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The University of Evansville (UE) is a small (approximately 2400 students), private university located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located on the East side of the city of Evansville, just south of the Lloyd Expressway. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and enjoys a unique student base, over half of which are female. The University features liberal arts and sciences degrees, most with strong cooperative learning opportunities off and on campus. UE operates a satellite campus, Harlaxton College, in Grantham, England. UE students commonly seek a smaller professor to class ratio, campus participation opportunities, and enjoy the University's learning and social environments. UE athletic teams participate in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The teams are known as the Purple Aces. The University is known throughout the region as a leader in archaeology, mechanical engineering and computer engineering, theatre, fine arts, and education. It is also known as a leader in the area of New Formalist poetry as the home of The Formalist and its successor journal, Measure. The University of Evansville Press also publishes exclusively books and anthologies on formal poetry, including an annual winner of its Richard Wilbur Award.

Academics

Colleges and Schools

The University of Evansville is academically organized into three colleges and two schools:
  • College of Arts & Sciences
    • containing the Departments of: Archaeology and Art History + Art + Biology + Chemistry + Communication + English + Foreign Languages + History and Geography + Law, Politics, and Society + Mathematics + Music + Philosophy and Religion + Physics + Psychology + Theatre
  • College of Education & Health Sciences
    • containing the School of Education
    • containing the Departments of: Exercise and Sports Studies + Nursing and Health Sciences + Physical Therapy
  • College of Engineering & Computer Science
    • containing the Departments of: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science + Mechanical and Civil Engineering +
  • School of Business Administration
    • containing the Department of Accounting and Business Administration

Accreditations

The electrical and mechanical engineering programs have been continuously accredited by ABET since 1970. The civil engineering and computer engineering programs have been continuously accredited by ABET since 1997.*

History

style="font-size: 1.25em;" | History at a glance
Moores Hill Male and Female Collegiate Institute Established 1854
Opened 1856
Location Moores Hill, IN USA
Moores Hill College Renamed 1887*
Closed 1917*
Evansville College Reopened 1919
Location Evansville, IN USA
University of Evansville Renamed 1967

The University of Evansville began in 1854 after Moores Hill Male and Female Collegiate Institute was founded in the little town of Moores Hill in southeastern Indiana. The first college building at Moores Hill was completed on December 1, 1856, although the opening day of classes for the new college was held in the building on September 9 of that year.

On March 21, 1917, George S. Clifford made a presentation at a special session of the Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church proposing to move the college to Evansville, Indiana. Clifford had prepared a map showing that if a circle with a 50-mile radius was drawn around each of the colleges within the state, none touched Evansville. After deliberation, the school was relocated to Evansville in 1919 and renamed Evansville College. In 1967, after continued growth and organizational changes, the name was changed to the University of Evansville with the approval of the Indiana State Legislature.

Athletics

Purple Aces & Ace Purple

The University of Evansville's nickname, the Aces, was acquired after an opposing coached cracked a joke after losing to the Evansville College Pioneers in the 1920s. Dan Scism, the sportswriter credited with first using the name 'Aces' in headlines, said he did so at the suggestion of basketball coach John Harmon in 1926. "Prior to that the Aces had been called Pioneers," Scism said, "but Coach Harmon suggested I call them the Aces because he was told by Louisville's coach that he didn't have four aces up his sleeve, he had five!"

Forty years after Aces came into being, mascot 'Ace Purple' was created by Evansville Press artist Larry Hill. Ace Purple is a turn-of-the century riverboat gambler, appropriate since Evansville is located on the banks of the Ohio River. However, the first Ace Purple was a rough, mean-looking character who did not go over well with Aces' fans. Artist Keith Butz softened 'Ace' in 1977 into a smiling, friendly figure who remains popular with young and old alike. At about the same time, the official nickname for University of Evansville teams became 'Purple Aces' to include the longtime school color.

Intercollegiate teams

UE athletics now include 14 NCAA Division I varsity sports, eight for women and six for men. They include women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, and women's volleyball.

The University of Evansville athletics department was built upon a foundation of success in men's basketball, including NCAA College Division (now Division II) national championships in 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965 and 1971. The team was lead by legendary coach Arad McCutchan from 1946 to 1977 who lead the Purple Aces to a 515-313 record. In 1977 UE began playing in NCAA Division I athletics. Tragically, that same year on December 13, a chartered DC-3 carrying the entire UE basketball team crashed in a field near the Evansville Regional Airport. In all 29 people were killed. To remember that team, Memorial Plaza stands in the middle of campus between Olmstead Administration Hall and the Harper Dining Center, crowned by a weeping basketball fountain.

School Spirit

In 2000, the University adopted a new athletics logo that did away with the old Ace Purple logo (pictured). However, the University made sure that Ace Purple remained as a big part of home athletic events. To this day, a University of Evansville student is chosen during try-outs in August to don the Ace Purple mascot costume at all major home athletic events.

The athletic teams are supported by the university's dance team, cheer squad, and a pep band, the Aces brass.

Campus

The university is known for its grassy open spaces and unique tree cover. The university landscape is generally well maintained, and many students take full advantage of the spacious lawns and large shade trees.

Most of the university buildings follow an old limestone motif, the oldest building being the administration building known as Olmsted Hall. Opening to the south of Olmsted Hall is the beautiful Sesquicentinial Oval, named in 2004 in commemoration of the university's 150th anniversary.

Greek Life

Sororities

Fraternities

Notable alumni

External links

References

University of Evansville | Evansville, Indiana | Missouri Valley Conference | Universities and colleges affiliated with the United Methodist Church | Universities and colleges in Indiana

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "University of Evansville".

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