffice/.  In order to view the recording, users will need to log into TruView.

WE are Truman!

As previously noted, President Sue Thomas will hold an All-University Meeting on Tuesday, February 13, at 3 p.m. in the Georgian Rooms of the Student Union.

The annual State of the University address will focus on the state budget recommendation for next year.

A webcast of the remarks will be made available to campus shortly thereafter.

Dear Colleagues:

The Truman State University Board of Governors held their first regularly scheduled meeting of the 2018 calendar year this past Saturday under the leadership of newly elected Chair Cheryl J. Cozette.  Other officers include Vice Chair Laura A. Crandall and Secretary Jennifer Kopp Dameron.  The Board took the opportunity to officially express their appreciation to Mike LaBeth for his exemplary service as the 2017 Chair of the Board of Governors.

Kyra Cooper and Sarah Holtmeyer, President and Vice President of Student Government, provided a wonderful annual Student Government Report.  Michael Gibbons and Tricia Workman, representatives of GibbonsWorkman LLC, provided a report on their work as legislative consultants for the University.  In addition, the Board, within their meeting and via committee meetings, reviewed financial reports and received on-campus construction project updates.

Within the President’s Report, I reported on the Governor’s budget recommendations for next fiscal year.  As previously noted, I will be discussing the budget situation and how we can control our own destiny at my All University Address scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, at 3 p.m. in the SUB Georgian Rooms.

In terms of action items, the Board approved three new academic programs subject to the adoption of each program by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education:  Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, B.S.; Mental Health Counseling, M.A.; and School Counseling, M.A.  The Board also approved the Campbell Apartments Balcony Repair Project.  The project will be funded from the auxiliary capital funds budget.

Finally, the Board amended the one-time faculty early retirement incentive program for 2018 previously approved at their December meeting.  The amendment will allow those faculty members who reach age 60 by December 31, 2018, to qualify for the program.  The enrollment period runs thru February 16, 2018, and the Human Resources Office will distribute additional information as well as directions on how to apply.

A copy of the open session agenda can be found on the Board of Governors website located at http://www.truman.edu/about/our-people/board-of-governors/board-of-governors-agendas/.  The next regular meeting of the Board of Governors is scheduled for Saturday, April 14.

In times of tragedy and challenge, Truman has proven time and again that we are a caring and supportive community.  As we mourn Maya’s passing and navigate the difficult days ahead, please take extra care of one another.

Best regards,

Sue

Dear Colleagues:

As you may have heard, the Governor has released his budget recommendations for next fiscal year (which begins on July 1, 2018).  Among the recommendations was a devastating 17.73% decrease in the core appropriation for public higher education institutions as compared to this year’s appropriation after the withholding, with the potential to reduce the 17.73% cut to 7.73% through meeting the standards of the six new performance funding measures.  Based upon our preliminary calculations, Truman should meet the standards for all six of the performance funding measures.

While this recommendation is very distressing, please keep in mind that the Governor’s recommendation is the first step in the state’s budget process and legislative consideration of the recommendation will now begin.  We will be actively engaged during the legislative session.

Over the past few years, we have been laying the foundation to address this significant challenge and we must now take control of our destiny with increased intensity, focus, and purpose.  I will be discussing the budget situation and how we can control our own destiny at the All University Address on Tuesday, February 13, at 3 p.m. in the SUB Georgian Rooms.  I hope you can join me.

Honor. Celebrate. Pursue.  These are the three words on our sesquicentennial logo.  If we are to truly honor our past, celebrate our present and pursue our future, we must face our budget challenges head on and exhibit the same grit, resilience and purposeful approach of those who have come before us.  I have every confidence we will emerge from these challenges and become even stronger because WE are Truman!

Best regards,

Sue

Dear Colleagues:

As we celebrate 150 years of transformative education, thank you for your invaluable role in advancing our profound legacy.   Wishing you a wonderful and rejuvenating break filled with happiness.

Happy holidays!

Sue

Dear Truman Community:

It is my pleasure to announce that Janna Stoskopf has accepted my invitation to serve as Vice President for Student Affairs beginning January 11, 2018.  Her impressive skill set and expertise, coupled with her strong student-centered focus, provide the foundation necessary to ensure both Student Affairs and Truman thrive during these exciting, albeit challenging, times

After learning of her selection, Ms. Stoskopf shared, “Truman State University is clearly a very special place.  I am pleased and proud to join a group of colleagues committed to creating a truly transformational experience for students.”

I am enormously grateful for the thoughtful and engaged work of the VPSA Search Advisory Committee:  Elizabeth Clark, Committee Chair; Michael Bazemore; Dave Lusk; Stephanie Maiden; Luis Ortiz; Jonathan Vieker and Jordan Webber.  This committee has served our University well through its diligence, professionalism and dedication.

Please join me in congratulating Vice President Stoskopf and wishing her the very best in her new role.  I look forward to her leadership of Student Affairs and the great work all of us will do together.

Best regards,

Sue

Dear Colleagues:

As we near the end of the Fall Semester, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to participate in three upcoming events:

Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House – Wednesday, December 13
Please come celebrate Truman and the holiday season at the  Faculty and Staff Holiday Open House scheduled for December 13 at the University Residence.  The open house will take place 2:30-5:00 p.m., and I hope to see you there!  An official invitation will be shared with campus later today.

Fall Commencement – Saturday, December 16
The 2017 Fall Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for December 16 at 11:00 a.m. in Pershing Arena.  Zac Burden, Director of Missouri Hall, Truman alumnus, and Truman Historian/story teller extraordinaire, will be our Commencement speaker.

Casual Dress and Departmental Food Exchange Days
Thursday and Friday, December 21 and 22, are designated as Casual Dress and Departmental Food Exchange Days.  Those offices not celebrating the departmental food exchange days are more than welcome to join the President’s Office celebration!

While writing, I also wanted to report on the Truman State University Board of Governors meeting held on campus on Saturday under the leadership of Board Chair Mike LaBeth.  The Board elected officers and assigned committee membership for the 2018 calendar year.  New officers who will take office for a term of one year commencing at the first regular meeting of the calendar year are Chair, Cheryl J. Cozette; Vice Chair, Laura A. Crandall; and Secretary, Jennifer Kopp Dameron.

The Board received a number of reports.  Dr. Janet Gooch, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, was joined by David Charles Goyette, Assistant Professor of Theatre, and several students involved in Truman’s production of “Falsettos” who reported on this spectacular high-impact academic and co-curricular experience and shared an inspiring brief performance.  I provided a President’s Report highlighting campus and community activities that have occurred since the last meeting of the Board.  Within the Board’s committee meetings, the members received reports within Academic Affairs on the Five-Year Program Review and within Students Affairs on assessment data.  They also reviewed financial reports and received updates on various on-campus construction projects and equipment purchases.

A one-time faculty early retirement incentive program for 2018 was approved with a separation/retirement date no later than May 31, 2018.  Eligible for the program are all full-time employees holding faculty rank currently employed at Truman, who are at least 60 years of age and meet one of the following conditions:  1) MOSERS Participant (MOSERS Retirement Eligible on or before May 31, 2018; 2) CURP Participant (age plus years of service must equal 70 on or before May 31, 2018).  The program is not available to employees who have already committed their written intent to retire from the University.  The program is limited to thirty (30) participants and provides a cash incentive payment of $25,000 which will be payable as a lump sum upon retirement.  The enrollment period runs from January 4 thru February 16, 2018.  The Human Resources Office will distribute additional information as well as directions on how to apply.

In addition, housing and food plan charges effective with the 2018 Fall Semester were approved.  On-campus room rates have not been raised since 2015-16.  For 2018-19, some operating costs are projected to increase including utilities and fringe benefits and the Board approved a 1% increase in room rates.  Meal plans will increase by 2.75% to cover projected food and labor costs; this will result in a $41 per semester increase in the most popular meal plan.  With the typical room rate and food plan combined, the overall increase for on-campus room and board is 1.7%.

Finally, the Board approved faculty sabbaticals for the 2018-19 Academic Year.  Congratulations to the following faculty members.  We look forward to the impactful outcomes of their sabbatical work.

2018-2019 Academic Year
Jennifer Jesse, Professor of Philosophy and Religion

2018 Fall Semester
Sally West, Professor of History

2019 Spring Semester
Roberta Donahue, Professor of Health Science
Pamela Ryan, Professor of Mathematics
Joaquin Maldonado-Class, Professor of Spanish

A copy of the open session agenda can be found on the Board of Governors website located at http://www.truman.edu/about/our-people/board-of-governors/board-of-governors-agendas/.  The next regular meeting of the Board of Governors is scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2017.

Wishing you a fantastic end to your semester,

Sue