It is an exciting time at the University of Evansville as we explore the many ways we IMPACT the lives of our students and the community – near and far. Each of us has the opportunity to shape how we demonstrate our UE mission to the world. Among other things, you can share ideas for new projects or new ways to do existing ones, offer constructive criticism, compliment the work of a co-worker, etc.

A new process has been implemented to make it easy for you to do that. It’s called Meaningful Connections and we promise, this is not your grandma’s suggestion box! Just follow these easy steps:

1) Go to https://webadvisor.evansville.edu.
2) Select either Students or Employees menu option.
3) Under “Meaningful Connections”, select Make an IMPACT – Share Your Ideas
4) Select the category for your impact (they are self explanatory and if all else fails, choose “other”).
5) Give a description of your suggestion, compliment, or opportunity for improvement (you can even include electronic artwork, pictures, or documents).
6) You will receive a Thank You splash screen acknowledging your Meaningful Connection was successfully entered into the system and it will be forwarded to the appropriate Vice President for review and follow up.

UE Gardeners will hold a farmers' market on the ground floor of Ridgway University Center on Monday, July 15, starting at 9 a.m.  Produce includes basil, kale, beets, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and Swiss chard.  Come get VERY LOCAL food at VERY SMALL prices.  Proceeds keep the UE Garden going; extra is given to Tri-State Food Bank.

The UE community is invited to join us for a reception on Wednesday, July 17 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in Dunigan Lounge in the Schroeder School of Business. We’ll be celebrating Dan Miller’s “retirement” as he transitions from the Executive Director of the Institute for Global Enterprise into the role of its first Global Executive-in-Residence. Dan has also served the University as a long-term member of the Institute for Global Enterprise Advisory Board, Board of Visitors, and Board of Trustees. Dan graduated from UE in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. For more information, contact ck116@evansville.edu.

The UE Bookstore will have special hours during the coming week. During the week of July 8-12, the store will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. On Saturday, July 13, the Bookstore will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. due to the Admissions Open House. If you have any questions please contact the Bookstore.

Associate Professor of Biology Mark Davis gave a presentation titled "Developing Interest in Graduate Studies by Increasing Interactions Between Undergraduate Students and Experienced Research Scientists" at the national conference of the 113th annual general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Denver. 

A summary of his research and findings:  The common undergraduate student seldom has significant interactions with successful senior research professionals. This project hypothesized that by increasing student/researcher interactions, through a class assignment, more students would be interested in exploring options in graduate education. A project that consisted of students performing a literature search on a senior researcher and subsequently contacting and interviewing that researcher was designed. The students were then required to present their scientific and personal findings about their senior scientist to their peers in the class. After several rounds of the assignment, student comments along with student assessments of the course were collected and scrutinized.  Student career profile data was obtained and analyzed. Students overwhelmingly enjoyed the assignment with the majority of students stating that they believed the barrier between senior researcher and student no longer inhibited their interactions with faculty and researchers. The statistical data showed a significant increase in graduate school matriculation from a level of 15%, which correlates to the national average, before the assignment to 43% after the assignment.

James A. Julian, 94, of Vestavia Hills, Ala., formerly of Evansville, passed away Tuesday, July 9. He was a member of the University of Evansville faculty for many years before retiring in 1973.

Julian was born June 14, 1919, in Evansville. After graduating from Evansville College and Harvard University, he married Margaret-Anne Preston on April 6, 1946. He returned to Evansville in 1947, and joined the faculty in the Business Department at Evansville College. He was a long-standing member of the Methodist Temple. He moved to Vestavia Hills, Ala., after the death of his wife in October 2008. Julian was also preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Ruth Emery.

He is survived by his daughter, Anne Rauf, of Cincinnati, Ohio; son, Bruce A. Julian and his wife, Rachel, of Vestavia Hills, Ala.; grandchildren, Karl Julian and his wife, Julianne, Katrina Booth and her husband, John, Kirsten and Kyle Julian, all of Vestavia Hills, Ala., and Keegan and Rebecca Rauf, of Anchorage, Alaska; and great-grandchildren, Eliza Jane Julian and David Alexander Julian, of Vestavia Hills, Ala..

Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, in Oak Hill Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Stephen Beutler.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Organ Fund at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, 2061 Kentucky Avenue, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216, or to support IgA Nephropathy research at UAB, c/o Virginia Gilbert Loftin, UAB School of Medicine, FOT 1230, 1720 Second Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294.

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.

For all youth who have not gotten to participate in a basketball summer camp or those looking to attend another, there is just one more opportunity as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will hold its final Day Camp next week.

Set to take place Monday through Thursday (July 15-18), the camp will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. over the first three days while the final time slot on Thursday will be from 9 until noon. 

Walk ups will be accepted at the door or you may register online or view the brochure by clicking the links above.  The cost is $195 and is for kids in grades 1 through 6. 

Regarded as one of the top camps in the Midwest, campers receive a t-shirt, basketball as well as three days of lunch.  Registration begins on Monday at 8 a.m. and will take place on the west side of the Fifth Third Practice Facility.  Arrows will be available and the door will be propped open for you convenience.

The camp format includes individual skill development, contests along with 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 games.

For more information, please contact Director of Men’s Basketball Operations Kavon Lacey at 812-488-2757.