Memorial Tribute Policy

Honoring or remembering a special person with a gift to the University makes for a personal and lasting tribute. Two tribute options are available through the University of Southern Indiana Foundation (USI Foundation) in honor of or in memory of an individual.

Scholarships and Permanent Endowments

1. The primary option for memorial tributes is establishing a scholarship, either annual or endowed, through the USI Foundation.
2. Annual scholarships begin at a minimum of $1,000 per year for four years (total gift commitment of $4,000).
3. Minimum to endow a scholarship in honor or in memory of an individual is $12,500. This becomes a permanent memorial providing students with financial help in perpetuity.
4. Other options to benefit USI faculty and students for smaller gift amounts also are available.
5. The gift officer working with the donor will be responsible for creating the appropriate paperwork and following all scholarship and endowment procedures as outlined in the USI Foundation Handbook.
6. Anyone interested in making a gift to honor or memorialize an individual should contact the USI Foundation at 812-464-1918. USI Foundation personnel will work in partnership with the donor(s) on the gift.

Tribute Tree Program

1. The tradition of planting trees to honor or memorialize an individual goes back several decades. It became a more obvious option in 1995 when the Evansville Courier Company (now the Evansville Courier & Press) donated 150 trees in celebration of its 150^th anniversary (1845) in Evansville.
2. Anyone interested in placing a tree on campus should contact the USI Foundation at 812/464-1918. USI Foundation personnel will work in partnership with the USI Physical Plant on the gift.
3. The Physical Plant will find the most appropriate type of tree and location on campus for the tree. Trees will be maintained in the same manner as other University assets.
4. Spring planting is March 1^st and Fall planting is September 1^st.
5. Minimum to fund a tree is $1,000 which includes general upkeep and care of the tree.
6. The Foundation gift officer working with the donor is responsible for initiating the Physical Plant requisition to purchase the tree once the gift is completed.
7. The tree identification and donor's plaque will be produced of heavy-duty laminated plastic with a brushed aluminum veneer. The 4" x 6" plaque will be engraved with black lettering. Information printed on the plaque will include the scientific name, common name, and origin of plant along with up to three lines of donor provided text. Each line will be limited to a maximum of 45 spaces. If an additional line is required, then letter size will be reduced. The cost of this is approximately $50 but varies with the market. The exact cost will be determined once a donor has decided to have a tree planted. If the original signage is stolen or vandalized, replacement costs must also be paid by the donor.

Note: Before this policy was implemented there was a rigorous planning process between January and May of 2015. Establishing a scholarship or making a gift of a tribute tree are the only two options for USI. Memorial benches; outdoor sculpture; recognition plaques; paver stones; etc., are strictly prohibited.

Updated July 1, 2022