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New and Updated Items...
UVI Spring Open House Sessions Set Feb. 27, on St. Croix and Feb 28, on St. Thomas
The University of the Virgin Islands will hold its annual Spring Open House for potential students on Wednesday, Feb. 27, on St. Croix, and on Thursday, Feb. 28, on St. Thomas. The sessions will provide potential students a chance to explore the numerous opportunities available at UVI. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with academic deans and department heads, interact with student group leaders and members, and obtain information on admissions, financial aid and scholarships. Time will be set aside to tour and explore both campuses.
Both Open Houses will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The St. Croix event will be centered on the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. On St. Thomas, the Open House will take place at the Reichhold Center for the Arts.
The Open House has been promoted at recent USVI and British Virgin Islands college fairs, at AgriFest, with the Territory's high schools, on WGOD radio, and in one-on-one discussions with prospective students and their parents. For more information, contact UVI Access and Enrollment Services at (340) 692-4158 on St. Croix or (340) 693-1160 on St. Thomas. Send email requests to admissions@uvi.edu.
UVI Employees Encouraged to Join '10,000 Steps'
Wellness Program
Online Registration Underway Through Feb. 21; Kick-off
Walks Set for STT & STX on Feb. 23
All UVI employees are encouraged to join in a new "Just Walk - 10,000 Steps A Day" wellness program. To kick off the eight-week, 10,000 Steps program, UVI will conduct group walks covering approximately 10,000 steps on St. Thomas and St. Croix on Saturday, Feb. 23. This new wellness activity, offered free to UVI employees, is designed to help change the mindset of government employees about wellness and health, according to Veda Richards, UVI's director of Employee Benefits and Immigration Services. The goal is to eventually lower the cost of health insurance as UVI employees begin to practice a healthier lifestyle.
Employees must enroll during the registration period of Feb. 18 through 21. The actual 10,000 Steps program will run from Feb. 25 through April 22. During this time, individual employees will use a specialized website to set personal goals and record their progress. UVI Physical Plant employees can register on paper at their department office. All other employees must register online. To register, visit http://www.cornerstonefitness.com/uvi-viport/10ksteps.html.
A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and this direct link.
President for a Day Laurencin, Dr. Hall Spend Day Reversing Roles; Follow-up Session Set Feb. 21
UVI President for a Day Marsha Laurencin and Dr. David Hall spent Monday, Feb. 18, reversing their roles as part of the University's first-ever President for a Day initiative. Dr. Hall began his day of course work and student activities by walking to Laurencin's 8 a.m. organic chemistry class, while Laurencin spent the morning meeting with Dr. Hall's executive staff, touring the Administration and Conference Center and visiting with staff. Her afternoon included lunch with a UVI Trustee and a special meeting of the President's Cabinet.
The University community is invited to hear Laurencin and Dr. Hall discuss their experiences in a special session set for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Neil Weiss Educational and Seminar Suite in West Residence Hall. The session will also be available via videoconference in Room 713 in the Evans Center on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and in Room 103 of the St. John Academic Center. Albert A. Sheen Campus students should stay tuned for their chance to vie to be President for a Day when the initiative next moves to St. Croix. A news release is available from the UVI homepage - http://www.uvi.edu - and this direct link.
Promotional Video on UVI YouTube Video Channel Generates More Than 100,000 Views
Join thousands of others in viewing and sharing the latest University of the Virgin Islands recruitment video which is available on the University's YouTube video channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/UVIvideos. The goal of the video is to encourage young men to make UVI their choice for higher education. It was created and produced by the UVI Public Relations Office and LD Graphx for UVI Access and Enrollment Services. The video, which was first shown at this month's Man Up Conferences, has amassed more than 100,000 views on YouTube. Also featured on the UVI channel are the UVI Strategic Plan 2017, clips from previous Man Up Conferences and several "Why UVI" videos.
Public Observing Session Set Feb. 22 at UVI's Etelman Observatory
The next public observing session and science night at UVI's Etelman Observatory is slated for 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb 22. "We are pleased to invite the public to join us and enjoy the night sky, views of our galaxy, and join in a discussion of interesting and exciting topics in the world of astrophysics and space science," said Etelman Observatory Director Dr. David Morris. Guests will be treated to views of the planet Jupiter with its Galilean moons, the Crab supernova remnant, and the Orion Nebula star forming region. The rain date is Saturday, Feb. 23. The evening will also feature a video presentation and lecture on the influence of astrophysics research in our daily lives.
This viewing is presented free of charge through charitable sponsorship by Celtic Therapeutics. Space is limited so please RSVP to Dr. Morris by email - dmorris@uvi.edu - or call (617) 610-1148.
Reichhold Center Family Series Presents Cirque Zuma Zuma on Feb. 22 and 23
Next up at UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts will be performances by Cirque Zuma Zuma, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23. More than 20 African team members come together in Cirque Zuma Zuma for a fun show of gymnastics, jumping, juggling, balancing and human pyramids. This high-energy show is part dance, part Cirque du Soleil, part Harlem Globetrotters and full-time family fun. Cirque Zuma Zuma recently earned a berth as a finalist on the hit NBC show "America's Got Talent." The show is part of the Reichhold Center's Family Series.
Tickets are available online from the Reichhold Center website - www.reichholdcenter.com - and from these ticket outlets: The Reichhold Box Office, Urban Threadz, V.I. Bridal and Tuxedo, KC Movie and Home Again on St. Thomas; Urban Threadz on St. Croix; and Connections on St. John. The Reichhold has also arranged special discounted getaway packages, with special offers from Seaborne Airlines and Best Western Carib Beach Resort. For discount and other details call the Reichhold Box Office at (340) 693-1559
UVI Bucs, Lady Bucs Fall to UPR-Rio Piedras in Puerto Rico; Home Games Set Feb. 23
The UVI Buccaneers men's and women's basketball squads fell to their UPR-Rio Piedras counterparts in weekend games in Puerto Rico. The Rio Piedras downed the Lady Bucs, 54-30, in the first game. Melanesia Hendrickson led the Lady Bucs effort with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. Char'Les Martin contributed 10 points, while Jamilia Norris grabbed nine rebounds and had one blocked shot. In the finale, the Buccaneers fell to the Rio Piedras men's squad 70-53. Wilson Ferrance led the Buccaneers with 11 points and Melvin Adams Jr. added 10.
The Buccaneers and Lady Bucs are scheduled to host Sacred Heart at the Sports and Fitness Center on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Lady Bucs play at 3 p.m., with the men's game following at 5 p.m.
The 2013 basketball schedule is available from the Athletic section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and this direct link. The Bucs have also launched a Facebook page, follow and like them at https://www.facebook.com/UVIBucs.
Pioneer in Market Development Robert P. Smith to Speak at UVI on Feb. 25
Robert P. Smith, a pioneer in helping markets develop, as well as the president, founder and managing director of Turan Corporation, of Boston, Mass., will speak on "America's Promise and Perils for the Twenty-First Century," at the second lecture in the Open Doors Lecture at the University of the Virgin Islands. The St. Thomas presentation will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb.25, in the Administration Conference Center (ACC Building) ground floor with a link to the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.
Open Doors Lectures, sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, are designed to provide a forum in which internationally recognized academics and practitioners can share their knowledge on vital topics with the University community and the public. With the closing of HOVENSA and the general economic recession, there has been much discussion on the state of the economy and its effects on tourism, financial services and other sectors here and in the wider Caribbean. Smith, the author of "Riches Among the Ruins: Adventures in the Dark Corners of the Global Economy," has worked governments in the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nigeria, Vietnam and Russia. He is well positioned to provide an authoritative up-to-date perspective on the present state of the global economy.
For more information, please contact Dian Levons at (340) 693-1260 or dlevons@live.uvi.edu on St. Thomas or Rishina Williams at (340) 692-4110 or rwillia@live.uvi.edu on St. Croix.
Call for Abstracts Issued for 2013 Spring Student Research Symposium; Register by Feb. 25
Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to participate in UVI's 11th Annual UVI Spring Student Research Symposium. Students must register and submit their abstracts online at http://ecs.uvi.edu by Monday, Feb. 25th in order to participate. The symposium is organized by UVI's College of Science and Mathematics and the Emerging Caribbean Scientists (ECS) program.
The Spring Research Symposium will be held Saturday, March 23, on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, in the Great Hall of the North West Wing. Students will set up beginning at 11 a.m. and the symposium will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The registration fee is $100. Travel and registration waivers may be provided for undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students who have registered and submitted an abstract by Feb. 25. Please contact Aimee Sanchez for details at (340) 693-1249 or send email to aimee.sanchez@uvi.edu.
The symposium is part of an overall effort to increase research training and promote excellence among UVI students. It provides an opportunity for students to display the results of their research projects, showcase their talent and to interact with the community. Presentations are evaluated by a panel of judges for their scientific content and the clarity of presentation.
UVI RTPark/RTPark PC Real Estate Administration Committee to Meet Feb. 25
A meeting of the Real Estate Administration Committee of the UVI Research and Technology Park Corporation (RTP) and the Research and Technology Park Protected Cell Corporation (RTPark PC) is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (AST) on Monday, Feb. 25. The session will take place via teleconference at the RTPark Offices on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Contact Melissa Miller at (340) 692-4200 to participate, or for more information. Seating is limited.
Center for Student Success Sets Workshop on 'College Survival Skills' for Feb. 26
UVI's Center for Student Success will present its first workshop of the Spring semester entitled "College Survival Skills" from 3 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 26, with sessions available on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The workshop will have an emphasis on UVI. All instructors are asked to encourage their students to attend. The workshop will be available in Teacher Education Room 211 on St. Thomas and in Evans Center Room 505 on St. Croix.
For more information contact Maria Fleming at the center at (340) 692-4183 or send email to mfleming@uvi.edu.
UVI RTPark/RTPark PC Board of Directors to Meet Feb. 27
A meeting of the Board of Directors of the UVI Research and Technology Park Corporation (RTP) and the Research and Technology Park Protected Cell Corporation (RTPark PC) is scheduled for 2 p.m. (AST) on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The session will take place via teleconference at the RTPark Offices on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Contact Melissa Miller at (340) 692-4200 to participate, or for more information. Seating is limited.
Other Current Items...
Wide Participation Sought in 'UVI Open House' Recruiting Events Set Feb. 27-28
UVI's Access and Enrollment Services department will conduct "UVI Open House" for junior and senior high school students on Wednesday, Feb. 27, on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, and on Thursday, Feb. 28, on the St. Thomas campus. The open house is an effort to attract, recruit and eventually enroll more of the Territory's students upon graduation from high school. The open house on both campuses will run from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m. They will take place on the Reichhold Center on St. Thomas and in the Great Hall on St. Croix.
UVI offices and service areas are encouraged to participate with displays highlighting individual areas. Display possibilities include poster-sessions, recruitment table with informational brochures and handouts, audio/visual presentation via laptop or iPad, etc. Deans or appointed designees will be introduced during the open house welcome session and may be asked to offer brief, informative, remarks. Faculty, staff and student organizations will have time specifically set aside to engage with students as they visit displays.
More information will be shared as plans and logistics are solidified.
Center for Spirituality Sets Next Gathering on Feb. 28
UVI's Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism invites the University community to its February Gathering, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28. It will take place on the patio of the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. Dr. Lois Habtes will speak on the topic of "Culture and Spirituality."
Dr. Hassell-Habtes, a well-known storyteller and musician, has served in many capacities in the Department of Education, including music supervisor, coordinator of arts and culture, assistant principal at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School and principal of the Joseph Sibilly Elementary School. She now serves as principal at the Emanuel Benjamin Oliver Elementary School.
Please RSVP by contacting Wendy V. Coram, at (340) 693-1499 or send an email to wendy.coram@live.uvi.edu. Lunch will commence at 11:30 a.m. followed by the conversation at noon. The goal of the center's Gatherings is to leave participants with a smile in their your hearts, provide new connections with professionals in the community, stimulate and provide spiritual awareness, and provide a renewed sense of passion and love for life.
Call for Abstracts Issued for UVI Research Day 2013; Deadline March 8
The second annual UVI Research Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, 2013. UVI research faculty, teaching faculty and students are invited to submit abstracts of 200 words or less for research posters and roundtable discussions. Proposals are welcomed from all disciplines and on all topics to demonstrate the research talent at UVI. The formats - posters and roundtables - are intended to encourage the presentations and discussion of research projects at different stages of development, as well as to foster intellectual exchange and collaboration.
Faculty members are particularly encouraged to collaborate with students, assisting them in the development of abstracts and posters for UVI Research Day. The abstract submission deadline is Friday, March 8, 2013. There will be no extension of this deadline. Complete details on poster and roundtable requirements, plus submission information, are available from the Research section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - and this direct link.
SGA to Host St. Croix Campus Shadow Our Students Program on March 13
The Student Government Association on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix will host its seventh annual SOS (Shadow Our Students) Program on Wednesday, March 13. The program is designed to enhance UVI's recruitment efforts and build mentoring relationships between UVI students and graduating seniors in the local high schools.
This year's theme is "SOS: SWAGG (Students With A Greater Goal) Edition." The goal is to inspire those in attendance to transition from good to great. The program will highlight "SOS Alumni" who have made a significant impact at UVI and the wider community and the many successes they have attained. The presenter will be Stan Pearson II, Association for the promotion of Campus Activities Speaker of the Year and Campus Activities Magazine Diversity Artist of the Year Nominee. Pearson is a salsa dancing, Spanish speaking presenter who uses comedy, interactive activities and real-life, easy-to-apply expertise to connect to his audience. He has spoken in more than 40 states in the U.S., Mexico, the British Virgin Islands and Canada. His presentations are designed to connect, entertain and educate everyone regardless of race, cultural or socio-economic backgrounds.
For details, contact SGA President Kevin Dixon, at Dixon_Kevin@live.com or call (340) 692-4191, or SOS Program Coordinator Raydiance Watts-Clarke, at Ray_Clarke6@live.com or call at (301) 204-6080. Information is also available from Student Activities Supervisor/SGA Advisor Hedda Finch-Simpson at (340) 692-4228.
UVI's MBA Comprehensive Exam Set for April 5 on Both Campuses;
Application Deadline is March 15
The University of the Virgin Islands Spring 2013 Master of Business Administration (MBA) Comprehensive Exam is scheduled to be administered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, April 5, simultaneously on the St. Thomas and Albert A. Sheen campuses. Exam locations are Teacher Education Room 103 on St. Thomas and Evans Center Room 405 on St. Croix.
Students who plan to take the exam must complete and submit an Application Petition by March 15. All information needed to prepare for the examination - including the Application Petition - is accessible through the MBA Program's Blackboard site. Students should direct any questions to School of Business, MBA Program Director, Dr. Utha Williams - at uwillia@live.uvi.edu.
IRP to Administer 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) at UVI
UVI's Office of Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) will collaborate with the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research to administer the 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) at UVI from Feb. 5 through March 15, 2013. This survey will focus on selected freshmen and seniors. They will have the opportunity to voice opinions, share how they interact with faculty and peers, describe how they utilize time and say what they gained from their overall educational experience at UVI. The research is an essential step for the University as UVI works towards its accreditation review in 2015. Data collected will assist the administration, faculty and staff to implement changes for improving and meeting the needs of our students.
Additionally, when a student fully completes the whole survey, their name will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win one iPad. To learn more about NSSE, visit their web site at this link http://nsse.iub.edu. For questions about the project, contact Institutional Research and Planning at (340) 693-1010. Persons interested in viewing past NSSE reports, should visit our website link at this link this direct NSS link.
UVI Sets English Proficiency Exam on St. Thomas for April 11
The English Proficiency Exam for UVI's St. Thomas campus is scheduled for April 11 in the Sports and Fitness Center Rooms 223, 224 and 225. The exam begins at 8 a.m. Students should bring blue or black ink pens, and a dictionary in hard copy, and white out, if needed. For more information contact English Proficiency Exam Coordinator Dr. Vincent Cooper at (340) 693-1351 or vcooper@uvi.edu.
UVI to Offer Summer Course in Global Leadership Development
The University of the Virgin Islands will offer a unique, two-week summer course in Global Leadership Development in 2013. The intensive course is designed for students as well as non-students interested in a wide range of disciplines including: business, education, liberal arts, social science, nursing, science, mathematics, psychology, social sciences, tourism, hospitality, social work, public administration and communication. It is designed to provide training from a multi-discipline perspective for individuals who are passionate about making a difference and who aspire to the top leadership positions in their fields. The course is titled Business 400 Summer Institute Global Leaders for undergraduates and Business 540 Summer Institute Global Leaders for graduates.
Participants in the course may also qualify to attend the Inaugural "International Conference on Leadership, Management and Strategic Development" planned during UVI's Summer Institute course. More information can be found on the Global Institute for Leadership and Management Development section of the UVI website - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link. For more information, contact Dr. Gabriel Ogunmokun, director of UVI's Global Institute for Leadership and Management Development, at gogunmo@uvi.edu.
UVI Employees, Others Urged to Review UVI Online Job Postings
UVI employees and external interested individuals are encouraged to review the University's online job postings for updates on available vacancies from the Human Resources Office section of the University website - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link: http://careers.uvi.edu. UVI is committed to attracting, developing and retaining a highly qualified workforce to support our mission of excellence in education and research. The University of the Virgin Islands is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Afternoon on the Green Items...
Dishes Sought for UVI's Afternoon on the Green
The University of the Virgin Islands annual Afternoon on the Green is set for noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, on the St. Thomas campus' Herman E. Moore Golf Course. The entire community is invited to the Afternoon on the Green for a day of food, family and fun.
The Afternoon on the Green Committee is looking for individuals and restaurants to be a part of this special event by contributing cooked dishes or food items. For more information or to find out how to contribute to the Afternoon on the Green, call UVI at 693-1040 or send e-mail to lmargol@uv.edu.
Volunteers Sought for Afternoon on the Green
Volunteers are sought to assist with the 2013 Afternoon on the Green on March 10. UVI's annual "friendraiser," is seeking food servers, child game supervisors, bartenders, ticket collectors, persons to set-up and more. For more information or to volunteer, individuals should contact Volunteer Committee Chairperson Kyza Callwood at kyzawood3@yahoo.com, Colleen Wilson at cwilson620@aol.com or call the UVI Office of Institutional Advancement at (340) 693-1040.