Dear Parent of a Truman Student,

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our Truman community.  We are honored that you and your student have chosen Truman.  We recognize that you have many choices and are thrilled that Truman is your student’s home away from home for the next four years.

Many incredible experiences occur for your student during the college years.  Some of those experiences result from the natural maturation that occurs during the young adult years and as a result of independent living.  Your student will learn how to manage time, finances, health, and emotions without constant watchful care from family.  They will learn how to live with roommates and in close proximity with a wide variety of people from multiple backgrounds.  They may also learn how to adapt to a community that is very different from their hometown.  All of these experiences help them prepare for the experiences that await them after college.  There may be a few bumps along the way and times when you worry about their and your ability to cope.  There is, however, no better place to transition from adolescence to adulthood than a residential college environment.  It is in this setting where young people can find the challenge and support necessary to maximize their chances for success in later life.

In addition to what naturally occurs during this stage of development when young people leave home to venture out into the world, Truman offers a number of unique and powerful opportunities for your student to excel.  The academic experience not only challenges your student but also prepares them amazingly well for graduate school or employment.  Truman also offers a variety of out-of-class experiences that support their academic goals, enhance their skills and provide opportunities to connect and interact with others.  These experiences include study abroad, undergraduate research, community service, on-campus employment, internships and participation in student organizations.  We encourage students to be involved in one or more of these activities because such experiences contribute to academic and personal success.  These experiences may also be transformational resulting in new ways of seeing themselves and the world around them.

We invite you to become involved with the Truman community as well.  You may do so through visiting campus on Parents Day and for other special campus events.  If you would like to keep informed about news and events on campus, you may subscribe to the Truman Today by contacting Heidi Templeton at Heidi@truman.edu.  If you are interested in learning more about how you can be involved in supporting Truman, you may do so by visiting http://giving.truman.edu/.

We are excited to share this adventure with your student and family.  Please do not hesitate to contact me at saffairs@truman.edu or at 660.785.4111 if I can be of assistance to you or your student.

Sincerely,

Lou Ann Gilchrist, Ed.D.

Dean of Student Affairs