Fall 2014
Outreach and Engagement improves structure to align with core purpose By Brandi Schwartz, marketing coordinator for Outreach and Engagement and engage editor Since joining the University more than three years ago, Dr. Mark Bernhard, associate provost for Outreach and Engagement, has helped lead a series of retreats focused on the future direction of Outreach and Engagement. These retreats helped the division define and clarify a core purpose as well as a set of core values and goals. In order to achieve its core purpose and become better aligned with the University’s strategic plan, several changes have been made to the structure of Outreach and Engagement. As editor of engage, I recently sat down with Dr. Bernhard to learn more about these changes and how they will impact Outreach and Engagement and the University. What are the recent changes in Outreach and Engagement? The core purpose of Outreach and Engagement is Unleashing Potential and Expanding Knowledge. We are here to enhance the livelihood of individuals, organizations and communities. When looking at the different units within Outreach and Engagement, it made sense to look at how we could be structured in such a way that would focus on some overarching areas. These areas include Lifelong Learning, Community Engagement, Applied Innovation and Distance Learning. I have assigned a leader to each of these areas, which include: Linda Cleek, executive director of Lifelong Learning; Leslie Townsend, director of Community Engagement; Daniela Vidal, director of Applied Innovation; and Megan Linos, assistant provost for Distance Learning. Distance Learning was within the division before and it was recently decided to have Distance Learning come back to Outreach and Engagement. We are
is where the Community Engagement piece comes in. This area includes our Service Learning Program, Historic New Harmony, Historic Southern Indiana, grants and special projects and other community engagement initiatives. This area will be thinking about how we can continue to partner with neighborhoods, nonprofits and other organizations within the community. We’re really excited to enhance faculty, staff and student engagement within communities.
really looking forward to expanding our online offerings within credit and noncredit programs. Outreach and Engagement has been divided into four areas: Lifelong Learning, Community Engagement, Applied Innovation and Distance Learning. Why were these areas selected? As we look at our constituents of individuals, organizations and communities, and where we spend most of our time, it made sense that these would be the four areas to focus on. Lifelong Learning includes continuing and professional education, corporate training and partnerships, Education Services and Partnerships, College Achievement Program, Veteran Support Services, Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), Southern Indiana Japanese School and the Bachelor of General Studies program. This area primarily revolves around educating individuals and organizations, allowing them to provide themselves with a competitive advantage. Outreach and Engagement is heavily involved with the community and the region. This
Outreach and Engagement is very interested in innovation as a whole. How can we be innovative as an organization? How can we be innovative to our employees? How can we inspire innovation in our employees, our customers and our clients? These are questions that our Applied Innovation area will be addressing. Applied Innovation includes applied research, USI-Crane partnership, tech transfer, resource development, Innovation Pointe and the I-69 Innovation Corridor. This area will work with organizations to help solve their applied research problems and look at ways to enhance our services to entrepreneurs and businesses. Applied Innovation will incubate new ideas that can either be delivered by this part of the organization or that could be carried out through Lifelong Learning, Community Engagement or Distance Learning. With Distance Learning, we will be looking at ways to enhance the work that has already been done and how we can grow and sustain the quality and quantity of our programs. As the University is looking at ways that it can find alternative revenue streams, I truly believe that this is an area we need to take a close look at. We are absolutely going to be involving
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Letter from the Associate Provost Greetings from Outreach and Engagement! As you can tell from the cover story, I am personally thrilled with the work we are doing and the new directions we are taking with our programmatic initiatives and evolving Bernhard structure. We are planning retreats this fall for all four-core areas of Lifelong Learning, Community Engagement, Applied Innovation and Distance Learning. The purpose of these retreats will be to develop key performance indicators for each of these areas, as well as a couple of newly formed big goals for each of these areas. Among our current division highlights: Daniela Vidal, director of Applied Innovation; Mike Thissen, Innovation Corridor manager and I, along with Mohammed Khayum, dean of the Romain College of Business; Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education and Debbie Dewey, president of the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, presented at the University Economic Development Association’s national conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on “Leading Regional Transformation Change Through Innovation: A presentation on the I-69 Innovation Corridor in Southwestern Indiana.” More than 250 leaders from across the country attended the conference. Since the last issue of engage was published, two new employees have joined the Outreach and Engagement team. We welcome Debra Mabern, veteran support services associate and Paula Nurrenbern, resource development specialist. A special treat for Mike Thissen and me was an invitation to attend President Barack Obama’s visit to Millennium Steel on October 4 in Princeton, Indiana. What a great event! We look forward to continuing our important collaborative work with USI faculty, staff and students, as well as community partners. Please let us know how we can help you achieve your personal enrichment or professional development goals. You can find us online at USI.edu/outreach.
Outreach and Engagement Associate Provost of Outreach and Engagement Dr. Mark C. Bernhard 812-464-1829 Applied Innovation Daniela Vidal
I-69 Innovation Corridor Michael Thissen 812-464-1851 Resource Development Paula Nurrenbern 812-461-5425 USI/Crane Partnership Dr. Andrew Moad 812-228-5153 USI @ Innovation Pointe Gene Recker 812-492-4394 Community Engagement Leslie Townsend 812-465-7013 Grants and Special Projects Linda Reed
812-461-5014
Historic New Harmony Connie Weinzapfel
812-682-4488
Historic Southern Indiana Leslie Townsend 812-465-7013 Service Learning Dr. Marie Opatrny 812-465-1203 Distance Learning Megan Linos
All the best,
812-461-5407
Applied Research Elissa Bakke 812-461-5407
812-465-1061
Lifelong Learning Linda Cleek 812-464-1829
Dr. Mark C. Bernhard Associate Provost for Outreach and Engagement
Bachelor of General Studies Lee Ann Shafer 812-464-1879 Continuing Professional Education Debra Wolf 812-465-1117 Corporate Partnerships Charmaine McDowell 812-464-1629 Education Services and Partnerships Jaclyn Dumond 812-465-1274 ROTC Major Chris Dalrymple
812-461-6304
Southern Indiana Japanese School Keietsu Nishimura 812-471-1210 Veteran Support Services Joel Matherly
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Outreach and Engagement • University of Southern Indiana
812-461-5302
engage editor/Marketing Coordinator Brandi Schwartz 812-464-1854
Outreach and Engagement improves structure to align with core purpose (continued) students, faculty and external partners to look at our distance learning portfolio and program as a whole. Outreach and Engagement adds a lot to this since we can bring different perspectives that can be very helpful. How do these changes align with the University’s strategic plan and the mission of Outreach and Engagement? When it comes to the strategic plan, Outreach and Engagement is really involved with enhancing experiential learning opportunities and providing leadership for the region. With the Distance Learning and Applied Innovation areas, we can really help with the goal of becoming a 24/7 campus and increasing our graduation rates. Lifelong Learning is really at the heart of what this University does. As a matter of fact, in a recent environmental scanning project for USI’s current strategic plan, lifelong learning and engagement were identified as two of the top environmental trends USI should take note of. I think we’re already hitting the mark in those areas and now we’re just looking to enhance them. When looking at the mission of Outreach and Engagement, I come back to our core purpose (Unleashing Potential, Expanding Knowledge), which is equivalent to our mission. If you look at what we
are trying to accomplish by focusing on Lifelong Learning, Community Engagement, Applied Innovation and Distance Learning, I think we are really living into and giving our best chance to maximize our core purpose. How will the University and community benefit from these changes? I think the University and community will understand us better. The changes will allow us to simplify our messaging and ability to most effectively communicate with all of our constituents. It’s going to give us the ability to really think about how we want to communicate and relate the changes and our evolution. We will be more consciously focused and structured on these new areas, which can lead to more impactful growth-oriented programs and long lasting business relationships. What are the future goals of Outreach and Engagement? Some of our goals include growth and sustainability. We also are focused on helping the University to be more programmatically and financially successful and to achieve both its strategic plan and mission. Our goal is to help enhance the work that the University does. I believe the future is really bright for us.
Semiosphere and Bicentennial Print Invitational at New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art between these worlds upon interaction with one another. The exhibition will run through November 14. “Semiosphere” features a mix of local, regional and national artists and offers a wide range of styles and media from functional ceramics to digital prints. Yuri Lotman, who was in the field of Semiotics, coined the term “semiosphere” in 1982. “Semiosphere” seeks to establish a cultural model that encompasses all potential signification systems. It is an attempt to create a universal dialogue that will allow for meaningful interconnections between seemingly disconnected elements. “This is the sense of semiosphere in the contemporary world, steadily expanding into space over the centuries, it has now taken on a global character, and includes within itself the call signs of satellites, the verse of poets and the cry of animals,” said Lotman. “The interdependence of these elements of the semiosphere is not metaphorical, but a reality.”
Photo courtesy of Beauvais Lyons “Ornithological Quadrupeds: Burmese Lion Hawk,” a lithograph from the “Semiosphere” exhibition. The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art is currently hosting “Semiosphere,” a multimedia exhibition that looks at the concept of Utopia in the context of invented worlds and the dialogue created
In celebration of the town’s bicentennial, the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art also is organizing an invitational print exhibition and portfolio exchange. The invitational has three broad goals: serve as a vehicle to bring contemporary printmaking from across the nation to a rural region of the United States, highlight the democratic and communal aspect of the medium through the portfolio exchange format and help secure the future of the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art’s cultural legacy with philanthropic support. A reception for the exhibition will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 22 at the gallery. The reception will be held in conjunction with the final New Harmony Art and Antique Stroll of the year. The exhibition will run through December 24. The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art is located at 506 Main Street in New Harmony, Indiana, and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 812-682-3156 or visit nhgallery.com.
en•gage (en’gaj) verb 1. to establish a meaningful contact or connection 2. to occupy, attract, or involve 3. to actively commit
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Applications now available for USI’s 2015 Connect with Southern Indiana program the strategic entrepreneurial process with the objectives to reinforce and develop divergent thinking, analytical thinking and communication skills. The primary goal is the development and communication of an organizational model in an atmosphere that is based on team collaboration and coaching. “One of the things that sets the Connect program apart is its focus on the region as opposed to one county or community,” said Leslie Townsend, director of Community Engagement. “Participants get a chance to not only learn about the nine counties, but to visit each one and selected attractions. In addition, the techniques used by the USI faculty to present the material make for a very interactive and high energy approach to problem solving.” Ann Tornatta, marketing and communications manager at Deaconess Health System (left), and Linda Reed, grant writer/special project coordinator in USI Outreach and Engagement, go over the details of their project during a 2014 Connect with Southern Indiana session.
Connect with Southern Indiana, a regional leadership program managed by USI’s department of Community Engagement, is accepting applications for its 2015 class. An annual program, Connect with Southern Indiana provides invaluable, tangible skills, including the opportunity to meet others from the region with similar concerns and interests, identify areas for collaborative projects and meet business and civic leaders while developing creative problem solving skills. Connect with Southern Indiana contains a social entrepreneurship model in which participants seek innovative solutions to a variety of problems or needs. Participants will bridge the gap between entrepreneurial thought and practice by focusing on activities that must be carried out by a variety of businesses and organizations. The program is designed to actively immerse participants in
Participants will attend 10 full-day sessions between January and May. Members of the class will develop a collaborative project, which they will present at the end of the program. USI faculty and staff and community leaders will facilitate all programs. Open to USI students and Indiana residents living in Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh or Warrick counties, up to 24 individuals will be selected for the program. Applicants should have an interest in improving the quality of life in their community and/or region, a desire to develop leadership skills, and to become actively involved in their area. One year’s residency in the region prior to January 2015 is required. Additional information and an application for the 2015 Connect with Southern Indiana class can be found at USI.edu/connect. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 7. For more details, contact Townsend at 812-465-7013 or ltownsen@usi.edu.
Service Learning Program engages students, enhances learning Seven years ago, USI Outreach and Engagement launched a formal Service Learning Program designed to support faculty and staff who incorporate community projects into courses and activities for students. In accordance with USI’s mission statement and Carnegie Foundation compliance standards, the USI Service Learning Program supports both academic and curricular service learning projects. The program aims to enhance academic learning by challenging students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.
USI students participate in a service learning activity with Habitat for Humanity.
Two types of service learning are available: academic and curricular. Academic activities are credit-based courses that integrate community service, faculty instruction and structured reflection. Curricular projects are noncredit-based activities sponsored by a specific academic major or program and occur outside a traditional classroom setting. There are currently 1,400 students enrolled in 79 courses with a service learning component. Continued on page 6
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Outreach and Engagement • University of Southern Indiana
Princeton entrepreneur partners with USI to bring design to life
Prepared by Rebekah Wuchner, intern in the Center for Applied Research and Economic Development This summer, USI’s Center for Applied Research and Economic Development (CARED) partnered with local entrepreneur Adam Hudson to turn an idea into reality. Using a 3D printer at USI’s Applied Engineering Center, Hudson, president of Hudson Satellite Positioning Corporation in Princeton, Indiana, was able to turn a new design concept into a three-dimensional prototype.
technician for USI’s Applied Engineering Center, printed the design on a 3D printer. The new product is 20 percent smaller, ports have been relocated, the design is sleeker and it can now track two points of location, making the device more versatile.
The product is a system that integrates a computer console with a global positioning system (GPS) to create a compact and efficient satellite positioning system. The system would save a business time and money, as large vehicles would use less fuel to locate their desired position. Hudson’s first version was tough enough to withstand the environment but could only track one point of location and was complicated and heavy. After the original prototype was created, concerns were raised about the locations of the ports and the overall size. With this information, Hudson created a new design with a manufactured appearance that better reflected the buyers’ needs as well as withstood typical wear and tear. However, moving forward with the new design required more capital than he could provide as a small business owner. After hitting this roadblock, Hudson was connected with CARED by Todd Mosby, president and CEO of Gibson County Economic Development Corporation. Through this collaboration, Hudson was able to bring his design to life. Under the supervision of David Ellert, USI instructor in engineering, Alexander Flick, a student engineering
Hudson said having a physical prototype will increase his Adam Hudson holds the prototype he created chances of gaining with the help of USI’s Center for Applied Research a global account and Economic Development. and expanding his business. When approaching potential buyers, he’ll be able to present a prototype that can be touched and clearly visualized. “I want them to take what they saw in the field and push the fact that this product is unique and that it can be modified to fit their business’ needs,” he said.
Mother and son share passion for New Harmony Seth Wolf, a USI sophomore biology/ pre-med major, has fond childhood memories of New Harmony, Indiana. “As a child, my parents took my sister and me to New Harmony several times. We always went to Murphy Park to play, ate Seth Wolf poses with his mother Deb Wolf. fried chicken from Mill Mart and visited the various fountains around town as well as the Roofless Church to see where mom and dad got married,” said Seth. “It is so different from Evansville, or probably any other town or city a person is used to.” As his high school graduation got closer, Seth had a conversation with his mother. Little did he know that conversation would help set the stage for his future involvement with New Harmony. “Mom mentioned that I could pursue working as an interpreter in New Harmony, just like she did shortly after she got married.” Once Seth entered his freshman year of college, he began working as an interpreter at the Atheneum for USI’s Historic New Harmony, a position he continues to hold today. As an interpreter, Seth gives
guided walking tours of New Harmony, which includes access to numerous historic sites and special exhibits. A young man following in his mother’s footsteps is an interesting story. However, what makes this story hit even closer to home is that Seth’s mother is Deb Wolf, program coordinator of business and professional programs in USI Outreach and Engagement. In 1989, Deb worked for USI’s Historic New Harmony and then took a position in Dormitory #2 with the Indiana State Museum. She was an interpreter, primarily for the Maximilian-Bodmer exhibit, Dormitory #2 and the Fauntleroy Home. “I had wrapped up a job in banking just before I married in 1988,” said Deb. “After the wedding, I decided it was time to do something fun and interesting and it only took a moment to decide where to look for work. From the first time I visited New Harmony in 1985, I loved the historical buildings, the story of the Harmonists and the Owen Community and especially the beauty and peacefulness of the town. I even selected the Roofless Church in New Harmony for my wedding.” Looking back on her experience in New Harmony, Deb described her favorite memory while working as an interpreter. “As with most jobs, it was the people who impacted me the most. The employees were passionate about their work and the guests were typically relaxed, Continued on page 6
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Mother and son share passion for New Harmony (continued)
engaged, friendly and grateful for the experience. It was always interesting to see New Harmony through the guests’ eyes.” Twenty-five years later, Seth is making similar memories of his own. “My favorite memory occurred while I was giving a tour to several kindergarten students. We had finished our tour downtown and were walking back to the Atheneum. One of the kids asked if he could hold my hand. After he asked, I had at least six other students ask if they could do the same. It was funny and rewarding to see that response from them.”
Seth also is polishing skills that will help him with his future career. “Customers look to me for information and ask questions for further clarification. The public speaking skills and interaction with people will prove very valuable in any field that I choose to go into. I will use these same communication skills when working with patients in the medical field.”
BGS program gets revamped to better serve adult learners According to a 2012 policy brief from the Lumina Foundation, 747,000 Indiana adults (22 percent of the state’s adult population) have attended college but have not completed a degree. To make college degrees more attainable and to better meet the needs of adult learners, USI has revamped its Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) program. The program now offers an affordable, accessible and relevant course of study that will be more streamlined than a traditional major. The BGS program is designed for working adults with prior college, technical and/or military experience, significant career experience and a strong desire to complete college course work that will be meaningful and personally enriching. BGS students now have the opportunity to choose from the Applied Studies Options in Enterprising Leadership or Public Service, or the Individual Studies Option to create a program that meets their specific career and educational goals. “USI’s Bachelor of General Studies program has been revised to better meet the needs of adult learners, focusing on relevant courses designed to enhance career development, offered in an accessible and affordable on-line format,” said Lee Ann Shafer,
academic program manager/BGS advisor in Outreach and Engagement. “The two new concentrations, enterprising leadership and public service, are exciting new additions to the academic programs offered at USI.” The BGS program can combine previous higher education, technical or BGS graduates Kevin Corbin (left) and Carl professional on-the-job Culley participate in USI’s Commencement training, military training ceremony on May 3, 2014. and experience, opportunities to complete courses via distance education and more. Learn more about the BGS program at USI.edu/bgs or contact Shafer at 812-464-1879, 800-467-8600 or lshafer@usi.edu.
Service Learning Program engages students, enhances learning (continued)
“Service learning is a course-based experiential learning strategy,” said Marie Opatrny, director of the Service Learning Program. “It engages students in meaningful and relevant service with community partners while employing ongoing reflection to draw connections between the service and course content, thus enhancing academic learning, promoting civic responsiveness and strengthening communities.” Since service learning addresses real needs in the community, it has added potential to engage students in ways that other experiential methods may not. Students who participate in service learning activities have an opportunity to better understand course material and can apply their knowledge to “real world” experiences.
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In addition, the Service Learning Program: • Identifies community needs that can be addressed through service learning • Supports the integration of service learning across the curriculum • Builds long-term relationships between the University and community • Offers faculty development opportunities related to service learning • Recognizes and rewards significant service learning work • Identifies, helps develop and promotes service learning courses • Encourages student participation and coordinates the assessment of student learning Learn more about USI’s Service Learning Program and upcoming events at USI.edu/ outreach/service-learning-program.
Upcoming service learning events October 25 Make a Difference Day November 9 Veterans Day Parade April 17-19 Global Youth Service Days
Outreach and Engagement • University of Southern Indiana
ROTC cadets graduate from U.S. Air Assault School Over the summer, Brandon Hatten and Larry Lightburne, cadets in USI’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program, attended U.S. Air Assault School in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 10-day course is designed to prepare soldiers for insertion, evacuation and pathfinder missions that call for the use of multipurpose transportation and assault helicopters. Air Assault training focuses on the mastery of rappelling techniques and sling load procedures, skills that involve intense concentration and a commitment to safety and preparation. Training is divided into three phases that last three days each: Combat Assault Phase, Sling Load Phase and Rappel Phase. Air Assault School is both physically and mentally demanding, as soldiers are required to handle heavy equipment and perform dangerous tasks under extremely stressful conditions. Successful candidates must possess a keen eye for detail and dedication to meticulous preparation. “The physically and mentally challenging obstacles presented before me each day, along with rappelling, has made me a more confident soldier and person,” said Hatten. “It has given me the confidence that I can accomplish anything.” Air Assault School adds to an officer’s professional development regardless of future branch or assignment choices. Air Assault qualification is a requirement for officers assigned to the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and is highly encouraged for officers assigned to the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division (Light) and 25th “Tropic Lightning” Infantry Division (Light). On graduation day, cadets “celebrated” by undertaking a 12-mile rucksack march, earning their wings as official Air Assault Soldiers. “The time I spent in Fort Campbell at Air Assault School was one of the most intense, challenging and rewarding experiences of my military career and my life,” said Hatten.
Announcements I-69 Innovation Corridor plans celebration of innovation event USI will host “A Celebration of Innovation” for the I-69 Innovation Corridor from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 13, at the Huntingburg Event Center located at 200 E. 14th Street in Huntingburg, Indiana. The event will begin with opening remarks by Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellsperman and will showcase developing innovation along the corridor. The event is free and open to the public but registration is required by Friday, November 7. Lunch will be provided. For more information, or to register, visit USI.edu/outreach and click on the Interstate 69 image.
Health Informatics Tri-state Summit USI’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, in coordination with Continuing and Professional Education, will offer the 2nd Annual Health Informatics Tri-state Summit from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. Held on campus, the summit will focus on cutting edge health information and innovative solutions needed to take healthcare delivery to the next level. For more information, visit USI.edu.health/ continuing-education/spring-programs or call Jennifer Hertel, senior program assistant, at 812-461-5463.
Organizational Sustainability speaker coming to USI
USI ROTC cadets Brandon Hatten (left) and Larry Lightburne at U.S. Air Assualt School in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Gregory Balestrero, a strategic advisor on leadership, sustainability and corporate consciousness for International Institute for Learning, Inc. (IIL) and coauthor of Organizational Survival, Profitable Strategies for a Sustainable Future, will hold an executive briefing breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, November 13, and a professional practitioner symposium from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, November 14, at Innovation Pointe in downtown Evansville. Balestrero has been a global advocate for excellence in performance management and business results for over 40 years and served as project engineer, project manager and senior executive for several professional membership associations. For registration information, contact Continuing and Professional Education at 812-464-1989.
en•gage (en’gaj) verb 1. to establish a meaningful contact or connection 2. to occupy, attract, or involve 3. to actively commit
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Unleashing Potential, Expanding Knowledge From finance to fitness, we offer learning opportunities for all ages and interests. Watch the mail for our next course catalog or go online to see a complete listing of courses. Visit USI.edu/continuinged or call 812-464-1989 or 800-467-8600 for registration information.
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