Institute develops revenue for Truman

The University's budget crisis might be generating a little less clamor this semester, but that doesn't mean people aren't working toward a wide array of solutions. The giant "Bright Minds Bright Futures" fundraising campaign banner is the most obvious sign of this continued effort to fund the University, but there is a far more interesting and long-term step toward alleviating the financial strain: the Truman Institute.

The Institute, under the direction of Kevin Minch, is still in its infancy, but is helping the University by supporting programs that work toward its three goals: to increase enrollment, develop the Truman "brand" and generate revenue. This organization certainly is not going to solve the budget crisis by itself, but it is a more sustainable, all-encompassing approach to improving the economic prospects of the University.

One of the matters complicating the funding decrease is a drop in enrollment. The objectives of directly boosting enrollment and developing the Truman "brand" work toward this end. I only know Truman exists because a representative came to my high school, and I went to hear his pitch so I could get out of class.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets asked where Truman is every time I tell someone where I'm going to school. For some schools, like Mizzou, sports teams are going to generate buzz and alert prospective students to their existence, and Missouri University of Science and Technology's programs are specific and well-known enough to draw engineering students, but Truman seems to have a great deal of trouble getting its name out there.

Programs like Joseph Baldwin Academy help promote Truman by exposing high school students to the Truman campus. Drury University in my hometown of Springfield has a very similar program designed to draw in prospective students. One of the programs being developed with which the Truman Institute is partnering is a "medical high school" summer program designed to be a pre-college experience for high school students interested in careers in medicine.

Revenue generation isn't the only objective of the Truman Institute, but it is a necessary one to support their programs. Ideally the Institute will be assisting a great number of programs once it is fully developed. Currently it has received 75 ideas for projects consistent with the Institute's mission, and University faculty members and staff suggested most of them.

The Truman Institute is not the solution to the budget problems we are facing, and it isn't exactly a radically innovative operation. Schools across the country have similar organizations. However, this approach to developing a wider recognition of Truman and increased enrollment is a much more sustainable solution than simply relying on support from wealthy alumni and state funding. Most of the ideas for programs the Institute is supporting are coming from faculty, and students are perfectly capable of producing creative ways to develop recruitment strategies, cut costs and generate revenue.

Truman students and faculty are amazing at organizing clubs, community events and bringing diverse groups together to accomplish their goals, and this shouldn't end at working for the existing student body. The Truman Institute is a great example of how many smaller initiatives can work together to greatly improve the University, but it doesn't have to be the only way. Just because frequent e-mails, Facebook groups and open meetings about the budget crisis have stopped doesn't mean we shouldn't still be looking for creative solutions, or at the very least considering lending a hand or becoming involved in the existing organizations and programs working to help alleviate the problem.

Tyler Retherford is a junior anthropology major from Springfield, Mo.