Chief Honors Service of UVI Peace Officers and Security Officers
As part of the National Police Week activities, UVI Chief of Campus Police and Security has issued the following statement: "To our UVI Peace Officers and Security Officers, thank you for your commitment and service to our University Community." Chief Pullen noted that it was in 1962 that President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. According to the Police Week website, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, D.C. to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. More information is available from the Police Week website http://www.policeweek.org.
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
- Friday, May 18 - CES and AES Open House for private and public schools - UVI Research and Extension Center
- 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 692-4060.
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.
Reichhold Center to Host Dance Theatre of Harlem: Ensemble Saturday, May 19
The Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble concludes the Reichhold Center for the Arts' 2011-12 regular season with a show at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. The ensemble, founded by Arthur Mitchell, is the first black classical ballet company in the United States. The Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble is the second company of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, a world-renowned ballet company of African American and other racially diverse artists. Its repertoire is comprised of classical, neoclassical and contemporary ballet and encompasses modern dance and Afro-Caribbean techniques. The company's graceful and vigorous routines have taken the dancers around the globe repeatedly. Tickets - $35, $45 and $55 - are available from the Reichhold Center's website, www.reichholdcenter.com and from the Reichhold Box Office. For more information call (340) 693-1059.
CSAP Plans May 'Gatherings' with Focus on Health and Nutrition
UVI's Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism (CSAP) invites members of the University community and other interested persons to participate in its May "Gatherings," the monthly series of informal conversations designed to stimulate dialogue around the theme of nurturing the whole person.
This month's first activity will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, on the grounds of the Great House on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Health Services Supervisor Maritza DeCosta will lead a conversation centered on the theme of body and spirit, the importance of physical health in the overall wellbeing of a person. DeCosta, a health professional on the St. Croix campus, will encourage participants to think about how they care for their physical health and share ideas about health and wellness, particularly in the sometimes stressful work environment.
The discussion series will continue from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, on the St. Thomas campus, where Esther Lynch-Izaak a nutrition specialist for the Virgin Islands Department of Education, will lead a similar conversation on the patio of the Administration and Conference Center. She will focus on both individual and family health, drawing on experience as a teacher in the food and nutrition area and as director of the School Food Authority for the District of St. Thomas-St. John.
CSAP will provide a light lunch for participants at both events. Interested students, faculty and staff who wish to participate are asked to contact Tregenza A. Roach, Esq., at (340) 693-1240 or send email at troach@uvi.edu, by May 22, 2012.
Virgin Islands Small Business Week Observance Set May 28 to June 2
The Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration will honor small businesses during Virgin Islands Small Business Week, which is scheduled to take place May 28-June 2, 2012.
The week will provide small businesses with the opportunity to participate in an array of specialized trainings to foster business growth, with the highlight being the annual awards ceremonies. "I am honored to have three major financial institutions, both private and public, assisting us this year to offer specialized trainings to small businesses," said SBDC State Director Leonor Dottin. "It demonstrates their interest in furthering their commitment to the territory's small business owners." Small Business Week awards will be presented on St. Thomas on Thursday, May 31, and on St. Croix on Friday, June 1, 2012. A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
Do You Know This Week's Contributor to 'We Are UVI?'
Can you identify this week's contributor to the "We Are UVI" is the University's Golden Jubilee blog. The blog features individuals sharing their CVI/UVI stories from the past 50 years. This submission was added on Sunday, May 13.
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) and Ali McClean ('93). New submissions are added each week.
Other Current Items...
Workshops to Help Advance Coastal Use Mapping Project of St. Thomas East End Reserve
Members of the UVI community who have personal knowledge of the various human uses of marine and coastal areas in the St. Thomas East End Marine Reserves (STEER) area are being sought for possible participation in workshops designed to help complete a coastal use mapping project.
The STEER Coastal Use Mapping Project is a partnership of the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the STEER Advisory Committee, and three projects directed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - the Reef Conservation Program, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. The day-long workshops are planned for May 22 and 23.
UVI second-year graduate student Elena Kobrinski who is serving as the local coordinator for the workshops, said the effort is to find individuals such as boaters, divers, snorkelers who personally use the STEER area. She said UVI researchers and others have been closely involved in a number of watershed studies in the area. A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
Special Golden Jubilee Issue of Dateline: UVI Now Available from Website
A special edition of the newsletter Dateline: UVI has been published covering the first quarter - Feb/March/April 2012 - of UVI's Golden Jubilee year. It features stories and photos from numerous 50th anniversary activities and events, ranging from Charter Day and Afternoon on the Green to the Golden Jubilee Alumni Choir performance and the second Man-Up Conference held on St. Thomas and St. Croix. An electronic version of the newsletter is available from the Public Relations section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.
University Budget Committee FY 2012-2013 Recommendation Posted to Website
The Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget presentation, which was presented to the University community in a videoconferenced forum held by the University Budget Committee on May 2, 2012, is now available from the Administration and Finance section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link. The presentation contains recommendations developed by the University Budget Committee regarding the University's FY 2012-2013 Operating Budget.
UVI's Summer Programs Tailored to Diverse Audience
In addition to its two, regular academic Summer Sessions, UVI offers a host of other summer programs tailored to meet the needs of a diverse audience ranging from UVI students, to grade school students and the general public. Programs included are: Coral Reef Discovery Week, SAT Prep, Summer School Credit Recovery, Mathematics Behind the Science Bridge, the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, the Summer Sophomore Research Institute, the Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders, Upward Bound Summer, 4-H Summer Academies and the Summer Bridge Program.
Details on these 10 special programs are featured on a new Summer Enrichment Programs page available from the Community tab of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link. Brief descriptions of the programs, the dates and locations they are available, contact information and links to more information are included.
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 Schedules Summer Class in Website Creation
UVI will offer a new class on How to Create a Website during the upcoming summer session. The class will cover all phases of setting up a web site. Students will have a chance to secure their own URL (a web address like www.yoursite.com), secure hosting for the site and develop the pages that will be seen by everyone. Creating the art, music, backgrounds and the message are all part of this class. No prior experience is assumed when it comes to creating a web site. For more information call UVI Professor of Communication Dr. Alexander Randall at (340) 514-9995.
Scholarships Available for Advanced Degrees, Cultural Projects
The Board of Directors of the Virgin Islands Academic & Cultural Awards Endowment (VIACAE) Scholarship is accepting applications through May 4, 2012 for its scholarship program. Virgin Islands residents pursuing advanced degrees (J.D., M.D., or other doctorate degrees) or cultural projects are encouraged to apply for the Virgin Islands Academic & Cultural Awards Endowment Scholarship.
Created by the Virgin Islands Legislature in 1970, this program provides financial support to eligible V.I. residents to advance their academic and professional studies, and also to eligible V.I. residents engaged in cultural projects that will benefit the people of the Virgin Islands. Recipients may receive up to $10,000 per year. This is a V.I. territorial scholarship program that is administered by the University of the Virgin Islands.
Applications are available at the Provost's Office on both UVI campuses. Electronic applications and additional information are available from the Financial Aid section of the UVI website - www.uvi.edu - and from these links:
- Financial Aid - Scholarships webpage
/import/sites/uvi/Pages/Financial_Aid-Scholarships.aspx?s=PS - Scholarship Application - /import/sites/uvi/Forms/VIACAE_scholarship_application.pdf
- Residency Certification - /import/sites/uvi/Forms/VIACAE_residency_certification.pdf
- Program Flier -
/import/sites/uvi/Forms/VIACAE_scholarship_flier.pdf
For more information and eligibility requirements contact Mavis Gilchrist, Program Manager at 693-1200.
Testing and Registration Notes...
UVI Schedules Math, English Placement Testing
The University of the Virgin Islands is conducting Math and English placement testing on the following schedule. The tests are computer-based and are administered simultaneously. A picture ID is required. Calculators will not be permitted on the math placement test. A preparation guide is available at this link: http://bit.ly/taGZ6q. For reading and writing, sample tests can be found at www.accuplacer.org.
St. Thomas Campus
Tests: English and Math
Dates and Times:
Tuesday, May 8 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. & Tuesday, June 19 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Place: English testing - Classroom Administration Building (CAB) Computer Lab 103.
Math testing - Classroom Administration Building (CAB) Computer Lab 101 A & B.
Albert A. Sheen Campus - St. Croix
Tests: English and Math
Dates and Times:
Tuesday, May 8 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. & Tuesday, June 19 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Place: English testing - North West Wing, Room 131
Math testing - North West Wing, Room 133
Online Registration for UVI's 2012 Fall Semester
Online registration for UVI's 2012 Fall Semester is continuing. Fall Semester classes begin on Aug. 20. More information is available from the Registrar's section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - with updated web registration instructions available from this direct link.
CELL Notes...
CELL Summer Program Offers Test Prep for SAT Exam
Summer vacation is already upon us and with so many parents searching for something suitable for their teenagers to do, the University of the Virgin Islands - Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) Center will offer a summer SAT preparatory program. The program is ideal for high school students who want to prepare fall SAT exams while participating in other enrichment activities, summer school or summer employment.
The 10-week program will be held 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday, beginning June 9, 2012. Interested students must submit their application by Friday, June 1, 2012, to enroll in the program. The program is open to any high school student with a GPA of 2.0 to 3.5.
The SAT is a standardized measure of college readiness used in the admission process of more than 95 percent of four-year, not-for-profit undergraduate colleges and universities in the United States. Aligned to high school curriculum, the SAT tests reading, mathematics and writing skills that students acquire during high school. The exam also measures how well students apply acquired knowledge, a factor that educators and researchers agree is critical to success in college.
The UVICELL SAT Prep course utilizes various forms of assessments, interactive instruction, test-taking strategies and practice exams to aid students in improving their scores. Additionally, participants will receive a Barron's SAT Prep Book and an SAT approved calculator.
For fees or more information, call 693-1106 or visit http://cell.uvi.edu.
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).