Faculty and staff at the University of the Virgin Islands should stay positive despite recent budget setbacks, President David Hall said Friday in his third convocation address at the opening of the school year.
Hall’s speech this year was videoconferenced between the three islands, giving him the largest audience he’s had since becoming president two years ago. For the first time, even the St. John Academic Center was able to participate via video.
Hall began by invoking the famous lines of Charles Dickens from "A Tale of Two Cities:"
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …"
Hall used the example to highlight the recent difficulties encountered by the school, including losing $3 million dollars from the budget, suffering an eight percent pay cut, and staff reduction, as well as the recent death of professor Gene Emanuel. Hall explained in familiar rhetoric that while it would be very easy to see the “glass half-full” in response to the challenges, he was going to take a different approach.
“I see the glass as overflowing with opportunity,” he said, adding “When I think about the achievements (of UVI,) my cup runneth over.”
Audience members sat quietly through the speech, looking mesmerized by Hall’s positive message. He pointed out some of the exciting changes that will be coming in the next few years, which includes the following projects:
• Breaking ground on the new residential dorm facility on St. Thomas
• The receipt of a $5 million dollar grant geared toward starting up an entrepreneurial program.
• A Research and Technology academic facility for labs and classrooms on St. Croix.
• Technological advancements in all classrooms enabling videoconferencing with other campuses.
• Soccer Fields on St. Croix.
• Center for Student Success, making student retention the highest priority.
Hall then gave an overview of the recent “Summer Bridge Program” which brought in 79 twelfth-grade students into UVI for a four-week program to improve their understanding of skills in math and English. Last year was also the first “Junior University” which brought in dozens of failing seventh-grade males who were taught by UVI faculty, allowing them entrance into eighth-grade.
All the positive changes that have occurred at UVI or are slated for the next few years has made it a wonderful place to work, Hall said, encouraging staff and faculty to remain focused in the year ahead. He explained that just because they received an eight-percent cut doesn’t mean that students should receive eight percent less effort, and he applauded everyone for staying committed during the difficult times.
Hall even found a way to get around the "V.I. Economic Stability Act," which forced an eight-percent pay cut for employees and created a hiring freeze. While an amendment has been discussed to eliminate the hiring freeze, Hall said that the UVI Foundation could hire people temporarily because none of the money comes from government funding.
One really positive change, he noted, is the addition of the St. John Academic Center, which opened in March. It will be able to offer 43 classes this semester and students will be able to register and attend sessions via videoconferencing.
The end of the convocation brought a thunderous round of applause from audience members, and a short question and answer session. All who had a chance to speak, thanked Hall for his positive message.
Two staff members who had been in the crowd said they were inspired by the message.
Raquel Silver, the chair of staff counsel, said she thought Hall’s message this year was better than all the previous years and said it was the biggest crowd she had ever seen.
Linda Smith, the vice chair of staff counsel, agreed, adding, “Today we showed collectively, the success of this institution and its people. I believe in that.”
The consensus of several faculty members in the crowd was that Hall’s message was positive and they felt optimistic about the coming year.
