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Announcements

Bulletin Board for August 10, 2012

New & Updated Items...


UVI Schedules Fall Semester 2012 Orientation for Aug. 13-17

Orientation for new and transfer students for UVI's Fall 2012 Semester is scheduled to take place from Monday, Aug. 13, through Friday, Aug. 17. Complete schedules for both campuses and important information on UVI policies regarding placement exams and student rights have been posted on the Admissions section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu. They are also available from this direct link.


UVI Community Invited to President Hall's Fourth Convocation Address on Aug. 17

UVI President Dr. David Hall has invited the entire University Community to the President's Fourth Convocation Address from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, in Chase Auditorium (B-110), on the St. Thomas campus. The convocation will also be videoconferenced to the following locations:

  • St. Thomas: Administration and Conference Center Building - first-floor conference room
  • St. Croix: Great Hall and Melvin Evans Center - Room 401
  • St. John: The St. John Academic Center - Room 101

Contact the Office of the President at (340) 693-1000 with any questions or requests for additional information.


Online Version of UVI 2012-2013 Catalog Now Available

The online version of the 2012-2013 UVI Catalog is now available from the Academics section of the UVI website - www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link. As in the past, the online Catalog is presented as one large document and in five smaller sections designed to facilitate faster Internet downloads.


UVI St. Thomas Campus Bookstore to Offer Extended Hours; Refund Policy Posted

The Bookstore on UVI's St. Thomas campus has announced it will be open for extended hours for the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester on the following schedule.

  • Aug. 12 - 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 15 to 17 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 18 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Aug. 20 to 24 - 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 25 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Aug. 27 to 31 - 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The St. Thomas UVI Bookstore regular hours - Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 4. The Fall semester refunds and exchange period will be Aug. 20 through Aug. 24. The Bookstore adheres to a "no receipt-no refund policy."



UVI Bookstore on St. Croix Schedules Extended Hours for Beginning of Fall Semester

The UVI Bookstore on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix has announced the following schedule of extended hours for the opening weeks of the Fall 2012 semester.

  • Aug. 20 - 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Aug. 21-23 - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Aug. 24 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Aug. 27-30 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 31 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Regular St. Croix UVI Bookstore hours - Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 4.


New Residence Hall Construction Nearly Complete on UVI's St. Thomas Campus

In response to an expressed need for additional student housing on the St. Thomas campus, the University of the Virgin Islands will bring the brand new, 100-bed West Residence Hall online for Fall Semester 2012. The four-story, air conditioned facility will house 96 students and four resident assistants.

Having identified the improvement of campus facilities as a primary need, UVI broke ground on the West Residence Hall construction project in November 2011. Students are expected to occupy the building before the end of August 2012.

"For several years the St. Thomas campus has had a waiting list for on-campus housing," UVI President Dr. David Hall said. "Construction of the West Residence Hall is the University's answer to the St. Thomas campus housing shortage." A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.

Roots Reggae V.I. - A conversation and Concert Set Aug. 18 at STARZ Nightclub

A live Sustainability Concert, sponsored and hosted by UVI's Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC) in partnership with the V.I. Humanities Council and Movementunes.com, is scheduled from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Aug. 18. Dubbed a "A Conversation & Sustainability Concert," the evening begins with the V.I. Humanities Council presenting the Daniel L. Heftel Lecture and Humanist Award. The venue is the STARZ night club in Port of Sale Mall, in Havensight on St. Thomas. Speakers will include Ras Attitude, Reemah, Jalani Horton and Melame Gange.

CGTC spokesman Heru Ofori-Atta said the presentations and concert would focus on sustainability and renewable energy, using music as a unifying outreach tool. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority will discuss their 18 megawatt power purchase agreement and the V.I. Energy office will share information on various energy saving programs. A 9 p.m. to attention turns to music, featuring Melame Gange and Ras Attitude being backed by the Black Star band. Also on hand will be radio personality Ras Regg, Kafunya Ife, producer Tippy Alfred and MC Deh Realist. Admission is free before 7:30 p.m. and $20 after. For more information contact Heru Ofori-Atta at (954) 593-4998.

Human Resources Office New Hires/Separations List Available for July 2012

The UVI Human Resources Department has released the University's New Hires, Promotions and Separations report for July 1-31, 2012. The list is available to the UVI community via the HR Document Library on the HR/Benefits page of UVI's myCampus web portal - http://mycampus.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.



UVI Sets Final Phonathon of 2012; Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed for UVI's final Phonathon of 2012, which is scheduled from Aug. 27 through 30, on St. Thomas. Volunteers will work from5:30 to 9 p.m. each evening in the first-floor conference room of UVI's Administration and Conference Center. They will make calls and process on-line pledges from Reichhold Center for the Arts patrons as well as traditional and special alumni. Prizes will be awarded to top performers and dinner will be served. Persons interested in volunteering one or more evenings should call the Office of Institutional Advancement at (340) 693-1047.


Do You Know This Week's 'We Are UVI' Contributor

Do you know this week's "We Are UVI" contributor? To find out, visit "We Are UVI" at: http://weareuvi.blogspot.com. "We Are UVI" is the University's Golden Jubilee blog. It features people sharing CVI/UVI stories from the past 50 years. New submissions are added each, this one was posted Sunday, August 5.

It joins stories from Sinclair Wilkinson ('72), Rafe Boulon, Jr. ('76), Carmie Thompson ('10), Frank Mills ('67), James Rakocy, Arah Lockhart ('78), Utha Williams ('82), former UVI President LaVerne Ragster, Marthious Clavier ('02,'08), John Lucas, Maxine Nunez, Rosary Harper, Yegin Habtes, Gloria Callwood, Laurent Javois ('76), Helen Dookhan ('79, '84, '98), Curtis Gilpin ('80), Carolyn O'Neal-Morton ('85), Ali McClean ('93), Constance Gumbs ('87, '91), Malcolm Kirwan ('67), Sharleen Fahie ('86, '93), Sam Hall Jr., Richard Lippke, Randy Brown, Paul Flemming ('95, '98, '99), Kishma Allen ('09), Lawrence Lewis ('73), Aimery Caron, Quilin Mars ('08) and Alvincent Hutson ('76).

Employees, Others Urged to Review UVI Online Job Postings

UVI employees and external interested individuals are encouraged to review the University's online job postings for updates on available vacancies from the Human Resources Office section of the University website - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link: http://careers.uvi.edu. UVI is committed to attracting, developing and retaining a highly qualified workforce to support our mission of excellence in education and research. The University of the Virgin Islands is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.


VIUCEDD to Offer American Sign Language Classes in September

Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) will be offering (ASL) American Sign Language Classes - Level I and Level II - on St. Thomas and St. Croix beginning September 10. For further information call Sandra Pierre-Louis on St. Croix at 692-4266 or Andrea Plunkett on St. Thomas at 693-1173.


Employee Performance Evaluation Survey Results Available

This information is presented on the behalf of the St. Thomas Presidential Advisory Council (TPAC).

The results from the Employee Performance Evaluation Survey are in and we (members of the TPAC committee) want to thank you for participating in the process.

When UVI employees were asked if they thought that the current evaluation process does a good job at evaluating their performance, more than half of the respondents either Disagreed or Strongly Disagreed. Additionally, UVI employees spoke out and shared what they felt was the most important thing that could be done to improve the evaluation process. The results were presented to the President and are scheduled to be presented to Cabinet in August.

The complete results of the survey, including numerous graphical displays, are available in this Employee Performance Evaluation Survey document. Link to Survey Results

For more information, contact Employee Performance Evaluation Survey Subcommittee Co-chair Ayishih Bellew at (340) 693-1022 or send email to abellew@uvi.edu.


St. Thomas Campus SGA Sets Election for Sept. 12; Candidate Applications Due Aug. 31

UVI's St. Thomas Campus Student Government Association Elections Committee has approved a new schedule for the Fall elections. The deadline to submit applications is Aug. 31. Elections will be held on Sept. 12.

Applications are available from the Student Affairs Office. All candidates who are considering running for office must submit a certification letter from the Registrar's office to verify eligibility, along with their application and petition. Candidates who previously applied to run for office may submit a new application or just submit the certification letter. For more information send e-mail to sgastt@myuvi.net or joseph.curlis4@gmail.com.


2012 Texas Chili Cook-off Set Aug. 19 at Brewers Bay on St. Thomas Campus

The Texas Society of the V.I. will hold its Texas Chili cook-off on Sunday, Aug. 19, at Brewers Bay Beach on UVI's St. Thomas campus. Live music, food, drinks, a Coast Guard rescue demonstration and fly-by, raffle prizes and games are planned. Contact Lori 474-0019 at lori@lookingglassvi.com.


UVI Today Photo Blog Updates...

To view the latest entries to the "UVI Today..." photo blog, follow the Blogger link in the social media links at the top, right of any page in the UVI website or click this direct link: http://uvitoday.blogspot.com.

UVI's Summer Bridge Transforms Students

"We will not be coming back home the same," said Rasheed Escobar, who participated in UVI's Summer Bridge Program on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. The program, started a year ago, is designed to provide new high school graduates with the literary, mathematical and critical thinking skills required for a seamless transition into college. To read more and see a photo from the program's closing ceremony click this Summer Bridge link.


Science in the Summertime at UVI

Approximately 20 UVI undergraduate students presented posters displaying research they conducted this summer at the Annual Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium held Friday, July 27. Also participating were students from UVI's Math Behind the Science summer bridge program. To read more and see a photo from the program's closing ceremony click this Summer Science link.


Martha's Vineyard Cultivation Reception

Dr. Auguste E. Rimpel, Jr., chairman emeritus of the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees, and UVI President Dr. David Hall hosted a UVI cultivation reception on Saturday, July 28. The event took place at Dr. Rimpel's home on Martha's Vineyard. To see photos from the activity click this Martha's Vineyard link.


UVI's Bridge Programs are Leading More Students to Campus

After putting off pursuing a college degree for almost 30 years, a small ad in the newspaper gave Colette Jones the sign she had been waiting for. She enrolled in a non-traditional Bridge Course. That one step for Jones has had a positive impact on her entire family. To read more and see a photo click this Non-traditional Summer Bridge link.


CELL Notes...


UVI-CELL to Offer Six-week Praxis II Preparation Course on St. Thomas

UVI's Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Center will offer a six-week, classroom course designed to prepare teachers to take and pass the Praxis II exam. The course will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on six Saturdays - Sept. 22 & 29 and Oct. 6, 13, 20 & 27. The course will use clear explanations, numerous examples, and graphics and animation, to prepare teachers to take the Praxis II test. Sessions take place at the CELL Center on UVI's St. Thomas campus. The fee is $500. For more information and to signup for the course call UVI-CELL at (340) 693-1100.



Course to Focus on Getting the Most of Your Smart Phone or Tablet

Smart phones and tablets - the latest technological advances - are designed to make lives easier, but the novice user can be overwhelmed. To unravel the mystery of these devices, the UVI Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Center will conduct a course to help novice users understand their devices and use their capabilities to the fullest.

Although titled Mastering Your iPhone/iPad, the course is open to individuals with any smart phone or tablet device. The three-week course will be held 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays with the start date to be determined. The cost is $150 for 15 hours of instruction. Students will learn to master basic features and functions, efficiently operate their devices, integrate apps into their daily lives, sync with other devices and other applications, and personalize their devices. Sessions will be held at the UVICELL Center on the St. Thomas campus. For more information on the workshop, call Debra Stevens (340) 693-1108 or visit http://cell.uvi.edu.



Other Current Items...


VI-EPSCoR Seeks UVI Community Input in Preparing New Funding Proposal

The Virgin Islands Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR) is in the process of preparing its proposal to the National Science Foundation for a new funding cycle. The entire UVI community is invited to become involved in this effort and in the program that will result from a favorable review by the NSF. Detailed announcements and presentations will be made in the near future, but interested persons may contact the VI-EPSCoR Director, Dr. Henry H. Smith, at hsmith@uvi.edu or at (340) 693-1422.