Parents Association Today eNewsletter

April 2011

● UE Highlights
● Residence Halls Closed for Summer 2011
● Spring Commencement 2011
● It's Not Too Late to Order Graduation Announcements!
● Job Outlook
● Big News For Our Parents With Graduating Seniors
● REMINDER to All Parents
● Holocaust Survivor Spoke to UE Community
● The Sodexo Minute
● UE Mourns Trustee John H. Schroeder
● Your New Grad's Health Insurance May End Sooner Than You Think!
● Thank You Graduating Members of Parents Council!
● UE Student Research Study

UE Highlights

What's happening on Campus?
Congratulations to the Class of 2011, who will be graduating Saturday, May 7th.

Treasures and Traditions
Did you know that...
Before the University of Evansville began operating Harlaxton Manor as a college in 1971, the manor cycled through a series of owners and occupants. One was Violet Van der Elst, who purchased Harlaxton in 1937 after developing Shavex, the first brushless shaving cream. The wealthy businesswoman grew infamous for her vocal campaigns against capital punishment and unsuccessful runs for political office. She was forced to sell Harlaxton and died penniless in 1966 — the year after Britain abolished capital punishment for murder.

UE Salutes...
Chloe Stanfield, a junior Visual Communications major from Detroit, and Jaymes Hughes, a sophomore Sociology major from Indianapolis. They both received Zerah Priestly Carter Scholarships on April 9, 2011, for the upcoming school year from the UE African American Alumni Association.

Sociology majors Matt Hummel, Rachel Tarantino and Annie Shackelford and International Studies major Kelsey Shantz presented results of their research at the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference on Friday, April 15.

Congratulations to Robb Gallegos, the first place winner in the Foreign Languages Department Photo Contest. Robb submitted a photo taken while studying abroad in Mexico in summer 2010. The second place photo also taken in Mexico in summer 2010 was submitted by Laura Epley, and the third place photo taken in Costa Rica in spring 2010 was submitted by Ben Menke. All contest photos will be displayed on the Foreign Language Department bulletin boards in Hyde Hall and Olmsted Hall and posted on its webpage at foreignlanguages.evansville.edu. The first place photo will be framed and displayed in the Foreign Language Office in Room 350 in Olmsted Hall

UE students Andrew Baker, Joanne DeMaio, Brittany DeWitt, Kaylea Flater, Allison Hayden, Danielle Raymond, Rebecca Totton, Kandace Leehands, Bethany Sanstrum and Lacey Conley presented their undergraduate research findings at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research month at Ithaca College in New York. The students were accompanied on their journey by Dr. Don Batema and Dr. Lora Becker. The majority of the students’ research and travel were funded through the UExplorer Program.

Residence Halls Closed for Summer 2011

All UE residential facilities officially close at noon on the Thursday following Finals Week. However, students must officially check out of housing within 24 hours following their last exam. To see our Closing Residence Life E-Newsletter click here: http://residencelife.evansville.edu/E-News/10-11/4-18-2011-Closing.htm It has information about last meal services, checking out, extended stay requests, summer housing, housing cancellation deadlines, Fall Move-in, early arrival requests, and more!

Here are a few quick dates and deadlines:
Extended Stay Request Due - Wednesday April 27, 5pm
MicroFridge Return - Wednesday April 27, Schroeder Lot G 10am-12pm, Hale Loop 1pm-3pm
Electronics Recycling - April 29 Hale Loop 12-2 pm Lagoon 2-4 pm
Housing Cancellation Deadline - May 1
Last Meal in Café Court – May 4, 4:30-5:30
Halls Close - Thursday May 5, Noon
Early Arrival Request Deadline - May 27

Resident Students Association(RSA) is also extending their gift package program to include welcome packs for Fall Move-In. You can purchase these packs over the summer and they will be hand delivered to your son or daughter by their RA after they move in this Fall. Watch for a mailer from RSA this Summer!

Spring Commencement 2011

- Commencement ceremonies will begin 1:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Roberts Stadium.

- Student Robing is at 12:30 p.m.

- Faculty Robing is at 1:00 p.m.

- Baccalaureate service is at 10:00 a.m. on campus in Neu Chapel.

- Plenty of seating is available for family and friends to attend Commencement and Baccalaureate.

- Please refer to our campus map for the location of Neu Chapel (#27).

For more information on the 2011 Spring Commencement ceremony, please contact UE Director of News Services, Mrs. Kristen Lund, at (812) 488- 2241.

It's Not Too Late to Order Graduation Announcements!

Parents if your son or daughter still needs graduation announcements for May graduation you should contact the UE Bookstore as soon as possible to get your order in time for mailing. The basic package is $59.95 (not including tax). The announcement order form is downloadable at www.evansville.bkstr.com. It can be faxed to the Bookstore at 812-488-6411. Please allow 3-5 days for processing an announcement order. Also Cap and Gowns are available for purchase in the Bookstore. Bachelor cap and gowns are $26.75 including the tax, but they should be purchased ASAP to insure that the gown size is in stock.

You can also view our website at the above mentioned address for graduation gifts, including our selection of 6 graduation frames available for shipment. If you have any questions in regard to this information please contact the UE Bookstore at 812-488-2678.

For more information regarding Commencement 2010, including a schedule for the day, please visit http://www.evansville.edu/commencement/.

Job Outlook

It is not too late to get in the professional job search. UE graduates are entering a job market that is really heating up. The office of Career Services and Cooperative Education is eager to assist you with your job search; whether here in Evansville, IN or across the globe. Career Services provides individualized support either in person or long distance and has a wealth of web-based career resources: http://careerservices.evansville.edu. According to recent research, searching for professional employment is like a full-time job itself. Successful candidates should devote 20+ hours per week in finding a job and apply for at least 10 positions per week. There is no time like the present! Encourage your graduate to contact Career Services today! 812-488-1083; career@evansville.edu.

Good news on hiring outlook:

JOB OUTLOOK: HIRING UP 19.3 PERCENT THIS YEAR

Spotlight for Career Services Professionals, April 14, 2011
Spotlight for Recruiting and Employment Professionals, April 14, 2011

For the first time since 2007, employers report a double-digit increase in their spring hiring projections, according to results of NACE’s 2011 Job Outlook Spring Update. The first hiring projections made for the Class of 2011 in the Job Outlook 2011 Fall Preview showed a planned increase in hiring of 13.5 percent for this year’s crop of new graduates. In this latest update, employers indicate they plan to hire 19.3 percent more graduates in 2010-11 than they did in 2009-10.

Following are some other highlights from NACE’s 2011 Job Outlook Spring Update:

Overall, the number of applications employers received for each opening has risen nearly 45 percent since last year at this time, but the total number of positions/job postings reported by respondents has nearly tripled. Thus, the average number of applications received per position dropped from 40.5 in 2010 to just over 21 currently.
With the exception of just four industries, increases in hiring are seen across the board. Results suggest that oil/gas extraction, chemical (pharmaceutical) manufacturers, computer/electronics manufacturers, and employers in the finance, insurance, and real estate group are among the best bets for Class of 2011 graduates.
For the Class of 2011, college hiring is increasing in all regions. The increase projected by the Northeast is the largest, and nearly identical to what employers in this region projected in 2010. Compared to last year at this time, the Midwest and Western regions show the most improvement.
Employers were given a list of skills/qualities to rate and verbal skills were top ranked, followed by the ability to make decisions and solve problems, and the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.
Expectations for spring 2011 on-campus recruiting look promising, as 80 percent of respondents expect to recruit for full-time and/or internship positions.

Big News For Our Parents With Graduating Seniors

All seniors currently have a chance to give back to UE through the Senior Gift Campaign! Gifts of all sizes are welcome, and may be designated to any fund. Seniors also have a one-time chance to buy an engraved brick for the walkway between Ridgway University Center and Graves Hall. Until graduation, they may purchase a brick by paying $25 now, and $25 for each of the next three years. If your student is interested, please ask them to contact Emily Sights at es270@evansville.edu or 812-488-2440.

Also, the University of Evansville is excited to announce the creation of a brand new Young Alumni membership for our President’s Club. By making the senior gift of $100, your graduate can be among the very first Young Alumni President’s Club members, ever! The President’s Club is UE’s premier leadership giving program. Up until now, the membership gift requirement was $1,000+. However, for first year graduates, the gift for President’s Club membership has been established as $100. (Each year after graduation, the membership will increase by $100 per year, up to ten years). The benefits for your Young Alumni President’s Club member will include an engraved brick at Ridgway Center, networking opportunities at President’s Club events throughout the year, recognition in the annual President’s Club brochure, and an invitation to the annual President’s Club dinner. Gifts may be made on line at www.evansville.edu/give or by contacting Scott Gilreath at sg157@evansville.edu or at 812-488-2429. Thank you so much for your support. It means so much to future students at UE!

ALL SENIOR GIFTS RECEIVED BY APRIL 27 WILL ALSO RECEIVE RECOGNITION IN THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM!

REMINDER to All Parents

Don’t forget—the Kazee Challenge ends soon! Do not miss your chance to have your Annual Fund gift matched dollar-for-dollar by the Challenge! If you have a corporate matching gift, that will be matched as well.

The Kazee Challenge will also “pay off” in another way if you are a parent who is also a UE Alumni. Our alumni participation rate is currently 14%. Each time we increase 2%, the Annual Fund will earn $25,000! So alums, please make a gift today by calling 812-488-2271 or visiting www.evansville.edu/give.

Holocaust Survivor Spoke to UE Community

Ela Stein Weissberger was 11 years old in 1942 when she arrived at Terezin, a concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. Of the 15,000 children who passed through the camp during World War II — on their way to Auschwitz, Treblinka, and other death camps — fewer than 150 survived. Weissberger will share her experiences as a Holocaust survivor and original cast member of Brundibár, a children’s opera. She spoke to the UE community Tuesday, April 19.

Weissberger arrived in Evansville a week earlier to speak at local performances of Brundibár, a whimsical children’s opera depicting the triumph of the human spirit over oppression. It was originally performed by children in the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust. Weissberger portrayed the cat in all 55 performances at Terezin, and she also appeared in the propaganda film The Fuehrer Presents the Jews with a City, for which the Nazis filmed Brundibár in an attempt to hide the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The Sodexo Minute

Your student is always busy' so busy they may not even know when they're running low on Flex Dollars! Make life a little easier by adding Flex to your student's dining account online today. It's easier than sending cash and ensures she'll always have funds available for more than just meals on campus. (Like when she realizes she's out of money and laundry detergent.) To add Flex by credit or debit card visit http://evansville.campuscardcenter.com.

To add funds, you will need the student's card number and last name. To check an account balance, the student's card number and password are needed.

To view the whole Sodexo newsletter and calendar for April, please visit our website at http://www.uedining.com/index.html.

UE Mourns Trustee John H. Schroeder

The University of Evansville is saddened by the news that John H. Schroeder, a life member of the UE Board of Trustees and lifelong friend to the University, has passed away. He was 90.

Over the last six decades, the life and legacy of John H. Schroeder has played an increasingly central role in shaping the University of Evansville; today, it is impossible to overlook the contributions he has made to our campus. From his work in championing UE’s relationship with Harlaxton College, to his role in comforting and steering a campus devastated by the tragic loss if its basketball team, all the way up through his support of the business school that now bears his name, John H. Schroeder was among the greatest champions the University of Evansville has ever seen.

Mr. Schroeder’s relationship with the University of Evansville began in 1955, when he joined the building committee for the University Clifford Memorial Library at Evansville College. In 1964, Mr. Schroeder joined the UE Board of Trustees. While serving on the Board, he was one of the first trustees interested in pursuing the acquisition of Harlaxton College, UE’s campus in Grantham, England. Mr. Schroeder’s leadership was also displayed after the UE plane crash in December 1977 when, as chairman of the Board of Trustees he helped the school and community to remain strong and rebuild after such a devastating loss.

Mr. Schroeder’s most recent gift to the university was the Schroeder Family School of Business building, a state-of-the-art facility that has received national attention and will be instrumental in attracting world- class talent and scholarship to Evansville.

To read more about John H. Schroeder and the legacy he left behind, please click here.

Your New Grad's Health Insurance May End Sooner Than You Think!

The Alumni Association offers health insurance to fill the needs of many students who will be without coverage after graduation. Parental policies often end as early as the day before graduation. Most products are available to family members as well —even if they didn’t attend University of Evansville. Don’t risk going without health insurance, especially when affordable options are available. Watch the mail for more information or visit www.meyerandassoc.com/ma/UE.

Thank You Graduating Members of Parents Council!

A special thanks and congratulations go to the following Parents Council Members who’s sons or daughters are graduating in May 2011:

- Mrs. Debra Armstrong, Parents' Fund
- Ms. Susan Flater,   Parents' Fund
- Mr. and Mrs. Steve Klein,   Parent Communication
- Mr. and Mrs. James Metcalfe,   Parents Council Co-Chairs and Admission Support
- Mr. J. Cory Mills,   Parents' Fund Chair
- Mrs Judith Seitzinger,   Admission Support Chair
- Dr. Harry Switzer,   Parent Communication

Thanks to those graduating parents who have agreed to stay involved and connected to UE!

UE Student Research Study

The recent financial crisis demonstrates the importance of improving financial literacy among U.S. households. We are an academic research group at the University of Evansville conducting research to improve our understanding of financial literacy to improve the effectiveness of financial education and support the decision-making process in America.

We need your help in filling out this brief survey. By contributing 10 minutes of your time, you are helping us develop a strategy to help our country prosper and avoid a crisis like the recent economic recession.

To aid in the accuracy of our results, please answer the questions from the stand point of your entire household. Also, please do not "guess." If you do not understand a question, choose "I do not know".

The survey is completely anonymous; your answers will not be associated with you in any way.

This research study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Evansville on Feb 21, 2011. We would greatly appreciate if you would aid in our research by forwarding this survey to your friends, colleagues, and family members.

Take the Financial Literacy Survey

Thank you for your contribution!
Financial Research Group