Dear Colleagues:

As we enter into the last few weeks of the Fall Semester, it is with great pleasure that I invite you to participate in the following upcoming events:

• Faculty and Staff Holiday Reception – Wednesday, December 12
  Our annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Reception will take place on December 12 from 2:30-5:00 p.m. at the University Residence located at 706 South Halliburton.  I look forward to celebrating Truman and the holiday season with you!
• Fall Commencement – Saturday, December 15
  Truman’s Fall Commencement Ceremony is right around the corner and it is time to cheer on our newest Truman alums!  The ceremony will be held on December 15 at 11:00 a.m. in Pershing Arena.  We will celebrate approximately 300 baccalaureate and master’s degree candidates and their families, and Dominic Armstrong, a 2002 alumnus and established international vocal artist, will be our Commencement Speaker and Vocal Soloist.
• Casual Dress and Departmental Food Exchange Days – Thursday and Friday, December 20-21
  December 20 and 21 are designated as Casual Dress and Departmental Food Exchange Days.  This annual tradition has grown quite popular and provides a fabulous opportunity for faculty and staff to mingle and dine on some very good food.  Those offices who do not have a food table are more than welcome to join the President’s Office celebration.

December Board of Governors Meeting

Our Board of Governors met on Saturday, December 1, under the leadership of Board Chair, Cheryl J. Cozette.  The Board elected officers and assigned committee membership for the 2019 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, Laura A. Crandall; Vice Chair, Jennifer Kopp Dameron; and Secretary, K. Brooks Miller.  The Board also recognized former Governor Susan Plassmeyer for her service on the Board from 2012 to 2018.

At the meeting, Kara Jo Levery, Chair of Staff Council, provided the annual Staff Council report.  Dr. Jim Black, President and CEO of SEM Works (the firm chosen as our enrollment management consultant), shared the results of his review and provided a progress report on the work taking place on campus.  I provided a President’s Report highlighting campus and community activities that have occurred since the last meeting of the Board.  In addition, the Board reviewed financial reports, received an update on construction projects, and heard reports from their three committees.

In terms of action items, housing and food plan charges effective with the 2019 Fall Semester were approved.  Due to an increase in utilities and fringe benefits, the Board approved an overall average increase of 1.5% in the room rates and an average increase in meal plans of 2.8% to offset anticipated operating costs such as the minimum wage increase and utility costs.  The overall increase for on-campus housing/food under typical circumstances will be 2.6%.  Based upon feedback from over 650 students, there will be several new meal plan changes including Sunday evening meals, meal transferability to Chick-Fil-A, additional serving days each semester, and an increased value of meal transferability.

Last, but certainly not least, the Board approved faculty sabbaticals for the 2019-20 Academic Year.  Please join me in congratulating the following faculty members:

2019-20 Academic Year
Vayujeet Gokhale, Associate Professor of Physics
Sara Orel, Professor of Art

2019 Fall Semester
Peter Ramberg, Professor of History of Science

2020 Spring Semester
Joseph Benevento, Professor of English
John Quinn, Professor of Political Science

We look forward to hearing about the impactful outcomes of their sabbatical work.

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 9, 2019.

Best wishes to each of you for a fantastic end to your semester!

Sue