After many years of service to our UE campus, Darren Miller is retiring.  His last day with us in Distribution Services will be Monday, December 2.  Stop by Central Receiving between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to wish him a wonderful retirement.

Step into the warmth and wonder of the season with the University of Evansville community! Join us for our annual Advent Candlelight Vespers service. Advent Vespers is a special evening service that combines the themes of Advent—a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth—with the tradition of Vespers, an evening prayer service for reflection and thanksgiving. Immerse yourself in an evening of inspiring music and heartfelt readings that will fill your spirit with warmth and joy as we journey together into the holiday season. Come, bring your friends, neighbors, and loved ones, and be part of this cherished tradition—all are welcome!

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024  

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Neu Chapel

The Qdoba location in Lincoln Commons is now accepting Ace Bucks as of Friday, November 22.

WebAdvisor.evansville.edu is in the process of being phased out. Beginning December 1 of this year, the WebAdvisor URL will redirect to SelfService.evansville.edu.

In September 2025, a review team from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) will visit the university as part of our reaffirmation of accreditation. To learn more about the criterion on which UE will be evaluated, please take a moment to watch the following video guides.

HLC Criterion 1 | Mission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJYe4poqk-Q

HLC Criterion 2 | Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEcGIsTJRmU

HLC Criterion 3 | A-D Teaching and Learning for Student Success
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4M_MgYDQDg

HLC Criterion 3 | E-G Teaching and Learning for Student Success
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJAb7We7y6M

HLC Criterion 4 | Sustainability
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ4quibQzaQ

HLC Federal Compliance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIP_9MOi0E

The Epic Highs and Lows of Adam Sandler Day (aka watching The Longest Yard in our comfy clothes while eating snacks) will occur on Thursday, December 5, at noon, in Library 462. Also at Adam Sandler Day, we'll be playing UE Fun & Games-- here's a quick recap. (THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 3!)   UE Fun & Games! This year's competition is: "THE 'INATOR CREATOR" (think Dr. Doofenshmirtz). You must create an "inator" that fixes a problem in your life (or the lives of characters you invent). As always, it's a completely open prompt: it can be fiction, speculative nonfiction, poetry, or you can actually build a machine that you bring in and give a presentation on. We've had people pull off entire plays before. The title you will receive as The 'Inator Creator is THE NEMESIS. Remember, there is only ONE "nemesis" for ALL TIME at UE, which makes this a very prestigious award. Your name will hang on a plaque outside my door for the rest of time, and of course, I will present you with awards the day of the movie. I would like to, as we do every year, honor everyone who plays by giving quick readings or explanations of the 'Inators before the movie.    To Enter This Semester's UE Fun & Games Competition, please send an email to:   UE.funandgames@gmail.com by MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 1st.    Please email me if you have any questions

Professor Katie Mullins and novelist Mark Rigney will be hosting a round-table discussion on writing, creativity, and the projects they've been working on on Thursday, December 5th at 6PM. The format is a lot like "Actors on Actors," and it allows for a lot of exploration both within the writers and audience.

Need papers shredded? Bring them to the free Piranha Mobile Shredding Event on campus on Thursday, December 5 (Reading Study Day) between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. in the parking lot behind Koch Center.

 Remember: Paper that contains personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, etc. cannot be placed directly into a recycling bin or trash container. It must be properly disposed of by one of the following methods:

 1)    Shredding the papers with personal information into a bag and then placing the bag of shredded paper in the recycling container.

 2)    Placing the papers with personal information in a secure (locked) Piranha shredding container in your area.

 Thank you for recycling and helping us prevent identity theft by properly disposing of personal information!

 During the free shredding event, you can bring paper from home! The limit is 100 lbs. per visit. Visits are unlimited during the event.

The Pancake Study Break is coming up on Reading/Study Day - December 5, 2024.

Join us for pancakes and more on Thursday, December 5, from 9:00-11:00 p.m. at The Eatery in Ridgway University Center. There will also be drawings for prizes - so don't miss out! Plan to be at the Pancake Study Break! Study hard and enjoy some pancakes, Aces! And come in your pajamas!

Thursday, December 5, 2024
9:00 – 11:00 p.m.
The Eatery, Ridgway University Center

Wear your pajamas, Aces!

This event is free of charge for all UE students. A UE ID is required to enter.

Questions? Contact Chad Hart at ch299@evansville.edu.

Join the ladies of the Kappa Nu City-Wide Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for study tables as we prepare for the rest of the semester! We will be providing snacks to keep you fueled, music to keep you motivated, and study materials to help you stay on track. Bring your focus and friends, and let’s finish the semester strong

We cannot wait to see you there!

The University of Evansville (UE) Music Conservatory is excited to present its annual Holiday Pops concert, a festive celebration of music and community. This cherished event will take place on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Victory Theatre in downtown Evansville. Admission is free and open to the public.

The evening will showcase the incredible talents of UE’s large ensembles, including the University Choir, Choral Society, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. In addition, the United Sound Change Lab will join the performance, adding a unique dimension to the event’s musical offerings. Together, these groups will perform a variety of seasonal favorites, classical works, and holiday-inspired pieces, creating an unforgettable night of music.

Join us for a magical evening of music, community, and holiday spirit at Holiday Pops!

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, December 3

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Victory Theatre, 600 Main St, Evansville, IN 47708

Admission: Free and open to the public

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024   Time: 7:00 pm   Location: Neu Chapel   Step into the warmth and wonder of the season with the University of Evansville community! Join us for our annual Advent Candlelight Vespers service. Advent Vespers is a special evening service that combines the themes of Advent—a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth—with the tradition of Vespers, an evening prayer service for reflection and thanksgiving. Immerse yourself in an evening of inspiring music and heartfelt readings that will fill your spirit with warmth and joy as we journey together into the holiday season. Come, bring your friends, neighbors, and loved ones, and be part of this cherished tradition—all are welcome!

SAA Holiday Decorating Contest

It’s that time of year! The SAA Holiday Decorating Contest is back, again! Feel free to decorate your office suite or your personal office space. Decorating can commence at your leisure with voting occurring the week of December 9^th-13^th. As with last year, each campus area will be assigned a day for review, and you are encouraged to provide treats on your day. If you and/or your office plans to participate this year, please let Annie Sills (cs175@evansville.edu) know by Wednesday, December 4^th.

There will be multiple honors this year, including:

Overall Winner (office suite)

Overall Winner (individual space)

Most effective use of Pinterest

Most inclusive theme

Most creative theme

Budget friendliest

Most likely to be featured in a Holiday magazine

Yummiest holiday treats

Students’ Choice

The exhibition SEEING HER by artist Sandra Charles is presented in the Melvin Peterson Gallery from 10/28/2024 - 12/07/2024.

Please join us at the public reception on Thursday, November 7 at 6:30 pm in the Melvin Peterson Gallery.

The Department of Art presents this exhibit by artist David Kegel in the Krannert Gallery from 10/21/24 - 12/8/24.  Please join us for the public reception on Thursday, November 14 at 6:30 pm in the Krannert Gallery.

Tune in to listen to Darla Luna and Ale España interview UE student-athlete José Ocampo in Episode 6 of the "Celebrating Hispanic Voices" podcast!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2B3X08ccMuc5pEzBcatmhx?si=HhydLQGhSUi7A8kEdcwYYQ

Then, have a listen to Ainoah Cruz interview UE’s women’s volleyball coach Fernando Morales in Episode 7!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6TmstSQbRJORBibYFOXDXi?si=suL-GYDjTbaAH3y0iSVaOw

And make time to listen to Episode 8, in which Darla Luna and Ainoah Cruz interview TriState Hispanic icon, Abraham Brown!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6TmstSQbRJORBibYFOXDXi?si=suL-GYDjTbaAH3y0iSVaOw

Huge THANKS to our production team, Ale España and Tommy Housman!

Professor Katie Mullins has a poem in the forthcoming anthology "Invisible Strings," an anthology of poems that are inspired by Swift's songs. The editor, Kristie Frederick Daugherty, has used the Easter eggs and games that Swift herself employs to involve poets like Joy Harjo, Diane Suess, and Richard Siken. The book releases nationally the first week of December.

The University of Evansville (UE) Music Conservatory is delighted to announce that UE Opera has been awarded a generous $32,400 grant from the William E. Schmidt Foundation.

This impactful grant will support both the Schmidt Opera Series and the Schmidt Opera Collaborative, advancing music education and community outreach in Evansville and the broader Tri-State region.

The Schmidt Opera Series, a key element of UE Opera's on-campus productions, will receive vital funding to continue bringing high-quality opera performances to audiences UE. Additionally, the Schmidt Opera Collaborative will benefit from this grant, enabling outreach and education initiatives that engage and inspire residents across the region.

"We are profoundly grateful to the William E. Schmidt Foundation for their support of UE Opera," said Dr. Alanna Keenan, Associate Professor of Music at UE. "This funding reaffirms our commitment to advancing music education and cultural enrichment and will allow us to provide students and community members with exceptional opportunities to experience the arts."

Under the artistic direction of Dr. Keenan, with additional guidance from Dr. Dennis Malfatti and Dr. Gregory Rike, UE Opera has flourished as a dynamic force in the field of opera, enriching the lives of students and fostering a deep appreciation for the arts within the community. The Schmidt Foundation's grant will empower the program to continue its legacy of excellence and expand its community reach.

The grant also provides continued support for the Community Conservatory Study Grants, which are designed to give area students who may otherwise lack access to private study the opportunity to benefit from music lessons. This initiative reflects UE's dedication to creating a vibrant and inclusive cultural environment that supports budding young musicians and makes music education accessible to all. UE Opera previously received $25,000 in grant funding in 2023.

Dr. Melvin M. "Mel" Peterson H'91, H'14, a long-time friend and donor to the University of Evansville (UE), has continued his legacy of generosity through a bequest of more than $5.3 million.

Peterson's bequest provides $1 million for an endowed faculty chair and $100,000 for a scholarship in the Department of English. The bequest will also grow the University's endowment and support the institution's academic infrastructure.

The bequest brings Peterson's total giving to UE to $9,629,490. Peterson passed away on April 3 at the age of 101 following a brief illness.

Peterson's participation and financial support left an imprint on many areas of the University, notably his role in purchasing Harlaxton College, UE's campus in Grantham, England. Peterson's connection to UE began indirectly in 1975, 14 years before he moved to Evansville when he visited Harlaxton with his long-time friend, Dr. William Ridgway. Captivated by the history of the manor and intrigued by its possibilities for foreign study, Dr. Ridgway eventually purchased Harlaxton upon the urging of Peterson. A few years later, Ridgway gifted Harlaxton to the University of Evansville, and it has become the centerpiece of UE's international study programs.

"Thanks to Mel and Bill's foresight and generosity, thousands of students have had the life-changing experience of studying at Harlaxton," said University of Evansville President Chris Pietruszkiewicz.

Peterson's first gift to UE was a $1,000 donation to Harlaxton in 1980, beginning a 44-year philanthropic relationship with UE.

His affinity for supporting the arts and humanities can be traced to his scholarly endeavors. After retiring from Chevron Oil Corporation at age 50, Peterson earned a master's degree in English from the University of California and a master's degree in history from Indiana State University. He also holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Evansville.

Peterson participated in many areas of University life. He enjoyed the academic world and relished interacting with faculty, staff and students. Peterson attended theatre productions, art show openings, poetry and literary readings and concerts. He served as president of the Samuel Johnson Society and was a board member of Harlaxton Society. He also supported the Art Department, the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Nursing Department. In 1991, the UE Alumni Association recognized his service to the University by naming him a Samuel Orr Honorary Alumnus. Peterson was also an active honorary member of the UE Board of Trustees.

Always a proud donor, Mel sought to set an example for others. Thanks to his generosity, the Mel Peterson Art Gallery, situated at the corner of Weinbach and Lincoln Avenues, and the Mel Peterson Video Production Lab in Hyde Hall, have enhanced the learning experience in the Art and Communications programs. Peterson also made generous contributions to the renovations of Hyde Hall and Bower-Suhrheinrich Library.

"Thanks to Mel, the University of Evansville offers a rich and diverse academic experience," Pietruszkiewicz said. "Those of us who knew him are better for our friendship. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on."

Free, Confidential HIV and Hep C testing at the Student Health Center performed by Matthew 25 the first Wednesday of each month when school is in session from 9-11am.  No appointment necessary, all are welcome! Walmart giftcard incentives available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prof. Katie Mullins has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Barrelhouse for her essay about Andy Kaufman, "Song and Dance Man."

Call for Applications to Teach at Harlaxton
Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027

Harlaxton College is pleased to be accepting applications to teach at the Manor in Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027.   These applications are online and can be found by clicking https://pursueharlaxton.evansville.edu/register/teach-with-harlaxton.

Applications to teach in Summer 2026 are due December 15, 2024

Applications for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 are due on April 1, 2025

Summer applicants will be information of their status by February 2025   Semester applicants will be informed of the status of their application in July 2025.

Summer Applicants:

In the summer, faculty generally teach one course.   Once courses are approved, we will recruit for these courses and then decide which courses will run based on enrollment of students.  These decisions are made in late January of the year of the program.    If your course does run in the summer session at Harlaxton, salary will be paid at $500 per student enrolled in your class.   In the summer, there are no funds for airfare and any family members pay for their own accommodation and meals.  Fees for room and board for a spouse may be waived if there are 10 or more students enrolled in your class. Faculty and families will also be invoiced for health and transportation fees at the Manor for each member of the family and the faculty member. These fees are approximately $300 per person.

Semester Applicants:
Semester benefits include room and board for family members at Harlaxton.   Faculty members who wish to bring children and enroll them in the local schools will be assisted in the visa process but will be required to pay any fees for the visa.  These fees are currently approx. $1000 per person and visas are required for every person in the family.   Faculty and families will also be invoiced for health and transportation fees at the Manor for each member of the family and the faculty member.  These fees are approximately $400 per person.

Teaching at Harlaxton is a wonderful experience, and we welcome faculty members for a phenomenal summer or semester abroad.  If you have questions about teaching at Harlaxton and the experience overall, please feel free to email me at hc110@evansville.edu.

NEW ORLEANS – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team ended its time at the Big Easy Classic with a 65-54 loss to the Delaware Blue Hens.

The Purple Aces offense struggled to find its rhythm during the first half of their final game during Feast Week. UE only shot 14% in the first 20 minutes but was able to turn things around in the final 20. Yet Evansville couldn’t catch up to Delaware after they opened up a 23-point lead near the end of the first half. Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) exploded in the second half with 16 points to lead the Aces on offense, scoring 22 points after 40 minutes against the Blue Hens.

UE opened the game’s scoring with a second-chance layup from sophomore guard Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City / Sauk Prairie HS). A free throw by senior guard Júlia Palomo (La Seu D’Urgell, Spain) a minute after Delaware went to the line put Evansville back up by one. But the Aces offense would go cold for the next six minutes as the Blue Hens built an 18-point lead. UE didn’t score another bucket from the floor until the quarter's final minute as senior forward Anica Skrivan (Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina) made a jump shot.

Evansville’s offensive struggles from the floor continued in the second quarter. Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) made two free throws early, but the Aces' first field goal came over four minutes into the quarter. Hartwig broke an over two-minute stretch with no points from either team with a driving layup. Runner went back to the line soon after to cut UE’s deficit to 17 points. Evansville only scored two more field goals in the first half as they headed into halftime down by 21 points to Delaware.

The Aces got things going quickly to start the second half with five straight points. It was a back-and-forth game for most of the third quarter. UE had one other brief run with three minutes to go in the third to bring the deficit down to 16. The Blue Hens were able to get their lead back to 19 as neither team scored in the final two minutes of the quarter.

Evansville had a big start to the final frame at the Big Easy Classic with a seven-point run in the first three minutes. The Aces held Delaware from making any runs until the final minute of the game, bringing the Blue Hens shooting percentage down to 18.2%. During the middle of the fourth quarter, it was a back-and-forth game. UE got within 12 points of Delaware on three separate occasions in the fourth. But Evansville wasn’t able to catch up with the Blue Hens in the 65-54 loss.

Along with Runner, Hartwig ended the night in double digits with 11 points after only scoring four in the first half. Runner made 12 of her 22 points at the charity stripe for the Aces for her second-best game at the line. While not scoring in double digits, Palomo was a big part of the Aces offensive turnaround in the second half, leading the team with three steals.

UE returns home to Meeks Family Fieldhouse for a single game next weekend. Evansville will welcome SIUE to the River City on Sunday, December 8th. Tip-off against the Cougars is set for 1 p.m. at Meeks.

The Purple Aces are still looking for their first road win of the season after another close loss at Lipscomb. UE led the first half of the game, but a slow third quarter and early fourth quarter stalled Evansville's chance for its first win away from Meeks Family Fieldhouse. Despite not getting a win at Allen Arena, the Aces had their best performance from the floor so far this season. UE shot over 50% against Lipscomb going 32 of 60 from the floor. Evansville's 53.3% shooting percentage on Saturday was the team's best shooting performance since February 15th when the Aces beat Southern Illinois at home.

UE will check off a list of firsts in its appearance in the Big Easy New Orleans Classic over the holiday weekend. It will be Evansville's first time playing in New Orleans as a program. The Aces will
also face two teams they have never played in the program's 49 seasons in Nicholls and Delaware. The Big Easy New Orleans Classic is UE's first MTE appearance in almost a decade. Evansville
last participated in a holiday MTE in 2015 at the Cal Poly/ ShareSLO Holiday Tournament in San Luis Obispo, California.

The Aces first opponent of the event is the Nicholls Colonels who are 3-2 on the year. The Colonels have wins over Tulane, Grambling, and Alcorn which was a three-game stretch of victories. Nicholls is led by junior guard Tanita Swift who averages 18 points a game. UE's second Big Easy game is against the Delaware Blue Hens. Delaware continues its 18-day stretch away from home at the MTE and is looking to get back into the win column after a loss to Providence. The Blue Hens are led by graduate guard Tara Cousins with an average of 10.8 points per game, followed closely by fifth-year guard/forward Rebecca Demeke at 10.5 points per game. 

Freshman guard Camryn Runner earned her second MVC Freshman of the Week honor in only three weeks of play. Runner had the Aces best performance by a freshman in a decade with 30 points at Lindenwood to surpass Sara Dickey's 30-point outing at Southern Illinois in 2014. Runner also had her 5th straight double-digit performance to lead UE in points per game on the season to average 20.6 points in 35 minutes a game.

NEW ORLEANS – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team had a tough start to its first-holiday tournament appearance since 2015 on Friday night.

A slow start and only shooting 28.6% in the first half from the floor was too much for the Purple Aces to overcome in their first game of the Big Easy New Orleans Classic. UE was able to get within eight points in the fourth quarter, but a 6-1 run kept Evansville from an opening win. Senior guard Júlia Palomo (La Seu d’Urgell, Spain) led the Aces with 12 points on 63.6% shooting, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

UE found themselves down early as Nicholls put up six points in the first two minutes and 40 seconds. Neither team scored for almost two minutes, but it was Palomo who broke the drought with her first three of the night. It was another couple of minutes for either team to make a basket as Palomo made it a one-point game with under four to go in the first quarter. The teams traded shots for the final two minutes of the first for a 12-11 score after ten.

Evansville picked up its first lead of the night to start the second quarter as it was again Palomo hitting a three only 38 seconds in. The Colonels tied the game a minute later, but sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City, Wis. / Sauk Prairie HS) put the Aces back up by two with a layup on the next possession. For the next two-plus minutes neither team scored but it was Nicholls whose offense got going in the final five minutes of the first half. Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) put UE up by two again at the free-throw line. But an over five-minute cold spell for Evansville to end the half saw the team facing a six-point deficit.

The Aces' struggle on offense continued to start the second half as the Colonels extended their lead to 11. Runner got UE back into single digits of Nicholls as forward Tamesha Dozier (Louisville, Ky. / Wabash Valley) followed up with the next made basket, a second chance tip-in two minutes later. The game settled into a back-and-forth pace until the final minute of the third quarter. The Colonels grew the deficit for Evansville to 16 with six points to end the quarter.

Scoring in the final quarter started at the line for the Aces as Hartwig and Runner made four straight in the first minute and a half. Nicholls responded with a three for the largest lead of the game at 17. UE answered quickly, breaking off the team's longest run of the night with nine points in under two minutes. It became a shot-for-shot game for the next minute and a half as Evansville fought to keep the deficit in single digits. But the Aces wouldn’t make a basket from the floor for the final three minutes, dropping their first game of the Big Easy Classic 63-50 to Nicholls.

UE had three players in double-figures as Palomo (12), Hartwig (12), and Runner (11) led the way on offense. Dozier led Evansville under the glass with a season-high eight rebounds while contributing six points on offense. Four Aces had two assists each in Palomo, Runner, and freshman guards Kaiden Kreinhagen (Indianapolis / North Central HS) and Avery Kelley (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS)

It will be a quick turnaround for UE as they play the Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday evening. It will be Evansville’s first program game against Delaware and its final of the Big Easy Classic. Tip-off from the Alario Center is set for 5:45 p.m.

ST LOUIS – Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) has been recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference for her play.

For the second time in three weeks, Runner was named the MVC Freshman of the Week by conference office staff. Runner was the only freshman to have multiple double-digit performances in the Valley from November 18th to November 24th.  The freshman had the Purple Aces best offensive outing by a first-year player in a decade at the Lindenwood Lions.

On Monday, Nov. 18th Runner put up a career-best 30 points against the Lions for the third-highest scoring output by a player in the MVC. It was the Aces' best performance by a freshman since 2014 when program points leader Sara Dickey had a career-high 30 points at Southern Illinois on January 26th. Runner also added a rebound, a block, and a steal in St. Charles.

Runner continued her strong offensive play at Lipscomb with another double-digit performance. While not leading UE on offense, Runner put up 18 points against the Bison while shooting 50% from the field. Along with a big shooting night, Runner set a career-high in assists with five helpers in 32 minutes at Allen Arena.

Over the week Runner averaged 36.5 minutes, 24 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, a block, and a steal. Runner made 13 free throws on 16 attempts last week putting her at the top of the Valley in both categories for the season. With 43 made free throws on 54 attempts in five games, Runner is fourth in the nation in both statistical categories.

Evansville will be back in action this weekend at the first Big Easy New Orleans Classic with back-to-back games on Friday, Nov. 29th, and Saturday, Nov. 30th. The Aces will play Nicholls and Delaware for the first time in program history while at the holiday tournament.