University of Evansville assistant professor of economics Omer Bayar received the 2015 United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award during UE’s Winter Commencement exercise on December 16. The award is given annually by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. It recognizes excellence in teaching at United Methodist Church-related institutions of higher education. 

During his time at UE, Bayar has served on many University and Schroeder Family School of Business Administration committees such as Admissions and Standards, Undergraduate Research, the Student Success Team, and Honors Program. Bayar is very student-centered. He is known as an outstanding professor, often teaching a diverse group of majors in his courses. In addition, in 2014 he led a Contemporary European Business Issues study abroad course to the University’s British campus, Harlaxton College, and his native homeland, Istanbul, Turkey.

Bayar earned his Ph.D. in economics with concentrations in monetary economics, international economics, and applied econometrics from the University of Tennessee where he received the J. Fred and Wilma A. Holly Fellowship. His research focuses on monetary policy adjustment, interaction of the housing market and the macro economy, and the effect of international sporting events on trade. His research has been published in five peer reviewed journal publications, three of which were accepted in top-tier journals.

Over the next couple of months, you may see several individuals walking through all of our buildings on campus, looking above ceilings and measuring lighting. UE is partnering with the Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry Inc. to conduct a campus-wide energy audit of its facilities for the purpose of identifying and potentially performing infrastructure improvements to optimize the school’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. These potential improvements would be paid for using energy and operational savings that will result from making these important upgrades. Other important outcomes will include more comfortable learning and working environments for students, faculty and staff, improved indoor air quality and overall building conditions, lower energy costs and natural resources consumption, and a reduced carbon footprint. Updates on this noteworthy project will be provided as our relationship with Siemens evolves. 

In the spirit of the Christmas season, Administrative Services including Copy Services, Mail Services and Receiving will be closed for an extended holiday luncheon on Monday, Dec. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Since UE campus will be closed from Wednesday, December 23 through January 3, please note the following adjustments and plan accordingly. Campus will reopen on Monday, January 4.

Central Receiving
• Central Receiving will be accepting shipments on Tuesday, December 22, until 3:00 p.m.
• Packages will not be accepted after 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 22, through Sunday, January 3.
• In-House Supply Orders received prior to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 21, will be delivered on the afternoon run of Tuesday, December 22.
• In-House Supply Orders received after 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, will be delivered on Monday’s afternoon run, January 4.
• Central Receiving will be closed over the Christmas break.

Mail Services
• The daily mail run will begin at 9:30 a.m. (which is the normal schedule) on Tuesday, December 22, and Monday, January 4.
• Mail will be delivered to Administrative offices (student accounts, registrar, accounting & audit, financial aid, etc.) on Tuesday, December 22.
• Mail will be delivered to offices that notify Mail Services by Friday, December 18, that they will have someone available in the routine office mail delivery location to receive mail on Tuesday, December 22.
• A “Campus Mail Delivery Services Reminder/Notification” will be sent with campus mail the week of December 7 for departments to complete and return if open (someone will be available in the routine office mail delivery location to receive mail) on December 22.
• Note: Offices closed with staff on vacation December 22 do not need to complete the “Campus Mail Delivery Services Reminder/Notification”.
• All outgoing mail must be in Mail Services on December 22, no later than 2:00 p.m. to be mailed same day.
• The United States Post Office will be closed Friday, December 25 and Friday, January 1.

Copy Services
Please plan your copy job requirements ahead of time to provide sufficient turn-around time as Copy Services will be closed over the break.

For questions, contact Kim Winsett at extension 2940 or email kw83@evansville.edu

The December Pcard cycle which began November 24, ends on December 21, at midnight. As of December 23, cardholders may schedule and run the December Cycle report. December transactions may be reconciled in SDG2 until January 6. On January 6, the general ledger Pcard file will be uploaded and cardholders will be locked out of (unable to make changes) posted transactions for the December Cycle. 

Seniors D.J. Balentine and Egidijus Mockevicius finished with 23 points apiece as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team earned an 85-77 victory over Fresno State in the MVC/Mountain West Challenge at the Save Mart Center.

“Give those young men in the locker room. They got the job done,” Aces head coach Marty Simmons said. “Fresno State did a great job of battling back every time and we were able to hold them off. We did an outstanding job.”

Mockevicius had a game-high 13 rebounds while Balentine hit nine shots and registered five assists. Mislav Brzoja, who led UE (10-2) with 17 points a season ago in the Gulf Coast Showcase win over the Bulldogs (8-4), had 16 points. He knocked down three triples and all five free throw attempts. Jaylon Brown hit double figures once again, posting 12 and six assists on the day. Blake Simmons also registered six helpers.

A 0-for-4 start from the field saw the Purple Aces fall in a 7-1 hole in the opening minutes. Fresno State made five of its first seven shots as they would later lead by an 11-6 margin.

After making just two of its first nine attempts, UE got rolling as a Blake Simmons triple gave the team some momentum, bringing the Aces back within a 13-9 score. Down 18-13, Evansville made a major run as a 22-11 stretch gave UE a 35-29 lead with 3:53 remaining in the opening stanza. The Aces hit 6 out of 8 attempts over the stretch on the way to the advantage.

Fresno State roared back as an 8-2 run knotted it back up at 37-37 in the final minutes. Marvelle Harris was responsible for four of those tallies. Balentine put the Aces right back in front at 40-37 with his 17th point and second triple. Harris’ 18th tally of the game would tie it up and make it a 40-40 game at the break.

Just as they did three days ago, Evansville roared out of the half strong, posting the first ten points. Mislav Brzoja knocked down a pair of triples as the Aces took the largest lead either team enjoyed to that point. The Bulldogs missed their first four shots of the second half, but quickly knocked down four in a row to make it a six point game.

The lead fell to five points as Mockevicius got called for his fourth foul. Just when it looked like the Bulldogs would make a run, the Aces were able to extend their lead with him on the bench. Another Brzoja triple saw UE take a 70-57 with just under seven minutes remaining. Fresno State clawed its way back, trailing by only six with under two minutes left.

Evansville was able to overcome the rally and hang on for the 85-77 win. UE shot 49.2% on the day, including 55.6% (15/27) in the second half.

In just over 48 hours, UE will be back in action at the Ford Center as Alabama A&M comes to town for a 7 p.m. game. It will be the last non-conference game of the regular season as UE takes on Indiana State on Dec. 30.