At its regular meeting on Thursday, November 2, the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees approved a new Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art degree within the USI College of Liberal Arts.

The Art and Design Department, within the USI College of Liberal Arts, will offer the BFA in Art featuring concentrations in graphic design, illustration, interactive media design, photography and studio art, providing students with both in-depth artistic exploration and a broad understanding of the discipline.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the concentrations within the degree are anticipated to experience employment growth rates between 4% and 8% over the next decade. This program is particularly suited for aspiring art directors, special effects artists, interior designers, graphic designers and craft/fine artists.

The BFA in Art degree will next be reviewed by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. It is scheduled to begin instruction in Fall 2024.

In other business, the Trustees approved the conferral of degrees to candidates for 2023 Fall Commencement Exercises and approved two honorary degree recipients. Tim Mahoney, Instructor Emeritus of Economics, will receive an honorary Doctor of Business degree, and Marjorie Labhart, Instructor Emerita of Mathematics, will receive an honorary Doctor of Mathematics degree.

Mahoney will be recognized for his unwavering dedication to teaching and advising and his continuous service to the University. Labhart will be recognized for her dedication and expertise in the field of mathematics and her long-standing support of USI.

The Board also heard reports on student financial assistance and campus construction projects.

The University of Southern Indiana Center for Social Justice Education (CSJE) and the USI Mandela Day Committee will host a social justice activism fair from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 8 on The Quad. The rain location is the first floor of University Center East. The event is open to the public at no charge.

The fair will connect organizations in the community such as Evansville Recovery Alliance, Feminist Majority Alliance, Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare Diversity Equity and Engagement Committee, and many more with USI students, faculty and staff. Participants will discover how to get involved in social justice efforts through volunteer opportunities and information on upcoming events in the community.

“As a social justice warrior, the essence of compassion and humanitarian efforts is when we commit to being the voice for the voiceless in the fight for equity and equality,” says Dr. Veronica Huggins, Director of the Center for Social Justice Education.

More than 1,500 spots will be added in 18 counties across the state

INDIANAPOLIS – The Family and Social Service Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning awarded more than $8.7 million to child care providers to expand access to high-quality early education for Hoosier families.

OECOSL awarded 21 grants to 11 centers, four ministries, four homes and two public schools. The grants will add 1,572 child care seats in 18 Indiana counties. Seven providers received up to $200,000 to expand existing programs by updating facilities and operations; 14 received up to $750,000 to create new programs in underserved areas of the state. Additional grants may be awarded.

“This Child Care Expansion Grant will help high-quality providers grow their businesses and serve more children and families, particularly in underserved areas of Indiana, or expand availability to priority age groups where care is often hardest to find,” said Courtney Penn, OECOSL director. “The first five years of a child’s life are the most significant to build a strong foundation for future success. We are always looking for opportunities such as this to partner with providers to serve hard-working Hoosier families.”

Grant funds were made possible through Senate Enrolled Act 2 from the 2022 Indiana General Assembly special session.

“This expansion grant helps to build upon FSSA’s recent work to help stabilize and grow child care in Indiana to support providers and build available child care capacity,” FSSA Secretary Dan Rusyniak, M.D. said. “These investments directly strengthen the workforce.”

Just last month, FSSA announced the $25 million Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund, part of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda, to mobilize employers and communities to create or expand child care offerings that address the needs of working Hoosiers.

In recent years, FSSA has provided $542 million in stabilization grants to more than 3,300 child care providers to help them rebuild after the instability caused by the pandemic, which led to a 29% decrease in vacant child care and early learning teaching positions from 2021 to 2022.