Greetings Truman Colleagues!

I hope this summer you have found some time to relax, rejuvenate, and engage in memorable experiences.  Thanks to all who were here this summer for your great work, and welcome back to those who were able to take some time away.

With the new academic year just around the corner, we are excited to welcome new students, faculty, and staff to campus and reconnect with returning students and University community members.  I look forward to all of the terrific things we will accomplish together!

Once again, we will gather for the Fall Opening Assembly on Wednesday, August 13, at 1:00 p.m. in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall and the always fun Ready-or-Not Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, August 15, at noon in the Georgian Rooms of the Student Union.  In addition, the Truman community is invited to bring their families as we celebrate the beginning of the new academic year with our students at New Year’s Rockin’ Eve from 7-9 p.m. on August 17.  The fun-filled, family-friendly celebration will include a photo booth with Spike, balloon models, lawn games, party hats, noisemakers, event-specific stickers, music, beverages (including mocktails), and snacks.  Everyone is welcome to stay for a countdown to the new year, which will occur at 8:30 p.m.  We look forward to seeing you there!

There are several other great opportunities during Truman Week and Welcome Week to informally interact with our students and show them how happy we are that they are here.  Volunteers may sign up here.  Please scroll down to Enrollment Management and Marketing to find the activities.  Thanks in advance for helping us in this fun and impactful way.  The students’ excitement is contagious, and it will be well worth your time.

I am also pleased to report on the Board of Governors meeting held this past weekend under the leadership of Board Chair Philip Christofferson.

During their committee meetings and working session, the Board received updates on admissions, financial reports, investments, construction projects, academic affairs initiatives for the upcoming academic year, and student engagement activities for the fall semester.  The Board participated in a tour of the University farm led by Dr. Michael Seipel, Professor of Agricultural Science; Emily Costello, Lecturer in Agricultural Science and Coach of the Equestrian Show Team; and two fabulous students, Sierra Snyder and Haley VanDyke, who did an amazing job representing the student impact of the farm.

Signe Coombs, Director of Athletics, provided the annual Athletics Report, and Kerrion Dean, Chair of Staff Council and Program Coordinator for the Bulldog Office of Community Enrichment, provided the annual Staff Council Report.  Finally, during the President’s Report, I shared efforts underway to address and potentially alter the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s decision to close Truman’s ROTC program at the end of the 2025-26 Academic Year.  In addition, I provided updates related to the work of the Council of Public Higher Education in Missouri (COPHE).  I introduced Drs. Tim Walston and Steve Hudman, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (IEVPAAP) and Interim Dean of the School of Science and Mathematics, and shared updates related to the search for the Vice President for University Advancement and the search for an EVPAAP, which will begin during the fall semester.  Finally, I highlighted the 2025 Bulldog Nation Road Show, which took place in Columbia, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Kirksville.  The events were energized and well attended, and provided the Director of Athletics, coaches, and I with wonderful venues to share updates about Truman and Bulldog Athletics with alumni and friends of the University.

During the meeting, the Board also approved the following action items:

Campus Steam Loop Repairs Project
This project, funded from local capital funds, will address deficiencies with the north and south steam loops used to circulate hot water between the boiler plant and the rest of campus.

Contracted Services – AI Recruiter
This request allows for the purchase of a one-year subscription from CollegeVine, which will enable Truman to implement AI Recruiter (AI) for a targeted recruiting campaign and application completion activities support.  Funds for the purchase will be provided by the Truman Fund for Excellence.

Local Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026
These budgets, reviewed and approved annually to provide funding for major building and renovation projects, support institutional priorities identified in Truman’s Strategic Plan and the Campus Master Plan.  Capital projects are designed and bid, and approval by the Board will be obtained for each project following established procedures.

State Appropriations Request for Fiscal Year 2027
This request, submitted each year to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development and the State Office of Administration, requests funding to support the Education and General Budget.  The FY2026 requests include a funding increase linked to inflationary costs, maintenance and repairs funds, operational funds for the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center, an internship pipeline program, and rural telehealth counseling.  Although it is not anticipated that funding will be available for these initiatives, the submission allows for the opportunity if state funding becomes available.

A copy of the open session agenda from the meeting can be found on the Board of Governors Agendas website.  The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for Friday, October 17, in conjunction with Homecoming activities.

Enjoy your last days of summer.  I look forward to seeing you at the new academic year kickoff events!

Best regards,
Sue