Truman State University: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Public university in Kirksville, Missouri, U.S.US}}

| name = Truman State University

| image = Truman State University seal.png

| former_names = North Missouri Normal and Commercial School (1867–1868)<br />North Missouri Normal School (1868–1870)<br />First District Normal School (1870–1918)<br />Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (1918–1968)<br />Northeast Missouri State College (1968–1972)<br />Northeast Missouri State University (1972–1996)

| image_upright = 0.8

| established = {{start date and age|1867|09|02}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truman.edu/about/history/ |title=History - Truman State University |publisher=Truman.edu |access-date=2016-08-19}}</ref>

| type = [[Public university]]

| academic_affiliations =

| endowment = $67.9&nbsp;million (2021)<ref name="endowment">{{cite web|url=http://www.truman.edu/giving/about-the-foundation/endowment-value |title=Endowment Value |work=Truman State University |access-date=May 24, 2022}}</ref>

| president = [[Susan L. Thomas]]

| studentsacademic_staff = 3269 <small>(full time,960 2021)</small><ref name="At a Glanceinstitutionalresearch">{{cite web |url=httphttps://wwwinstitutionalresearch-budgets.truman.edu/about/facts-about-truman/at-a-glance |title=Truman State University AtOffice of Budgets and aInstitutional GlanceResearch |publisher=Truman State University |access-date=May 24, 2022}}</ref>

| undergrad = 3,622302

| postgrad = 338334

| statecity = [[Kirksville, Missouri|Kirksville]]

| country = United States

| coor = {{Coord|40.18917|N|92.58239|W|source:placeopedia|display=title}}

| campus = Small town, {{convert|210|acre|sqmi+ha|1}}<ref name="At a Glance"/>

| colors = [[Purple]] & [[White]]<ref>{{cite manual|url=http://identity.truman.edu/logo-usage/university-logo/ |title=Guidelines for Using Logo {{!}} Truman State University |access-date=2015-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite manual|url=https://identity.truman.edu/logo-usage/faqs-about-logos/ |title=FAQ: Identity and Logos {{!}} Truman State University |access-date=2022-09-30}}</ref><br/>{{color box|#510B76}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFFFFF}}

| athletics_nickname = [[Truman Bulldogs|Bulldogs]]

| mascots = Spike and Simone
| sporting_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[Great Lakes Valley Conference|GLVC]]

| website = {{url|www.truman.edu}}

| logo = Truman State University logo.svg

| logo_size = 200

'''Truman State University''' ('''TSU''' or '''Truman''') is a [[public university]] in [[Kirksville, Missouri]]. It had 3,960636 enrolled students in the fall of 20222023<ref>{{Cite nameweb|url="Athttps://dhewd.mo.gov/data/documents/Fall2023EnrollmentReport.xlsx|title=Enrollment aReport Glance"for Missouri Public and Comprehensive Independent Institutions|date=December 1, 2024|accessdate=February 3, 2024|work=Missouri Department of Higher Education}}</ref> pursuing degrees in 55 undergraduate and 12twelve graduate programs.<ref name="At a Glance"/>

The university is named for [[U.S. President]] [[Harry Truman]], who was a Missouri native. From 1972 until 1996, the school was known as '''Northeast Missouri State University'''.

[[File:TrumanStateUniversityEntrance.JPG|thumb|left |North Entrance on East Normal Street]]

[[Image:Joseph Baldwin statue.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Joseph Baldwin statue on the Truman State University campus]]

In 1924, a fire destroyed old Baldwin Hall and the library. The lake that once filled the current quadrangle, or "The Quad" (a prominent feature in pre-1924 photographs), was pumped dry in a futile attempt to douse the fire.<ref name="SchoolHist"/> The Quad now serves as a popular gathering place where students study, play games, hold events, such as small concerts and fairs, and meet with one another.

[[File:Truman quad spring.jpg|thumb|The quad in Springspring]]

Notable buildings on campus include Pickler Memorial Library, the Kirk Memorial, the Kirk Building, Magruder Hall, McClain Hall, Baldwin Hall, Violette Hall, Barnett Hall, Ophelia Parrish, Pershing Arena, the Student Union Building and the Recreation Center ("The Rec"). The oldest building is not Kirk Building, but is instead the purple-doored Physical Plant building located between the Health Services building and Magruder Hall.

Admission to the university is based upon a holistic review of a candidate's academic record, with the strongest consideration being given to those who have a combined ability score of 140 or higher. {{cn|date=April 2023}} The combined ability score is calculated by adding the percentage of students in the applicant's graduating class that the applicant outranks and the percentage of students the applicant outscored on a nationally standardized test (usually the [[ACT (test)|ACT]], although the [[SAT]] is also accepted). {{cn|date=April 2023}} Admissions decisions are also based, however, on a mandatory application essay, the applicant's resume, and the applicant's high school and extracurricular record. {{cn|date=April 2023}} According to the [[Princeton Review]], Truman has a selectivity rating of 88, a 68% acceptance rate, with applicants having a 3.79 average high school GPA,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/college/CollegeAdmissions.aspx?iid=1022679 |title=Truman State University |publisher=Princetonreview.com |access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> and an 88% retention rate after freshman year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/truman-state-2495 |title=Truman State University |publisher=U.S. News |access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> All applicants must have 4 credits of English, 3 credits of math, 3 credits of science, 2 credits of foreign language, 2 credits of social studies, and 1 credit of fine art. The average GPA of an admitted student is 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, with 50% of all admitted students ranking in the top 10% of their class, and the median ACT range is 25–31. {{cn|date=April 2023}}

On July 20, 1985, the state of Missouri charged Truman State University with serving as the state's public liberal arts and sciences university. In order toTo meet this commitment to the people of Missouri, the Truman faculty and administration created the Liberal Studies Program, the general education curriculum undergraduates complete in order to receive a Truman degree. The Liberal Studies Program consists of three distinct areas:

[[File:TrumanStateEntranceEnlarged.JPG|thumb|right|Truman State University Entranceentrance Close-Up]]

The '''School of Science and Mathematics''' offersincludes degreesthe indepartments agriculturalof science,Agricultural biology,and chemistryBiological Sciences, mathematicsComputer and Data Sciences, computerHealth scienceScience, Mathematics, and physics.<ref>{{citePhysical web |url=http://scienceandmathSciences.truman.edu/|title=About theThe School ofoffers degrees in Agricultural Science, Biochemistry and Mathematics|work=TrumanMolecular StateBiology, University|access-date=JuneBiology, 24Chemistry, 2015}}</ref>Computer Science, Data Science, Health Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics. The school also offers Missouri's only undergraduate interdisciplinary degree program in mathematical biology<ref>{{cite web |title=MathBio |url=http://mathbio.truman.edu|title=MathBio |access-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref> which has connections and resources available through the [[Intercollegiate Biomathematics Alliance]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://about.illinoisstate.edu/iba/about/member-institutions/ |title=IBA Member Institutions – Center for Collaborative Studies in Mathematical Biology |websiteurl=https://about.illinoisstate.edu/iba/about/member-institutions/ |access-date=2020-02-24 |website=about.illinoisstate.edu}}</ref> The school also coordinates the Missouri Pre-STEM Pathways Program<ref>{{cite web |title=Pre-STEM Pathways Program |url=http://step.truman.edu/spectra/pre-stem/|title=Pre-STEM Pathways Program|work=truman.edu|access-date=June 24, 2015 |work=truman.edu}}</ref> with [[Moberly Area Community College]], [[Metropolitan Community College -(Missouri)|Metropolitan KansasCommunity CityCollege]], and [[St. Charles Community College]].

The '''School of SocialBusiness &and CulturalProfessional Studies''' offershouses degreesthe indepartments communication,of Business and Economics, HistoryCommunication Disorders, JusticeEducation, SystemsExercise Science, Military Science, Nursing, and Psychology and Counseling. The School offers degrees in Business Administration (minorBA onlyor BS), Philosophywith &an Religion,emphasis Politicalin ScienceFinance, PsychologyManagement, GeographyMarketing, and International Business (minorBA only). In addition, a BS and Sociology/AnthropologyMAcc in Accounting are offered, with the graduate program ranked third in the nation in terms of CPA passage rates. The Business program is AACSB accredited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sacsbusiness.truman.edu/|title=About the School of SocialBusiness & Cultural Studies|work=Truman State University|access-date=June 24, 2015}}</ref> The School also offers degrees in Athletic Training (graduate), Communication Disorders (graduate and undergraduate), Counseling (graduate), Disability Studies: Applied Behavior Analysis (graduate), Economics, Education (MAE only), Exercise Science, Nursing, and Psychology, and a minor in Military Science.

Students are also free to create their own interdisciplinary majors or to minor in any of the approved interdisciplinary minors, which include African/ and African-American Diaspora Studies, Asian and Asian American Studies, Classical Studies, Cognitive SciencesScience, Disability Studies, Environmental Studies, Folklore, Forensic Science, International Studies, Italian Studies, Mathematical Biology, Medieval and Early Modern Studies and Women's and Gender Studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ois.truman.edu/minors_index.asp|title=Interdisciplinary Studies Majors & Minors -Truman State University|access-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref>

=== Residence life ===

In the 1960s, the university built Dobson Hall (1961), Ryle Hall (1963), Missouri Hall (1965), and Centennial Hall (1967). There are three other [[residence halls]] on campus: Blanton-Nason-Brewer (1948, Brewer added in 1959), Ezra C. Grim Hall (1923), and West Campus Suites (2006). The residence halls are maintained by Residence Life, an administrative body of professionals and students who live in the halls and act as student advisors (SAs) and hall directors. Truman's residence halls underwent a $90&nbsp;million renovation schedule in the 2000s and 2010s. This project included the construction of West Campus Suites in 2006, the renovation of Missouri Hall in 2006, Blanton-Nason-Brewer in 2007, and Dobson in 2008. Ryle Hall's two-year renovation concluded in the summer of 2011, and Centennial underwent a two-year renovation concluding in 2014.

'''* Dobson Hall''' is coed by wing and houses roughly 400 students.<ref name="Housing at Truman State">{{cite web|url=https://www.truman.edu/residence-life/housing-options/|title=Housing at Truman State University|access-date=May 24, 2022}}</ref> Dobson Hall closed for the 2019–20 academic year but reopened one floor in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 years, with plans to reopen the second floor in 2022-23.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tmn.truman.edu/blog/news/campus/dobson-hall-to-close-after-current-semester/|title=Dobson Hall to close after current semester|date=February 14, 2019|access-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=30em20em}}

An organization that has garnered considerable attention since its inception is the Bulldog Student Investment Fund, a group in which student analysts invest a portion of the university's endowment in public equities (stocks) in an effort tostockstoto outperform the market. The organization hopes to eventually use the proceeds from the fund's returns to sponsor scholarships for Truman students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bsif.truman.edu/|title=Bulldog Student Investment Fund|work=truman.edu|access-date=June 24, 2015}}</ref> In 2015, members from the Bulldog Student Investment fundFund, representing Truman State, achieved the first place prize among the five competing universities in the St. Louis CFA Institute Challenge and went on to compete at nationals. In 2017, members from the Bulldog Student Investment Fund repeated this achievement. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfasociety.org/stlouis/Pages/CFAI_RC.aspx |title=CFA Institute |publisher=Cfasociety.org |access-date=2015-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2017 |title=Truman Team Wins CFA Research Challenge |url=https://newsletter.truman.edu/article.asp?id=15896

Approximately 20% of the student body is affiliated with a social Greek organization. Truman hosts nine sororities and fifteen fraternities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greeklife.truman.edu/|title=Greek Life|access-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2022 |title=Fraternity and Sorority Life: Truman State University Chapter Guide |url=https://fsl.truman.edu/files/2022/06/Chapter-Guide-Upload.pdf |website=}}</ref>

[[File:Truman gum tree.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The second – replacement – Gum Tree near the southwest corner of Ophelia Parrish Hall]]

*A tradition has arisen in which students attach wads of gum to a designated tree known as the "Gum Tree." It is believed that a ban on gum chewing in class started a tradition of discarding gum inside a hollow suit of armor sometime in the 1920s, and that eventually this was replaced by the Gum Tree. Students leave their gum on the tree in order to bring them good luck on exams. <ref>{{Cite web |last=McKeown |first=Jonah |date=September 30, 2015 |title=5 obscure locations on campus you should visit |url=https://tmn.truman.edu/blog/relatables/5-obscure-locations-on-campus-you-should-visit/ |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=TMN - Truman Media Network}}</ref>

The athletic department sponsors 18 teams, ten each for men and women. Among Truman's most recent successes include: four regional championships for women's volleyball, a regional berth for men's basketball in 2006, a College World Series appearance for baseball, and undefeated regular seasons for both men's and women's soccer. The women's swim team won six consecutive [[NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships]] national titles for Division II between 2001 and 2006 and won again in 2008 again beating theirthe in -state rival [[Drury University]].