All faculty members are invited to an HLC Open Session.The session is scheduled for:
Monday, February 29
4:00 – 4:50 p.m.
Smythe Lecture Hall, Room 170, Schroeder School of Business Building

An important element of the upcoming HLC Peer Review visit is an open session for faculty members. The team values this opportunity to speak to University staff to help validate the institution’s ability to meet the criteria for accreditation. With gratitude for the valuable work that you do and for your commitment to the University, I encourage you to confirm this session in your calendar on Monday, February 29.

Information about the HLC accreditation process, including an overview, the criteria for accreditation, and the results of student opinion survey are located under Areas/HLC Accreditation on AceLink. 

All staff members are invited to an HLC open session.The session is planned for:
Monday, February 29
2:00 – 2:50 p.m.
Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center

An important element of the upcoming HLC Peer Review visit is an open session for staff. The team values this opportunity to speak to University staff to help validate the institution’s ability to meet the criteria for accreditation. With gratitude for the valuable work that you do and for your commitment to the University, I encourage you to confirm this session in your calendar on Monday, February 29.

Information about the HLC accreditation process, including an overview, the criteria for accreditation, and the results of student opinion survey are located under Areas/HLC Accreditation on AceLink. 

Students are invited to attend an open session with HLC Peer Reviewers. The session is planned for today from 3:00–3:50 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center

The University of Evansville will host a visit February 29 - March 2, 2016, with a five-person review team representing its regional accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Before the Visit
Prior to visiting UE, the peer review team will spend several weeks carefully reviewing UE’s Assurance Argument, verifying assertions made in the argument by examining supporting documents provided in an Electronic Resource Room, and identifying people and groups with whom they want to meet while on campus. In addition to the materials provided by UE, the peer review team will also read any comments submitted to the HLC through the Third-Party Comment process and results of a survey the HLC administers to UE students six weeks prior to the campus visit.

During the Visit
While on campus, the peer review team will likely spend time visiting various programs and departments, observing classrooms or co-curricular activities, and meeting with individuals and groups (including open forums with faculty, staff, and students). The HLC Steering Committee has developed a set of sample questions that peer review team members may ask, which is intended to be a helpful guide in preparing for the campus visit.

After the Visit
Several weeks after the campus visit, the peer review team will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to UE to review and correct any errors of fact. The team will then prepare a final report of its findings and recommendations for UE’s accreditation status. UE will receive a copy of this report and have an opportunity to provide a formal written response to the HLC. This response will become part of the official record of the evaluation. The HLC will review the final report and UE’s response and notify UE in writing when the review process is completed and final action by the HLC has been determined.
 

Looking for simple new ways to come closer to your faith this Lenten season? Join Newman Club members Nathan Kabat and Nicolette Fonseca for 20 minutes every Friday at 11:00 a.m. in Neu Chapel's first floor prayer room as they lead us in the Rosary! We hope to see you there!

Please e-mail Nicolette (nf39@evansville.edu) or Nathan (nk78@evansville.edu) for more information!
 

Evie is a yellow Labrador retriever who shares her message to retrieve litter, reduce waste, reuse items, and recycle everything we can in order to protect the earth. Come to see Evie and learn more about UE’s recycling program and the benefits of recycling today from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at the Ridgway University Center’s East Terrace lawn. For more information about Evie and UE’s recycling program, check out the Environmental Management Facebook page.

All are welcome to join us as we celebrate Mass on Sunday, February 28, at 1:00 p.m., in Neu Chapel. We hope to see you there! Please call/text Kristel at 812-760-8610 for more information! 

One of the most popular jazz groups in the Evansville region, the After Hours Ensemble, will present the next program in the Jazz Guest Artist Concert Series, co-sponsored by the University of Evansville and the Evansville Jazz Society. The concert will be presented in Wheeler Concert Hall on Sunday, February 28, at 4:00 p.m.

The After Hours Ensemble includes some of the most outstanding jazz artists in the area, including Jonathan Hogan, saxophone; Chris Eans, trumpet; Matt Kincaid, guitar; Greg Martin, drums, and leader Michael Gray, bass. The group has been a mainstay of the jazz scene in Evansville for many years. Their concerts feature interpretations of jazz standards and original compositions.

Admission to the concert is $15 for adults, $10 for Evansville Jazz Society members, and $5 for students with ID. Tickets can be obtained by contacting the UE Department of Music at 812-479-2754, or may be obtained at the door. For more information, contact emeritus professor Edwin Lacy at el2@evansville.edu or 812-488-2227. 

Do you love Chipotle? Do you want to support refugee children? Come to Chipotle today from 5:00-9:00 p.m., to show your support for refugee children in the Middle East and to have a great time! Present this flyer at the time of purchase, and 50% of your sales will go directly to support Road to Mafraq, a non-profit organization that works to increase access to education for children affected by conflict in the Middle East. All proceeds from this event will go toward building a science corner in a refugee camp in Jordan.

Science Alliance for Syria has organized this fundraiser for Road to Mafraq. Science Alliance for Syria is the joint project of UE science clubs including Society of Physics Students (SPS), Biological Sciences Club (BiSci), Environmental Concerns Organization (ECO), and Chemistry Club.

The University’s housekeeping service, WFF, will have a job fair today until noon, in Eykamp Hall, Room 253, Ridgway University Center. Light refreshments will be served. This event is open to UE students and to the public. Anyone interested in a job with WFF is welcome to attend! WFF offers part-time work and flexible hours that are ideal for a college student's busy schedule.

For more information, please call 812-488-2045.

Students wishing to reside in one of the residence halls for 2016-17 should plan to attend one of the information sessions about the residence hall selection process. Meetings will be at 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center, today.

More information about the housing selection process can be found online here.

The ACLU of Indiana will host “Let’s Talk About the T,” a panel discussion on transgender rights at UE on Wednesday, March 2, in Room 170 (Smythe Lecture Hall), Schroeder School of Business Building. The event will be from noon-1:00 p.m., with check-in beginning at 11:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.

The topic of the discussion will be such questions as what is factual, and what is myth in the debate about transgender rights? What does it mean to be transgender in our society? What is the history of discrimination against the transgender community?  Why must laws extend protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations to people who are transgender?

Panelists include:

• Moderator: Brad Byrd, anchor/news editor ABC 25/CW
• Kelley Coures, executive director, Department of Metropolitan Development
• Jane Henegar, executive director, ACLU of Indiana
• Grover Jeide, transgender activist
• Kit Malone, Freedom Indiana transgender educator

Leadership Training Day for new members is on Sunday, February 28, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in Room 162, Schroeder School of Business Building. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own drink. Snacks will be provided. Those unable to attend should please e-mail Jennifer Allen at ja225@ueliveevansville.onmicrosoft.com to set up a time to go through the training video. Remember all members must attend LTD as part of their requirements to be officially inducted in April.

The University of Evansville and St. Mary’s Hospital for Women & Children are offering a class on financial preparedness for new and expectant parents on Thursday, April 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The class will be in the St. Mary's Gift Conference Room.

While the class is free, registration is required. To register, go to stmarys.org and click the "Class or Event" tab, or call Terry Cooper at 812-485-6016.

This class is for those having their first child and for those who are welcoming another baby to the family.

Topics to be addressed in the class include household financial planning, taxes and insurance, and resources available for those needing assistance.

Students interested in purchasing a class ring are encouraged to meet with the Josten's Ring representative. The representative with be upstairs in Ridgway University Center today from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and also Tuesday, March 1, from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the UE Bookstore. Stop by and browse the selection and view promotion pricing. There's no obligation to purchase.

This is a reminder to all spring 2016 graduates that they should attend Commencement Central to finalize graduation plans.

Please plan to attend either:
Monday, February 29 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. upstairs in Ridgway University Center
Tuesday, March 1 from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. outside the UE Bookstore

It only takes a few minutes to make sure everything is in order. You'll meet with representatives from the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, and the Center for Career Development. You will also be able to purchase your cap and gown and order graduation announcements. Mark your calendars accordingly! 

UE assistant professor of physics Angela Reisetter will be the speaker for the Andiron Lecture on March 2. All the lectures in the series are at 4:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Room 252 in Ridgway University Center, preceded by a social hour with beverages at 3:45 p.m. These lectures are free and open to the public.

Reisetter's topic will be "The Hunt for Dark Matter." 

Most of the matter in the universe is mysterious. It is not made up of atoms or of any particle we know. We can see its gravitational effects on stars and galaxies through telescopes, but it is streaming through us at all times, so detecting it in a lab here should be possible. This lecture will describe the international race to discover the characteristics of dark matter, to see it in a lab here on earth. Small signals have shown up in various experiments, but they are not convincing enough to be discoveries. The discovery of dark matter may be just around the corner, or we may never find it. Reisetter will focus on her experiment, SuperCDMS, and our role in the hunt for dark matter.

Reisetter has searched for dark matter for 14 years, beginning in graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where she earned her PhD in 2005. She is a particle astrophysicist and uses computer simulations to study particle backgrounds for underground science in general and for dark matter searches in particular. She also authors the Steeped in Science blog and loves talking to curious folks about astronomy and science. 

For further information, call Annette Parks at 812-488-1070 or the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences at 812-488-2589

Join Venturing Crew for Spring Break! The trip will be Tuesday, March 8, through Sunday, March 13, so you will also have part of that week free. All payments ($150) must be turned in today to Calvin Wertman in Residence Life. You must be a Venturing Crew member to come!

You have a choice between two options for this trip:

1) Backpacking— test hike required!
Backpackers will take an extensive hiking trip to see some of the most beautiful views in North Carolina! You will enjoy a challenging hike while carrying all necessary equipment on your back for three days. Because this is a physically intensive journey, to participate in backpacking you must participate in a required test hike to make sure that everyone on the trip will be safe and have fun. The final test hike will be Saturday, February 27, at 3:00 p.m., at Audubon State Park. Based on your test hike performance, you may be asked to consider basecamping to ensure that you have the best trip possible. To sign up for a test hike (even if you have not paid yet), e-mail Kyle Abraham (ka115@evansville.edu) and Alex Schmitt (as564@evansville.edu).

2) Basecamping
Basecampers will stay at Camp Daniel Boone in North Carolina and will participate in fun outdoor activities such as fishing and rockclimbing! Also, prepare for a visit to the REI outdoors store and the Biltmore estate!

Interested in gaining media experience abroad? Join UE faculty, students, and alumni on a major archaeological dig in Israel this summer! The Jezreel Expedition is looking for a UE student to take photos and video and maintain Jezreel's social media presence during the 2016 dig season (May 27-June 24.) For more information, contact Jezreel co-director Jennie Ebeling, associate professor of archaeology, at je55@evansville.edu. 

Kyle Kiesel, professor and chair of physical therapy, recently conducted a two day workshop for the St. Louis Cardinals sports medicine and performance enhancement staff at their spring training facility in Jupiter, Florida. The workshop was geared at improving communication and teamwork related to injury prevention efforts and a seamless progression from rehabilitation to strength and conditioning.

Thank you for making the Honors Program Nerd Wars a success! Attendees and spectators enjoyed the fun and food sponsored by funds from the Student Government Association.

Prizes were awarded to the winning student team, Shuck It Trebek (Josh Best, Joey Estes, Cameron Roberts, Caroline Kopff, and Alex Schmitt) and the winning faculty/administrator/staff team, Consilience (Associate professor of biology Joyce Stamm, associate professor of biology Ann Powell, assistant professor of English Robert Baines, associate professor of history Dan Byrne,and associate professor of physics John Stamm).

The Nerd Wars trophy grand prize went to Consilience, the team with the most total points. $619 was generated from the event and given to Honors Ace Mentors (HAM). HAM is a UE student volunteer outreach program administered by the Honors Program/HAB to provide tutoring, cultural enrichment, and mentoring for grade school through high school students in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation. 

Winning eight of their first 10 games in 2016 while bringing home three weekly Missouri Valley Conference awards, the University of Evansville softball team is ready for another big weekend of action at the 2016 Chattanooga Frost Classic.

Evansville will be playing five games this weekend with two on Friday and Saturday and the finale on Sunday. Live stats for all games will be available on the tournament central page.

The weekend schedule is:
Friday
vs. Miami (Ohio) – 11:00 a.m. ET
At Chattanooga – 4:00 p.m. ET

Saturday
vs. Lipscomb – 11:00 a.m. ET
vs. Northern Kentucky – 1:30 p.m. ET

Sunday
vs. Kentucky – 11:00 a.m. ET

With a pair of 4-1 weekends under their belts, the Aces look to continue their hot start to the season. The Aces picked up wins last weekend over Tennessee State, ETSU, Butler, and Northern Kentucky in their trip to Nashville for the Tiger Classic.

Co-MVP of the tournament Morgan Florey garnered a pair of Missouri Valley Conference honors earlier this week. Florey was named the MVC Newcomer and Pitcher of the Week after going 13 2/3 innings, giving up just one run, which was unearned. She picked up three victories while striking out 23 batters against just three walks.

All-Tournament Team member Michal Luckett leads the offense with a .576 average. She has notched a hit in 19 of her 33 at-bats and is a perfect 5/5 in stolen base attempts. Danielle Freeman has also notched a good start to the season, checking in with a .379 batting average. She has driven in a team-high nine RBIs while posting five doubles.