Take a Tour of The University of Southern Indiana

The University of Southern Indiana is located in western Evansville, Indiana and has beautiful architecture and landscaping. It is the goal of the USI Student Ambassadors to accommodate all visitors with a detailed and engaging tour of our campus. On occasion, tours will consist of individuals who may have difficulty navigating campus because they use mobility devices such as wheelchairs or walkers. It is our job to provide a prepared tour of campus during these situations. Those visiting campus in need of handicap accessibility will find the tools and contacts needed to make their visit to USI as memorable as possible.

As USI Student Ambassadors, we are the tour guides on campus but we are so much more. Your job as a Student Ambassador is to be an advocate for the university who is well-trained to give all visitors a warm welcome and send them home with a memorable campus visit. Our role on campus is very helpful since we share our experiences with prospective students and give insight into the transition between high school and college. Since we are students who are currently navigating college, guests have insight into first-hand experiences, opinions, and advice from the ambassadors.

The Student Ambassadors volunteer over a combined 2,000 hours per year giving tours and preparing information for campus visitors. Never hesitate to reach out to some of our more experienced Student Ambassadors to receive insight into how they accommodate all visitors on their tour. It can be stressful to have tour groups with visitors who use mobility devices, but taking the time to prepare for these tours will ensure that these visitors are satisfied with the tour they receive. You as a Student Ambassador might not deal with a physical disability, but it is still very important to keep access in mind when giving tours.

Most entrances and exits to the buildings on campus are handicap accessible. Many of these doors are either automatic or equipped with handicap push buttons. The parking lots on campus are free of stairs and contain pedestrian crosswalks to allow visitors to enter campus easily as traffic must stop for them!

The traditional route for a campus tour of USI both begins and ends in the Fuquay Welcome Center. A handful of the buildings on campus require the use of an elevator to see all important portions of campus. The buildings that require the use of an elevator have a red pin on the map. University Centers East and West require the use of an elevator to view our campus cafeteria "The Loft." Elevator usage is also needed in the Science Center (top of the map) to access the Health Professions Building. All pathways on this tour are flat and contain no stairs, and elevators are available where they are needed.

Being a Student Ambassador involves a number of responsibilities. Each semester, we host two open houses where we may welcome up to 300 total visitors in one day. This introduces a much higher possibility of giving a tour to an individual who uses a mobility device. Be sure to welcome all visitors with a smile and work alongside your fellow Student Ambassadors so you are aware of alternate tour routes that may be needed. Prioritize the reputation of our university and go above and beyond to accommodate guests with mobility devices. Remember that the impression you leave on families is a major factor in a student's decision to attend USI.

It is possible that visitors in your tour group may want more information and resources to learn more about accessibility for mobility devices on campus. To better prepare yourself for these situations, direct visitors to the offices mentioned below. It can be difficult to know specific details as a student, so do not hesitate to lead them to someone more helpful.

The Undergraduate Admissions team members are the supervisors for the Student Ambassador Organization. Reach out to them with any concerns or questions you may have about how your Ambassador conducted your tour. It is our goal to improve the quality of our tours for individuals who need various accommodations.

When the time comes to attend USI, it is important to have accommodations for mobility devices in campus housing. Reach out to Housing and Residence Life (HRL) to make sure your student does not have to stress out about their housing situation. HRL will meet your needs and place the student on the first floor of campus housing to avoid stairs.

The Disability Resources office represents any students who need accommodations due to any disability on campus. Reach out with any concerns or improvements you believe would increase the campus environment for individuals using mobility devices.

If you know somebody who would rather visit USI without coming to campus, a fully virtual option of the tour is available online. Meeting with admissions counselors to learn more about the university is still an option open to those who do not attend an in-person visit. The virtual tour is available online, and it can be used at anyone's convenience at any time. We welcome and wish to accommodate all individuals using mobility devices, but we would like to bring awareness to this option as well.

It is evident that every tour you get will be different. Some will be more challenging than others. The one thing that you can keep constant is your positive attitude about USI and willingness to be flexible on your tour. The importance of accommodating those using mobility devices on tours is something that you should always be aware of. It can be intimidating to give a tour that goes off script, but your effort will not go unnoticed. Prepare yourself now so you are ready to give a great tour if you have a visitor using a mobility device!