Hey, I'm LaVaughn
for YOUniversityTV,

and we're at
Truman State University,

home of the Bulldogs.

We've got lots to see
on campus today,

so, let's get goin'!

Truman State University
is located in Kirksville,

a town in the northeast
corner of Missouri.

The historic downtown area
is within walking distance,

keeping the Kirksville community
in close connection

with the campus.

There's blues festivals
in town and there's

a small indie rock
kind of scene.

The weathervane atop
Kirk Memorial is welded in place

to always point northeast
in honor of the school's

former name and its location.

With a campus of
approximately 150 acres,

a 400-acre university farm
and over 40 buildings,

Truman mixes striking
contemporary styles

with structures
that reflect the details

of the Georgian style.

The most historic portion
of campus, the quad,

is based on Thomas Jefferson's
University of Virginia plans

and dates back to the year 1873.

On this campus,
you can truly step back in time.

Who puts gum
on the desk anymore?

Truman has a tree.

The gum tree came about
in the mid-'20s,

when it was against the rules
to chew gum in class.

Students had to put their gum
somewhere, so why not a tree?

Even though vandals
cut down the tree in 1999,

students refused to let
the tradition die--

thus appointing this guy
the next best thing.

Truman's total
undergraduate enrollment

includes 43% men
and 57% women.

Students from more than
40 countries attend Truman.

Average class size is 24
and the student-to-faculty ratio

is 16:1.

I think that one thing that we
at Truman are very proud of

is our U.S. News
and World Report ranking.

We have been ranked the #1
Public University in the Midwest

for the last 11 years.

I'm a member of the,
of the McNair Program,

which is a program
designed for first-generation

and minority students who desire
to pursue a doctorate degree.

And they're matched
with a faculty mentor

and they also receive
opportunities to do

two summers of paid research
with their faculty mentor

and they go to many,
many conferences

around the country in order
to present their research,

and they usually
are published authors

by the time they leave
Truman's campus.

That has definitely been
an invaluable tool

as far as preparation
for grad school.

Admission to Truman
for first-time freshmen

is based upon
high school curriculum,

high school GPA and rank,
standardized test scores

on the ACT or SAT,
and an admission essay.

As a bonus, it doesn't cost
a thing to apply,

so you lose nothing by trying.

In-state tuition will cost
students a yearly rate

of around $6500.

Those from out-of-state
will pay close to $11,000.

And all students
living on campus

will pay a room and board fee
between $6000 and $8000,

depending on the building.

We do have around 40 different
majors here at Truman.

Overall, what really attracts
students to the university

is going to be the liberal
studies program,

which is an overarching
program that affects

all of our students.

So that is what in essence makes
us a liberal arts institution,

so that program ensures that
students are taking a wide

variety of coursework across
all departments and disciplines.

I was able to take a lot of the
liberal studies program courses,

a lot of gen-eds, and you know,
there's a lot of resources

that helped me become
more comfortable with myself

deciding on a major.

And so yeah,
it was an excellent transition.

Truman has really great
placement rates for

med programs, law programs,
and things like that.

So I knew that Truman
was gonna prepare me,

no matter what
I chose to go into.

Some favorites are business,
English, psychology,

biology, and communications.

For good luck, students fill
President Truman's hat

with pennies.

Take a penny from his hat
the day of a test,

you'll be sure to get an A.

But, be sure to
return it that day,

or your good luck
may be negated.

It's risky, but may be worth it.

Truman has a total of 344
instructional faculty members.

85% have earned their doctorate,
first professional,

or other terminal degree.

Honestly, I don't know
that I've ever seen

a university that is more
connected to students

outside of the classroom
than what Truman is.

I love Truman professors.

It is one of my favorite things
about Truman.

They're always so helpful,
and I really feel like they go

above and beyond
to help their students.

So many faculty are
so willing to help out

student organizations and,
you know, I hang out with them

and they do clubs outside
of classes and things.

And so you really develop
a really close relationship

with a lot of professors.

We look at it as a collaborative
learning experience.

They have 18, 19, 20 years
of unique experiences

that they can contribute
to the classroom,

we have some of our own
collective experiences,

and we really bring that
together in terms of

an engaged conversation.

Truman has more varsity athletic
sports than any other school

in the MIAA, with 21
NCAA Division II teams.

Successes include
four regional championships

for women's volleyball
and an undefeated season

for both men's
and women's soccer,

and seven national championships
in women's swimming.

Students at Truman can choose
between one of seven

available residence halls
and apartment living.

Several halls have been
recently renovated

and offer student services
including access to

professional academic advisors.

Truman offers approximately
250 student organizations,

including Greek life,
the debate team,

student media,
multiple service organizations,

recreational sports,
and the a capella groups.

One of those must strike
the right chord.

This used to be the site of
old Baldwin, but when a fire

burned down the building,
the cellar remained;

thus, the sunken garden
was created.

It's said that if a couple has
their first kiss by the garden,

they're destined for marriage.

I hear wedding bells!

So if you're looking
for a university

that is committed to your
advancement of knowledge

where you will not only grow
intellectually, but socially

and personally, then keep
Truman State University

on your list of must-sees.

Thanks for joining us
in Kirksville, Missouri

at Truman State University.

For YOUniversityTV, I'm LaVaughn--
see ya next time!