UVI and Division of Personnel to Launch Certified Public Manager Program The University of the Virgin Islands’ Institute for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness and the VI Division of Personnel have launched the Virgin Islands Certified Public Manager Program (CPM). The first of its kind in any U.S. territory, the CPM Program is a nationally recognized management development certificate program specifically for managers working in federal, state and local governments, and non-profit organizations.
The program is designed to prepare participants for the challenges and unique demands of the public management profession. Participants will learn seven core competencies, including personal and organizational integrity, managing work, leading people, developing self, systemic integration, public service focus and change leadership. The program will begin on July 9, and will be available on UVI’s St. Thomas Campus and the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. The deadline to apply for the CPM Program is May 31. More information is available in a news release available from the UVI homepage – http://www.uvi.edu
Job Fair, Open House Scheduled May 21 on St. Thomas Campus Geniuscove is a leading Internet company with multiple, fast growing, highly related brands. It operates in the U.S. and now in the Virgin Islands. Geniuscove will host a Job Fair/Open House in the UVI Career Services Office meeting room from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21. For more information at UVI contact Verna Rivers 693-1087 or send e-mail to vrivers@live.uvi.edu. Geniuscove is currently seeking to fill the following positions: finance intern, web designer, PHP/MySQL developer and community manager. Interested persons should visit this link for information and to apply: http://www.career.vi/employer/Geniuscove_Inc_895.html
Memorial Service for Dr. Pearl Varlack Scheduled for May 24 A memorial service for the late UVI Professor Emerita Dr. Pearl Ianthe Varlack will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 24, at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on First Avenue, St. Thomas. Friends and colleagues of Dr. Varlack are invited to attend the service.
Dr. Varlack began her career at the then College of the Virgin Islands in 1968 as a research assistant in the Caribbean Research Institute. Shortly thereafter, she joined the faculty of the Division of Education as an assistant professor of Elementary Education, where she also served as chair of the division intermittently for 10 years. Her tenure at UVI spanned 31 years until her retirement in 1999. Following her retirement, Dr. Varlack was bestowed Professor Emerita status. Dr. Varlack died on April 12, in New York.
UVI Awards Three Honorary Degrees at Commencement The University of the Virgin Islands awarded three honorary degrees at the 49th Annual Commencement Ceremonies held Saturday, May 11, on the St. Thomas Campus and on Sunday, May 12, on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Former U.S. Congressman and NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, who also served as keynote speaker, and career Ambassador Terence Todman received diplomas on the St. Thomas campus, while historian George Tyson received a diploma on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. Mfume and Todman received honorary degrees of doctorates of law and Tyson received a doctorate of humane letters.
UVI grants honorary degrees to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of individuals whom the institution admires and desires its students to emulate. More information, including photos of the recipients, is available in a news release available from the UVI homepage – http://www.uvi.edu
VI African Heritage Week and Liberation Day Forum Set May 25; Heritage Parade Set May 27 The Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC) at UVI will host a forum on VI African Heritage and African Liberation Day on Saturday, May 25, on St. Thomas, and an African Heritage Parade/Walk and Roundtable on Monday, May 27, on St. Croix. Both activities are in support of the celebration of Virgin Islands African Heritage Week, running from May 19 to 25 and African Liberation Day on Saturday, May 25.
Saturday’s VICCC forum, held in collaboration with the Pan African Support Group, takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. in UVI’s Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. Monday’s parade and roundtable, held in collaboration with St. Croix African Heritage Village organizations, will gather at the entrance to the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix at 1:30 p.m., and continue to the UVI Great Hall. A Commemoration Roundtable and Bamboula Marketplace will follow in the Great Hall at 3 p.m. It will include multi-media presentations, culture and unity statements and tributes. Both events are free. Cultural bearers and traditional artists are welcome. Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. recently signed a proclamation declaring VI African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day 2013. The international theme for African Liberation Day is "Pan Africanism is Power: We Must Unite!" The African Union is hosting global summit events in South Africa through May 25, on "Pan Africanism and African Renaissance."
The VICCC is helping to promote the celebration through a number of radio appearances on the UVI student radio station WUVI 1090 AM (streaming at www.uvi.am), on WSTA 1340 AM. WUVI will also provide live reports from the VI Legislature’s annual observances for VI African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day which is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 30. For details of radio appearances and other related activities visit the VICCC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vicaribbean.culture, e-mail at viccc@live.uvi.edu or call the VICCC office at 692-4272.
Top VI Businesses to be Honored During Small Business Week – May 26 to June 1 The Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration will celebrate Small Business Week from May 26 to June 1. A total of 12 small businesses, business persons and organizations that exemplify sound business practices will be honored at the Small Business Week Award Ceremonies at noon on May 29, at Marriott Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas and at noon on May 30, at Carambola Beach Resort and Spa on St. Croix. This year’s theme is, “Small Business: Persevering and growing your business one day at a time."
VI SBDC State Director Leonor Dottin said “this year was a difficult selection year, as there were many companies that have been successful.” Small businesses that receive awards are continuously evaluated to ensure that their businesses are models for other potential or existing businesses. They must exhibit business continuity, improved management, business growth and be current with their financial commitments. For more on all the activities scheduled during Small Business Week, please contact the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center at) 776-3206 on St. Thomas and 692-5270 on St. Croix, or the U.S. Small Business Administration at) 718-5381.
UVI Center for Study of Spirituality and Professionalism Sets Next Gathering on May 28 UVI’s Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism invites the University community to its May “Gathering” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. It will take place on the patio of the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. Presenter Dr. Wendy V. Coram, CSAP project assistant, will speak on the topic of “Detoxification.” Detoxification is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from the body. She will discuss the importance of detoxification and various methods of cleansing.
In addition to her CSAP efforts, Dr. Coram works to educate the public about complementary and alternative medicine and natural childbirth through lectures, seminars and workshops. She is a naturopathic physician in the Virgin Islands. To RSVP call 693-1499 or send an e-mail to wendy.coram@live.uvi.edu. Lunch is planned at 11:30 a.m.
ECHORN Symposium to Examine Rise of Chronic Disease for May 29-31 The University of the Virgin Islands and Yale University have partnered to host the 2nd Annual Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Symposium, set for May 29 to May 31. ECHORN is a community-based prospective cohort study dedicated to expanding clinical research on chronic diseases affecting racial ethnic minority populations across the Eastern Caribbean. The ECHORN Symposium will begin at 8 a.m. at the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Hotel. Health research professionals from across the Caribbean basin and the Unites States will attend. The symposium is designed to improve their research techniques in dealing with Caribbean populations.
Founded in 2011, ECHORN is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The yearly symposium rotates between islands sites. The 3rd annual ECHORN Symposium will take place in Puerto Rico in spring 2014. For more information call 693-1160. To learn more about ECHORN, visit their Web site at www.echorn.org.
CES 4-H 2013 Summer Academies on St. Croix and St. Thomas to Open July 1; Register Now UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service will offer its annual summer camp for young people ages five to 14 on St. Croix and St. Thomas beginning in July. Known as the 4-H/Family and Consumer Sciences Program’s 4-H Summer Academy, session will run for five weeks, from July 1 to August 1. The 2013 theme is “Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future.” The camps will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.
The fee is $200 for the first child in a family, and $150 for each additional child in the same family. Registration will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, at the Cooperative Extension Service located in Room 133 of the Research and Extension Center on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and in the New House Building on the St. Thomas campus. Parents and guardians must bring birth certificates and immunization cards for each child to be registered. Children must be five years of age before July 1. Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a special rate for children of UVI employees. For more information please call: 692-4094, 692-4084, or 692-4096 on St. Croix and 693-1078 or 693-1082 on St. Thomas.
UVI’s Students Produce Their Own Harlem Shake Video to Mark National Library Week As part of the National Library Week celebration in April, UVI students filmed their own Harlem Shake video. It can be viewed on the UVI YouTube channel from this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/UVIvideos.
Cooperative Extension Service Publishes May Edition of ‘From the Ground Up’ Newsletter UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service takes a look back at entrepreneurship and creativity in its displays at the 2013 Agrifest in the recently published “From The Ground UP” CES newsletter. The newsletter’s May 2013 issue also features a visit to UVI by 20 students from Rutgers University, a new bee species discovered on St. Croix, grafting techniques, clothing design, workforce training for seniors and more. The newsletter is available from the Cooperative Extension Service section of the UVI Web site – http://www.uvi.edu
Free Math Behind the Science Summer Program Offered at UVI; First Application Deadline May 15 The Emerging Caribbean Scientists (ECS) Program at the University of the Virgin Islands is accepting applications for Math Behind the Science, an intensive six-week residential summer program designed to ease the transition from high school to college. Math Behind the Science will run from June 17 through July 26, on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. The free program is designed to enhance the mathematics preparedness of students who are interested in pursuing careers in science, mathematics, engineering, technology or medicine. Specifically, it will prepare students to take the introductory calculus course and provide a foundation for success in that important course. Program components also include classes in computing, reading, writing and college prep class. There will also be field trips.
High school seniors and current UVI freshmen from St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John are all encouraged to apply. For more details, visit the Emerging Caribbean Scientist website http://ecs.uvi.edu. Direct any questions to Aimee Sanchez at 693-1249 or send e-mail ecs@uvi.edu.
Priority is given to students who submitted all application materials by May 15. Applications received after that date may be considered, based on space availability.
UVI RTPark Corporation Sets Board of Directors Meeting for June 1 The board of directors of UVI’s Research and Technology Park and RTPark-PC will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 1. The session will take place in the RTPark offices on UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. It will also be available via teleconference. Seating is limited. Contact Melissa Miller at 692-4200 to participate, or for more information.
USVI/BVI High School Students Invited to Join Free Coral Reef Discovery Week Summer Camp The UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies will conduct Coral Reef Discovery Week 2013, a free camp for USVI and BVI high school students from July 22 to 26, on the St. Thomas campus. Participants will learn about natural marine resources and marine science opportunities of the US Virgin Islands. This camp will be in session daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at UVI’s Center for Marine and Environmental Studies. This fun and hands-on experience is supported by UVI faculty, staff and students, and is made possible with sponsorship from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. The camp will focus on increasing the diversity of marine science educational opportunities offered in the territory with the ultimate goal of increasing local participation in marine science. USVI and BVI students aged 15-19 are welcome to apply.
Space is limited. Interested students are urged to apply now. Contact Dr. Marilyn Brandt at 693-1376 or send email mbrandt@uvi.edu. For more information, or to download an application, follow the Summer Enrichment Program link on the UVI homepage – http://www.uvi.edu
Register Now for UVI’s Summer Session II: Deadline June 19 The University of the Virgin Islands invites current and prospective students to register for summer classes. Summer Session II runs from June 20 to July 26. The registration deadline for the second summer session is June 19.
UVI Business Professor and Summer Sessions Coordinator Dr. Tonjia Coverdale encouraged everyone to see what UVI Summer Sessions have to offer. She said courses may be beneficial for people of all ages who want to enhance their education, re-tool their skills for a career change, or start a degree program. “You don’t have to be enrolled or matriculated at UVI to take courses,” Dr. Coverdale said. Summer Sessions also provide a good opportunity for matriculated students to stay in sequence with courses for their respective degree programs. More information is available in a news release on the UVI home page – http://www.uvi.edu
UVI Early Registration for Fall Semester Returning Students Now Available The University of the Virgin Islands is now offering early registration for the fall semester for returning students. To view course offerings and other registration information, visit the Registrar’s section of the UVI Web site – http://www.uvi.edu.
