Partnerships
SIGMA Group
The partnership between SIGMA Group and USI’s Engineering Department to construct electronic testing and repair benches for SIGMA Surplus. The project involves designing and fabricating test benches to test surplus automation equipment (primarily human machine interfaces [HMIs], programmable logic controllers [PLCs] and motor drives). (CAR involved). https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2022/04/usi-engineering-department-partners-with-sigma-group-for-enhanced-product-testing-1/
CAP and Indiana High Schools
USI continues to prepare top high school students for college work through the College Achievement Program (CAP). In 2021-2022, CAP partnered with 30 high schools throughout Indiana to offer 2,114 unique students more than 11,000 college credit hours across 37 USI courses at a significantly reduced cost. Statistically, students who complete CAP courses are better prepared and more likely to graduate college in four years. https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2014/08/usi-continues-trend-toward-better-prepared-students/
GWEP, Deaconess, SWIRCA, and Department of Health and Human Services
The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has focused on bridging the medical and social care provided to older adults through partnerships with Deaconess Clinic and with SWIRCA & More and Generations, two local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2020/06/usi-grant-project-works-to-combat-social-isolation-strengthen-geriatrics-workforce/
Community-based or Service Learning activities
Historic New Harmony’s Robert Owen: Celebrating 250 Years—1771-2021
Historic New Harmony celebrated Robert Owen’s lasting legacy, impact on our area, and commitment to social reforms, child labor laws, and education with events from April to December 2021. Featured events included a creative writing contest, community garden day, community conversations, a scavenger hunt, movie night, and a party celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robert Owen’s birth. https://usi.edu/owen250
Homeless Connect
On Thursday, March 21, 2019 Summer Wilderman’s social work students spent the day in downtown Evansville participating in Homeless Connect. The one-day, one-stop event at Old National Events Plaza provides critical services (including housing, tax prep, job help and financial assistance) for those who are homeless or near homeless. Wilderman’s students spent five hours at the event—doing everything from set up and tear down to greeting guests and helping with their evaluations. Afterward, students discussed the experience as a group and reflected on it in individual papers. https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2019/03/collaboration-is-key-at-homeless-connect/
Academy of Innovative Studies Wellness Fair
Faculty from four CNHP disciplines, including Dr. Erin Reynolds, assistant professor of health services/administration, Kerseclia Patterson, SWI-AHEC academic outreach coordinator, Dr. Ethel Elkins, Dr. Phoneshia Wells, Dr. Gabriela Mustata Wilson, Julie St. Clair and Dr. Swateja Nimkar, and 118 USI students, and an array of community vendors planned and put on a wellness fair for 400 students at the Academy of Innovative Studies (AIS). The fair and served as a service learning project in six USI classes. Students designed flyers, arranged room layout for vendors, prepared surveys and informational brochures. Students also gave information about nutrition and proper exercise. https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2017/06/students-develop-professionalism-and-organizing-experience-for-wellness-fair/
NACEP Board Service
Jaclyn Dumond, Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning, has been a board member (President-Elect) of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) since 2020 and will serve as NACEP President beginning in late 2022 through 2024. https://www.nacep.org/about-nacep/board-of-directors/
High Impact Engagement Activities
BOP Plus Training Safety Training
Corporate Partnership with Lifelong Learning/Outreach and Engagement and the Tri-State Industrial Safety Council (TSISC) established a partnership in 2003 to address regional safety-related challenges for employers hiring contractors. The collaboration resulted in the launch of the Basic Orientation Plus™ (BOP) and Basic Orientation PlusTM-Refresher (BOP-R) Safety Programs, in the same year. Since that time, more than 120,000 contractors have been trained through BOP, BOP-R, and site-specific training modules, each receiving a credential (badge) that is recognized by all TSISC member employers in the region. This training, first and foremost, assists the region in obtaining an appropriately trained and safe contractor workforce. It offers consistent and standardized safety training that conforms to regulatory standards and industry-accepted practices. It provides a cost-effective and timely solution to eliminate delays in starting contractor jobs/projects. It also eliminates redundant safety training for the contractor workforce by providing reciprocal, centralized training and tracking by an independent third party. https://www.usi.edu/outreach/tri-state-industrial-safety-council/
SANE Training
Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC), hosted by the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana, has received funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to spearhead the Indiana SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Training Project statewide to provide advanced nursing education to increase the number of SANE nurses. During the three-year project period, the Indiana SANE Training Project is focused on three primary goals:
In addition to the Indiana SANE Training Project, Southwest Indiana AHEC has offered Adult/Adolescent SANE training at USI for the past three years. https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2019/04/southwest-indiana-ahec-leads-indiana-sane-training-project-to-boost-number-of-sexual-assault-nurse-examiners/
Ngwempisi River Footbridge
A team of University of Southern Indiana students and faculty representing the USI’s Engineering Program spent eight weeks in Mdlasomi, eSwatini in southern Africa assisting in the construction of a 95-meter footbridge over the Ngwempisi River—a project with life-saving implications. USI students and faculty coordinated with the Cornell chapter of EIA on the bridge design process during the spring 2019 semester. The summer trip to Mdlasomi brought the project full circle, allowing the students and faculty to see in person what it took to build a bridge that would serve more than 540 homesteads in the immediate area. https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2019/09/african-bridge-project-first-step-toward-joining-elite-national-program/
Projects and Research Opportunities
UNITE (Undergraduate Nano Ionospheric Temperature Explorer) was a CubeSat nanosatellite developed by the University of Southern Indiana. The project was funded by NASA's Undergraduate Student Instrument Project and primarily designed and built by students. The UNITE CubeSat satellite, built to measure plasma levels in the lower ionosphere, was delivered to the International Space Station on a SpaceX Dragon cargo ship. It was launched into space on 5 December 2018 and deployed into its orbit from the International Space Station on 31 January 2019. The USI team received a $200,000 grant through the NASA Undergraduate Student Instrument Project and additional funding from the USI Engineering department, USI Endeavor Awards and the Indiana Space Grant Consortium. https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2019/02/usi-students-professors-celebrate-successful-unite-cubesat-deployment/
Indiana Economic Development Association
The University of Southern Indiana’s Center for Applied Research (CAR) was selected by the Indiana Economic Development Association (IEDA) to conduct a comprehensive statewide study on tax incremental financing (TIF). The study was headed by Dr. Mohammed Khayum, Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar Dr. Perry Burnett.
TIF is a tool used by municipalities to further economic development by making necessary improvements, such as new roads, and providing incentives that attract new businesses and expand existing ones.
“To clear up possible confusion and document best practices, IEDA is funding and directing a fair and non-partisan TIF study,” said Lee Lewellen, CEO of the IEDA. “The overall goal and USI focus will be to produce a solid IEDA study that will serve as a valid benchmark and prove useful in the years to come.” https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2015/11/usi-center-for-applied-research-to-conduct-economic-development-tax-study/
Minka House
The University of Southern Indiana unveiled a unique, prefabricated Minka house at a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, October 24. The dwelling, one of the first of its kind, was built on campus in less than a week and designed by nationally-renowned aging expert Dr. Bill Thomas. The Minka was designed using universal design accessibility and advanced manufacturing technology and will serve as a model house and simulation lab for USI students across multiple disciplines.
Minka is a prefabricated housing system created by Dr. Thomas and designed in collaboration with Denmark-based AGJ Architects to create a globally-affordable housing platform that can be adapted to meet the needs of people of different ages and abilities. Minka stems from a Japanese term meaning “house of the people,” and was traditionally used to refer to the dwelling of farmers, artisans and merchants.
Thomas’ Minka is designed to maximize independence and well-being through the application of smart-house technology and universal design accessibility. The pilot Minka unit, located on the USI campus, will serve as an educational environment to drive innovation for future design and functionality of similar units. https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2018/10/usi-unveils-robotic-manufactured-magic-house-designed-by-renowned-aging-expert-dr-bill-thomas/