New & Updated Items ...
UVI Board of Trustees to Meet on Saturday, June 9, on St. Croix
The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, in the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Items for action include the fiscal year 2013 operating budget, revised UVI financial policies and a new Board assessment tool. Additional items for action include amendments to the "Rules Governing Appeals to the Board of Trustees," the "Student Conduct Code," and the memorandum of understanding with the University of St. Martin. The board will also be asked to ratify actions taken by the Executive Committee, including the selection of a solar power provider for a power purchase agreement, dissemination of Board documents solely via tablet computers and approval of the Periodic Review Report for UVI's accrediting body, the Middle Sates Commission on Higher Education. A news release is available from the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
UVI's Summer Session II Begins on June 21
Anyone who is interested in earning college credits in condensed sessions has the opportunity to take classes at the University of the Virgin Islands during UVI's Summer Sessions 2012. Summer Session II will be held from June 21 to July 27. On-line registration for Summer Session II is on-going until June 18. On-site registration will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19-20 on each campus.
UVI Business Professor and Summer Sessions Coordinator Dr. Tonjia Coverdale encouraged everyone to see what UVI Summer Sessions have to offer. Dr. Coverdale said courses may be beneficial for people who want to enhance their education, re-tool their skills for a career change, or start a degree program.
More information is available on Summer Session II and other University summer programs for UVI students, grade school students and the general public is available in a news release on the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.
UVI's 2012 Alumni Phonathon Concludes Tonight; Volunteers Needed
UVI's 2012 Alumni Phonathon continues tonight (Thursday, June 7) in the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. Volunteers from the UVI community - students, alumni, faculty and staff - are needed to make calls, update contact information, process pledges and help organize call sheets. Calling will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Photos from the opening nights of the Phonathon are available from the UVI Today... photo blog at http://uvitoday.blogspot.com.
The annual Alumni Phonathon has become one of the University's primary vehicles for communicating with its alumni body. During the effort, particular attention is paid to updating alumni contact and career information.
Volunteers will each receive a special thank-you gift and dinner will be provided. Prizes will be awarded to the top callers each night and to the overall top callers for the four days of the Phonathon. The 2012 Alumni Phonathon is sponsored by the UVI's Office of Institutional Advancement.
To volunteer, contact UVI's Office of Institutional Advancement at (340) 693-1047 or send email to acarmon@uvi.edu or pfahie@uvi.edu or lsmith@uvi.edu.
New 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 is available in a news release on the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.
UVI Offers English, Math Placement Tests for Incoming Freshman Students
The University of the Virgin Islands will offer English and math placement tests on June 19, on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The tests are for incoming freshman students who plan to enroll in the University's Summer Session II - which starts on June 21, or 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 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 successfully pass the placement tests in June 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 on both campuses at 2 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19. On St. Thomas the English tests will be offered in Computer Lab 103 or the Classroom Administration Building (CAB). The math test will be held in Computer Lab 101 A & B of the Classroom Administration Building (CAB). On St. Croix, the English tests will be administered in Room 131 of the North West Wing. The math test will be offered in Room 133 of the North West Wing.
A news release with more information, including access to free test preparation resources, is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
May Issue of Dateline: UVI Features 2012 Commencement, Employee Service Awards
The May issue of Dateline: UVI has been published and is available in electronic format (PDF) from the Public Relations section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link. A limited number of printed copies are distributed to University offices. This issue features a story and photos from UVI's 2012 commencement exercises on St. Thomas and St. Croix, and a follow up on the 2012 Employee Service Awards presentations.
Update Your UVI Website Online Information Before New Student Orientation
Fall 2012 training sessions for UVI website contributors will begin the week before New Student Orientation. Individuals interested in learning how to update their department's section of the UVI website must RSVP at least one week before the training. Space is limited to five individuals per session. Training is available for UVI faculty and staff only.
- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Aug. 7, 2012 - Website Content Publishing Training Level 1
- 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 7, 2012 - Website Content Publishing Training Level 2
- 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 8, 2012 - Website Content Publishing Training Level 1
- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Aug. 9, 2012 - Website Content Publishing Training Level 2
- 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Aug.10, 2012 - Website Open Lab
During the first level of training, participants will learn how to log-in to SharePoint and utilize the page edit menu; navigate the tool bar menus to edit a page, layout a page and make a table; and preview and publish a webpage. Tips to ease webpage maintenance will be shared throughout the training.
During the second level of training, participants will learn how to upload graphics, forms, brochures and news into their respective website sections. Participants should bring a jump drive with text, graphics and other files for posting online.
To RSVP and to learn more about the trainings, contact Webmaster Moneca Pinkett in the UVI Public Relations Office on the St. Thomas campus via e-mail at mpinket@uvi.edu or call (340) 693-1495.
'We
Are UVI' Stories Added Each Week; Do You Know This
Contributor?
Can you identify this week's contributor to "We Are UVI?" For more, visit "We Are UVI" at: http://weareuvi.blogspot.com. "We Are UVI" is the University's Golden Jubilee blog. It features individuals sharing their CVI/UVI stories from the past 50 years. New submissions are added each week, this one was posted Sunday, June 3.
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) and Sharleen Fahie ('93).
Center for the Study of Spirituality & Professionalism to Host two 'Gatherings' in June
Members of the UVI community and other interested persons are invited to participate in the June installments of its series of informal conversations called "Gatherings." The effort - sponsored by UVI's Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism (CSAP) - is designed to stimulate dialogue around the theme of nurturing the whole person.
This month's first Gathering will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13, on the grounds of the Great House on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Wanda Wright will lead a conversation centered on the importance of individuals having a relationship with nature. Wright, an educator and naturalist on St. Croix, has utilized beekeeping as a launch pad for a line of numerous products, all of which use a base of honey. She sees in the life of bees a model for community, with each person having a unique and important role. She was once afraid of bees, but confronted that fear and transformed her whole life.
The discussion series continues from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, on the St. Thomas Campus. Dr. Wendy Coram, a UVI alumna, who will lead a conversation on the patio of the Administration and Conference Center in which she will draw from her experiences as a naturopathic physician. She will share insights on naturopathy, a school of medical philosophy and practice centered around the belief that the body has an innate capacity to heal itself from illness and injury. Naturopathy aims to treat the whole person - body, mind and spirit.
CSAP will provide a light lunch for participants at both events. Interested students, faculty and staff who wish to attend and participate in these activities are kindly asked to RSVP to this invitation by contacting Tregenza A. Roach, Esq. at (340) 693-1240 or by email at troach@uvi.edu, by June 12, 2012.
Other Current Items...
Reichhold Center Issuing Refunds for Kassav Concert Ticket Holders
UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts will issue refunds to patrons who purchased tickets for the Kassav concert, which will not be presented this season due to scheduling conflicts. Patrons requesting a refund must come to the Reichhold Center Box Office and turn in their tickets to receive a refund. Refunds will be granted until June 30, 2012. For any inquiries regarding the refund, contact the Reichhold Center box office at (340) 693-1559.
UVI to Host 15th 'Islands In Between' Conference; Call for Papers Extended
The 15th Annual 'Islands In Between" Conference, celebrating the cultures of Caribbean islands, will be hosted Nov. 8-10, 2012, at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas. The conference is being organized by the University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras, the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados, the University of the Virgin Islands and the Per Ankh Institute of the Virgin Islands. Papers on the following subjects are being sought:
- Language, literature, culture and education in the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Eastern Caribbean drama, poetry and fiction
- Language and culture, identity and/or gender in the Eastern Caribbean
- Creole linguistics and the Creolization of languages and cultures in the Eastern Caribbean
- Art and popular culture of the Eastern Caribbean
- Eastern Caribbean carnivals and other performance traditions
- Culture and politics, culture and economics in the Eastern Caribbean
An early deadline for abstracts and proposals is June 15, with a final deadline of Aug. 15. Submissions or enquiries should be sent to the Puerto Rico Conference Organizing Committee members Dannabang Kuwabong and Nicholas Faraclas at islandsconference@gmail.com. Information regarding the conference will soon be available on the Islands In Between Web Page - http://humanidades.uprrp.edu/ingles/students/resources/islandsinbetween.htm.
UVI Master of Arts in Psychology Program Extends Application Deadline for Fall Semester
The University of the Virgin Islands Master of Arts in Psychology with a Counseling Concentration Program is accepting applications for the 2012 Fall Semester. The deadline for accepting applications has been extended to July 6. The program is designed to provide students with the necessary academic knowledge base, problem solving skills, and experiential opportunities to work in a variety of social service and counseling settings. A program overview and admission criteria are available online at the CLASS section of the UVI webs site - http://www.uvi.edu - and this direct link: /import/sites/uvi/Pages/DHSS-MAP.aspx. Interested applicants should submit admission applications to be considered for the Fall 2012 semester. For more information contact Dr. Lucia DiMeo at (340) 692-4264.
VIMAS Offers Free 'Coral Reef Discovery Week' Program for High School Students
UVI's Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS) is offering its free "Coral Reef Week" program for high school-aged students who are seriously interested in studying coastal, marine and environmental science, natural resource management and conservation, and in learning about careers in these fields. Coral Reef Discovery Week is a fun and intense hands-on course that involves short presentations and lectures from UVI faculty, staff and community partners. It will focus on learning scientific techniques with tools in the field.
The program runs from June 25 through 29. Participants report to the UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, but can expect to travel with staff to other on-island locations for field work and activities. Snorkel gear and instructional materials are provided for the week.
Space is limited. Applications are being accepted until June 11. Notification to qualified students will be issued on a rolling basis. For details and application forms, contact Christine Settar at (340) 693-1392, or send email to: csettar@uvi.edu. Information is also available from the Coral Reef Discovery Week web page at this direct link and from UVI's Center for Marine and Environmental Studies Facebook page.
UVI Accepting Applications for 'Mathematics Behind the Science' Summer Bridge Program
UVI's College of Science and Mathematics invites incoming and prospective UVI freshman with an interest in biology, marine biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, applied mathematics (engineering) or physics to apply to a new Mathematics Behind the Science summer bridge program. This residential program will take place on UVI's St. Thomas campus from June 18 to July 27, 2012. There is no cost to participants.
Mathematics Behind the Science is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) college preparation program. It serves students who have completed grade 12 and will enter university as freshmen in the fall, or students already attending UVI who have successfully completed the MAT 024 course. The program provides an introduction to the demands of a college STEM program. In addition to mathematics coursework, this year three new classes are being introduced: computer science, scientific writing and a Success in STEM course. They are designed to give incoming freshman students a head start on how to navigate college life. Students will also participate in workshops that introduce them to academic resources available on campus and take fieldtrips to local businesses to learn what jobs are available to students who major in STEM fields. Mathematics Behind the Science is intended to serve as a bridge between high school curriculum and expectations at the university level.
Admission applications can be obtained from the Emerging Caribbean Scientists (ECS) website - http://ecs.uvi.edu. ECS will continue to accept applications on a rolling admission basis until all slots are filled. For details, call Amanda Wright at (340) 693-1397 or send email to awright@uvi.edu.
Summer 2012 Financial Aid Update
UVI's Office of Financial Aid has announced the release of the Summer 2012 Financial Aid Guidelines and the Summer Aid Application form. Please visit the links below for the Summer 2012 Financial Aid Information. Completed applications must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office for review and processing.
For additional information concerning Summer Aid, please contact UVI Financial Aid Offices - St. Croix: (340) 692-4193; St. Thomas: (340) 693-1090.
UVI Plans Commemorative Programs to Mark 40th Anniversary of Land Grant Designation
The staff and directors of UVI's Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) have planned a number of activities to commemorate this year's 40th anniversary of the University's designation as a Land Grant institution on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. The College of the Virgin Islands and the University of Guam became land-grant institutions of higher learning, when President Richard Nixon signed into law the Education Amendments Act of June 23, 1972. The public is invited to come out and participate in the celebration of this milestone in the University's history.
Commemorative Event Calendar
- Wednesday, June 20 - CES and AES directors appear on the Virgin Islands Public Television "Face to Face" program with Addie Ottley on WTJX, from 8 to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, June 21 - Ag Forum discussion - Great Hall on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix - 6 to 8 p.m. - Topic: The Role of Land Grant Programs in the Development of Agriculture and The Role of Agriculture in the Economic Development of the Local Community.
- Sunday, June 24 - Anniversary Celebration - 1
to 6 p.m. - Albert A. Sheen Campus grounds.
- Opening ceremony, open house, tree planting and workshops. The celebration will feature farmers and food vendors, the distribution of vegetable seedlings and musical entertainment
For more information, call Clarice Clarke at (340) 692-4060.
SBDC Notes...
SBDC to Offer Workshop on 'Profit Mastery: Creating Value and Building Wealth'
The Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center will host two-day, seminars titled "Profit Mastery" for owners, managers and advisers of small businesses on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The internationally-acclaimed workshop is designed to help persons with small businesses better understand financial management and increase their chances of success. The workshops will include presentations on financial statement analysis, cash flow planning, planning for growth, cost, volume and pricing issues, and determining the right kind of financing for businesses.
The program, produced by Business Resource Services, Inc., meets requirements for 16 continuing Professional Education credits. It will be offered on St. Thomas on June 7 and 8, at the SBDC Training Facility in Nisky Center. It will be presented on St. Croix on June 11 and 12. Each session runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $250 per person. Seating is limited. For more information or to register, contact the SBDC at (340) 776-3206 on St. Thomas or (340) 692-5270 on St. Croix.
Golden Jubilee Items...
Golden Jubilee Commemorative Plates Available at UVI Bookstores
Commemorative plates, prepared for UVI's Golden Jubilee celebration, are now available for sale at the UVI Bookstores on St. Croix and St. Thomas.
UVI Looking for Historic UVI Photos for Golden Jubilee Publication
UVI is seeking historic photos from alumni, faculty, students and the general public for a book that will celebrate the University's 50th Golden Jubilee. Examples would be photos from sporting events, class activities, dormitories and queen contests. Early photos from the 1960s through 1980s are especially needed. Clearly labeled originals should be brought to the UVI Public Relations Office, Room 229 of the Administration and Conference Center, on the St. Thomas campus, and to The Caribbean Writer office, on the St. Croix campus. They may also be mailed to UVI Public Relations, #2 John Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, V.I., 00802.
All photos will be returned. Please attach labels to the back of photos with contact, as well as complete descriptive, information. High resolution scans (full size at 300 dpi) are especially welcome and should be sent to uvijubilee@gmail.com. Photo credit and special thanks will be included in the book. For more information, contact the UVI Public Relations Office at (340) 693-1057.
Submissions for UVI Golden Jubilee Time Capsules Sought
Submissions of commemorative items for inclusion in UVI Golden Jubilee time capsules on both campuses are sought by the Time Capsule Subcommittee of UVI's Golden Jubilee Committee.
Contributions will be accepted from UVI students, alumni, departments and staff members through Oct. 31. Please submit items to be considered for inclusion in the time capsule. Indicate the contributor's name, department and campus, and include contact information. Items can be mailed or dropped off as follows:
- Albert A. Sheen Campus - St. Croix: Raquel Silver / rsantia@uvi.edu / extension 4061 / Research and Extension Center Room 106
- St. Thomas campus: Dr. Angela Dikou / adikou@uvi.edu / extension 1284 / Quarters B Room 202
The time capsule will be capped in December 2012. Members of the subcommittee are Raquel Silver and Dr. Angela Dikou (faculty), Sharon Pickering (student), Maria Friday, Shelly Ansyln-Jones and Lorna J. Williams-Sutton (staff/alumni).