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Announcements

Bulletin Board for August 15, 2012

New & Updated Items...

UVI Research & Technology Park Directors to Meet on Aug. 24

The Board of Directors of UVI's Research & Technology Park will hold a meeting at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, at the RTPark offices on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Seating is limited. The session will also be available via teleconference. For more information call (340) 692-4200.


UVI Community Invited to President Hall's 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.

UVI's Green Tech Center to Sponsor 'Conversation & Sustainability Concert' Aug. 18

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. At 9 p.m. the 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.

UVI Faculty and Staff Invited to Welcome-Back Receptions on St. Croix and St. Thomas

UVI President Dr. David Hall has issued an invitation to all faculty and staff to welcome-back receptions on each campus as the University community gears up for the new academic year. The reception on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix is slated for 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22. It will take place in the Cafetorium. On the St. Thomas campus, the reception will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the President's Guest House. Music and refreshments will be included. Please RSVP by Aug. 21, by calling (340) 693-1000 or sending email to udyer@uvi.edu.

UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts to Unveil 2012-2013 Season on Aug. 23

UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts unveils its 2012-2013 season at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, with the traditional St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at the Reichhold Theatre. Reichhold fans in attendance will be the first to find out which exciting artists are on tap for the new season. Business After Hours features complimentary appetizers and the famous "Chamber $2 Bar." It will also offer the opportunity to sign up for seasons subscriptions and qualify for a special eight percent-off the regular price. There will also be a raffle, with prizes such as tickets to Reichhold Shows and $500 shopping sprees at Gottlieb's Quick Way, Cost-U-Less and PriceSmart. Top Notch Band will provide the entertainment. For more information call (340) 693-1550.

Institutional Research & Planning Announces Administration of 2012 CIRP Freshman Survey

UVI's Office of Institutional Research and Planning has announced that it will administer the 2012 Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey from Aug. 20 through 24. The survey will be offered in collaboration with the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at the University of Los Angeles. HERI serves as an interdisciplinary center for research, evaluation, information policy studies and research training in post-secondary education.

The major goal of HERI research is to determine what happens to students when they attend college. The CIRP Freshman Survey is for all first-time, full-time students. It is designed to reveal students' pre-academic preparedness, find out what influenced their college choice and learn why they chose UVI. The results will help the University better understand the needs of its students. UVI can then use the results to improve what it provides, ensuring students are better served and that they have a successful higher education experience.

UVI's Freshman Development Seminar (FDS) instructors will present the survey to their students during the first week of Fall Semester classes. The Office of Institutional Research & Planning stresses that the project would not be possible without the willing support of FDS coordinators and instructors, and the cooperation of students.

Training Set for UVI Website Content Contributors on Sept. 7; RSVP Required

Training sessions for UVI website content contributors are conducted at the beginning and end of each semester. Individuals interested in managing their department's section of the UVI website must RSVP at least one week before the training. Training is available for UVI faculty and staff only.

The next training is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. All sessions will be held in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning on the St. Thomas campus.

Time - Topics

9 to 10 a.m. - Level 1: Posting Basic Content

10 to 11 a.m. - Level 2: Uploading Forms, Brochures & Other Documents

11 a.m. to noon -Level 2.5: Resizing & Uploading Images - New

1 to 4:30 p.m. - Working Lab with the Webmaster

During first-level training, participants will learn to log-in to SharePoint, utilize the page edit menu, navigate the tool bar menus to edit a page, layout a page, make a table, preview a webpage and publish a webpage. Tips to ease webpage maintenance will be shared throughout the training. Second-level training participants will learn to upload graphics, forms and brochures into their respective websites. If time permits, the trainer will show participants how to use Microsoft Picture Manager to edit and resize images. Participants should bring a jump drive with text, graphics and other files for posting online.

Interested persons should contact UVI Webmaster Moneca Pinkett, in the UVI Public Relations Office on St. Thomas, via e-mail at mpinket@uvi.edu.

Do you know this week's "We Are UVI" contributor?

To find out who it is, 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. A new submission is added each week. This one was posted Sunday, August 12.

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), Alvincent Hutson ('76) and Vincent Cooper ('72).

Fall Semester Notes...

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

Orientation for new and transfer students for UVI's Fall 2012 Semester continues 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.

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. 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.

Other Current Items...

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.

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 from 5:30 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.

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.

Student Competition Promotes Role Swap with UVI President

Ever wondered what it would be like to be President of the University of the Virgin Islands? If you had a chance, what would you say or do to make a difference in the lives of UVI students, faculty and staff? UVI's President for a Day Competition will give two UVI students, (one on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix), an opportunity to trade places with UVI President Dr. David Hall. It's the first time that the President For a Day Competition will take place at UVI.

During the Fall 2012 semester, President Hall will swap roles with one UVI undergraduate student on St. Thomas. He'll swap roles with one undergraduate student on the Albert A. Sheen campus on St. Croix during the Spring 2013 semester. Details on how to apply are available in a news release on the UVI homepage - www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.

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.

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 and 29, and Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 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 sign-up 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.

SBDC Notes...

VI SBDC Summer Training Schedule

The Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center is offering a variety of training and informational sessions during August. The following is the list for sessions on St. Thomas and St. Croix. For more information, visit the VI SBDC website - http://www.sbdcvi.org - or use this direct link to SBDC Course Information and Registration. Call the St. Thomas/St. John Service Center at (340) 776-3206 or the St. Croix Service Center at (340) 692-5270.

St. Thomas

Aug. 15 - Take IT to the Clouds

Aug. 22 - Procurement Luncheon - Marketing: Say What Your Mean

Aug. 29 - Retirement Plan For Your Small Business - Simple IRA Plan

St. Croix

Aug. 17 - Starting Your Business in the Virgin Islands

Aug. 21 - Procurement Luncheon - Marketing: Say What Your Mean

Aug. 28 - SBA Express Loan Program