(Past events)

The Baldwin Lecture is the annual focus event of The Center for Teaching and Learning. Featuring a nationally prominent speaker, the entire campus community, including emeriti faculty and staff, is invited to share a banquet and stimulating presentation/discussion. Beginning in 1957 as the keynote speech for Founder's Day, the Baldwin Lecture continues to emphasize issues of importance for undergraduate liberal arts education.

The annual Baldwin Lecture and Dinner is set for Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, 5:30 to 8:30 pm in the Georgian Room. Tickets are $8.00 and an RSVP with payment must be received by Sept. 24.  Checks are to be made payable to Truman State University and sent to The Center for Teaching and Learning in PML 204.

This year's speaker will be Dr. Alan Guskin, Professor in the Leadership and Change doctoral program at Antioch University. Dr. Guskin, currently President Emeritus, served as President and then Chancellor of Antioch University from 1985-1997. Dr. Guskin was also one of the original six students from Univ. of Michigan who participated with Sgt. Shriver/Robert Kennedy to create the Peace Corps in 1960, and in 1961 was in the first wave of Peace Corps representatives to be sent out, going to Thailand.

Dr. Guskin is renowned for being a driving force in the higher education environment. He supports present and future higher education leaders who commit themselves to re-evaluating and redesigning undergraduate education to meet the changes that face the educational realm in the years to come. His writes and speaks about the relationship of leadership, power, conflict and change in the institutions of higher education.

This year, Dr. Guskin will be speaking to us about "The Courage to Change: Higher Education Facing 21st Century Realities"

University leaders and faculty are facing the reality that the fiscal difficulties presently being experienced by almost all institutions are not short term and cannot be solved through actions common to the past. The fundamental problem facing universities is that the fiscal model that worked in the 20th century is not sustainable in the 21st century. Neither American society, nor students and their parents, will have the resources to deal with the increasing costs of a college education if the present fiscal model continues to exist. Our colleges and universities must innovate to become more effective, and thereby efficient, in order to:

    **fulfill the dream of Americans to have access to higher education
    **enhance student learning and
    **maintain the quality of work-life for faculty and staff.

The future requires a transformation in how students learn and are taught, and in how universities operate. In his 2009 Baldwin Lecture Dr. Guskin will discuss how that might happen.

Al Guskin is a resident of Seattle, Washington. While visiting campus he will also give a presentation at the Global Issues Colloquium on September 30, reminiscing about the founding and early days of the Peace Corps. That program will be at 7:00 pm in MG 2001.

Past Baldwin Lecturers have included John Tagg, Craig E. Nelson, George Kuh, Tom Angelo, Parker Palmer, Donald Harward, Cindy Selfe, and James D. Anderson.


The Weekly Lunch Series is the linchpin of The Center for Teaching and Learning programs at Truman. For many years, this regular series has brought together faculty and teaching staff from across the campus to discuss current topics in higher education; hear about each others' scholarship, service or creative projects; see demonstrations of instructional or academic technology; learn from off-campus visitors; and develop friendships.  Participants may receive $3.50 towards their Sodexho meal simply by signing the attendance sheet at any of the Union checkout counters. All faculty, GTRAs and teaching staff are welcome to attend.


The Global Issues Colloquium annually offers some of the most stimulating discussion on campus. A mix of both Truman faculty and outside presenters prompt us to expand our frame of context on current issues such as refugeeism; terrorism; global media coverage; radioactive and nuclear waste disposal; global warming, and stem cell research. Programs are planned by a faculty steering committee.

Most sessions are recorded, edited for classroom time and usage, then catalogued for check-out in Pickler's Media Library. Search the library's catalog with the keywords, "global issues."

Fall 2009 sessions are already scheduled for 7:00 pm on Sept. 17, Oct. 22, Nov. 12 and Dec. 3 in Magruder Hall 2001.


Campus Conversations are special sessions of the Weekly Lunch Series that feature readings of importance in higher education. Prior to the scheduled meeting date, all faculty and staff receive an electronic link to a specific article. All are invited to participate in table discussion of that article at the Weekly Lunch session. Articles that have been read include: "Greater Expectations: A Nation Goes to College"; "From Teaching To Learning: A Paradigm Shift for Undergraduate Education", and "How Civic Engagement Is Reframing Liberal Education."