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By USucceed, November 4, 2014 8:55 am

The UMKC Truman Center is celebrating Harry Truman’s legacy of public service with a “Bootstrap Scholarship” award that will permit students, who otherwise might not be able to do so, to spend a summer in Washington, D.C.

The purpose is to introduce two qualified undergraduates interested in public service to the national policy process through an eight to nine weeks immersion experience with the Washington, D.C. offices of the Missouri Congressional delegation or other offices as appropriate.

Student interns will be assigned to governmental offices (legislative or administrative) and will work with identified mentors while there. The internship is to be completed during a full Summer Academic Session. Additionally, it provides the chance to meet and live in condos with interns from the other UM campuses, meet UM officials when they travel to Washington and possible opportunities to meet with past Truman Center speakers who are based in Washington. To see examples of the speakers who might be open to a visit the Truman Center lectures website.

The internships will be available to students who meet the following criteria:

• Full-time status at UMKC as a rising junior, meaning junior standing with at least 60 hours earned at the start of Fall Semester, 2014, or rising senior—including those seniors graduating in May or August of 2015. Applicants must have at least 15 hours completed at UMKC prior to January 1, 2015.
• Minimum UMKC GPA of 3.25; and
• Any academic major provided the student has had at least one American Government course at the college level. Preference will be given to those students with a demonstrated interest in public service and civic leadership.

The completed application portfolio with all required materials (essay, financial statement, letters of recommendation and evidence of full-time UMKC status for the Fall term) will be due in the Truman Center mail box, Room 302 Scofield Hall by ­­­­­­December 19, 2014. A final Fall term transcript will be due by 4 p.m. no later than Jan. 22, 2015 in the Truman Center office mailbox in order to complete the application process.

If you have questions, contact Gayla Curtis at 816-235-2720 or by email to Gayla Curtis. For additional details about the Truman Bootstrap Award, including the application process, review and acceptance, cost and scholarship details and requirements for participation, visit the Truman Center website.

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By USucceed, November 4, 2014 8:54 am

LaShaundra Randolph was recently awarded the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Markley Award at the NACA Central Regional Conference. This is the highest honor a professional can receive at the NACA regional conference.

Randolph is the UMKC coordinator for student activities in the Office of Student Involvement and a UMKC Ed.D. candidate.

The Markley Award recognizes an individual who is regarded as a positive role model for students, professional staff and associates in addition to involvement in and contributions to the NACA Central Region, as well as in the field of student activities.

The Markley Award recipient must have a minimum of three years of full-time professional employment in the field of student development, student activities or the entertainment industry; demonstrate a strong involvement in and contribution to the NACA® Central Region; continued potential in the field of student activities; be involved in other regional or national organizations; and be regarded as a positive role model for students, professional staff and associates.

Congratulations, LaShaundra!

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By USucceed, November 4, 2014 8:53 am

[The following was provided by the Office of the Provost.]

UMKC has named James C. McKusick as the first dean of the university’s new Honors College.

The Honors College will be an academic unit within the university that provides the best elements of a small liberal arts college while drawing upon the resources of a comprehensive research institution; it is designed to help recruit high-achieving undergraduates and provide them with support services tailored to their needs.

McKusick comes to UMKC from the University of Montana in Missoula, where he served as a tenured professor of English, and dean of the university’s Davidson Honors College since 2005. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from Dartmouth College, and several graduate degrees, including a Ph.D. in English, from Yale University.

McKusick will join the UMKC faculty March 1, 2015 and will also receive an appointment as a Professor in the English department.

At Montana, McKusick led a university-wide initiative to successfully earn recognition for community engagement from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; developed a service learning course designation for community-based volunteer service by students; and helped raise more than $3 million for the honors college. In 2008, he was named Liaison of the Year by the Washington (DC) Center for Internships, and won the Faculty Appreciation Award from the University of Montana Division of Student Affairs. He also served on the university’s Renewable Energy Task Force, Sustainable Campus Committee, International Policy Council, African American Studies Advisory Group, Service Learning Advisory Board and faculty advisor to the university rowing club and intercollegiate crew team.

Gail Hackett, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor and provost, praised the work done by the search committee chaired by Wayne Vaught, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Gayle Levy, Ph.D., director of the UMKC Honors Program.

“Dr. McKusick will play a significant role in making UMKC a preferred choice for high achieving students, and in creating a more stimulating academic environment on campus for all of our students,” Hackett said. “I know that he is fully committed to our goal to have an Honors College that reflects the diversity of our community.”

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By USucceed, November 4, 2014 8:52 am

Auditions for the 2015 benefit performance of “The Vagina Monologues at UMKC” will be held on the following days:

• Friday, Nov. 7, 3 -7 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 8, 12 – 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2 – 4 p.m.

All auditions will be held at the Women’s Center, 5120 Rockhill Rd, 105 Haag Hall.

All skill levels are welcome, and no memorization is required. Contact the Women’s Center or call 816-235-1638 to schedule an audition time.

“The Vagina Monologues” performance will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 in the UMKC Student Union Theatre. Tickets will go on sale in January 2015.

All proceeds will benefit the UMKC Violence Prevention and Response Project and V-Day 2015.