University of Evansville

AceNotes Today

Monday, September 21, 2020

* Now Available: CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Grant Application

Emergency funding through the HEERF Grant is available for expenses that resulted in additional costs related to your participation in academic and college-related activities due to COVID-19. Please be aware that funding is limited and a valid 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submission is required for grant consideration. Applications will be processed as received until federal funds provided have been exhausted.

Apply for the HEERF Grant

 
* University of Evansville Community Observes Constitution Day

Constitution Day is recognized in mid-September every year by institutions of higher learning across the United States. This year marks the 233rd anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution during the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. Ordinarily, we observe this anniversary with a speaker or a panel discussion on campus, but we are going to eschew any physical gathering this year because of the coronavirus. Instead, we commend to you a speech by the late Justice Thurgood Marshall from 1987, in which he considers the celebration of the bicentennial of the Constitution from the perspective of one who was not included in the original formulation of "We The People."

 
* Suicide Awareness Month: Myths and Facts

MYTH: Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage a suicide attempt.

FACT: Being direct and talking about or asking about thoughts of suicide opens the door for communication to happen. A person who shares their fears with a trusted friend or mentor is taking the first step in reaching out for help. The counselors in our Office of Counseling Services are here to support not only the students in crisis, but to also provide support to those asking the question. If you are concerned about a friend and hesitate to ask about suicide directly, you can send a request for an anonymous outreach to our office.

The Office of Counseling Services is located on the 2nd floor of Ridgway University Center, the first door to the left inside the Student Life suite. We are available to take appointments and meet with students in the office Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. We see students for a variety of needs and can also send outreaches to students who may be in need of services. Additionally, our office offers on-call counseling for crisis emergencies, such as thoughts of suicide or self-injury; a counselor is available after hours or on the weekends by calling the Office of Public safety (812-488-2051) as asking for the on-call counselor.

counselingservices@evansville.edu
Ph: 812-488-2663

 

COVID-19 Corner

* ChangeLab and WNIN Partnering on Covid Research

Two ChangeLab courses are partnering with WNIN to conduct research and analysis on Covid-19 in our region.

Read the article from Inside Indiana Business.

 
* What constitutes a "Close Contact?"

The CDC says a close contact is someone who was within six feet for at least 15 minutes, masked or unmasked, 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms by the positive person.

 
* If I get COVID, does everyone on my residence hall floor have to quarantine? What about students in my classes?

Only those who meet the criteria for a “close contact” are required to quarantine. The contact tracer, after interviewing potential close contacts identified by the positive person, will determine if quarantine is necessary.

 
* What do if I have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or feel I need a COVID-19 test?

The first step if you think you have been exposed or have COVID-19 is to complete the self-reporting form at https://uesurvey.evansville.edu/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=9lL166m6#. When you complete this online form this will notify the Dean of Student and contact tracing process.

 
* Reminder to complete your daily Campus Check-in with #CampusClear

Take the online campus check-in health screening before each time you come to campus or if living in residence halls every day. You can find information about #CampusClear on the website at https://www.evansville.edu/coronavirus/campusclear.cfm.

 
* What to do if I feel sick?

If you are feeling ill and don't know what to do, please visit the Coronavirus section of the website at If you are sick.

 

Upcoming Events

* Conversations with Chris to feature FDNY Battalion Chief David Morkal

Conversations with Chris banner (text below)

Join us for a YouTube Premiere of Conversations with Chris on Friday, September 25! UE's President Chris Pietruszkiewicz will interview Class of 1981 alum David Morkal and discuss his time as a student at UE, his career, and more.

Battalion Chief David Morkal is a 30-year veteran with the FDNY. Promoted to Lieutenant the week after the World Trade Center attacks, Chief Morkal has taken every opportunity to study leadership and enhance his leadership knowledge.
Morkal holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from UE and worked in technical theatre across the country before joining the FDNY.

Conversations with Chris will premiere at 6PM and can be viewed by visiting evansville.edu/live. (Please note: the interview will not premiere on the webpage until 6PM.)

After the conclusion of Conversations with Chris (approximately 7PM), check back on our Facebook page for a special Facebook Live event!

 

Info You Should Know

* Writing Center Delayed 24-48 Hours

The online Writing Center will be having a “soft” open on Tuesday, September 22, with a full opening on Wednesday, September 23rd. You will be able to make online appointments starting Monday afternoon via the University of Evansville’s Writing Center website. Thank you!

 
* Follow @THEUEFLASH on Instagram

Follow @theueflash on Instagram for your UE Student Engagement information. COVID-19 has changed a lot of things on campus including how we get the word out about what you can get involved with. (RIP Flush Flash) We'll post regularly, but if you're just here for the flash, look for it every Friday morning for a roundup of what's happening over the weekend and the week ahead.

ue flash logo.

 
* Office of Religious Life Presents - Christian Worship Service

On Monday, September 21, 2020 at 7:00 pm in Neu Chapel, The Office of Religious Life offers its first Protestant worship service to the UE campus community this semester. The service is co-sponsored by Student Christian Fellowship (SCF) and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS U). Come join us for music, prayer, and scripture reading. UE's COVID-19 Singing and Chanting protocol for inside events will be observed.

 
* UE Launches Aces Opportunity Grant for Qualified Indiana Freshmen

The University of Evansville has launched the Aces Opportunity Grant to make its transformative education accessible to students who display the greatest financial need.


Through the Aces Opportunity Grant, qualified freshmen entering in the fall of 2021 whose families earn less than $50,000 will pay no tuition out of pocket. Eligible Indiana students who submit a UE application for admission will automatically be considered for this grant.

"The Aces Opportunity Grant makes UE accessible to all Indiana students so that a financial barrier is not an obstacle to high impact, private education," said president Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. "The grant program is a strong statement that all students should have choices about how to plan for a successful future in a small classroom environment and, at the same time, to make a positive impact on our communities by joining our commitment to service in a changing world."

The Aces Opportunity Grant works by bridging the gap between the scholarships and grants students receive and UE's tuition costs.

"We know quality higher education is expensive," said Kenton Hargis, UE's director of admission. "But we want to help more students find a way to say yes to UE." 

For more information about the University of Evansville and the Aces Opportunity Grant, visit the University's website at evansville.edu/AcesOpportunityGrant

 
* September Wellness Newsletter

The Office of Counseling Services invites you to read the first UE Wellness Newsletter. This newsletter will be available in AceNotes the months of September, October and November in the Fall semester and February, March, and April in the Spring semester. It will feature brief articles on various wellness topics, as well as extras like a featured quote and app of the month, and sometimes even a fun recipe to try out. If you have ideas for article topics, please email Jennifer Hargus at jh693@evansville.edu.

 
* Entering Overtime Hours for Non-Exempt Employees

Please note the clarification made on page four of the Time Entry Online instructions in WebAdvisor for non-exempt hourly staff and administrators who complete a timecard.

The UE TimeOnline system will automatically calculate the amount of overtime you are eligible for based on the hours worked that are entered. Therefore, enter your total hours worked per day and UE TimeOnline will calculate your overtime entitlement. Overtime will not be calculated within the same week that holiday, sick or vacation hours are entered, unless the employee works more than 40 hours during that week, per FSLA guidelines.

 
* UE Offers Review Course for Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

The University of Evansville College of Engineering and Computer Science has announced 2020-21 dates for the annual review and preparation course for those planning to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

All classes will be held Thursday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science on the UE campus or virtually through Zoom. Classes are divided into relevance per discipline. Fees are adjusted accordingly.

  • Candidates for civil engineering will attend from October 1 - January 28.
  • Candidates for mechanical engineering and other disciplines will attend from October 1 – January 14.
  • Electrical and computer engineering candidates will attend October 29 - November 19.

Registration forms and payment must be returned by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. Contact Kimberly Higgins at kh209@evansville.edu or at 812-488-2651 for more information on registration. Early registration is encouraged as space as limited.

 
* Art Showcase Outside Writing Center for Ethan Stevens

Student Emma Stevens’s brother, Ethan Stevens, has been working on paintings and clay for years, and he has an exhibit he put together. As they are both beloved members of the UE community and she is a tutor for the Writing Center, which will open soon, I am happy to announce he will have a showing of his work outside the Writing Center where Academic Advising used to be housed.

Some pieces will be available for purchase and the art will be on display for several weeks; however, Thursday, September 10th, you can come meet the artist himself at 4 PM. He will be there for at least an hour. This will be a VERY safe event: the doors will be opened for maximum air flow, the spacing will be limited, there will be hand sanitizer, and masks are required. However, it is an opportunity to support a member of our extended UE family who is spending this challenging time by creating art, and a way to remember what’s so special about UE and a liberal arts community— the community.

Ethan is willing to sign any art you purchase, and for the entirety of the exhibit (throughout the next several weeks) I hope that people will stop by and take pictures with his art: we’ll be using the hashtag “#ethansmileysart” because if this exhibit doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will. Come see our pop-up museum and meet the artist! We’re excited to see you and to celebrate creativity and beauty.

 
* Joanne Scott Massey - When Clay & Paint Collide

Exhibit: September 28 – November 25, 2020
Student Workshop: Sept. 29, 1:15-4pm
Student Gallery Lecture: Sept 30, 10:00-11:30am
Artist’s Reception & Public Gallery Lecture: October 1, 6:30-8:00pm (Lecture at 7:00)
All events are in the Melvin Peterson Gallery
Masks and Safe Distancing will be observed
Emerging Contemporary Artist Lecture Series supported by the Efroymson Family Fund and the Dept.of Art

massey art.

 

Athletics

* UE Athletics Launches "Future Unafraid" Campaign

In an effort to overcome the unprecedented financial impact of COVID-19 while continuing to give University of Evansville student-athletes a first-class experience, UE Athletics has unveiled an initiative called “Future Unafraid”.

Utilizing the popular verbiage from the UE alma mater, the Future Unafraid has the goal of giving Purple Aces supporters the opportunity to continue their support of UE student-athletes as they navigate through the challenges of COVID-19. While the ability to compete is an important part of being a student-athlete at the University of Evansville, the upcoming fall months will provide them with the chance to grow and concentrate on other aspects of college life including: being leaders in the classroom and on campus, further development through team practice and strength training, continuing to evolve relationships with teammates and coaches while continuing to represent the university and community with pride.

UE athletics is committed to the health and safety of its student-athletes, coaches and staff and the “Future Unafraid” campaign will help the department to accomplish those goals while giving everyone a safe and productive environment to prepare for the return to competition. The financial ramifications of COVID-19 have already impacted the university and athletic department and that will continue in the coming months. Those impacts range from testing costs, personal protective equipment, pandemic safety protocols, loss of ticket revenue and more.

COVID-19 has impacted every UE sport in many ways, but the determination of the student-athletes, coaches and staffs has not diminished. They will continue to prepare each and every day in order to be ready for a return to competition and are reaching out to its supporters to join them through the journey. Full information on the program is coming soon.

The “Future Unafraid” name is in reference to the university alma mater - “Hymn to Evansville” whose lyrics are:

School of our fathers, known of old,
Our Alma Mater we revere.
We give thee loyalty untold;
We love thee more and more each year
And when sweet memories of thee return,
of lessons learned, of friendships made;
Thy spirit in our hearts doth burn,
We face the future unafraid.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What will the money be used for?

A: To cover the extra costs endured because of Covid-19. Specifically, Covid-19 testing, PPE, and other safety precautions to keep our student-athletes, coaches, and staff members safe.

Q: Is my gift tax deductible?

A: Yes, your gift is 100% tax deductible, but we always encourage all donors to consult with a tax professional.

Q: How is this gift any different than the Aspire Fund?

A: The Aspire Fund was created for the Athletic Director to have unrestricted funds to support the areas of greatest need within the athletic department. The Future Unafraid initiative is focused specifically on Covid-19 relief.

Q: How long is this initiative?

A: The Future Unafraid initiative will extend through the entire 20-21 school year.

Q: Can I give to a specific sport and the Future Unafraid initiative?

A: Absolutely! While we know that we are all facing tough times, we encourage you to give to this initiative in addition to your regular annual gift to a program or department.

Q: Is there an alternative way to make a gift to the Future Unafraid initiative aside from online?

A: Yes! In addition to making a gift on the website, you may also do so over the phone by calling 812-488-4065, or by mailing a check. Make checks out to The University of Evansville with Future Unafraid in the memo line.

 

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