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UVI Bulletin Board Dec. 3, 2012

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UVI Concluding 50th Anniversary Events With Golden Galas; St. Croix Gala Set Dec. 8

UVI's Golden Jubilee spotlight now turns to St. Croix, which marks the conclusion of a year of 50th anniversary events and activities with a Golden Gala at the Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort Hotel and Casino on Saturday, Dec. 8. The evening is billed as "A Grand Affair to End the Year." St. Croix Golden Gala Committee Volunteer Co-Chairperson Ann-Merrie Hendrickson said that tickets, which are $85, are available through Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the UVI Bookstore and from committee members. XPress Band will provide the entertainment.

As on St. Thomas, a highlight of the evening on St. Croix will be the silent auction. Hendrickson said that the silent auctions provide an opportunity for attendees to get holiday gifts. Items gathered for auction include jewelry, day trips, on- and off-island hotel stays, ladies gift sets, household electronics, paintings and wood carvings. The evening begins with the auction during cocktail hour from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information contact Hendrickson at (340) 692-4010.

The St. Croix Gala follows the Gala on St. Thomas, held Saturday, Dec. 1, at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort. UVI students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends and supporters closed out the 50th Anniversary activities on St. Thomas in grand style with a sold-out evening of mingling, a silent auction, dining and dancing.

"We are truly excited to host these high-end events where members of the community can celebrate with the UVI family," said St. Thomas Golden Gala Committee Volunteer Co-Chairperson Jacqueline Sprauve. "We have had a fabulous year celebrating the milestone that is UVI's 50th Anniversary. We wanted to end the year in a grand fashion where everyone can dress in their finest, have a good time and welcome the holiday season," Sprauve continued. "Galas on St. Thomas and St. Croix mean that everyone can come celebrate with us." The formal events are also designed as fund raisers to establish a Golden Jubilee Scholarship.

UVI 50th Anniversary Christmas Concert Set for Dec. 8, at the Reichhold Center

The UVI Music Department and the Reichhold Center for the Arts will present the Golden 50th Anniversary Christmas Concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. The show will include the UVI Concert Band and Concert Choir, the UVI Jazz Ensemble and the Steel Pan Ensemble. Ticket - $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for seniors - are available at the Reichhold Center Box Office, the UVI Bookstore, VI Bridal and Tuxedo, Nora's Beauty Palace and the Dockside Bookstore. This will be UVI Professor Austin A. Venzen's Farewell Concert.

Submissions, Letters Sought for UVI's 50th Anniversary Time Capsules; Deadline Dec. 14

Since announcing plans to create UVI 50th Anniversary Time Capsules on both campuses, many suggestions and some forwarded items have been received. The Time Capsule Subcommittee of the Golden Jubilee Committee is again asking members of the University community to submit items for inclusion in each time capsule. "The sky is the limit on what can be placed in the time capsule," said Subcommittee Chair Raquel Silver. "Be imaginative." The time capsules will be capped in 2013, not to be opened for 50 years - in 2062.

The committee is also seeking letters from students, staff, faculty and alumni describing what they think UVI will be like in 50 years. Please submit items and/or letters for inclusion in the time capsules by Dec.14, 2012, to Raquel Silver at rsantia@live.uvi.edu or call (340) 692- 4061.

New Development Staffer to Build Corporate and Foundation Program

Richard Cleaver has been selected as the director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations at the University of the Virgin Islands. Filling this new position designed to increase philanthropic giving to UVI, Cleaver will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing plans for increasing UVI's funding from local, regional, and national-based institutional sources.

"We are delighted to have recruited Mr. Cleaver to join UVI's Development Office. Building a corporate and foundation program is one of our key strategies for securing additional philanthropic support for UVI's academic programs, special initiatives, and capital projects," said Dionne V. Jackson, vice-president for Institutional Advancement at UVI. "Mr. Cleaver brings to UVI many years of experience in this field and intimate knowledge of potential partners," Jackson continued. "Mr. Cleaver has an impressive track record of attracting six-figure gifts for higher education institutions," she added.

A news release, with photograph, is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.

2012 St. Thomas/St. John Ag and Food Fair Winners Posted

Charles Leonard and Nathaniel Tuitt were honored as the 2012 crop and livestock farmers of the year, respectively, at the St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair held on the grounds of UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts. This year's theme was "Agriculture: Key to Improving Our Economy."

The two, long-time St. Thomas farmers headlined the list of other competition winners. Their selection was announced during the Fair's opening ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 3. The annual Fair, which continued through Nov. 4, featured tempting displays of some of the best locally produced fresh produce, plants, arts and crafts, and specialty products. With most of that available for sale, fairgoers eagerly took the opportunity to re-stock their pantries and buy early holiday gifts.

A news release, with a photograph of the ribbon-cutting ceremony that opened the fair, is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.

CES Offers Free Workshop on Holiday Baking on St. Croix on Dec. 5-6

The 4-H/Family and Consumer Sciences Program of UVI's Cooperative Extension Services will conduct free workshops on making sweet breads and fruit cakes on St. Croix, on Dec. 5 and 6.

Sweet bread baking will be featured on Wednesday, Dec. 5, in two sessions running from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. One workshop on baking fruit cakes is slated on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All workshops take place in Room 134 of the UVI Research and Extension Center on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.

Class size is limited. To register, contact Jo-An Josiah at (340) 692-4083 or Evannie Jeremiah at (340) 692-4094.

Survey: Financial Stress Affects College Students' Academics

UVI's Office of Institutional Research and Planning is sharing a National Survey Student Engagement (NSSE) news release titled: "Financial Stress Affects Academics for College Students, Survey Finds" with the University community. The release details findings from a new report - "Promoting Student Learning and Institutional Improvement Lessons from NSSE at 13" - Annual Results 2012. While UVI did not participate in the 2012 survey, Institutional Research is preparing to administer the NSSE in the spring of 2013. The news release is available from this direct link Institutional Research communities section of the myCampus portal - NSSE News Release. The full report is also available from the NSSE website at http://nsse.iub.edu.

Fall Edition of VIUCEDD Newsletter 'HARAMBEE' Available Online

The fall edition of "HARAMBEE," the Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) newsletter has been published and is available to the general public. The 12-page newsletter is packed with photos and articles covering events such as the 9th Annual Voices that Count conference, the 5th Annual Autism conference and the Best Beginnings conference. Also featured is a look at "New Faces at VIUCEDD."

To view "HARAMBEE," visit the VIUCEDD website - http://www.viucedd.org/ - and select the Documents button to download the complete newsletter. For more information contact Sandra Pierre-Louis at (340) 692-4266.

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

The UVI Human Resources Department has released the University's New Hires, Promotions and Separations report for Nov. 1-30, 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 Today... Recent Photo Blog Updates...

To view the latest entries to the "UVI Today..." photo blog, click on the Blogger button in the social media links at the top, right of any page in the UVI website or on the direct links below.

We Are UVI Contribution for Dec. 2 ... This submission was posted Sunday, Dec. 2, to UVI's Golden Jubilee Blog. It joins more than 50 other stories from other individuals with close ties to the University. We Are UVI

2012 STT/STJ Ag and Food Fair Views ... Charles Leonard and Nathaniel Tuitt topped the list of winners at the fair as the 2012 crop and livestock farmers of the year, respectively. The St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair held this month on the grounds of UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts. Fair Views

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

 To see photos of this week's "We Are UVI" contributor, and to read her story, visit http://weareuvi.blogspot.com. "We Are UVI" is our 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, Dec. 2.

weareuvi.blogspot.comSunday's submission joins stories from the following:

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), Vincent Cooper ('72), Dennis Parker, UVI President Emeritus Orville Kean, Richard Schrader, Albert Bryan ('04), Jerome McElroy, Velma Tyson ('80, '83), Marchelle D. Clarke Brown ('82), Anita Gordon Plaskett ('74, '78), Nanyamka Farrelly ('99, '06), Robert H. Ruskin, Jr. ('77) and Juanita Woods, Judy Grybowski, Lucia Woods, Ellis Webster, George Condon and Linette Rabsatt.

Other Current Items...

GERS to Hold Town Hall Meetings Set to Discuss System Reform Initiatives

The Government Employees' Retirement System is hosting Town Hall Meetings to discuss GERS Reform Initiatives and other matters of concern to members. The next meeting is slated for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Windward Passage Hotel on St. Thomas

GERS members and the general public are invited and encouraged to attend as vital information about the future of the retirement system will be discussed. Members will also have an opportunity to share their concerns and dialog with panelist. For more information, call (340) 776-7703 and ask for the Public Information and Communications Unit.

Rev. Jennie Alvarez to Speak at Dec. 6 CSAP 'Gathering' on Dec. 6 on St. Thomas

UVI's Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism (CSAP) invites members of the UVI community to a "Gathering" from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6. The session takes place on the patio of the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus.

Rev. Jennie Alvarez, a certified relationship enhancement counselor, will speak on the topic "Transforming Relationships with Compassionate Communication." Rev. Alvarez is an ordained ministerial counselor from the Spiritual Church, Pathways of Light, a mediator for dispute resolution, and a certified yoga teacher. She is the co-founder for Heart and Soul Unions, Bliss Events, and the non-profit Ananda Nilayam, Center for Conscious Living. She also works with couples to improve communication skills that build trust, understanding, compassion and unconditional love.

Participants should bring their lunch and indicate their intention to participate by calling Wendy Coram at (340) 693-1499 or sending email to wendy.coram@live.uvi.edu.

7th Annual Woodworkers Expo Sessions Slated for St. Thomas, Dec. 7-9 and St. John Dec. 14-16

UVI's Cooperative Extension Service will hold the seventh annual Virgin Islands' Woodworkers' Expo at Tutu Park Mall on St. Thomas from Dec. 7 to 9. The Expo will feature the works by members of the St. Croix Wood Artists, Inc. and the St. Thomas/St. John Woodworkers Society. The expo opens at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, and at 10 a.m. on Dec. 8 and 9. The Expo offers an opportunity to view and purchase exquisite quality work by some of the finest woodworkers anywhere. There will also be demonstrations by master woodworkers.

Individuals who are not members of the woodworker groups may also apply to join exhibit and sell locally made wood products at the Cooperative Extension Service on St. Thomas. The fee for a space at the Expo is $50 per day.

A second session for the 2012 Expo is scheduled on St. John for Dec. 14 to 16. The St. John expo - with works by the same St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John groups - is planned at the Market Place in Cruz Bay. It will open at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, and at 10 a.m. on Dec. 15 and 16. Pieces will be available for sale and demonstrations by master woodworkers are planned.

For more information, contact Carlos Robles at (340) 693-1083 or 692-1080. The Woodworkers' Expo is sponsored by UVI Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with the V.I. Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, the V.I. Department of Tourism and Tutu Park Mall.

VIUCEDD, Community Groups Offer Workshop for Parents of Children with Behavioral Problems

Parents of children who are exhibiting behavioral problems are invited to workshops titled "The Magic Wand of Positive Consequences" on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The workshops, sponsored by community groups and UVI's Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD), are free and offered as a community service event. They take place on Monday, Dec. 10, on St. Thomas, and on Wednesday, Dec. 12, on St. Croix. The sessions are designed to help parents and caregivers understand while the child is misbehaving and to provide steps they can take to improve the behavior. The presenter is Dr. Candace Baker, a professor of Autism Interventions and Positive Behavioral Supports at Texas A&M International University in Laredo Texas.

The St. Thomas workshop runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, at the Head Start conference room at the Sugar Estate Complex. To register on St. Thomas call 776-9200 ext. 2334. The St. Croix session is slated for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, at the Great Hall on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus. To register on St. Croix call (340) 292-4266. Accommodations for special services, such as Sign Language Interpreters should be requested in advance.

Joining VIUCEDD in sponsoring the workshops are the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands and the Inter-Island Parent Coalition for Change.

Training Set for UVI Website Content Contributors on Dec. 12; RSVP Required

UVI faculty and staff interested in managing their department's section of the UVI website are invited to the Website Content Contributors' Training slated for Dec. 12 on St. Thomas. Participants must RSVP at least one week before the training. The Trainings will be held as follows.

Dec. 12 Training Schedule - St. Thomas

  • - 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Level 1: Posting Basic Content
  • - 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Level 2: Uploading Forms Brochures & Other Documents
  • - 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Working Lab w/Webmaster

Details on what the training entails are available from this direct link. Interested persons should RSVP to UVI Webmaster Moneca Pinkett, in the UVI Public Relations Office on the St. Thomas campus, via e-mail at mpinket@uvi.edu.

Academic Notes...

Final Exams Scheduled for Dec. 4-10 at UVI

Final exams for UVI fall semester students are scheduled for Dec. 4-10. During this period, other student activities are not scheduled.

Mathematics for Secondary Teachers Program Applications Deadline Set Dec. 7

The next cohort for UVI Masters of Arts in Mathematics for Secondary Teachers (MMAT) Program is scheduled to begin classes on Jan. 14, 2013. Applications should be submitted to UVI's Admissions Office by Dec. 7, 2012. UVI Graduate Application Forms are available from the UVI Admissions homepage http://admissions.uvi.edu and from these direct links:

Information on program requirements, etc. is available from the UVI School of Mathematics and Science homepage - http://stem.uvi.edu - and from MMAT Program Director Dr. Vanere Goodwin at vgoodwi@uvi.edu.

Math and English Placement Testing Set for Dec. 8 on Both Campuses

The University of the Virgin Islands will conduct student placement testing in math and English for the Spring 2013 semester on Dec. 8, 2012, on both campuses. The tests are computer-based and are administered simultaneously. Admitted students should bring a picture ID and SAT or ACT scores, if possible. Calculators will not be permitted on the math placement test. A math test preparation guide is available at this link: http://bit.ly/taGZ6q. Reading and writing sample tests can be found at www.accuplacer.org - use the "Information For Students" button.

St. Thomas Campus

  • Tests: English and Math
  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012
  • Place:
    English testing is in the Classroom Administration Building (CAB) computer lab, room 103.
    Math testing is in the Center for Student Success (CSS) computer lab, room CAB 123.
  • Time: Registration at 9:30 a.m. Tests begin at 10 a.m.

Albert A. Sheen Campus - St. Croix

  • Tests: English and Math
  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012
  • Place:
    English testing is in the Northwest Wing, room 131.
    Math testing is in the Northwest Wing, room 133.
  • Time: Registration at 9:30 a.m. Tests begin at 10 a.m.

Spring and Summer Online Registration for Continuing UVI Students Underway

Continuing UVI students can now register online, via Banweb, for spring and summer 2013 courses. Registration for spring classes continues through Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, for spring. Summer registration will continue up to the start of those sessions. Students are reminded that they must first meet with their academic advisors to prepare individual schedules, and obtain an alternate PIN, which they will need to access Banweb. To find out the name of their advisor, students should contact the office of the dean of their school or college, or the Office of the Registrar, or the Associate Registrar (registrar@uvi.edu). Further details are available from the Registrar's section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - or this direct link Registrar Home Page.

Computer Literacy Exam Testing Schedule Available Online

The schedule for the upcoming Computer Literacy Exams (CLE) at UVI is now available. Students must register for the CLE via Banweb. The examination is online, and will be administered via Blackboard. All sections of the CLE must be completed and passed in order to receive a passing grade. Students must bring current photo ID to the testing room for verification.

For a full list of exam dates visit the Registrar's page on the UVI website www.uvi.edu or this direct link. For assistance with web registration contact the Registrar's Office at (340) 692-4103/4158 on St. Croix or (340) 693-1160 on St. Thomas. Direct other questions to Dr. Tonjia Coverdale at tcoverd@uvi.edu or (340) 693-1523.

SBDC Notes...

SBDC Workshop on Starting a Business in the Virgin Islands Set for Dec. 8 on St. Croix

The Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) will conduct a workshop on hot to start a small business in the Virgin Islands from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the SBDC Training Facility at the Sion Farm Shopping Center on St. Croix. The session opens with a discussion of why businesses succeed or fail. Other topics include what it takes to be an entrepreneur, writing a business plan, legal structure options, state and local rules, regulations and licensing requirements, marketing, cash flow projections and record keeping. A similar workshop was held on St. Thomas on Nov. 30.

Workshop admission is $10. Registration is available on the VI SBDC website at www.sbdcvi.org or by calling the St. Croix Service Center at (340) 692-5270.

SBDC Offers Workshop on Government Procurement Process on Dec. 11

The next Procurement Luncheon Workshop in a series offered by the VI Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC), covering the U.S. Small Business Administration's role in the procurement process and available loan programs," is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11. On St. Croix it will be held at the UVI Albert A. Sheen Campus in the Cooperative Extension Service Room 133. The workshop will be video conferenced to the first-floor conference room in the UVI Administration and Conference Center on St. Thomas. The session is designed to provide business owners with information vital for doing business with federal and local governments and securing government contracts for a variety of products and services. The workshop series topics are coordinated by VI SBDC Procurement Consultant Dr. Anita Roberts.

Admission is $20. A light lunch is included. Preregistration is required. Registration is available from the VI SBDC website at www.sbdcvi.org or by calling the St. Thomas/St. John Service Center at (340) 776-3206 or the St. Croix Service Center at (340) 692-5270.