New & Updated Items...
St. Thomas Chapter of Golden Key Earns Gold Standing for 2011-2012 Academic Year
The St. Thomas Campus Chapter of the UVI Golden Key International Honour Society has been awarded Gold Standing status from the Golden Key International Honour Society Headquarters for the 2011-2012 Academic Year. Gold is the highest standing under the Chapter Standards Program offered by the society.
The UVI St. Thomas chapter, which now includes more than 100 members, was chartered in 1995. It is part of U.S. Region 3, which includes schools in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The chapter will be represented at the Golden Key International Summit, scheduled for July 25-29 in Atlanta, by Chapter President Makiijah Crabbe. She will be accompanied by Chapter Co-advisor Dahlia Stridiron.
A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link. More about the St. Thomas Chapter and its accomplishments can be viewed in a YouTube video. Search YouTube for "Golden Key International Honour Society St. Thomas Campus" or use this direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dXYZfXbTpM
CES Asks Community to Seek Permission Before Taking Items from St. Thomas Demonstration Garden
The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) at the University of the Virgin Islands has issued a request for members of the University community as well as the general public to stop taking fruits, vegetables and native plants from its home demonstration garden located at the New House Building on the St. Thomas campus without prior permission. The CES reports that "Unfortunately, fruits, vegetables and native plants are being taken from the garden on a regular basis."
The CES established the garden more than 30 years ago to demonstrate the best practices for growing plants around the home and as a location for conducting experiments in tropical gardening. The garden also features rare plants, fruit trees and botanical displays that provide learning opportunities for the UVI community, tourists and the general public. Research data and produce that CES collects from garden experiments are used in our cooking classes, demonstrations, lectures and publications.
"We are asking the UVI Community to please check with someone in our office if they see something that they want from the garden," said Acting CES District Supervisor Carlos Robles. "When we have extras we gladly give them away." Robles also said that visitors are appreciated and welcomed. "We give tours of the garden by appointment and will take walk-ins." For more information, contact the Extension Service Office at (340) 693-1080 to make an appointment.
HR Second-Quarter Newsletter Available Online
The UVI Human Resources Office has issued its second-quarter newsletter. It is available to all employees from the Publications link on the HR Section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
Information & Technology Services Releases Latest Newsletter
UVI's Information & Technology Services Office has issued its most recent quarterly newsletter, Vol. 7, Issue 3. It is available to all employees from the Publications link on the ITS Section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
'We Are UVI' 50th Anniversary Web Project Passes Half-Way Mark
"We Are UVI" - the University of the Virgin Islands' Golden Jubilee blog that features individuals sharing their College of the Virgin Islands (CVI) and UVI stories from the past 50 years - recently passed the half-way mark. One new story is being added to the blog each week during 2012, the University's Golden Jubilee year. The July 1 submission, penned by 2009 graduate Kishma N. Allen, marked the 27th entry and the beginning of the second half of the project.
Ever wonder how UVI and the U.S. Virgin Islands developed their first connection to the Internet? Do you know the story of the first campus demonstration at CVI? Want to learn how the internationally renowned UVI aquaponics system was developed? Remember the challenges of hurricanes Hugo and Marilyn? Spend a few minutes reading "We Are UVI" and you can learn the answers to these questions, as well as get a sampling of the many fascinating stories that make up the University's history.
A news release is available from the UVI homepage- http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
Do You Know This Week's 'We Are UVI' Contributor
Can you identify this week's "We Are UVI" contributor? For the answer, visit the "We Are UVI" Golden Jubilee blog at: http://weareuvi.blogspot.com/. The blog features people sharing their CVI/UVI stories from the past 50 years. New submissions are added each week. This one was posted Sunday, July 8.
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) and Kishma Allen ('09).
Other Current Items ...
Caribbean Green Technology Center to Host Public Symposium on V.I. Renewable Energy Act
UVI's Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC) will host a public symposium on the Virgin Islands Renewable Energy Act 7075 at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17. The symposium, which is free, will be held in the UVI Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus, with a videoconference link to the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. It is designed to provide an overview of what the law and more recently approved amendments mean for the public and how they affect individuals. It will also elicit suggestions for moving forward, according to CGTC spokesperson Heru Ofori-Atta.
Some areas covered by the Renewable Energy Act include the waving of import duties on solar products, the implementation of solar water heaters in new buildings and the waving of import duties and excise taxes on hybrid vehicles. Speakers for the symposium will include Senator Louis Patrick Hill, V.I. Water and Power Authority CEO Hugo Hodge, V.I. Energy Office Director Karl Knight, Dr. Adam Warren of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, an arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources Director of Permits Phillip Smith, CEO of Eco Innovations Gary Udhwani and CEO of Pure Logic Solar Brannon Bloom.
Public and private sector individuals interested in the prospects of renewable energy are encouraged to attend. For more information contact Heru Ofori-Atta at (954) 593-4998 or send email to hoforia@live.uvi.edu.
Free Concert Series by UVI Music Camp Students Opens on Emancipation Day
Students participating in UVI's annual Summer Music Camp are performing a series of free concerts in July and August on St. Thomas. The concerts - which are open to the public - will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., primarily on Wednesdays in Emancipation Garden. The camp is under the direction of UVI Music Professor Austin A. Venzen. It has attracted students from junior and senior high schools on St. Thomas and Anguilla. Prof. Venzen encourages members of the community to show support for the budding musicians and to be treated to wonderful music by attending the free concerts.
Free Emancipation Garden Concert Series schedule:
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Wednesday, July 11 - 11a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
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Wednesday, July 18 - 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
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Wednesday, July 25 - 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
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Thursday, July 26 - Special Concert - time/venue to be announced
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Wednesday, Aug. 1 - 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Student Orientation Leaders Sought on St. Croix for Fall Semester
UVI students interested in serving as Student Orientation Leaders are being sought for the Fall Semester 2012 orientation on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. The students will: make a positive impact, foster school spirit, assist during student orientation week, provide student-to-student mentoring and add leadership experience to their own resumes. Interested students should visit the Dean of Student Affairs or Student Activities offices to obtain applications no later than July 13. For more information call (340) 692-4000.
University Financial Policies Now Available from UVI Website
In an email message on July 2, UVI Vice President of Administration and Finance/CFO Shirley Lake-King announced that UVI financial policies, approved in June by the Board of Trustees, are now available for electronic access by all employees. The policies went into effect on July 1, 2012. The policies are available from this direct link - UVI Financial Policies - as well as from links on both the Administration and Finance page and in the Board of Trustees section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu.
"The policies delineate purpose, scope and applicability, responsibility, and authority, where appropriate," Lake-King wrote. "It is the responsibility of all administrators, managers and supervisors to familiarize themselves with the policies in order to provide proper guidance to all University employees ...We solicit your cooperation with respect to the adherence to and effective implementation of the University's financial policies."
St. Thomas Campus SGA Sets New Election Date
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.