National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to be Celebrated Oct. 24 – 28 October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. In recognition of the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce, the theme for NDEAM 2022 “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.”
Here is a snapshot of activities in the USVI for #NDEAM:
Monday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon: People with Disabilities NDEAM training at UVI
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)’s Office Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon: Employer Empowerment Training at SBDC’s Office in STX Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Virtual Employer Recruitment Roundtable
Thursday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon: People with Disabilities NDEAM training at SBDC’s Office on Friday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon: Employer Empowerment Training at SBDC’s Office in STT. For more information, contact Shamika Thomas at (340) 693-1406. Eighteenth Annual ‘Voices that Count’ Policy Forum Registration is now open for the 18th annual ‘Voices that Count Policy Forum hosted by the Virgin Islands University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD). We encourage the community at large (advocates, caregivers, family members, private businesses, and organizations) to meet the candidates of the Legislative, Gubernatorial, and Congressional Branches to discuss and address the challenges and issues faced by persons with disabilities.
Discussions focused on improvements to the quality of life for people with disabilities in the Virgin Islands are the core focus. Voices that Count ensures that the voices of people with disabilities, advocates, caregivers, and family members are heard and that the Virgin Islands community and policymakers gain an understanding of the issues and barriers people with disabilities face daily. This will be an in-person event, so it is requested that masks be worn.
*Any special accommodation requests should be made at least (two) 2 weeks before the event.
To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/viucedd-11380188567
For additional information, contact Shamika Thomas on St. Thomas at 693-1406 or Gideon Jarup on St. Croix at 692-4266.
St. Croix’s Schedule
Monday, October 17, — 8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m.: Senatorial Candidates
Tuesday, October 18, 8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m.: Gubernatorial and Delegate to Congress Candidates
University of the Virgin Islands Albert A. Sheen Campus, Great Hall
St. Thomas’ Schedule
Thursday, October 27, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Senatorial Candidates
Friday, October 28, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Gubernatorial and Delegate to Congress Candidates
University of the Virgin Islands Orville E. Kean Campus, Administration and Conference Center (ACC), first-floor conference room
UVI Employees Urged to Check Their Premium Pay Eligibility on the University HR Webpage by Oct. 26 The University of the Virgin Islands Office of Human Resources asks the University personnel who may qualify for premium pay under the American Rescue Plan Act and local Fiscal Recovery Funds to visit http://uvipremiumpay.uvi.edu to determine eligibility. Funding has been set aside to provide Premium Pay to eligible sector workers. These funds are intended to respond to workers performing essential work during COVID –19 public health emergency by providing Premium Pay to those workers who were both needed to maintain continuity of operations or essential services and unable to perform their duties remotely. Premium Pay is designed to compensate workers that by virtue of their employment, were forced to take on additional burdens and faced a higher risk of exposure as a result. Premium pay is thought of as hazard pay by another name.
For more information see this link to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Visit http://uvipremiumpay.uvi.edu to find out if you qualify. Follow the instructions and submit the required information by Wednesday, Oct. 26, by 4:30 pm.
Dreamkeepers Emergency Aid Grant Program Now Accepting Applicants The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Center for Student Success is pleased to announce the Dreamkeepers Emergency Aid Grant program. The grant program was created to assist students who are at risk of dropping out of college due to unexpected financial emergencies. Covering up to $500 in aid, the emergency aid grant program is designed to help students stay in college and meet their educational goals, ultimately securing a better financial future.
Interested students must first meet the following program requirements: completion of the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a minimum GPA of 2.0, enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credits) or part-time (minimum of 6 to 11 credits), and provide some form of documentation and how it impacts your education. Before a student can apply for the program, they must first meet with a member of the Emergency
Aid Committee in order to determine eligibility. Once eligibility has been determined, students will be directed to complete an online application.
The deadline to apply is
November 18, 2022.
For more information on how to apply, visit www.uvi.edu or click Dreamkeepers Grant Program.
Save the Dates — Sign Up for St. Thomas Hackfest on Oct. 13 -15
The 7th annual UVI Hackfest will continue this year – with a twist. This year the event will be integrated with Caribbean Green’s Energy Fair. The winning teams, in addition to winning cash prizes, will present at the conclusion of the Energy Fair!
UVI’s Hackfest is an intensive, problem-solving event focused on a theme; the outcome of which is typically a concept for a new phone app. This year’s theme, consistent with the Energy Fair, is “Energy Hack.” Any energy-related concept from the creation of all ways to monitor and measure one’s power use to measuring solar or wind intensity throughout the day. Teams of a minimum of two per team will work together to create a useful solution to an identified energy-related problem.
This year, instead of having a 24-hour “Hackathon,” we will have a “hybrid” HackFest so that students can also participate in the Energy Fair. There will be a similar event on St. Croix at the end of October. See Hackfest schedule below:
HackFest Kickoff and Training (virtual); noon, Thursday Oct. 13.
Teams work on problem identification and apps (independently) Oct. 13 and 14.
Teams meet in Sports and Fitness Center (VIP Room, second floor) to finalize their app concept and hone their presentation Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Teams present to HackFest judges; 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.
Winners will present at the Energy Fair conference: 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15.
More information is available on the “Entrepreneurial Programs 2022-23” Blackboard site. (Once on the site, click on Blackboard’s
Content tab in the left-hand column, then Open the folder “HackFest 2022.” Email Dr. Faley (TFaley@uvi.edu), and he will sign you up on the site.
The week will kick off with an opening ceremony – live on Zoom—at noon on Thursday, Oct. 13.
I HackFest 2022 St. Thomas Zoom Kick-off Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88341046756?pwd=NG5MUEhtbU1LOENLZ2hKSVZGUHByQT09
Meeting ID: 883 4104 6756
Passcode: 203843
Mark your calendars – more details to follow!
See this link to the Facebook event page –
https://www.facebook.com/events/780339396637049
For more information email tfaley@uvi.edu
VI EPSCoR to Host 2022 Annual Conference “Our Islands, Our Youth, Our Future” on Oct. 27– 28 The Virgin Islands Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR) will host its Annual Conference on Oct. 27-28, highlighting the next generation of STEM professionals: the youth of the Virgin Islands. The event, titled “Our Islands, Our Youth, Our Future,” will focus on students and their mentors in the U.S. Virgin Islands that are supported by VI-EPSCoR, and specifically on their research success and path to impactful employment and opportunities.
Guest speakers include Christine Hale, the first graduate of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Master of Marine and Environmental Science program, and Michaelrose Ravalier, an award-winning educator and Master Teacher at the Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice.
Also presenting will be lead researchers on the Ridge to Reef project along with their students at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Some of the research topics to be discussed include Coral Reef Resilience, Watershed Management and Land Use, and Mangrove Ecosystem Function, Recovery and Restoration.
“We are excited to be hosting our Annual Conference in person after two years of remote meetings due to the pandemic,” said VI-EPSCoR
Director Dr. Kim Waddell. “Our focus this year is to highlight our new and emerging STEM professionals and those who guide and support them. VI-EPSCoR is working to increase environmental awareness and science literacy across the Territory, and we are proud to showcase our future workforce and their talents.”
The two-day event takes place at the Ritz Carlton, St. Thomas. The University community and public officials are invited to participate.
Space is limited, and registration is required for each attendee.
To register, visit www.viepscor.org. The registration deadline is Oct. 21.
More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI Website www.uvi.edu/
