Zelda is a female torbie cat! She’s just over a year old. She was born as an outdoor kitten until the local woman feeding her colony, trapped Zelda for spay + adoption. Now she’s available at River Kitty Cat Café! Her $40 adoption fee includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. Visit www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt for details! [photo is the one starting with “VAN-Aâ€]
JUST IN: UE Faculty Face Devastating Cuts
UE Faculty Face Devastating Cuts
Daniel Byrne, Secretary-Treasurer UEAAUP, ueaaup@gmail.com
Evansville— 12/11/20 — The President of the University of Evansville, Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, yesterday unveiled a plan that will cut essential departments, majors, and faculty members. The three departments to be eliminated entirely are Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Music, and Philosophy and Religion. In addition to the twelve majors within those departments, five more will be cut: Art History, History, Physics, Political Science, and Spanish. Faculty will be released from all five of those departments. There will also be losses in Biology, Chemistry, English and Creative Writing, and Math. In total, 38 Faculty members will lose their jobs: thirty-two in the College of Arts and Sciences and six in the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
In offering his plan, the President repeatedly referred to it as a “draft†and said that nothing has been decided as of yet. At the same time, he also pointed out that “impacted†Faculty members will be given 18-months notice and that such Faculty members will be meeting with the Provost, Dr. Michael Austin, “over the next couple of days.†Furthermore, the President noted several times that Faculty members will be given numerous opportunities “over the course of the next couple of weeks†to provide “questions and answers and comments and recommendations.†Yet, when asked if the Faculty, the Senate or any committee thereof would ever vote on the proposed plan, the President’s entire response was: “We would love the input of the faculty in general and if it comes as individual recommendations, if it comes as group recommendations, we’re happy for all of them.â€
The President’s approach to program change constitutes a serious and substantial breach of the university’s shared governance structure. Within that structure, the role of the faculty is clearly defined: “Faculty, acting with the President, determine all matters of educational policy with respect to academic programs including degree requirements, honorary degrees, curriculum changes, academic standards.â€
Determination is not “questions and answers and comments and recommendations.†Determination is voting. This is why the Faculty Senate has a Curriculum Committee that votes on program changes and then submits approved changes to the Senate for its endorsement. The President’s plan offers no recognition of the Faculty’s primary responsibility for educational policy.
We, the Faculty, deeply oppose the coming cuts and will fight them until they are withdrawn. Above and beyond the Faculty members who will lose their jobs, those cuts will also significantly harm the university’s staff, its administrators, and, most importantly, its students. As the President noted yesterday, the university’s “foundation†is its ability to offer a “well-rounded education†to each and every student. The coming cuts will remove departments and majors and so limit students’ major and course options. Those cuts will also necessarily result in a substantial contraction of the university’s General Education program. Every student at the university participates in this program and so every student will be affected.
We call upon students, staff members, administrators, alumni, board members, and everyone in the Evansville community to stand with us in fighting these cuts. The time has come to Save UE. Let’s do it!
To learn more:
• Visit our website at saveue.com • Follow us on Facebook at Save UE
• Follow us on Twitter at @Save_UE • Follow us on Instagram at save.ue
• E-mail us at ueaaup@gmail.com
HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
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Gov. Holcomb Signs Order to Curb Non-Emergency Procedures
Gov. Holcomb Signs Order to Curb Non-Emergency Procedures, Tighten COVID-19 County Requirements
INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb today signed Executive Order 20-50 to curtail elective in-patient surgeries and implement targeted restrictions for counties that have high levels of COVID-19.
Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.
In an effort to preserve hospital intensive care unit capacity and try to lessen the strain on our overwhelmed health care workers on the front lines, hospitals are required to postpone or reschedule non-emergent procedures done in the in-patient hospital setting beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. Postponed procedures include those that are unlikely to cause risk to a patient’s prognosis. Hoosiers who need medical assistance should continue to see their doctor or go to a hospital.
The size of social gatherings is limited by the color metric of the county. Beginning Sunday, Dec. 13, local health departments are no longer allowed to grant permission for larger events.
The Indiana Department of Health has established a color-coded county map that measures weekly cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day positivity rate for all tests completed. Each county is assigned a color based on the average scores for the two metrics. Restrictions are assigned based on the map, which is updated each Wednesday at www.coronavirus.in.gov.
Click here for an in-depth description of the requirements for all Hoosiers and targeted restrictions for counties:Â https://www.in.gov/gov/files/12-13-1-3-Coronavirus-Response-Requirements.pdf
Among the new requirements are:
Red: The county has very high positivity and community spread. When a county is in the Red metric, these requirements remain in effect until the metric has returned to Orange or lower for two weeks.
- Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 25 people.
- K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to participants, support personnel, and parents/guardians plus their minor children.
Orange: The county’s community spread is approaching high levels. These requirements are in effect when a county reaches the Orange metric and remain until a county moves to Yellow or Blue for two straight weeks.
- Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 50 people.
- K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to 25 percent capacity in consultation with local health departments.
Yellow: The county has moderate community spread.
- Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 100 people.
- K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to 25 percent capacity in consultation with local health departments.
Blue: The county has low community spread.
- Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 250 people.
- K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to 25 percent capacity in consultation with local health departments.
Regardless of a county’s color code, community recreational sports leagues and tournaments may continue but are limited to participants, support personnel, and parents/guardians and their minor children.
College and professional sports may continue with participants, support personnel and family members. A local health department may approve a plan for up to 25 percent capacity.
Face coverings are required for all Hoosiers. Businesses of all types are required to place clearly visible signs at their public and employee entrances notifying all that face coverings are required.
All customers in restaurants and bars are required to be seated. Tables, counters, or other seating arrangements must be spaced six feet apart.
The executive order is effective through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021.
Click here to see the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm
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USI Receives $2 Million Leadership Gift To Support Nursing Scholarships
The University of Southern Indiana Foundation has received a $2 million leadership gift from the estate of the late Hershel B. Whitney for nursing scholarships.
The Hershel B. Whitney Nursing Scholarship Endowment will honor the life and legacy of Whitney while providing scholarships for University of Southern Indiana undergraduate students who have been accepted into the Nursing Program. The Nursing Program at USI’s College of Nursing and Health Professions has a tradition of academic excellence. Since 2018, USI Bachelor of Science in Nursing cohorts have achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam, issued by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, exceeding the national average pass rate of 86% to 88%. Of graduates since 2018, more than 83% have chosen to remain in Indiana to provide care.
“We continue to be grateful for the generosity of Mr. Whitney. Now, more than ever, we recognize the invaluable care provided by nursing professionals in our community, our country and around the world, said Ronald S. Rochon, USI President. “This gift will provide financial assistance to USI students who have met the high standards required for entry into our Nursing Program. These scholarships will be meaningful to the individuals who have made the thoughtful decision to dedicate their lives to the nursing profession and care of others.â€
Dr. Ann White, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, commented, “Our nursing students continuously take on rigorous academic coursework and clinical hours required of the Nursing Program. The Hershel B. Whitney Nursing Scholarships will help ease the financial challenges of recipients as they work to become outstanding healthcare providers. We are immensely appreciative of Mr. Whitney’s investment in our students, faculty and program.â€
Whitney resided in Indianapolis and was employed with Eli Lilly and Company until his retirement. Following his death in 2015, the Hershel B. Whitney Charitable Trust selected the University of Southern Indiana to make a positive impact on programs that enhance the care and support of the population. In 2018, the Hershel B. Whitney Professorship in Gerontology and the Hershel B. Whitney Occupational Therapy Endowment were established at USI with a leadership gift from the trust.
UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES PROPOSED ACADEMIC REALIGNMENT
Dear Faculty,
After weeks of carefully reviewing and analyzing the academic programs at the University of Evansville, the President’s Council today presented a proposed academic realignment plan to UE Faculty for their review and input. The plan is designed to respond to the changing demographics in higher education and to ensure financial stability for the University as we build and expand on academic offerings that are expected to grow.
UE is not alone in having to reassess and realign our current academic programs. Colleges and universities across the nation are reimagining higher education and adapting to a world of changing student demand and economics
In developing this academic realignment plan, we were guided by the following four criteria: (1) the level of support provided to other UE academic programs, majors, and areas of growth; (2) the level of contribution to the University’s enrollment pipeline; (3) current enrollment levels and enrollment trends within departments and majors; and (4) financial analysis of each department and major.
An important note: All current students will be able to complete their majors. Academic program changes will not take effect until Fall 2022, and we commit to teaching current programs to ensure that all students can complete their course of study.
After an opportunity for our faculty to provide input on this draft academic plan, the University will adopt a comprehensive final plan that considers academic alignment and other University-wide alignment initiatives. The draft academic plan currently proposes the following:
- Consolidate the four Colleges and Schools into three Colleges: (1) William L. Ridgway College of Arts & Sciences, (2) College of Education & Health Sciences, and (3) College of Business & Engineering (including the Center for the Advancement of Learning).
- Eliminate three Departments: (1) Music; (2) Philosophy & Religion, and (3) Electrical Engineering and Computer Science including 12 associated majors: (1) Cognitive Science, (2) Computer Engineering, (3) Computer Science, (4) Electrical Engineering, (5) Ethics and Social Change, (6) Music, (7) Music Education, (8) Music Performance, (9) Music Therapy, (10) Philosophy, (11) Religion, and (12) Software Engineering.
- Eliminate five additional Majors: (1) Art History, (2) History, (3) Physics, (4) Political Science, and (5) Spanish.
The draft plan also provides for the reduction of faculty positions in Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Creative Writing/English, History, Math, Physics, Political Science, and Spanish. Faculty members whose positions are eliminated will be given 18 months advance notice.
UE will also offer a voluntary separation option for faculty members in the programs impacted that includes salary for 12 months without teaching or other University responsibilities plus a one-time, $10,000 payment to assist with healthcare costs. Details regarding the voluntary separation option will be provided to the faculty on Friday.
Faculty will have approximately 30 days to review the proposed academic realignment plan, including the data that served as a foundation for the draft plan, and offer meaningful input. The data will be made available on Friday and will be accessible with UE credentials.
As part of this review and feedback, there will be zoom sessions for faculty, staff and students with information forthcoming. Once the faculty’s recommendations are received, we expect to finalize the academic plan at the start of 2021.
The academic plan is part of a larger alignment for the University. We will outline those additional changes once academic realignment is finalized.
The proposed academic alignment plan is designed to eliminate underserved and unsustainable programs and allows for the investment of more resources to the greatest areas of growth. With these changes, the University will continue to offer more than 65 majors with plans to expanding academic offerings in all three of its Colleges.
These changes are difficult, but they will allow us to continue to invest in areas of growth, make the University financially sustainable, and better able to support our students for years to come. Providing our students a transformative education remains our highest priority at the University of Evansville.
Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz
President University of Evansville
ECVB WILL HOLD MONTHLY MEETING ON DECEMBER 14, 2020
Meetings of the Evansville Convention & Visitors Commission and the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (collectively “Commissionâ€) will convene its regular monthly meetings on Monday, December 14th, 2020. Â
The meeting will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at
Old National Events Plaza
715 Locust Street, Evansville, IN 47708
Please note that several staff and CVB Commissioners will be joining via Webex due to COVID-19.
The public is welcome to attend, but, pursuant to the Indiana Executive Orders; CDC and ISDH requirements: Public attendance will be limited with first preference given to the media. In accordance with the PAC guidelines the following accommodations will be made:
- A portion of those individuals present must include representatives from the media or the public.
- Access into ONEP will be limited to the Locust 2 door, no admittance will be allowed until five (5) minutes before the start of the meeting.Â
- Other reasonable restrictions on social distancing and movement may be made at the discretion of the President.Â
- Limited live public comment will be allowed.Â
- Any person attempting to enter may be subject to denial if displaying symptoms of COVID-19.
Notices and agendas for public meetings may be posted solely by electronic means during the duration of the Governor’s Emergency Declaration.Â
This public meeting is subject to the Indiana Executive Orders pertaining to temporary required remote electronic video conference or telephonic call public meeting procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak. Anyone who would like to listen to the meeting can do so by using the following link:
https://www.evansvillegov.org/egov/apps/services/index.egov?view=detail;id=13
DECEMBER 14, 2020 EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION
MEETING AGENDA
Monday, December 14, 2020
4:00 p.m. Room 307, Civic Center Complex
- EXECUTIVE SESSION:
- An executive session and a closed hearing will be held prior to the open session.
- The executive session and hearing are closed as provided by:
- I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(5): To receive information about and interview prospective employees.
- I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(6)(A): With respect to any individual over whom the governing body has jurisdiction to receive information concerning the individual’s alleged misconduct.
- I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(9): To discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees. This subdivision does not apply to a discussion of the salary, compensation, or benefits of employees during a budget process.
- OPEN SESSION:
- CALL TO ORDER
- ACKNOWLEDGE GUESTS
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
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- November 9, 2020Â (Cook, Scott, and Hamilton)
- APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
- PROBATIONARY OFFICER UPDATE:
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- Officers in the Field Training Program. Final interviews for Officers Narek Aghasaryan, Taz Cassidy, Kyle Dennis, Allison Farmer, Tyler Maier, Cole Miles, Sara Trembczynski, and Jordan Turnock.
- Officers in SWILEA.
- PENDING DISCIPLINARY MATTERS:
- 20-PO-11 – Corporal Tony Mayhew, Badge Number 773, 21-day suspension. Appeal filed and hearing moved to December 14th.Â
- 20-PO-12 – Officer Jarid Harris, Badge Number 1306, 21-day suspension. Amended order 20-PO-12A presented to the Commission for consideration.
- APPLICANTS:
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- 21-102
- 21-075
- 21-146
- 21-079
- 21-104
- 21-097
- 21-109
- PROMOTIONAL PROCESS:
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- Approval of written testing date accommodations for Sergeant Candidates 4828 and 1076. Tabled from the October 26th meeting.
- Certification is of the 2020 Sergeant’s promotional list of 22 candidates effective November 16, 2020 to November 15, 2022.
- MERIT AWARD RECOMMENDATION:
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- Officer Ryan Eagleson – for actions taken on October 6, 2020 regarding life-saving measures on a gunshot victim.
- RETIREMENTS:
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- Lieutenant Monty Guenin, Badge Number 0469, retiring effective January 19, 2021 after serving 26 years, 4 months, and 12 days.
- Officer Jeff Vantlin, Badge Number 1170, retiring effective January 20, 2021 after serving 26 years and 16 days.
- REMINDERS: The meeting scheduled for Monday, December 28, 2020 is canceled. The next meeting will be Monday, January 11th at 4:00pm.
- ADJOURNMENT