New & Updated Items posted Dec. 3, 2007

UVI Receives Reaffirmation
of Accreditation Through 2017

The University of the Virgin Islands is pleased to report that the Middle States Commission on Higher Education has acted to reaffirm accreditation to the University of the Virgin Islands, until the year 2017, with follow-up. The next self-study evaluation will be conducted in 2016. A news release is available from the Recent Releases section of the UVI web site - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Fall Semester Classes Ended;
Final Exams Continue Through Dec. 8

Fall Semester classes ended at the University of the Virgin Islands on Saturday, Dec. 1. Final exams are being administered from today (Dec. 3) through Saturday, Dec. 8. The Fall Semester ends for students on Dec. 8.

UVI Computer Labs Offering
Extended Hours During Exam Week 

Several of UVI's computer lab facilities will offer unlimited operating hours during exam week - Dec. 3-8 - on the University's St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses.

These include the computer lab in room 204 of the Business Building on the St. Thomas campus and the labs in Northwest Wing rooms 120 and 131 on the St. Croix campus. If these labs are closed during this period, students are advised to contact the UVI Security Office (693-1530 on St. Thomas or 692-4155 on St. Croix). Additionally, the computer lab in the Paiewonsky Library on the St. Thomas campus will be open for extended hours during exam week to allow access to the computer lab on the following schedule: Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to midnight; Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Online Registration for 2008 Spring
Semester Continues through Dec. 18

The University of the Virgin Islands has posted class schedules and detailed registration information for its 2008 Spring Semester classes on the UVI web site. The Spring Semester on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses begins on Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, and ends on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Returning students can register online through Tuesday, Dec. 18. Students should consult with their advisors for course approval and to obtain PIN assignments that are needed for online registration. Registration of new students is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Details are available from the BUCSS link on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

St. Croix Bookstore Announces
Book Buy-back Period for Dec. 3-10

The UVI Bookstore on the St. Croix campus has scheduled a book buy-back period for Monday, Dec. 3 through Monday, Dec. 10. The Bookstore is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For details, call 692-4162.

St. Thomas Bookstore Postpones
Start of Buy-back Period to Dec. 5

The start of the used book buy-back program at the UVI Bookstore on the St. Thomas campus has been postponed until Wednesday, Dec. 5. The postponement was required because computer network interruptions have delayed the downloading of required textbook information. Buy-back hours for Wednesday and Thursday will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. By-back will continue during regular Bookstore hours through Dec. 11.

UVI Students Place Third
in National FBLA Contest

Students from the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) recently won third place at the FBLA Fall National Leadership Conference. Fourteen UVI students attended the conference held in Birmingham, Alabama Nov. 15-17. UVI won third place in the FBLA-PBL "Business Brain Juggle." A news release is available on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

UVI Eligible to Nominate Students
for Graduate Scholarship Program

The University of the Virgin Islands is eligible to nominate up to two students to compete in the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's national graduate scholarship competition. In June 2008, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will award approximately 30 scholarships of up to $50,000 a year for up to six years to outstanding college seniors or recent graduates (since spring 2003) beginning their first graduate or professional degree programs in the fall of 2008. A news release is available on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Dec. 7 Deadline Set for Applications
to National Student Exchange Program

UVI's Counseling and Placement Centers on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses are accepting applications for the National Student Exchange Program (NSE) through Dec. 7. The program includes more than 200 schools in the mainland United States, along with Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, Canada and Puerto Rico. It offers an opportunity to explore a different culture, enroll in courses not presently offered at UVI, explore graduate schools, and make new friends. Applications are available at the UVI Counseling and Placement Centers. For details on St. Thomas, contact Counseling Supervisor/NSE Coordinator Andrea Hamm at 693-1136 or ahamm@uvi.edu. For details on St. Croix, contact Counseling Supervisor/NSE Coordinator Doris Farrington-Hepburn 692-4187 or dfarrin@uvi.edu. A related news release is available on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Volunteers Sought for Cas Cay
Mangrove Cleanup on Dec. 8

The Virgin Islands Mangrove Research and Conservation Coalition will hold its fourth cleanup and monitoring effort at the Cas Cay Mangrove Lagoon on St. Thomas from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. Volunteers are invited to join the effort for a land and water based clean-up. Participants are asked to meet at the V.I. Eco Tours entrance and should wear protective clothing, sun protection and bring water bottles. Individuals with motorized and non-motorized watercraft are asked to bring them out. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers. A news release is available on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Other Current Items ...

Second Annual Woodworkers
Expo Set for Dec. 7-9 on St. Croix

Other Current Items ... Cont.

UVI-CES to Hold Free Holiday Baking
Workshops on St. Thomas and St. Croix

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program of UVI's Cooperative Extension Services will hold free workshops on making sweet breads and fruit cakes on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Morning and afternoon sessions of each workshop are offered. The schedule is as follows:

• St. Thomas: Sweet Bread Workshop - Dec. 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the UVI Cooperative Extension Service Office in the New House Building on the St. Thomas Campus.
• St. Croix: Sweet Bread Workshop - Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• St. Croix: Fruit Cake Workshop - Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Space for all workshops is limited. To register on St. Thomas, contact Blanche Mills at 693-1072 or 693-1080. To register on St. Croix, contact Jo-An Josiah at 692-4083 or 692-4094.

UVI End-of-Year Recess Schedule Set

UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster has approved the University's 2007-2008 Administrative end-of-year holiday recess. UVI offices will be closed for the holiday recess from Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, through Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. Offices will re-open on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008.

In observance of the St. Croix Christmas Festival and Three Kings Day holidays, UVI offices will also be closed on Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, and Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, respectively.

USVI Agriculture and Food Fair
Set for Feb. 16-18 on St. Croix

The Agriculture and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands will be held Feb.16-18, 2008, on St. Croix. The theme is "The Business of Agriculture: The Way Forward." All articles for the Agriculture and Food Fair bulletin should be submitted to Clarice Clarke at cclarke@uvi.edu by Dec. 14, 2007. Please send all graphics for articles as separate attachments.

Evans Center Elevator Out of Service

Repairs to the elevator in the Melvin Evans Center on UVI's St. Croix campus are continuing. While the elevator remains out of service, employees in Evans Center offices are reminded to assist patrons, when needed, at the ground level. Individuals who need assistance, should contact offices in question directly or call the Counseling and Placement Office at 693-4180 for assistance.

Student Worker Request Forms
Being Accepted for Spring 2008

The St. Thomas campus Office of Student Employment is accepting Request for Student Worker forms for the Spring 2008 semester. Supervisors that have students with existing Student Record of Appointments (SROA) that continue through the Spring 2008 semester, should not complete a request form, however, you must complete the student evaluation form as requested. For assistance, contact Mary Myers at mmyers@uvi.edu or 693-1088 or Verna Rivers at vrivers@uvi.edu or 693-1087.

Fiscal Year 07-08 Operating Budget
Is Now Available on the UVI Intranet

A presentation detailing Revision I of the University's Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Operating Budget has been posted to the archives section of the UVI Announcements page - http://announce.uvi.edu. It is also available to individuals on the UVI computer network at this link. The $46,717,224 budget was approved by the UVI Board of Trustees at their Nov. 3, 2007, meeting on St. Thomas. The presentation details the budgeting process, major budget events and assumptions, Vision 2012 objectives, accomplishments of fiscal year 2007 and goals for fiscal year 2008. For more information, contact Shirley Lake-King at 693-1403.

UVI United Way Campaign Goal
Set at $20,000 for 2007-2008

The 2007-2008 United Way Campaign is now underway, according to an email to University faculty and staff from UVI's Acting Director of Human Resources Yvonne Lawrence. The University community contributed $11,131 to the 2006-2007 Campaign. The goal for 2007-2008 is $20,000. It will require generous support of the UVI family to make this goal a reality. Tax-deductible contributions can be made as a one-time amount or through payroll deductions. UVI United Way 2008 coordinators are Yvonne Lawrence (Ext. 1424) Nereida Washington (Ext. 4161), Desha Brathwaite (Ext.1462) and LilyMae Durante (Ext. 1144). Each is available to assist with concerns you may have. United Way forms were included in recent UVI pay envelopes. They may be returned with cash and or check to the Human Resources Department for further processing.

Theme Suggestions Sought
for 2008 Afternoon on the Green

The Afternoon on the Green Committee invites the UVI community to contribute ideas for the 2008 event's theme. The annual friendraiser will mark its 19th year on the green when it gets underway on March 9, 2008. Please be creative. The person or area that contributes the winning theme will be entitled to Afternoon on the Green tee shirts. Some ideas to date: "Lean and Mean at 19 on the Green" and "Create a Scene at the 19th Afternoon on the Green." Send suggestions via email to pjohnso@uvi.edu.

SBDC Notes ...

SBDC Seminars to Cover
Writing Effective Business Plans

UVI's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will present seminars on writing effective business plans on Wednesday, Dec. 5 and Wednesday, Dec. 12. The first seminar is titled "Writing an Effective Business Plan - Part I: The Narrative." The second is titled "Writing an Effective Business Plan - Part II: The Financials." Both sessions are scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the SBDC Training Facility at Nisky Center on St. Thomas. The presenters are SBDC State Director Leonor Dottin and Business Counselor II Daryl Edwards. Admission is $20 for each seminar at the door. Individuals who pre-register will receive a $5 discount. UVI students, staff and faculty, V.I. farmers and veterans of the U.S. military with proper i.d. will be admitted free; however, pre-registration is required. The seminars are recommended for business owners or potential business owners. To pre-register or for more information call 776-3206.

Free Workshop on Grant Writing
Slated Dec. 11-12 at SBDC St. Thomas

A two-day, free workshop on grant writing will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 11 and 12, at the UVI Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Training Facility at Nisky Center on St. Thomas. The sessions, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, are sponsored by Methodist Training and Outreach Center, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in conjunction with the VI Alliance Against Homelessness - Continuum of Care. The workshop focus is on general grant writing requirements for federal, state, local government and private sector projects. An emphasis will be made on HUD's competitive, discretionary, block and formula programs. The sessions are open to all. While admission is free, preregistration is required. To preregister or for more information, call Methodist Training & Outreach Center at 714-7782.