Student Services

Academic Advising and Support Services

Advising is a cooperative process that assists students in developing an educational plan consistent with their life goals and with the liberal arts and sciences mission of the University. Advising is a shared responsibility between students and advisors. It empowers students by helping them develop skills in planning, decision-making, and self-understanding. Ultimately, advising fosters students’ growth as lifelong learners.

Through academic advising, students:

• learn to practice self-reliance and self-reflection;
• develop independent decision-making skills;
• learn to set priorities and evaluate their progress so that they get the most out of their Truman experiences;
• further develop an understanding of the meaning and value of a liberal arts education;
• learn to understand and articulate the connections between their course choices, co-curricular involvements, major, and future career plans; and
• learn about graduation requirements, campus policies, regulations, and resources.

Advisors have the responsibility to:

• know graduation requirements, campus policies, regulations, and resources;
• articulate the connections between courses, co-curricular involvements, majors, and career plans for students in their discipline including discussion of undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, and graduate or professional school opportunities;
• provide support, feedback, encouragement and criticism about attitudes, abilities, work habits, talents and behavior of advisees;
• help advisees identify interests and values, improve educational outlook, evaluate career options, and develop skill-building strategies;
• learn about the accomplishments, interests and academic concerns of their advisees;
• be accessible to their advisees; and
• follow University policies regarding student privacy rights including FERPA.

Advisees have the responsibility to:

• take the initiative for meeting regularly with their advisors and be prepared for the meetings;
• read the catalog and be familiar with graduation requirements, campus policies and regulations;
• provide their advisors with information about their interests, goals, educational and career plans;
• think critically about the relationship between the courses they choose to enroll in and their personal, professional, and intellectual goals; and
• take responsibility for fulfilling graduation requirements and accepting the consequences of their decisions.

Academic Support Services

Full-time professional advisors in the Center for Academic Excellence provide instructional and academic support services. They assist with such administrative tasks as freshmen summer registration and Truman Week, and they provide informational workshops on the Dialogues to new faculty and students. For students within the residence halls, the Center for Academic Excellence academic advisors offer student developmental, academic skill, and liberal arts career programming. These professional Advisors also maintain liaisons with the academic programs and other key administrative offices, such as Student Affairs, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and the International Student Affairs Office. The intention of these connections is to provide systematic support for the academic, career, and personal needs of Truman students.

Advisors

During the summer before the first semester of enrollment, each student is assigned an advisor. All entering students work with a professional academic advisor within the Center for Academic Excellence. The Center for Academic Excellence advisors also work closely with faculty in the disciplines to provide guidance to declared majors.

Upperclassmen who have not chosen a major (“undeclared” students) continue to receive their academic advising from the professional advisors on staff in the Center for Academic Excellence. Those upperclass students who have declared a major typically have a faculty member who assists them with academic and career planning issues throughout the remainder of their Truman careers. 

This advising assistance does not relieve the student of the personal responsibility to study the General Catalog and fulfill the requirements of the chosen degree; however, it does provide the student with a valuable resource for answering questions concerning courses, majors, and educational plans beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Student Affairs is responsible for the administration of a variety of facilities, services, and activities designed to enhance the out-of-class experiences of students. Student Affairs programs and services include Campus Recreation, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Greek Life, ID Office, Leadership Development and Student Activities, Office of Citizenship and Community Standards, Residence Life, SERVE Center, Student Health Center, Union and Involvement Services, University Career Center, University Counseling Services, Office of Student Access and Disability Services, and the Women’s Resource Center.

In addition to serving as advocates for student needs, Student Affairs contributes to the liberal arts and sciences culture of Truman State University through emphasizing the holistic development of students. Through services, activities, and programming, Student Affairs offers students opportunities to connect with Truman and the surrounding community; explore cultural and other forms of human diversity; demonstrate intellectual competence and reflective judgment; practice habits that promote physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being; and develop skills of effective leadership and responsible citizenship.

The Student Affairs Office is located in 3100 Student Union Building, phone (660) 785-4111, or online at https://www.truman.edu/student-affairs.

Campus Recreation provides programs, facilities, and services for enhancing the health and well being of students, faculty, and staff.  The Fitness/Wellness Program offers personal training, weight-room orientations, well-being information, and a myriad of noncredit classes from dance to cardio training to yoga.  Intramural Recreational Sports sponsors healthy competition in individual and team sport activities.  The Student Recreation Center contains many areas for self-directed activities: three-court hardwood floor gym for basketball, volleyball, pickle ball  and badminton, jogging track, aerobics/dance studio, auxiliary gym with multipurpose floor for indoor soccer, roller hockey, and other activities and a weight room and fitness areas filled with exercise equipment.  The Student Recreation Center is an auxiliary operation supported primarily by student fees.  Information is posted online at http://recreation.truman.edu, or you may call (660) 785-4847. 

The University Career Center is located on the third floor of the Student Union Building, the center of student activity on campus. The Career Center’s main goal is to assist students in their own individualized career decision-making process. This assistance includes the exploration of academic majors, the development and critique of résumés and cover letters, mock interviewing, and all aspects of the internship and job search. The Career Center coordinates employer visits and on-campus interviews for various organizations, coordinates career fairs, posts job opportunities, and offers workshops on career planning, job search, and graduate school admission topics.  The career resource library and website provide students with information on an array of career-related topics.  Career Center staff are available for individualized and group career assistance. To learn more, please visit http://career.truman.edu

Union and Involvement Services (U&I) provides engagement opportunities and services for students. The staff works to build a supportive environment where all students can find opportunities to get involved in student organizations and programs, develop skills through their engagement and seek leadership opportunities. In addition to individualize services offered, the U&I also directly oversees student Homecoming Activities and provides advisement of the three free based organizations. To learn more, visit: http://involvement.truman.edu.

Mission Statement: The Truman State Department of Public Safety will provide a safe, secure, and orderly learning and living environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors and establish a partnership with the University community to protect life, property, and the rights and dignity of all individuals.

The Department of Public Safety consists of the University Police Department, Parking Services and University Fleet Vehicles. The University Police Department provides both emergency and non-emergency assistance to the University community.

The Department offers escort services, houses the central lost and found department, provides safekeeping for firearms and provides crime prevention programs, including rape aggression defense. The Department encourages everyone to report crimes which occur on campus to the University Police Department.

The Department of Public Safety is located in the General Services Building (formerly Grim-Smith) at the corner of Franklin and Patterson Streets. Please enter the Department of Public Safety from the west side (Franklin Street) under the drive thru canopy.

The Department of Public Safety has a receptionist on-duty daily from 7:30 am to 10 pm except for University Holidays. A police officer, however, is on-duty 24 hours and can be reached in an emergency by dialing 911; non-emergency (660) 665-5621. Parking Services or distribution of Parking Decals hours are Monday-Friday 8 am-2:30 pm.

Emergency: 911
Central Dispatch (non-emergency): (660) 665-5621
Department of Public Safety: (660) 785-4176
Web site: http://police.truman.edu

Access to Services and Accommodations through the Office of Student Access and Disability Services 

The Office of Student Access and Disability Services (OSA) at Truman State University is here to assist students with disabilities to transition and matriculate through courses at the university level. The following framework is intended to assist students, parents and other interested parties in the process of gaining access to educational programs and services at Truman.

An individual is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act when the individual has an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. The ADA defines a person with a disability as someone who (a) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits that person in one or more major life activities (such as walking, visual, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, performing manual tasks and caring for oneself), (b) has a record of such impairment or (c) is regarded as having such an impairment. In an educational setting these may include but are not limited to reading, writing, note taking, listening, comprehension, visual impairment, test taking, performing manual (i.e. physical impairment)/motor-based skills, class attendance, or participation in laboratory activities due to physical impairment. 

Unlike K-12 schools, it is the student’s responsibility to self–disclose the disability and provide adequate documentation to the OSA. The student is also responsible for requesting accommodations in a timely manner and abiding by the accommodation procedures agreed upon with the OSA. Accommodations cannot be retroactive.

Truman State University and the OSA are responsible for providing an opportunity for the student’s educational success. At the post-secondary level, accommodations are customized for each student to the extent that the specific impact of the disability is appropriately accommodated. To determine the eligibility for services that provide equal access to educational activities, a three part assessment is utilized. This assessment process requires: 1) documentation of the disability and how it substantially impacts major life activity, 2) an accommodation history, and 3) an intake process with the OSA.

Disability Documentation

Students must provide written documentation of any current disability that substantially limits one or more life activities. The documentation generally should contain the following information:

1. Verification of the nature and extent of the disability in accordance with current professional standards.
2. A complete disclosure of any testing measurement tools/scores, prepared by a licensed clinical or educational professional familiar with the history and functional implications of the disability. The report should use adult scales and be current (usually within the last three years). The report should be typed on professional office letterhead, dated and signed. 
3. Evidence of a current impairment as well as a historical review as appropriate.
4. A link between functional limitation(s) and specific accommodation requests, based on formal and informal assessment and testing. The impact of the disability on a post-secondary setting should be included when possible. Evidence of a correlation between the assessment and the needed accommodation should be provided. 
5. In the case of multiple disorders, documentation for each area is required and must be relevant to the requested accommodation(s).

For more information, please refer to our website at http://disabilityservices.truman.edu.

Accommodation History

Although a copy of an IEP or 504 Plan are not essential, they can be helpful in determining accommodations that made a positive difference in the student’s high school education. Some accommodations provided in high school can also be used at the post-secondary level. Please be aware that due to the differences between the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA) and the ADA, some of the accommodations previously granted to a student may no longer be available to that student in a post-secondary situation. An example of this would be modified assignments.

If a student requests an accommodation in a post-secondary setting that was not utilized in high school, supporting documentation needs to be clear in substantiating this need. Many times this has come about with new testing or testing recently completed on an adult scale.

Truman State University operates three Dining Halls and a food court in the Student Union, all of which are open to all students, faculty and staff members. Off-campus meal plans are available to all students who do not live in university housing and may be purchased through your TruView account. Faculty and staff can also purchase bonus bucks online or at the Sodexo dining office located at the Student Union building. Bonus bucks are loaded onto the Truman identification cards. All students, faculty, and staff members are issued a Truman State University identification card which must be brought with you for every time you wish to use your meal plan, dining flex dollars or bonus bucks.

The Student Health Center, located mid-campus in the McKinney Center, is staffed by a physician, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, a medical billing specialist, and a medical receptionist.  The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. when classes are in session.  Visits to the clinic are on an appointment basis and may be scheduled through a secure online student portal or by phone. Insurance billing is provided as a service to students who submit their insurance information.

All incoming students are required to submit a confidential medical history and proof of immunizations prior to moving in to the residence halls. Vaccine requirements can be found at: http://studenthealth.truman.edu/incoming-student-requirements/information-and-vaccine-requirements/.  Students who do not provide the required information are blocked from class registration for the following semester.  Students requesting a waiver from the immunization policy for medical or religious reasons must have titers (a test that measures the levels of antibodies in the blood) performed as appropriate.  In the event of a disease outbreak, any student who is not immune by titer or proof of immunization may be required to leave campus without refund of tuition or fees.

The Center for International Students (CIS) encompasses International Admissions and International Student Services. The mission of the Center for International Students is to recruit a diverse and highly qualified international student population and empower them to be successful at Truman and throughout their lives.

The CIS plays a unique role in the lives of international students. Part family member, part advisor, part mentor, part teacher, part guide, part enforcer, part social director, and part friend- the staff begins their support of the students during recruitment and continues to build that relationship throughout their time at Truman and beyond.

Studying in a different country where every aspect of the culture, education, and social experience is unfamiliar creates a void for students that the CIS works to fill by utilizing teams of current American and International students in a “Students Empowering Students” model that facilitates independence, satisfaction, and success in new international students.

For more information, contact the Center for International Students, Kirk Building 120. Phone: (660) 785-4215; Fax: (660) 785-5395; E-mail: intladmit@truman.edu. For online information, read the Center for International Students website at http://iso.truman.edu.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) located in Baldwin Hall, serves the Truman State University community by supporting diverse groups academically, emotionally, and socially. We are grounded in inclusive excellence that invites the campus to engage academically and socially with identity development, intersectionality, inter-group relations and justice to develop a consciousness for the common good at Truman State University and the global community. We do this by using best practices to develop programs and workshops where individuals can have critical conversations on issues related to diversity, inclusion, and social justice. We celebrate the many cultural groups that make up the Truman community. In addition the CDI offers spaces for studying, informal social gathering and meetings, and relaxing between classes. More information can be found at http://diversity.truman.edu.

All vehicles parked in University parking lots are required to obtain and properly display a valid Truman State University parking decal. Faculty, staff and students may register vehicles on their TruView homepage by selecting “Register Your Vehicle” under View & Update Personal Information.

The regulations pertain to all vehicles, including, but not limited to, motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds, trucks, automobiles, and buses. A campus map with Parking and Traffic Regulations may be picked up any time at the Department of Public Safety or may be viewed on our Web page, http://police.truman.edu.

Students and faculty/staff who own, maintain or operate motor vehicles on the University campus are responsible for violations regardless of whether or not that individual had possession or was operating the motor vehicle at the time of the violation. It is the responsibility of the owner to advise any driver of University rules and regulations. Lack of space is not an acceptable excuse for violation of any parking regulation.

Parking decals remain the property of the University and are issued to park in designated areas. Parking decals serve as permission to park and do NOT guarantee a parking space close in proximity. Decals are NOT transferable from one vehicle to another.

Students have one week from the first day of the fall and spring semesters to register vehicles. After the initial registration period, a vehicle must be registered within 48 hours from the time it is brought to the University.

All vehicles in University parking lots must have up-to-date registration and should be operational. In the event that a vehicle becomes disabled, please notify the Department of Public Safety at (660) 785-4176.

Residence Life is responsible for six residence halls and two apartment complexes, all with modern living facilities and located within easy walking distance of the academic buildings.  The residence halls range in size from 325 to 530 residents. Room offerings include accommodations for two people, three people, and four people living in a residence hall room or suite-style accommodation. Upper-level students have the option to live in University apartments and in single-person residence hall rooms.  Apartments are furnished, with utilities paid, and offer an optional meal plan through food services.  Based on their preferences, students in the residence halls may choose from such options as single-gender communities or co-ed living communities, and large or small buildings.  A sorority-defined community is also located on campus. The residence halls also offer Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) for those students interested in connecting their classroom experience to their on-campus living experience. 

Professionally-trained, full-time live-in Hall Directors along with student Community Coordinators, and Student Advisors/Apartment Managers work in the on-campus residences to assist students in adjusting to and succeeding in college life.  Living on campus affords students the opportunity to mature in their interpersonal skills, in balancing independence and communal responsibility, and in establishing their self-direction and life-goals. Numerous social, recreational, and competitive leisure activities and opportunities for peer leadership also exist in the residence halls.  Residence Life has web-based resources that outline the policies, services, and building information for all of the residential facilities on campus.  Specific housing information is distributed to first-year students at the time they submit their housing application; upper-level residents obtain updates via their e-mail account, checking the website http://reslife.truman.edu/, or visiting the Residence Life Office.

The Truman ID card serves as a multipurpose identification card, library card, meal card (when a meal plan has been purchased), and Residence Hall access. The Truman ID Card Office is located in Missouri Hall 1100. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

The ID cards are non-transferable and University property. As such, forgery, alteration, or misuse may result in disciplinary or monetary sanctions. The ID card should be carried at all times while on campus property to identify oneself when requested.

A $25.00 replacement fee is charged for lost and stolen cards. (The ID Office charges your student account. Go to the University Cashier to pay with cash or debit/credit card). A lost or stolen card should be reported to the ID Office, Missouri Hall 1100, (660) 785-4123. After office hours, a lost or stolen ID card should be reported to the Department of Public Safety, (660) 785-4176. 

Located on the first floor of Kirk Building, the Center for Academic Excellence is a multi-faceted peer academic support program that provides the Truman community with a range of programs and services designed to enhance both individual learning and in-class performance. The center provides tutoring services (individual, group, online) in a variety of courses, supplemental instruction (academic assistance program that utilizes regularly scheduled peer-assisted study sessions), TruSuccess Consultations (individual study skills consultations), and TruSuccess Workshops (study skills and learning strategies workshops). The Center also provides advising to freshmen and select upper classmen. See the website for more information and tutoring schedules at http://successcenter.truman.edu.

The Student Union Building serves as the heart of the Truman State University campus community. Many students use the Union to take advantage of its spaces, services, and programs. You will often find students taking a break between classes or engaging in a unique event in our facility. The Union houses numerous offices and services which contribute to enduring connections on campus. These departments join forces and pool resources to make our Union the place where students want to be. Visit http://union.truman.edu for more information on offices, services, spaces, and programs in the building.

A number of services are available to students, prospective students, or community members through the Assessment and Testing Office. Various standardized tests are administered via paper and pencil-based or computer-based modes of testing. For more information about available services, testing dates, and associated fees, visit http://testing.truman.edu. Associated with Assessment and Testing is an ETS Institutional Computer-based Testing Center (CBT) and a Pearson VUE Select CBT. Tests commonly administered include:

1. Tests for college freshmen and seniors as required by the University as part of the University Assessment Program.
2. Undergraduate admissions tests serving local community needs: American College Testing Program (ACT), Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA).
3. CLEP tests for course credit. (See the Academic Policies and Procedures and the Transferring In and Testing Out sections of this catalog.) A brochure explaining opportunities for credit by examination is available from the Registrar’s Office or on their website at http://registrar.truman.edu under Transferring Credit.
4. National tests for admission to graduate and professional programs: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), and GRE Subject Exams.
5. National and state tests for students and the community for evaluating proficiencies, licensing or certifying purposes; actuarial exams, Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments (MEGA) and other content area assessments, the Praxis Series exams, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Certified Exercise Physiologist exam, Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam and IT exams.
6. Proctoring Services for online or correspondence exams.

Civics Exam

As a result of Missouri lawmakers wanting students to receive a better civic education at the higher education level, Senate Bill 807 was passed. SB 807 requires all new degree-seeking students (first-time and transfer) beginning July 1, 2019 (fall 2019) to pass the Missouri Higher Education Civic Achievement Examination with at least a score of 70 percent correct in order to graduate.  Students who begin at Truman in the summer of 2019 and are enrolled as degree-seeking in fall 2019 are classified as new students for the fall term and will be required to pass the exam.

SB 807 - 170.013.

1. Any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution. The examination shall be known as the “Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination”. 

2. The examination required under this section shall consist of at least fifty questions, but shall not exceed one hundred questions, and shall be similar to the one hundred questions administered to applicants for United States citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services division of the Department of Homeland Security. Subject matter on the examination shall include the United States Constitution, the United States Bill of Rights, governmental institutions, historical manifestations of federalism, and history of constitutional interpretation and amendments. 

3. The examination required under this section may be included within any other examination that is administered on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Missouri, and on American history and American institutions, as required in subsection 3 of section 170.011. 

4. Institutions of higher education may use online testing to comply with the provisions of this section.

University Counseling Services (UCS) provides affordable and confidential individual, group, and relationship counseling to all registered Truman students. In addition, the staff of UCS provides educational programming and consultation and referral services to the University community. For more information, please visit the UCS website at http://ucs.truman.edu.

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) Provides resources and programs for all students including women, men, and the LGBTQ community. WRC services include educational and entertainment-based programs, hygiene products, and educational pamphlets on various topics related to physical, mental, and sexual health. The student staff of the WRC works to encourage a safe environment by providing peer-to-peer support and appropriate referrals for mental health and personal crisis. WRC members are considered mandated reporters. The WRS is located in the lower level of the Student Union, near the Student Involvement Complex. The WRC was originally created by students and continues to be managed by students. Additional information is available at http://wrc.truman.edu.

The Writing Center, located in McClain Hall 303, provides the University community with a comfortable environment for writers to talk and write. Writing Consultants work with writers at all levels of competence, from all disciplines, at any stage of the writing process – inventing, drafting, revising, and editing – or for sharing ideas about writing strategies and techniques. The Center serves writers either by appointment or during walk-in hours without an appointment. For more information, call (660) 785-4484.

University Bookstore

The Truman State University Bookstore has all your course materials, computers and supplies at the ready. Textbooks are available for purchase or rent in both new and used formats. Digital formats are also available when publishers provide this option. The Bookstore plays an important role in preparing students for academic success.

The Bookstore also carries a large collection of Truman apparel, emblematic items, general books and other merchandise, perfect for showing off your Truman pride or giving as gifts to family and friends. Special events and sales occur throughout the year. From day one through your graduation, the Truman Bookstore has everything you need to succeed.

Through our partnership with Follett, a portion of the Bookstore revenue is share with the University to offset operating costs associated with the Student Union Building (SUB).