After an EF-3 tornado ripped less than a week ago through Sullivan County, Indiana, and took lives there, Vincennes University Homeland Security and Public Safety Program Chair and retired FBI agent Lou Caprino launched his drone to capture photography of the extensive damage. Those images were then shared with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for use in their early assessment. Recalling the supportive role HSPS majors in helping New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina, Caprino quickly got to work on exploring how current students could come to the aid of a nearby community. The VU students are putting in long hours and many days of volunteer work in Sullivan this week.

A student in the award-winning Vincennes University Jobs for America’s Graduates College Success Program dominated a state competition at the annual JAG Indiana State Career Development Conference. VU Homeland Security and Public Safety major Mason Caudill of North Judson, Indiana, won first place in the College Success Program category and had the opportunity to meet Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb on March 17. Competitors delivered presentations explaining their career pathways and shared the benefits of participating in the JAG College Success Program. Caudill also placed first in the College Success Program division in 2021

Vincennes University provides medical assistant training throughout Indiana and collaborates with Indiana’s Next Level Jobs Program to provide funding to Indiana residents who qualify to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Training program for free.

Middle school students from Daviess, Martin, and Sullivan counties were incredibly excited to get their hands on the collaborative robots in Vincennes University’s brand-new Center for Applied Robotics and Automation. They enjoyed a recent Saturday learning how to program a collaborative robot or cobot to pick up and move blocks during a “Fun With Robotics” day in the VU College of Technology Center.

A trio of Vincennes University Precision Machining Technology majors won first place in the Educational Division of the 2022 Mastercam Wildest Parts Competition. Composed of Nate Conrad, Jackson Roberts, and Luke Schirmer, the VU students won the top prize for their innovative and fun electric skateboard. Sponsored yearly by Mastercam, the competition encourages student interest and participation in manufacturing. The contest challenges students in high school and college to create parts demonstrating creativity and technical skill using Mastercam software. 

Vincennes University is proud to be a military-friendly school with a longstanding commitment to supporting our nation's service members and veterans. VU has once again been named a Military Friendly® School and is the only large public institution in Indiana that has received a Silver ranking for 2023-24 by Viqtory, which recognizes the efforts of schools that provide exceptional support to military students and their families.

Vincennes University Homeland Security and Public Safety students will present a community academy on various timely topics affecting communities and keynote speakers will include representatives from FBI Indianapolis and Knox County CASA. VU’s Homeland Security and Public Safety Program Chair Lou Caprino served for nearly 30 years in the FBI. On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, the community academy will focus on drug concerns, juvenile crimes, hate crimes, and other domestic issues and concerns. On Thursday, March 30, 2023, presentations will focus on human trafficking, cyber threats, health hazards, and transportation hazards.

The Vincennes University Board of Trustees welcomed its newest member this past month. Brandon Haight was appointed a Trustee by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, and he took his oath of office at the Board’s recent retreat. Haight possesses decades of leadership and experience in the automotive industry. He is the general manager of the East Plant at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) in Princeton, Indiana. Haight also serves as the plantwide maintenance and reliability lead and is the regional advisor for Toyota’s Manufacturing Digital Transformation initiatives with a specific focus on machine reliability.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOTICE OF MEETING FINANCE/REVENUE COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15TH, 2023 2:00 P.M (EST) MIKE SIEVERS, CHAIR

The Vincennes University Board of Trustees unanimously approved honorary doctorates for a pair of revered Hoosier lawmakers and welcomed a new Trustee at Board Retreat on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Former State Senator Luke Kenley and former State Representative Dr. Tim Brown will receive their honorary degrees during the Spring 2023 Commencement on April 29 at the P.E. Complex.

Vincennes University student-athlete Daylynn Thornton is always looking for ways to support her fellow college students. So, when the Kinesiology and Sport major won a national contest and was among 19 randomly-selected college students chosen to have a $500 donation made in their name to support an organization dedicated to fighting hunger and food education, Thornton picked Sandy’s Pantry. It provides VU students with free non-perishable food and personal care products in a friendly and supportive way.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Retreat and Board Meeting Schedule French Lick Springs Hotel 8670 West State Road 56 Clifton 102B Meeting Room – 1st Level French Lick, IN  47432 Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Emergency Management and the Disabled Community presentation by Vincennes University Homeland and Security Public Safety students on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 10-11:30 a.m. (ET).

PreVU Day at Vincennes University is a great way for future Trailblazers to explore the world of opportunity awaiting them at Indiana’s First College. VU will host three PreVU Days during the Spring 2023 semester and registration is open. The open house events for prospective students and their families start at 9:30 a.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 25; Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 22, in Jefferson Student Union, 1401 N. Chestnut St.

Vincennes University and Vincennes University Jasper are providing prospective students and their families assistance in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form during College Goal Sunday on Feb. 26, 2023. College Goal Sunday is a free event that helps students of all ages and families complete and file the FAFSA form. The FAFSA is one of the most important steps in opening the door to financial aid. 

The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy invites visitors to explore the stories of Black Hoosiers who broke ground for their community and paved a path for future generations while making contributions to Indiana. Exhibits and events will include a traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society.

Registration is now underway for the weeklong Vincennes University Summer STEM Academy. For the second straight year, VU is offering current 10th and 11th-grade students throughout Indiana the opportunity to take a deep dive into the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and get a taste of college life. The academy is June 25-30, 2023.

As part of efforts to support inclusive learning environments for all students at any age, Vincennes University hosted special presentations by expert Jennifer Pusateri on how to minimize barriers in education and maximize learning for everyone. Around 140 people were in attendance to learn about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) students on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. 

The Vincennes University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council in partnership with the VU Innovative Teaching Summit Team is hosting a special event for K-12 educators at 2 p.m (ET) on Tuesday, February 7, that will provide valuable insight and strategies for creating inclusive and accessible learning environments. VU is hosting an educational presentation at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center featuring Jennifer Pusateri, an expert on Universal Design Learning (UDL) and author of Transform Your Teaching with Universal Design for Learning: Six Steps to Jumpstart Your Practice.

February is National TRIO Month, and Vincennes University’s five TRIO programs are celebrating the educational outreach programs that help first-generation, income-eligible, and students with disabilities enter college and earn a degree. VU offers five TRIO programs: Collaborative Opportunities for Postsecondary Education (COPE) Student Support Services, Educational Talent Search (ETS), Experience VU Student Support Services, Project Achieving Success through Participation In Reaching Educational Excellence (ASPIREE), and Upward Bound. All are federally funded educational initiatives designed to motivate and assist students in their academic pursuit of completing a college degree.

To say Shelby Liegl, ‘23, is an animal lover is an understatement. The Vincennes University Chemical Sciences and Pre-Veterinary major has many pets, including two dogs, two guinea pigs, and a sulcata tortoise. Learn more about the Evansville, Indiana, native’s animals later. Liegl’s future career plans stem from her love of animals. She aspires to become a veterinarian. She already works in a veterinary clinic and volunteers at an animal shelter. Her dream is to move to Colorado and become a wildlife veterinarian. While she works toward an associate degree, she is really enjoying being a college student.

Project Achieving Success through Participation in Reaching Educational Excellence (ASPIREE), sponsored by Vincennes University, has added several new schools to its federally funded grant program. Project ASPIREE is adding underrepresented students who have the potential to succeed in higher education at Washington Catholic Middle School, Washington Catholic High School, and North Daviess Jr/Sr High School.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. VU is screening the human trafficking documentary “Shattered Dreams” for students, faculty, staff, and the public. A panel discussion will follow the screening and will feature experts from VU and the local community. Media is invited to the film, panel discussion, and to interview panelists.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOTICE The Higher Learning Commission information session with the Vincennes University Board of Trustees Tuesday, January 31, 2023 – 8:00 a.m. (EST)

Vincennes University has received a $75,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana. The VU Education Department will use the grant to explore ways it prepares education majors with Science of Reading methods and to consider how it can expand and enhance those efforts.