Join senior Nathan Kabat and graduate student Nicolette Fonseca as they lead a quick 20 minute Rosary prayer in Room 209 in the library at 11:00 a.m. today. All students and faculty are welcomed to gather as we pray for the new semester and any special intentions.

Tonight's recital is at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeler Concert Hall and will feature Shepard Brass, the music department's faculty brass quintet. As always, this recital is free and open to the public.

Looking for a way to get involved on campus and the community? Hate cancer and want to make a difference? Join us on today in Koch 133 in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science at 6:30 p.m. to learn all about Relay for Life and how to get involved! Azzip Pizza gift cards will be given to two lucky attendees!

Sarah Lee Bivin will be retiring after 18 plus years of dedicated service to the University of Evansville in the advancement services department. A reception will be held in her honor TODAY from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Igleheart Building lobby. Please stop by and wish Sarah Lee well in her retirement!

The Newman Club’s first Dinner and Discussion of the semester will be today at 5:00 p.m. All are welcome to join us for a delicious home-cooked meal and a discussion led by guest speaker Kimberly Baker, alongside the students who attended the Women of the Church conference. You can find us at the house with the purple banner on Lincoln Avenue. For more information, please contact Olivia Voegerl at ov4@evansville.edu.

The Student Activities Board will be sponsoring a performance by Eric O'Shea in Café Court at 9:00 p.m., tonight. Eric was awarded Best College Comedian in 2007 and was the creator of the Youtube sensation Songs for Commercials. This event is free to students, and drinks and popcorn will be available.

The Changemaker Challenge is hosting its second training session on today, January 18, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in Room 251, Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center. Yasser Alhenawi, associate professor of finance, and Jill Griffin, executive director of the Institute for Global Enterprise, will advise students on project budgeting and sustainability. ALL students welcome! More information can be found on the Changemaker Challenge webpage.

Do you have a musical talent? You can showcase your talent at UEMTA's Spotlight. Groups and solo acts are welcome to perform. Students and faculty are welcome to participate. The performance fee is $5, and registration ends on January 23. Tickets are $5, and the ticket sales start on January 19. If you have any questions, e-mail Hannah Nilsen at hn22@evansville.edu or Kelsey Fields at kf135@evansville.edu.

Want to earn higher grades with lower stress? Attend one of our workshops where you will learn strategies to help you better manage your time; study more effectively; and improve reading, note-taking, and in-class listening skills.  Hope to see you there.

The workshops are planned for 4:00 p.m. in the Writing Center in Clifford Memorial Library today - Wednesday, January 18 - and tomorrow - Thursday, January 19.

Another Chance for Animals will be holding an event, Paws for a Cause, on Saturday, March 11, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Tropicana. It's a pet fashion show! The organization is in need of volunteers. Volunteer duties will include changing the pets' outfits and walking them down the runway. If you think you'll be in town during spring break and are interested in this, please sign up ASAP! Money from the event supports animals that ACA rescues and cares for and for finding placement for homeless animals in the area.

Help volunteers who are working diligently to find forever homes and loving families for these animals.

You can volunteer by signing up on the ACA'S Paws For A Cause website.

A total of 130 employers are expected at Collegiate Career Expo - Indianapolis on Thursday, February 23. This free event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the Downtown Indianapolis Marriott. The University of Evansville will provide bus transportation. There is a $10 deposit required that will be refundable upon attendance. Reserve your seat now by filling out the bus reservation form on the career center’s current students and alumni webpage.

Fair registration is through UE JobLink. Click the Jobs Tab > CSM Jobs > Posting #722253.

You can find a list of registered employers on the College Career Center Consortium website.

Need assistance with your job, internship, co-op or graduate school search? Please contact the Center for Career Development: career@evansville.edu or 812-488-1083.

Nominations for the second annual Eykamp Prize are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15.Nominations can be submitted to Michael Austin, executive vice president for academic affairs, in writing or by e-mail at ma352@evansville.edu.

The Eykamp Prize was established by Richard and Rita Eykamp in 2015 to honor faculty achievement at the University of Evansville. Recipients of the prize will receive an award of $10,000 in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the University of Evansville as University Citizens. Examples of such contributions include deep and successful involvement in recruiting students; expanding the number, scope, and competitiveness of grant funding for their department; and bringing positive public awareness to the University through scholarship, knowledge, and understanding of their discipline. Up to two prizes a year may be awarded.

Nominations for the award may come from any member of the University of Evansville Community.

Nominees should be tenured or tenure-track faculty members at the University of Evansville who have not received the award in the previous five years.

Nominations should include the name of the faculty member and a brief statement of the reasons that he or she are being nominated.

Recipients of the Eykamp Award will be selected by an awards committee, appointed by the EVPAA, which includes members of the faculty and staff, academic administrators, and at least one member of the Board of Trustees. Awards will be announced and presented at the May Commencement ceremony.

Free tutoring is offered each week in many classes. To see a list of dates, times, and locations for tutoring, go to AceLink and click on Areas, and then select Academic Advising. The information can be found under Resources on that page. Take advantage of support services for all UE students. For more information, contact Stacey Shanks, director of student success services, at 812-488-2606.

The University of Evansville will launch a new logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) program in Fall 2018. There is a 6:1 demand-to-supply ratio for new college graduates in the supply chain field.

“We have listened to our regional business community and responded,” said Schroeder Family School of Business Dean Greg Rawski, “Our LSCM program will be impactful and will fortify our 98 percent career placement rate – one of the best in the nation.”

The LSCM program at UE will prepare students with the knowledge and skills desired by employers. In addition to a rigorous course of study in UE’s Schroeder School of Business, students in the program will take part in high level experiential learning opportunities such as:

• Internships at large, global corporations
• Annual attendance at the Indiana Logistics Summit
• Participation in a mock Walmart warehouse program at the University of Arkansas
• LSCM technology training through SAP University Alliance

The Schroeder School of Business will also create the center for logistics and supply chain management which will house experiential student programs and connect LSCM students to corporations.

With a low student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, students will also benefit from close mentorship from Schroeder School of Business faculty members. Students will also attend a speaker series where they can learn from individuals with experience in logistics and supply chain management.

In October 2016, a UE student team took third place among 18 Indiana colleges in the Conexus Logistics Case Competition. These colleges, some with established LSCM programs, vied to develop the best solution to a logistics-related issue at this contest.

“The UE team’s third place win”, says Yolanda Obaze, UE assistant professor of supply chain management, “was very impressive considering they have had limited exposure to the field of logistics and supply chain management.”

UE’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration maintains accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. (AACSB). The Schroeder School will be the first private AACSB accredited program in Indiana to offer an undergraduate major in logistics and supply chain management.

To learn more about logistics and supply chain management at the University of Evansville, please contact the office of admission at 812-488-2468 or visit UE’s website. 

The University of Evansville's Office of Religious Life has been awarded a United Methodist Interfaith Innovation Grant, made possible by generous funding from The Methodist Foundation serving Texas and New Mexico and Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago, Illinois. Grant funds will support plans for faculty and staff development through interfaith reading groups and technology to energize student interfaith leadership.

"We received a higher than anticipated number of proposals for these grants, and were impressed by their overall quality and creativity. We believe these efforts hold much promise for strengthening a campus wide commitment to interfaith engagement," said Joe Morrow of Interfaith Youth Core.
 

The University of Evansville, in pursuit of excellence in service, wishes to recognize a non-faculty employee displaying records of achievement as a leader. Leadership may be demonstrated in any of the following areas: service to the University, service to students, job performance, and attitude towards fellow employees. To be eligible, an employee must be a full-time member of administration or staff. Nominations for the February 2017 Employee of the Month are due no later than Wednesday, January 18. To nominate someone, go to AceLink and click on Areas, and then select Human Resources. The nomination form can be found under Forms on that page.

The Libraries are hosting the 7th Annual Faculty Scholarship Display from January 13-29, featuring works produced from August 2015-July 2016. Participating faculty include:

Katie Aldred
Patricia Andueza
Meg Atwater-Singer
Michael Austin
Mohammad Azarian
Lora Becker
Cara Dailey
Phil Gerhart
Tammy Gieselman
Noah Gordon
David Green
Derek Jones
Mary Kessler
Lisa Kretz
Ralph Larmann
Richard Maass
James MacLeod
Tink Martin
Joni McFelea
Rania Mousa
Lesley Pleasant
Diana Rodridguez Quevedo
Peter Schmidt
Immanuel Selvaraj
Maggie Stevenson
Heidi Strobel
David Unger
Jim Ware
Atefeh Yazdanparast

A reception to honor all faculty scholars will be held on Friday, January 20, at Fridays in the Melvin Peterson Gallery from 4:30- 7:00 p.m. 

Please stop by to peruse the depth and breadth of our colleagues’ contributions to their fields.

Michael Austin, executive vice president of academic affairs, is pleased to announce that Maggie Stevenson, associate professor of psychology, has been appointed the director of the UE Honors Program, replacing professor of history Daniel Gahan, who has served with great distinction for three and a half years. Gahan will continue to direct the program during this semester and will help facilitate the transition. Stevenson will officially begin her term at the end of the Spring 2017 semester.

Austin would like to express his deep appreciation to Danny, who stayed on an extra year past the end of his term while Austin got up to speed on both UE and the Honors Program, and to Maggie, who brings a wide swath of talent, enthusiasm, and general awesomeness to this important position.
 

The Office of Accounting/Payroll will be issuing W-2s for 2016 no later than January 31.  We are pleased to announce that you can choose one of two options to receive your W-2:

•Electronic W-2 – If you provide your consent, you will receive an e-mail notification via AceNotes Extra that your W-2 is ready to view/print on WebAdvisor.
•Paper W-2 – If you prefer, you can continue to receive a paper W-2 in the mail, as you have in the past.
Among the advantages of electronic W-2s.

(1) You will have access to your W-2 a couple of days earlier than a paper copy that is mailed to hour home
(2) You can print as many copies of the W-2 as you need.  The electronic W-2 is IRS compliant and can be submitted with your tax return.

To take advantage of the electronic W-2 option, you must log onto Web Advisor and select the option Employee Self Service.  Click the option W-2 Information.

Click the Change Preferences button and then click the first radio button to give your consent. 

Then click Save. 

You will not receive a paper W-2 in the mail if you select the electronic W-2 option.

Again this year, employees that are eligible to participate in the University’s health plans, will receive a 1095-C form.  This form will be used to complete questions regarding health insurance offers and coverage on your 2016 tax return. Like the W-2 consent, the 1095-C form will need a consent as well.

This is done by clicking on the 1095-C Information tab (on the same screen as the W-2 Information option) and giving your consent.

If you choose to withhold your consent to view/print your online W-2 and 1095-C, a paper copy will be prepared and mailed to you at your home address.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Gloria Spencer at ext. 2159.

Registration for intramural basketball and the 3-point contest is now open on IMLeagues. Be sure to sign up before January 20. If you are interested in a flexible campus job, we are also looking for basketball officials and score keepers. E-mail Maria Tonry at mt208@evansville.edu. No experience necessary! Training will be from January 17-19 at 7:00 p.m. in Carson Center.

Don't forget! Your chance to apply to become a resident assistant for the Fall 2017-18 academic year is almost up! Applications are due by Wednesday, January 25, at 5:00 p.m. Application material is available on the residence life webpage. Visit residence life’s office on the second Floor of Ridgway University Center in the student life suite for any in-person questions.

The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications. The application deadline is March 1. You can find out more about the scholarship at the foundation’s website.

College Mentors for Kids has been a campus organization for the past 10 years. It allows college students to give back to the community and mentor an elementary student. Activities are held on campus every Wednesday to teach elementary students about higher education, cultural diversity, and community service. If you are interested, apply online on the College Mentors for Kids application webpage.

The application due date is January 24 and our first activity is January 25.

If you have any questions, please contact the organization's president, Myka Goode, at mg222@evansville.edu.

The 2017 Pcard Cycle Dates are now available and posted on the Pcard AceLink website under Training Materials, Dates to Remember. This information is also loaded in SDG2. Be sure to check them out and keep this information handy. 

You are invited to participate in the Jezreel expedition's from June 2-30! Applications are now open. Please contact Amara Stuehling at as760@evansville.edu for instructions on how to apply and for more information.

The UE Alumni Association recognizes an outstanding teacher for his or her exemplary instruction and student support at spring commencement. UE administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni may nominate a faculty member who exemplifies the award’s criteria for outstanding teaching effectiveness that inspires the intellectual development of students. The nomination form is located on the Office of Alumni’s Outstanding Teacher webpage.

Full-time faculty who have taught in the classroom at UE for two years or more and hold the rank of lecturer, instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor are eligible for nomination.

Past award recipients are as follows:

• Associate professor of anthropology James Berry 2011
• Associate professor of sociology Mari Plikuhn 2012
• Associate professor of mechanical and civil engineering Mark Valenzuela 2013
• Associate professor of archaeology Jennie Ebeling 2014
• Associate professor of psychology Margaret Stevenson 2015
• Associate professor of sociology and criminal justice M. Kevin Gray 2016

The deadline to submit nominations is February 6, at 5:00 p.m. For questions, contact Tracey Folden at tf91@evansville.edu.

The School of Education at the University of Evansville has been granted seven year accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) with the next site visit in Spring 2023.

After an intense period of self-study which began in 2013, UE hosted a site visit with a CAEP review team in April of 2016. The site visit team reviewed extensive reports and interviewed members of the School of Education team to evaluate and verify the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the council’s standards for accreditation.

The CAEP standards are as follows:

1. Content and Pedagogical Knowledge
2. Clinical Partnerships and Practice
3. Candidate Quality, Recruitment, and Selectivity
4. Program Impact
5. Provider Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

“The accrediting team noted that we had strong, sincere relationships with our school partners,” said Sharon Gieselmann, chair of the School of Education at UE. “We are fortunate to have excellent school partners who mentor UE students during school placements beginning their freshman year.  This experience allows students to apply what they are learning in university course work in a real world classroom setting. This partnership helps us provide quality candidates who are prepared to teach in K-12 schools."  

CAEP’s mission is to advance excellent educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 learning.

“The most important aspect of the accreditation process is continuous improvement,” said Tom Kazee, the president of the University of Evansville. “By choosing this higher level of accreditation, we’ve shown that we’re willing to use new measures to enhance the quality of the program which will, in turn, strengthen our schools and our community.”

The School of Education at the University of Evansville has been preparing quality teachers for over 160 years with a challenging curriculum in a supportive environment. UE students thrive in small classes with dedicated faculty advisors. 100 percent of the 2015-16 class is working in the field of education or enrolled in graduate school.

Military Appreciation Night will take place this evening when the University of Evansville Men’s Basketball team plays host to Wichita State at 8:00 p.m. inside the Ford Center.

All current and former military personnel receive two free tickets to the game with their military ID. Tuesday’s contest against the Shockers will hold a special place in the heart of Solomon Hainna following his military service. Hainna served in the Air Force for five years before embarking on his college basketball career; coincidentally, his first Division I game against Louisville took place on Veteran’s Day.

Tonight’s game will mark the 100th contest at the Ford Center for the Aces. In the first 99 games, UE has posted a record of 72-27, a .727 winning percentage. Evansville opened the arena with a thrilling 80-77 overtime win against defending National Finalist Butler and has won three games against seven ranked opponents at the facility.

A late rally on Saturday saw Southern Illinois come away from the Ford Center with a 73-61 win over the Aces. For the second game in a row, Ryan Taylor and Jaylon Brown registered 19 points apiece; over the last two games, the duo has recorded 76 of the Aces’ 112 total points, 67.9% of the offense. David Howard had another steady game, finishing with six points and six rebounds; he has averaged 8.0 rebounds over the last two contests. Dru Smith added a pair of triples against the Salukis on Saturday; in three games since his return from injury, Smith has hit four of his 10 attempts from outside.

Senior David Howard has put together two of his top games at UE over the last week against Missouri State and Southern Illinois. He fell just shy of the first double-double of his career, tallying a career-best 10 rebounds and eight points against the Bears; he followed that up with a 6-point, 6-rebound game against the Salukis. Howard leads the way on the boards for the Aces with 5.1 per game; he has averaged 7.3 over the last three contests.

Preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite Wichita State enters Tuesday’s meeting with an overall mark of 15-4 and a 5-1 league record. The Shockers saw a 6-game win streak halted on Saturday night, dropping a 76-62 game at Illinois State. Markis McDuffie is one of three WSU players to average double figures, standing at 12-5 points per game. Just behind him is Darral Willis Jr., who checks in with 12.1 points and a team-best 6.2 boards; Landry Shamet is averaging 10.6 PPG. Willis and Shamet paced the Shockers on Saturday against the Redbirds, scoring 14 points apiece.

Winning the last seven meetings against the Aces, the Shockers own a 29-16 edge in the overall series. Evansville owns an 11-10 advantage in home games, but WSU has defended its home court against UE, going 17-5 in 22 meetings in Wichita.

CBS Sports Network will have coverage of the game, which can also be followed at 91.5 WUEV or at www.WUEV.org.