Today is the last day for AceNotes, but feel free to submit any requests for future articles that will be sent beginning January 4, 2021.

The University will offer a final opportunity for employees to receive free voluntary COVID-19 testing before Winter Break. Testing will be available on December 14 and 15.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) provided University of Evansville the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid-result COVID-19 testing kits. These tests, which are much less invasive than standard deep nasal swabs, only swab the inside tip of the nostril. The results of the test will be available approximately 15 – 30 minutes after testing through the NAVICA mobile app.

Testing information: 
Who can get a rapid-result test:
• Individuals who are symptom-free and have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days.

Who should not get a rapid-result test:
• Those experiencing symptoms should NOT participate in the rapid-result testing program. If you have symptoms, you will need to receive a standard PCR COVID-19 test at a local medical facility.  
• Individuals who have tested positive in the last 90 days will not be allowed to receive this antigen rapid-result test, as they are expected to have antibodies that will result in a positive test.

Rapid-result Testing Location:
Eykamp Hall, Room 253, Ridgway University Center
• Monday, December 14, from 11 a.m. – noon
• Tuesday, December 15, from 11 a.m. – noon

Register online at https://form.jotform.com/203224542322038.

Before your appointment, please follow these important testing steps: 
• Download the NAVICA mobile app.
• Follow the prompts and create an account.
• On the Test Center Page click the blue “Display NAVICA ID” Button.
  
• Arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time, use the main stairwell, and check in at Room 253 in Eykamp Hall on the second floor of Ridgway University Center.
• Bring a photo ID. 
• Bring your mobile device to scan your test so you can receive your results.
 
If you test positive, you will be asked to:
1. Take a standard PRC COVID-19 test (nasal swab) at a local medical facility, 
2. Complete the UE self-reporting form, and
3. Create a plan to self-isolate. 
 

We have finally made it to the finish line this semester, and we’re proud of each of our students for helping to make it a successful one!

As we look ahead to Spring 2021, we want to know how we can improve based on your feedback. In particular, we want to know about:
     • Your overall educational experience while taking in-person or online classes
     • Your emotional health and wellness
     • Your experience in quarantine (if you tested positive for COVID or had close contact with someone who did)

Students: share your thoughts in this survey: uesurvey.evansville.edu/COVIDFA2020

The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and all responses will remain anonymous unless you provide an email for follow-up. Having as much feedback as possible before winter break will be very helpful, so please complete the survey by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18. While the survey will remain open through Winter Break, early responses will have a greater impact on our Spring 2021 plans.

With your feedback, UE faculty, administrators, and staff will be better able to focus our efforts and resources in helping to ensure you have a safe and successful spring semester.

Given the current positive cases of COVID-19 in our local community, state, and across the country, the University has made revisions to testing requirements for the Spring 2021 semester. All full-time and part-time students must complete one of the following before returning to UE or the Stone Center for Health Sciences:

• Submit a negative COVID-19 test
• Submit documentation that you have had COVID-19 in the last 90 days
• Submit documentation that you have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

Negative test results must be:
     • Administered no sooner than seven days prior to arrival.
     • Uploaded no later than two days prior to the requested time. 

Part-time students
Part-time students who are taking classes on the University of Evansville or the Stone Center for Health Sciences campus, or who have a need to be on campus prior to February 1, must submit a negative COVID test prior to beginning classes for the spring semester. 

Students enrolled in All On-Line Courses
Students who are enrolled in ALL ON-LINE COURSES and have no obligation to be on the University of Evansville campus, or the Stone Center for Health Sciences campus, before February 1st are not required to submit a negative COVID test prior to beginning classes for the spring semester.

COVID-19 Clearance:  Notifying Your Professors
After submitting your test result or a certificate of a second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, you will receive an email from UE confirming your clearance and ability to participate in classes. This email must be forwarded to your professors prior to the start of classes.

Students attending class remotely must also update results no later than two days before the start of class. This requirement is for all students enrolled in online, hybrid, and face-to-face classes.

Submitting Test Results and Vaccine Documentation
The COVID-19 test must be an antigen or PCR test from an approved medical facility with documented results. Students will need to upload their documentation through the designated portal. Once results are uploaded and cleared by the University, students will receive an email confirmation that they are cleared to return to campus. The clearance email will be required upon arrival for move-in, as well as attending classes.

Students may be exempt from the required testing if they receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A validated certificate of a second shot of the vaccination must be submitted prior to your return. If you have only received one shot, a validated negative test must be supplied.

Upload your test: Be Safe - Test Upload 

Students in University Housing
Similar to the fall semester, students living in university housing as well as Approved University Housing (fraternity houses), must schedule an appointment for moving into their assigned space.
Residence Hall Move-In Appointments
Village and Fraternity Move-In Appointments
Move-in appointments will not be approved without providing documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result as described above. 

Students living Off-Campus
For students who do not live on campus, a negative test result must be submitted two days prior to the beginning of classes (January 17) but no sooner than seven days prior to the beginning of classes (January 12).
Additional information can be found on the Spring Testing link on the coronavirus webpage at www.evansville.edu/coronavirus.

The University of Evansville will host a celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 18, 2021. The annual event will be held in a virtual format this year to accommodate COVID-19 guidelines. Each activity will be available online, and the event is free and open to the public. Zoom links for each of the day's activities are on the CDEI webpage. The 2021 theme is “Our Time is Now” and highlights one of King’s famous quotes, “The time is always right to do what is right.”

The schedule of events is available below.

Symbolic March – January 1-18, 2021

To commemorate the 54-mile Civil Rights March of 1965, UE will hold a virtual symbolic march. Between the dates of January 1-18, participants can log miles online through walking, running, biking, or swimming. At 11:00 a.m. on the day of the celebration, UE encourages participants to complete the 54th mile together.

While there is no registration fee, individuals can make donations toward positive social change at uealumnionline.com/MLKDay2021. All proceeds will go directly towards UE’s Zerah Priestly Carter Scholarship and the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Virtual Celebration – 11:45 a.m.

The celebration will culminate with the 54-mile march and kick-off the rest of the activities for the day. Speakers will include President Pietruszkiewicz; Rob Shelby, PhD, chief diversity officer; members of the Black Student Union; and lectureship keynote speaker Karith Foster.

Local Leaders Panel Discussion – 2:00 p.m.

The discussion will include leaders from the Evansville community. The panel will be led by Melissa Moore, a UE alumna and secretary for the Legal Aid Society Board of Vanderburgh County.

Lectureship – 7:00 p.m.

Made possible by the generous support of William G. and Rose M. Mays, the 2021 lectureship will feature keynote speaker Karith Foster. For nearly two decades, the speaker, humorist, and author has created a seismic shift in mindsets by addressing issues of free expression, diversity, and inclusion. A nationally renowned public speaker, Foster has presented at the United Nations and to executives of the Chamber of Commerce C100, as well as Harvard, Stanford and other organizations. 

Wanting to practice Spanish throughout the winter break? This opportunity is for anyone at the intermediate or advanced Spanish language level. For more information, contact associate professor of Spanish Diana Rodríguez Quevedo at dr130@evansville.edu. 

Free tutoring is available for select classes during Winter Intersession! Please visit our website for days, times, and Zoom info: https://www.evansville.edu/advising/academic-peer-tutoring.cfm

College Mentors for Kids needs student leaders interested in organizing and managing our mentoring program in 2021. We've been a student group on UE's campus for a long time, and we don't want COVID to stop our mentoring of youth in the local community. If you are interested in serving as an officer, volunteer, or mentor please contact Carly at ccox@CollegeMentors.org.

The UE Student Health Center will be closed for winter session starting Thursday, December 10 - January 18. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 19 at 8am. Please call security at 812-488-2051 for your emergent needs or email healthcenter@evansville.edu for non-urgent matters.

Employee Medical Clinic hours are unchanged during winter session. Please call 888-492-8722 for all employee clinic assistance.

For the seventh straight year, UE's Society of Physics (SPS) students gained recognition from the National Office of SPS for their accomplishments in the last academic year. The Director of National SPS notes "We are consistently amazed each year at how much time, energy, and effort everyone devotes to their departments and local communities." A certificate of this accomplishment was sent to the department and is posted in the Wormhole.

Congratulations to last year's officers (Zachary Setzer, Richard Gerst, Allison Statler, and Rodrigo Becerra Silva), other members, and advisor (Dr. Harmon) on another successful year.