Truman Institute

Mission Statement

The Truman Institute seeks to provide support for the broader mission of Truman State University. To respond to a changing economic and public educational climate in the United States, the Institute aims to: (1) provide access to a quality liberal arts and sciences experience for a diverse population of highly motivated and qualified students including those not served by the traditional residential, 4-year educational model; (2) build and grow relationships between the University and community partners locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, that enhance the public profile of the University and support community institutions and needs; (3) generate sustainable monetary and infrastructure resources that enhance the services provided to students, faculty, and staff, as well as community partners; and to (4) serve as a flexible incubator for creativity and innovation in the promotion of student and faculty learning and scholarship.

About the Truman Institute

The Truman Institute is an office dedicated to the promotion of exciting new learning experiences that extend beyond the traditional borders of the University. We aim to serve learners from a variety of walks of life: pre-college learners in K-12 programs, adult learners seeking professional development and continuing education, retirees seeking personal enrichment, and much more.

The Truman Institute was conceived in early 2009 as an initiative to address a range of University needs, including development of programs and partnerships to generate revenue and support Truman’s mission. These initiatives include developing mutually beneficial partnerships, expanding Truman’s reach to students residing in off-site locations such as St. Louis and Kansas City, developing new on-campus programs to bolster recruitment efforts, and fostering and supporting new modes of course delivery.

The Institute formally opened its doors on August 1, 2009 and is headquartered in Baldwin Hall 110. The Institute presently oversees graduate certificates, several of the University’s professional development course offerings, summer camps and institutes, conferences, enrichment programs for children, college students, and adults, early enrollment programming for high school students, and the University’s Summer Session.

For more information, please call the Truman Institute at (660) 785-5384 or email institute@truman.edu.

Professional Development Coursework

The Truman Institute offers individual courses and workshops (both credit and non-credit) for personal enrichment and professional development. Credit-bearing courses such as Technical Writing, Grantwriting, and Directing Forensics are marked with a PD designation. Additional courses with the PD designation are offered by other departments and schools whose professional programs require graduates to earn continuing professional development credit.

Evolution in Programming

This catalog section lists only credit-bearing courses and programs offered by the Truman Institute. Non-credit offerings and summer enrichment programs can be explored at the Truman Institute website at http://institute.truman.edu. Students looking for information on the University’s Summer Session can visit http://summer.truman.edu. Summer Session courses are described throughout the catalog under their appropriate home discipline. Because the Truman Institute is constantly developing new programming, prospective students are encouraged to explore the Institute’s website for the most current program information.