Project to Monitor Ciguatera to Kick Off With Dec. 4 News Conference at UVI Warming ocean temperatures will bring a slew of environmental changes, and one negative consequence may be an increase in ciguatera fish poisoning in people who dine on reef fish. To counter an expected rise in such cases in the Caribbean, the Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI) at the University of Florida is teaming up with partners in the U.S.V.I. – including the University of the Virgin Islands – to launch a Ciguatera Fish Poisoning Monitoring project. A press conference on the project is scheduled at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, in Chase Auditorium (B-110) on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. A news release is available for the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu.
EPSCoR Conference on Integrating Science and Management Set Dec. 4 The Virgin Islands Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR) will present its annual one-day conference on Friday, Dec. 4, at UVI’s Administration and Conference Center on St. Thomas. This year’s subject is Integrating Science and Management in Island Ecosystems.
The conference is designed to bring together scientists, natural resource managers and decision makers to address important, cross-cutting issues relevant to managing the Virgin Islands’ fragile island ecosystems. This dialog will allow natural and social scientists to better understand the data needs of resource managers, while at the same time helping resource managers and policymakers to better utilize scientific information and integrate it into their decision making processes. The goal of the conference is to help chart a course towards making better informed decisions in planning, designing and implementing regulations with people in mind.
The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For information, contact Kaisa Prentice via e-mail at kprenti2@uvi.edu or by phone at 693-1428.
STT-STJ Agriculture and Food Fair Set Dec. 5-6 on Reichhold Center Grounds Holiday gifts, native fruits and children’s games top the list of attractions offered to the public as the 27th St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair celebrates the season on Dec. 5 and 6. Promoters are also inviting the public to take a look inside the lives of bees at a special exhibit being set up on the fair grounds.
The fair takes place on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts, on the UVI St. Thomas campus each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin Saturday at 2 p.m., featuring the presentation of awards to this year’s Crop Farmer of the Year and Livestock Farmer of the Year. A news release is available for the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu .
UVI ‘A Christmas Celebration’ Concert Set for Dec. 5 at the Reichhold Center The University of the Virgin Islands’ annual Christmas concert – A Christmas Celebration – is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at UVI’s Reichhold Center for the Arts. The program will feature the University Concert Band, under the direction of Professor Austin A. Venzen, and the Steel Pan Ensemble, under the direction of Instructor Shenelle N. Warner.
The concert will highlight performers from UVI, Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, and community members including Lorna Freeman-Dennis, Lynesha Sweeney, Gylchris Sprauve, Drew Bowers, Detra Davis and others. The concert is sponsored by the Music Area of the University’s Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Tickets – $20 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for senior citizens – are available from the Reichhold Center Box Office, the UVI Bookstore, the UVI Humanities Office, Nora’s Beauty Palace, Dockside Bookstore, VI Bridal & Tuxedo, and members of the UVI Concert Band and the Steel Pan Ensemble. For details, call 693-1192.
7th V.I. Parent Empowerment Conference Set Dec. 5-6 The 7th annual Virgin Islands Parent Empowerment Conference will be held this weekend, with separate sessions on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The conference theme is “Strengthen Partnerships for Students’ Success.” This year’s guest speakers are Raynelle Nelson, Sandra Covington-Smith and Pam Prescott. Parents and caregivers of children with disabilities are invited attend and learn creative ways to enhance the educational experience for their children as they attend public school and to provide them with tools necessary for independence, productivity and full inclusion in the Virgin Islands community.
The conference’s St. Thomas session runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort. The St. Croix session will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Divi Carina Bay Resort. Transportation on St. Croix will be available. There is no fee for conference participants. Breakfast, lunch, safe/fun activities and childcare will be provided. For more information, call Truvia Plaskett at 776-5802.
The conference is organized by the V.I. Department of Education, the State Office of Special Education, VI Family Network on Disabilities and the Virgin Islands University Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD).
CLEP Tests to be Offered Dec. 7 and 8 on St. Thomas Campus Students are advised that the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test dates for the Fall 2009 semester have been finalized on the St. Thomas campus. The CLEP testing program allows students to earn college credit for acquired skill and knowledge in specific subjects.
CLEP tests will be administered on Dec. 7 and 8, 2009, in the Campus Advising and Tutorial Services (CATS) computer lab located in the CA Building, Room 123, on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. Students can register for the test at the front desk of the Office of Access and Enrollment Services, located on the first floor of UVI’s Administration and Conference Center.
Test candidates must report to the test site no later than 9 a.m. on each test day, with appropriate identification and form of payment. Acceptable forms of identification include a current driver’s license, state or Federal ID, a current passport, tribal ID card, naturalization card or certificate of citizenship. The cost associated with CLEP is $72 per test (payable to College Board) and a one-time additional administrative fee of $15 (payable to UVI prior to the test date). Payment must be made in the form of check, money order, or credit card; cash will not be accepted. Students can e-mail cmorris@uvi.edu for additional information.
Fall Semester Classes at UVI to Conclude on Tuesday, Dec. 8 Tuesday, Dec. 8, is the final day of classes for UVI’s fall 2009 semester. Final exams are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 9, through Tuesday, Dec. 15. The fall semester ends for students on Dec. 15.
UVI-CES to Hold Free Holiday Baking Workshops on St. Croix on Dec. 8-9 Free workshops on making sweet breads and fruit cakes are scheduled by the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) on UVI’s St. Croix campus. Sweet breads workshops are set for Tuesday, Dec. 8, with the fruit cake workshops following on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Morning sessions from 9 a.m. to noon and afternoon sessions from 1-4 p.m. will be available both days. The workshops will take place in Room 134 of the Research and Extension Center.
Workshop size is limited. To register, contact Jo-An Josiah at 692-4083 or 692-4094. The workshops are sponsored by the Extension Services’ 4-H/Family and Consumer Sciences Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
SBDC Offers Seminars on Preparing Success Plans for Business The Virgin Island Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) will present two seminars designed to help prepare success plans for small businesses in December on St. Thomas.
“Show Me the Money! The Narrative for Preparing a Success Plan for Your Business” will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 10. The second seminar, “Show Me the Money! The Financials for Preparing a Success Plan for Your Business,” will follow on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Both sessions are scheduled from 6-8 p.m. at the SBDC Training Facility at Nisky Center.
The presenter is Daryl Edwards, a business counselor at the VI SBDC. Admission is $25 for each seminar. Admission for individuals who pre-register for both seminars is only $35. The discount admission for those who pre-register for one seminar is $20. UVI students, staff, faculty and veterans of the U.S. military with proper ID will be admitted for free. Pre-registration is required to qualify for free admission.
It is recommended that business owners or potential business owners have a success plan for their business. These seminars will focus on the basics of how to put together a success plan. A success plan is a great guide for the day to day operations of any business. They are mandatory for businesses to qualify for bank loans.
For details, contact the VI SBDC at 776-3206.
Concert Choir to Offer Caroling and Cake Dec. 11 on St. Thomas Campus Members of UVI’s Concert Choir will offer Christmas cheer for the body and soul in the form of caroling and a cake sale from 10 a.m. to noon on the St. Thomas campus on Friday, Dec. 11. After the caroling, which will include various locations around campus, cake and music will be available at the Music Building beginning at 1 p.m.
4th Annual Woodworkers’ Expo to be Held on St. Croix Dec. 11-13 The University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service announces the fourth annual Virgin Islands’ Woodworkers’ Expo. The expo will take place at the Great Hall on UVI’s St. Croix campus from Dec. 11 through 13. It will feature the works of the St. Thomas/St. John Woodworkers Society and St. Croix Wood Artists, Inc.
The expo will open at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, and 10 a.m. on Dec. 12 and 13. This is your opportunity to view and purchase the exquisite quality work of some of the finest woodworkers anywhere. The expo will also feature demonstrations by master woodworkers Avelino Samuel of St. John, Afreekan Southwell and William Johnson of St. Thomas, and Bien Brignoni of St. Croix.
A news release is available for the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu .
UVI Receives HUD Grant to Develop Frederiksted Resource Center The University of the Virgin Islands – Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) Center was recently awarded a $794,220 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The three-year grant was provided as part of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program and is designed to address critical community development needs while extending the role and effectiveness of HBCU’s in their neighborhoods. The project seeks to expand UVICELL’s existing facility in Frederiksted, St. Croix, which will allow the University to enhance the services offered to residents of the Virgin Islands. A news release is available for the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu.
UVI Students Invited to Participate in Model U.N. Competition in 2010 UVI is seeking students interested in participating in the third annual UVI Model U.N. Competition scheduled for March 18, 2010, on the St. Thomas campus. The competition is open to all UVI students on both campuses who have taken or who plan to take any political science course at the University.
Students who participate will experience a wide variety of opportunities, including representing their campus, gaining knowledge of the world, improving their public speaking, sharpening problem solving skills, learning conflict resolution, improving research and writing skills and making a difference in the world.
The competition is co-sponsored by Rotary Clubs in the Virgin Islands and the UVI Division of Humanities and Social Sciences. For more information, contact Dr. Kula Francis at 692-4065 or kfranci@uvi.edu
Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa Appointed Editor of The Caribbean Writer The University of the Virgin Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa as the new editor of The Caribbean Writer, an award-winning anthology published annually under the Research and Public Service component of the University. Her appointment will begin in January 2010.
Dr. Henry Smith, Vice Provost of the Research and Public Service component, said that “UVI is very pleased to welcome Dr. Adisa and has every confidence that her being on the staff will add immensely to the growth and reach of The Caribbean Writer.” A news release is available for the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu.
UVI Financial Aid/Scholarship Students Advised to Visit Cashier’s Offices
Returning UVI students who have received financial aid or scholarships, and who have registered for the spring 2010 semester, can now visit Cashier’s Offices on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses to pay for classes. Failure to do so will result in classes being cancelled. Students must contact the Cashier’s Offices in person to have their awards credited to their accounts. The last day to pay for classes for the spring 2010 semester is Jan. 5, 2010. For details, call the Cashier’s Office on the St. Croix campus at 692-4160, or the Cashier’s Office on the St. Thomas campus at 693-1437.
St. Thomas Golden Key Society Collecting Clothing for Haiti The St. Thomas chapter of the Golden Key International Honor Society is conducting a clothing drive for families and individuals in need on Haiti. Donated clothing can be dropped off at the Counseling Services/Student Affairs Center on the St. Thomas campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Nov. 30. Members of the Golden Key’s Community Services Committee will also accept donations. For more information contact us via e-mail: goldenkeysttchapter@yahoo.com
Youth Participants Sought for 4-H Groups’ 2010 St. Croix Festival Troupe The 4-H Program of UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service is looking for Virgin Islands children between the ages of five and 12 to become a part of a 4-H Festival Troupe that will participate in the 2010 St. Croix Christmas Festival Children’s Parade. The parade is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2010. For more information, contact Yvonne Phillips at 693-1078 on St. Thomas or Jillean Webster at 692-4087 on St. Croix.
St. Thomas Golden Key Raising Funds for Children’s Christmas Gifts The St. Thomas chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society is partnering with the Salvation Army to supply Christmas gifts for some of the less fortunate children in the community. Monetary contributions, cash and checks or money orders made out to Golden Key-UVI, are being accepted by Chapter Faculty Advisor Dr. Patricia Harkins-Pierre and chapter Public Relations Officer Eustus Saunders. Receipts for tax purposes are available. For details, contact Dr. Harkins-Pierre at 693-1357 or send e-mail to: pharkin@uvi.edu, or Eustus Saunders at 201-9041 or send e-mail to: eustus.saunders@gmail.com. Information is also available from Golden Key committee members: Kurt Alexander, Troi Willams, Keroma Pollock, Nicola Maduro, Triola Browne, Jadee Caines, Chelcy Angol, Dacil Heyliger, Keri Weeks, Campbell Douglas, Ericia Haliday, Jo-Anne Neale and Derron Ambrose.
NSE Applications Available from Counseling Services Office Students interested in studying abroad through the National Student Exchange (NSE) program may obtain the NSE application and directory booklet from UVI Counseling Services office on the St. Thomas campus. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2010-2011 academic year. Interested students are encouraged to start the application process as early as possible. More information can be obtained from Counselor Supervisor Andrea Hamm, at 693-1136 or via e-mail at: ahamm@uvi.edu.
November Issue of Dateline: UVI Newsletter Published, Available Online The November issue of the monthly newsletter Dateline: UVI has been published and is available from the UVI Web site’s – www.uvi.edu – Public Relations section and from this direct link. Featured are articles on UVI President Dr. David Hall’s recent presentation to high school boys on St. Croix, the Comprehensive Land and Sea Conference held Nov. 16 at UVI, and recent accomplishments of UVI Professor Don Drost in Belgium. Also featured is a photo from the Bucs Alumni Reunion held Nov. 22 on Brewer’s Beach.
UVI English Placement Tests Scheduled for Jan. 5, 2010 UVI English Placement tests are scheduled to be administered on Jan. 5, 2010. On the St. Thomas campus the testing will be held in Room 222 of the Sports and Fitness Center. On the St. Croix campus the test will be held in Evens Center Room 401. Students should bring a photo ID and two pens with blue or black ink.
The testing schedule is as follows:
8:30-9 a.m. – Registration
9-10 a.m. – English 100
10-10:15 a.m. – Break
10:15-11:15 a.m. – English 101
English Placement tests are offered for students who have never taken the SAT or who took the SAT and scored below 500 in Reasoning or below 21 on the ACT-English. Students who took but did not pass the test(s) may not take the tests again.
