New & Updated Items
UVI Offers English, Math Placement Tests for Incoming Freshman Students
UVI will offer English and math placement tests in July for incoming freshman students who plan to enroll in the University's Fall Semester, which starts on Aug. 20. All students with SAT college admissions scores below 490 on the math test or below 500 on the English tests (both reading and writing), or those with ACT test scores below 20 in math or below 21 in English, are encouraged to take these tests in order to avoid being required to take no- or reduced-credit developmental courses.
Students who pass the placement tests this month will enjoy the benefit of being registered early. They may also find a greater choice of course offerings and class schedules that better fit their personal needs. Students who wait to take placement tests in August, just prior to registration, risk the chance that some classes they wish to take may already be filled.
Tests are scheduled as follow:
Albert A. Sheen St. Croix Campus - St. Croix
English & Math tests: Monday, July 23 & Thursday, July 26 - 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Thomas Campus
Math tests: Tuesday, July 24 & Thursday, July 26 - 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
English tests: Tuesday, July 24 & Thursday, July 26 - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
On St. Thomas the English and math tests will be offered in Computer Labs 101 A & B and 103 of the Classroom Administration Building (CAB). On St. Croix, the English and math tests will be administered in Rooms 131 and 133 of the North West Wing. Students who intend to take this opportunity should indicate their intention by calling the following numbers: (340) 693-1583 (St. Thomas) or (340) 692-4140 (St. Croix). The tests are computer-based and are administered simultaneously. A picture ID is required. Calculators will not be permitted during the math placement test.
A news release, including access to free test preparation resources, is available from the UVI homepage - http://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.
CES Staff to be Featured on Good Morning V.I. Program 'Water, Water...'
Early risers can catch a repeat of the Good Morning V.I. episode "Water, Water...What's Safe to Drink" when it re-airs this weekend on TV2 at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, respectively. The "Water, Water" episode features interviews with UVI's Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff. Good Morning V.I. is produced by the V.I. Christian Ministries. Weekend segments of the program - aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday - focus on community issues. In the past, the University has been featured with presentations on general agriculture, the CES Healthy Homes and Asthma and Mold programs, and the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. CES will share information about future re-airings of these programs as it becomes available. For more information contact Extension Agent Dale Morton at (340) 693-1086 or send email to dmorton@uvi.edu.
UVI Summer Bridge Program Sets Public Closing Ceremony for July 25
More than 100 college-bound students enrolled in UVI's 2012 Summer Bridge Program will participate in a joint, videoconferenced closing ceremony on Wednesday, July 25. The session, which is open to the public, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the first-floor conference room of UVI's Administration and Conference Center on St. Thomas and in the UVI Great Hall on St. Croix.
The five-week residential program brought the students to UVI's campuses for classes in reading, writing, mathematics and college success. According to the St. Thomas Program Coordinator Jennifer Palmer Crawford, the aim of the program is to assist students to jump start their college education by passing out of UVI placement tests. It also eases the transition from high school to college through the early introduction to college and campus life.
In addition to the academics, the students, 55 on St. Thomas and 52 on St. Croix, also participated in a variety of field trips, including visits to various businesses on St. Croix and to UVI's Etleman House observatory and V.I. Ecotours on St. Thomas.
For more information on the Summer Bridge Program, call (340) 693-1499 or send email to jpalmer@uvi.edu on St. Thomas, or St. Croix Program Coordinator Shari Wiltshire at (340) 692-4003 or send email to swiltsh@uvi.edu.
Virgin Islands Native Trees Workshop Set July 26 at UVI's St. John Academic Center
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service will conduct a workshop on native trees of the Virgin Islands at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, at the UVI Academic Center in Cruz Bay, St. John. Dr. Gary Ray, a former UVI biology professor, and Extension Agent Dale Morton will be the presenters. Subjects to be covered include the usefulness of native plants, recognition of well-known traditional uses for trees and the potential for landscaping and commercialization of native resources. The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information contact Dale Morton at (340) 693-1086 (email: dmorton@uvi.edu) or Carmen Wesselhoft at (340) 693-1587 (email: cwessel@uvi.edu).
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 15.
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) and Lawrence Lewis ('73).
Free Concert Series by UVI Music Camp Students Continues in Emancipation Garden
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.
Remaining Dates for Emancipation Garden Concert Series:
Wednesday, July 25 - 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Thursday, July 26 - Special Concert - time/venue to be announced
Wednesday, Aug. 1 - 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Other Current 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.
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 Newhouse 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.
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.