Dear Colleagues:

An immense thank you to everyone who helped orchestrate a fabulous Truman State University Homecoming Celebration!  Students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends are individually special, but all of us combined are the magic of Truman and that is what we celebrated this weekend.  It was a great pleasure to be involved in such a fun-filled weekend and it is one more example of why I am truly proud to be a Bulldog!  Speaking of bulldogs, if you have not already, go visit the newly named Roger J. Johnson Patio to view the bronze bulldog which was unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday.  Thanks to a generous donor, the bulldog statue is a fun and distinctive addition to the Sesquicentennial Plaza and will certainly be a focal point from this point forward.

The members of the Board of Governors participated in the weekend events in conjunction with their annual October meeting.  Board Chair Cheryl J. Cozette led the meeting at which the Board officially recognized Carter Brooks Templeton for his service as Student Representative to the Board of Governors from April 2016 to July 2018.

Representatives from RubinBrown LLP reported on the annual audit of the University, and Dr. Ernie Hughes, Vice President for University Advancement, provided an update on Advancement/Foundation Board activities.  The Board heard comments from Justin Naumovitz, a 1995 graduate of Truman in regard to the Wrestling program.  I provided a President’s Report reflecting many of the initiatives taking place on campus including status updates on the selection of an enrollment management consultant (the selected consultant, SEM Works, began their work on campus today), a branding and identity consultant (the Request for Proposals closes on October 16), and the Missouri Department of Higher Education call for MoExcels workforce development proposals.  In addition, the Board reviewed financial reports, received updates on enrollment management and on-campus construction projects, and heard reports from their three committees.

In terms of an action item, the Board approved architectural services for the Greenwood Center Windows/ Recreation Center Improvements Project, a project which will replace two-thirds of the windows in the Greenwood Building as well as replace the Recreation Center alarm system (original to the building) and diagnose the HVAC controls systems which has been experiencing significant temperature variations.

A copy of the complete agenda from the October 12 meeting 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 meeting of the Board is scheduled for Saturday, December 1.

Although it is hard to believe it is already here, best wishes for a wonderful Mid-Term Break.  May the second half of the semester be even better than the first!

Best regards,

Sue