New & Updated Items posted Feb. 21, 2008

UVI to Administer Noel-Lovetz
Student Survey in March

UVI's Office of Institutional Research and Planning has announced that it will administer the Noel-Levitz 2008 Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) Survey from March 24 through 28.

The SSI is the first survey of its kind to measure student satisfaction and the importance of campus issues to students. UVI will benefit from consulting and data services provided by Noel-Levitz by identifying where attention is needed, especially in the area of student retention and enrollment. An initial overview of the survey and details of the requirements for UVI students, faculty and staff are included in this Noel-Levitz 2008 Student Satisfaction Survey document. For more information, call the Office of Institutional Research and Planning at 693-1013.

Environmental and Marine Science
Club to Meet on St. Croix Today

The UVI-St. Croix Environmental and Marine Science Club will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Feb. 21) in front of the Cafeteria on UVI's St. Croix campus. Items to be discussed include: an upcoming snorkel trip in February, a guided hike down a gut scheduled for March, and beach cleanups. For details, contact Emily Tyner at etyner@uvi.edu or call 692-4144.

UVI Students Take National Awards
at Student Newspaper Conference

UVI students won first place, third place and honorable mention awards Sunday, Feb. 17, at the 10th annual National HBCU Student Newspaper Conference in Baltimore, Md.

In direct competition with students at all HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), UVI's Carl A. Christopher won first place for the Best Editorial Cartoon for the cartoon "Smoke Signal" in the UVI VOICE's Technology Issue. That same Technology Issue won third place in the competition's Best Section or Theme Edition category. Honorable Mention awards went to Miriam Welderufael in the Best Informational Graphic and to Jane Meade in the Best Feature Writing category.

The current issue of UVI VOICE is available online at www.uvivoice.com. A news release and photo of UVI's contingent at the conference is available from the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Sophomore Jaedee Caines Wins
Black History Essay Contest

UVI sophomore Jaedee Caines is the winner of the "I Have a Dream" Black History Month essay competition on the St. Thomas campus. Caines, a communications major, titled her essay "Partner, Achiever, Teacher." She will read the essay during the Black History Week civil rights debate. That debate, originally set for today (Thursday, Feb. 21), has been postponed until next Thursday, Feb. 28. The time and location will be announced. The text of Caines' essay will be posted on the UVI web site following her formal presentation.

Other Black History Week activities in the series organized by UVI's Black Heritage Committee and the UVI Accounting Association include a rally set for 12:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, at the Dining Pavilion and a play on Black History, sponsored in collaboration with the St. Croix Guild Workshop, on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Charlotte Amalie High School auditorium. An exhibit opens at 5 p.m. and the play follows at 7 p.m. A Greek Life Forum" will be held at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the Dining Pavilion.

For details, call Dr. Patricia Harkins-Pierre at 693-1357.

GRE Study Sessions
Planned on St. Croix Campus

UVI's St. Croix campus Psychology Club is sponsoring three Graduate Record Exam (GRE) study group sessions for individuals interested in preparing for the GRE. Meetings, which are not limited to psychology majors, will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 23, March 1 and March 15, in Evans Center room 902. Additional sessions will be scheduled if necessary. For details, contact Dr. Aletha Baumann at 692-4178.

Homecoming Games Set Feb. 23;
Entertainment, Giveaways Planned

UVI's varsity basketball squads will host Puerto Rico's Metropolitan University in home games designated the 2008 season's Homecoming games on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Metropolitan teams are former ODI league rivals. The Lady Bucs game starts at 7 p.m. with the Bucs' game beginning at 9 p.m.

The UVI community is encouraged to support the Lady Bucs and the Buccaneers at these games. Half-time entertainment will be provided by DJ Keg. There will also be several special giveaways during halftime, including tickets to the Beres Hammond concert at the Reichhold, UVI t-shirts and other UVI paraphernalia. Also during halftime, the Athletic Department will make special presentations to corporate sponsors Tropical Shipping and Asfour Department Store. Tropical sponsors the men's basketball program, while Asfour sponsors the women's program.

Prior to Saturday's Homecoming action, the Bucs will host Polytecnica on Friday, Feb. 22, in a home game beginning at 7 p.m. in the Sports and Fitness Center.

Admission is $ 3 on Friday and $5 on Saturday without a complimentary ticket. Complimentary tickets are available from members of UVI's coaching staff and student athletes on Thursday and Friday. Interested UVI faculty and staff should contact Dr. Jerry Smith at 693-1228 on Thursday or Friday.

The 2008 basketball schedule and team photos are available from the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

UVI Scholarship Application
Deadline is March 14

March 14 is the deadline for students to apply for UVI scholarships for the fall 2008 and the spring 2009 semesters. A variety of scholarships are available, from one-year awards to four-year scholarships. Scholarships are limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Specific requirements for high school, undergraduate and graduate applicants can be obtained from the University's Financial Aid, Institutional Advancement and Student Activities offices on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. Details, as well as online application forms, are available from the Financial Aid section of the UVI web site - http://www.uvi.edu or from this direct Financial Aid/Scholarship link. Details are also available on St. Croix at 692-4193 and on St. Thomas at 693-1090 or from the Office of Institutional Advancement at 693-1040.

UVI Rotaract Club Plans
Bake Sale Feb. 23 at Kmart

The UVI Rotaract Club will hold a bake sale on Saturday, Feb. 23, outside of the Kmart in Tutu Park Mall. The sale will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Proceeds will go towards funding a trip for the group to the Bahamas for the annual District Conference. For details, contact Sharifa Maloney at 626-9268.

Session to Offer Loan Access
to People with Disabilities on Feb. 26

Individuals on St. Croix with disabilities will be offered access to low-interest bank loans to purchase assistive technology (AT) devices and services through a program developed by the Virgin Islands Assistive Technology Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Banco-Popular.

A special, one-stop, loan processing session is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Sunny Isles Branch of Banco Popular on St. Croix. Diane Hampton, who is helping to organized the session for the Virgin Islands University Center for Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD), said additional loan sessions will be held on a monthly basis starting on March 18. For details, contact Hampton at 692-1919.

UVI Community Advised to Secure
Vehicles on St. Croix Campus

In light of a recent surge in vehicle theft on UVI's St. Croix campus, the Security Department is advising members of the University community to make sure that all vehicles are properly secured when using on-campus parking lots. The Security Department also advises against leaving valuables on vehicle seats.

The University community is encouraged to alert the Security Department immediately of any suspicious activity. For details, contact Security at 692-4444 internally, or at 692-4155.

ACA Sets Development Conference
on UVI's St. Croix Campus on Feb. 29

The St. Croix chapter of the American Counseling Association of the Virgin Islands will hold a professional development conference from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 29, at the Great Hall in the North West Wing on UVI's St. Croix campus. Dr. Christine Moll will be the keynote speaker. Guest presenters include Carolyn Weinstock and other local professional panelists. Registration is $55 for members, $70 for non-members and $45 for retirees and students. The cost includes lunch and associated continuing education credits. For details, contact Doris Farrington-Hepburn, ACA-VI president, at 692-4187 or send faxes to 692-4008 or email to dfarrin@uvi.edu.

CVI/UVI Reunion Choir
to Perform March 1 at BCB

The CVI/UVI Reunion Choir will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, in the auditorium of the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School. The choir, made up of former members of the CVI/UVI choirs from the years 1978 through 1986, will perform under the direction of Gloria (McLellan) Quinlan, who is affectionately known as "Ms. G." Admission to the concert is $20. Tickets can be obtained from Reunion Choir members or from the Reichhold Center Box Office. For more information, contact Dale Morton at 693-1086 or Jennifer Toussaint at 776-2853.

Hammond to Bring 'Lover's Rock'
to the Reichhold on March 15

The "King of Lover's Rock," Beres Hammond returns to Reichhold Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. Hammond is known for his sultry voice and hypnotic lyrics. Among his numerous hits are: "Groovy Little Thing," "What One Dance Can Do," "Tempted To Touch," "Putting Up Resistance," "No Disturb Sign," "They Gonna Talk," "Rock Away" and "Music is Life." Tickets -- $25, $36 and $45. A news release is available from the UVI web site - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Other Current Items ...

Senior Week Activities Set on St. Croix

A series of senior week activities for UVI's St. Croix campus have been announced. The week began on Sunday, Feb. 17, with an introduction of the seniors in the UVI Great Hall (NWW). A series of workshops on health and finance topics are scheduled at 4 p.m. on Feb. 19 through 22 in the Great Hall. The Senior Ball/Dinner is slated for 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the Great Hall. For details, call class president Andres E. Velazquez at 277-7852.

Counseling and Placement Offices
Launch New Career Services Software

The Counseling and Placement Center-Career Services Offices on both campuses of the University have announced their newest online service -- e-Campus Recruiter. e-Campus Recruiter is a powerful, web-based career services software that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the job/internship search process.

e-Campus Recruiter provides access for:

• students to search for jobs and post resumes
• the viewing of employer profiles and related job listings
• connection with alumni through an alumni mentorship database
• employers to add and update job listings, track applicants, and access resumes

The University community is invited to a guided tour of the capabilities of the system at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, at in Business room 110 on St. Thomas and Evans Center room 401 on St. Croix. Refreshments will be served.

UVI's e-Campus Recruiter site can be accessed at: http://www.ecampusrecruiter3.com/uvi/

For details, contact: Mary Myers at 693-1088 or send e-mail to mmyers@uvi.edu on the St. Thomas campus. On the St. Croix campus, contact Anyha Lord at 692-4180 or send e-mail to: alord@uviedu.

Visiting Scholar Offers Seminar
on Biotechnology on Feb. 22

Dr. Sarwan Dhir, associate professor of plant science-biotechnology at Fort Valley State University, will present a research seminar titled “What is Biotechnology?” from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, at UVI. The session will take place in Chase Auditorium (B-110) on the St. Thomas campus, with a teleconference link to Evans Center room 401 on the St. Croix campus.

Other Current Items ... (cont.)

Spring Research Symposium
Abstracts Due by Feb. 22

Friday, Feb. 22, is the due date for Spring Research Symposium abstracts. Abstracts should be submitted using the "ECS Research Symposium" form in Blackboard (http://newblackboard.uvi.edu). The Spring Research Symposium will be held on March 15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Cafetorium on the UVI's St. Croix campus. For details, contact Dr. Velma Tyson at 692-4157 or visit http://ecs.uvi.edu.

Black History Month Presentation
of 'Roots' Set Feb. 26 on St. Croix

In celebration of Black History Month, the Office of Student Activities in conjunction with the St. Croix Educational Complex PTSA invite students, faculty and staff to attend a presentation from the award winning television miniseries "Roots" at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the UVI Great Hall (room 134 in NWW). Based on Alex Haley's best-selling novel about his African ancestors, "Roots" followed several generations in the lives of a slave family. The saga began with Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), a West African youth captured by slave raiders and shipped to America in the 1700s. The family's saga is depicted up until the Civil War where Kunte Kinte's grandson gained emancipation. Light refreshments will be available.

ECS Programs Offer Scholarships
and Research Experiences

The Emerging Caribbean Scientists Programs (ECS) offer a variety of scholarships, research experiences, and tutoring assistance to St. Thomas and St. Croix students enrolled in UVI STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and psychology degree programs. The application deadline for scholarship and research programs is March 1, 2008. Applications for 2008 ECS Programs are available online from this link - http://ecs.uvi.edu/index_files/2008_ECS_application.htm.

UVI Buck Island Excursion
Scheduled for Feb. 23

UVI's 2008 spring semester Buck Island Excursion is scheduled Saturday, Feb. 23. Organized by the Office of Student Activities on the St. Croix campus, the excursion will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will cost $20 for registered UVI students and $40 for faculty, staff, and non-UVI students. Included are round-trip transportation (UVI Campus to Christiansted Wharf), on-site barbeque, and optional snorkeling and hiking. Space is limited. Sign-up in the Student Activities Lounge. Contact Hedda Finch-Simpson at 692-4228 for additional information.

Annual UVI Queen Mary 5K
Walk/Run Set for March 14

The seventh Annual UVI Queen Mary 5K Walk/Run - a UVI Charter week event - is scheduled for Friday, March 14. The entire UVI community - students, alumni, faculty and staff - and members of the general public are encouraged to participate. The run will start at 6 a.m. at Sunshine Mall and conclude on UVI's St. Croix campus. Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers. Light refreshments will be served at the end of the event. Transportation will be provided to the Sunshine Mall. Registration forms are available in the St. Croix Campus Executive Administrator's office. Registration is $12 for UVI faculty, staff and others, and $7 for students and children. For details, contact Irene Ramos at 692-4000.

Spring Get-A-Way to Jost Van Dyke
Slated for March 1; Space Limited

Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands will be the destination for the St. Thomas campus Student Activities Office "Spring Get-A-Way." Scheduled for Saturday, March 1, the excursion will depart the Tortola Wharf in Charlotte Amalie at 9 a.m. and return at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 for UVI students, $60 for UVI faculty and staff, $80 for non-staff and non-students and $25 for children under 12. An eco-tour to Jost Van Dyke's bubbling pool is available for an extra $50. Space is limited to the first 149 persons to sign up. For details, contact the Student Activities office on St.Croix at 692-4228 or St.Thomas at 693-1111. Pictures of the last Jost Van Dyke trip are available on the Student Activities web site: http://studentactivity.uvi.edu.

MBA Comprehensive Exam at UVI
Set April 11; Signup Deadline March 14

UVI's Business Administration Division will offer the MBA Comprehensive Examination from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, on the University's St. Thomas and on St. Croix campuses. The rooms to be used will be announced at a later date. The deadline for registration is Friday, March 14. Applications are available in the Business Administration Division offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix. For details, call Jacinthe Proctor at 693-1300 or Renise Johnson at 692-4150.

Workshop on 'Managing Visitor Use
in Protected Areas' Set March 26-28

A workshop on managing visitor use in marine and coastal protected areas is planned for March 26 through 28 on St. Thomas. It will be presented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. Included will be an overview of the human dimensions of protected area management, examples of visitor use and associated impacts to natural resources and visitor experiences, and suggestions to help managers address the people side of resource management. In addition to training sessions, presentations will be made by Hubert Brumant, director of the Magen's Bay Authority, Elba Richardson, a concessions specialist at the Virgin Islands National Park, and Sybille Sorrentino, owner of VI Ecotours. Days one and two of the workshop will take place at UVI's Small Business Development Center at Nisky Center. An optional field exercise is planned for day three. For more information, contact Sylvia Vitazkova at 693-1427.

Accounting Association Seeking
to Honor Anniversary Couples

The UVI Accounting Association is looking for couples on St. Thomas who will have celebrated their golden or silver wedding anniversaries on or before April 1, 2008. Nominated couples that are selected will be honored at a dinner dance and presented with awards and gifts. To nominate a couple, contact Prof. Sharon Simmons at 693-1314 or send email to ssimmon@uvi.edu. The Accounting Association's Anniversary Committee is asking for the names, phone contact information, anniversary dates and reason for nominating your special couple.

Ongoing Items ...

Summer Session Dates, Fall Semester
Information Available on UVI Web Site

Dates and detailed registration information on UVI's two 2008 summer sessions, as well as for the upcoming fall semester are available on the UVI web site. UVI's Summer Session I is scheduled for May 19 through June 23. Summer Session II will run from June 25 through Aug. 1.

UVI's fall semester classes begin on Aug. 18 and end on Dec. 3. Direct links to this information is available from the Academics link and the BUCSS - Banner Utilization Central for Self Service - button on the UVI home page: http://www.uvi.edu.

Online registration for both summer sessions and the fall semester begins on March 17. Students must confer with advisors on course selection and obtain personal information numbers before they can register online.

Regalia Measurements Offered
at St. Croix Bookstore

The St. Croix campus Bookstore will offer measurement for commencement regalia (caps and gowns) through March 14. Measurements completed after March 14 will incur a $15 shipping charge. After March 21 there will be a $25 express shipping charge. Students need to present receipts from the business office to take part. For details, call the Bookstore at 692-4162.

V.I.'s Top Cooks, Volunteers Sought
for UVI's 19th Afternoon of the Green

The Virgin Islands' top cooks are invited to enter food dishes - entrees, side dishes, drinks and desserts - in the competition at the University of the Virgin Islands' 19th annual Afternoon on the Green. UVI's annual "friend-raiser" is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2008, on the St. Thomas campus golf course. This year's theme is "Be Seen on the green for Cultural Cuisine!"

Along with the food competition, where members of the community sample dishes and cast ballots for their favorites, the day features live entertainment, admission prizes, children's games and family fun. Also featured are informational booths that focus on how the community can take advantage of UVI's wide array of academic, public service and research offerings.

General volunteers, and especially those with valid health cards who can act as food servers, are also sought. Individuals who wish to enter a dish or participate as a server or general volunteer should call UVI's Office of Institutional Advancement at 693-1040.

SBDC Notes ...

SBDC to Host Seminars
on the Film Industry in the V.I.

UVI's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism will present seminars on "Film Industry Opportunities in the Virgin Islands" on Feb. 21 and 27 on St. Thomas. The seminars, Session I and Session II, respectively, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the SBDC Training Facility at Nisky Center. Admission is $20 for each seminar. A $5 discount per seminar is available for those who pre-register. UVI students, staff and faculty with valid ID. who pre-register are admitted free.

The seminars will cover the types of jobs available in the local film industry and what it takes to start a business in production. Participants can also learn about some of the USVI Film Office's upcoming projects and get on the referral list. Seminar I is designed for individuals and Seminar II is designed for businesses. For details or to pre-register, call the SBDC at 776-3206.

SBA to Hold Federal Procurement
Seminars on St. Croix, St. Thomas

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) invites small business owners to participate in seminars covering government contracting on Thursday, Feb. 21, on St. Croix and on Friday, Feb/ 22, on St. Thomas. Both seminars begin at 2 p.m. at UVI's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) training facilities.

The free seminars will cover the SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program, the Small Disadvantaged Business Program and the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program. Attendees will learn about the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database, a government-maintained resource that serves as the primary source for agencies to learn about prospective vendors.

"We encourage Virgin Islands small businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to increase their visibility in the marketplace and to improve the economic conditions of their communities," said SBA Acting District Director Ana del Toro. For details or to register, call 692-5270 in St. Croix or 776-3206 in St. Thomas.

UVI CELL Notes ...

Basic Computing Course
for Beginners Starts March 9

UVI's Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Center will offer a course for individuals interested in learning the basics of using a computer. Classes will be held 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday, from March 5 to April 9. Sessions will be held at the UVI campus on St. Croix. The course will cover the basics of computing such as working with windows, using the Internet, emailing, safe computing and much more. The information will be presented in an easy to understand format, with hands-on exercises. For details or to register, call 693-1100 or visit UVI-CELL online at http://cell.uvi.edu.

Computer Software Workshops
Offered by UVI-CELL on St. Croix

UVI's Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (UVI-CELL) Center will host a series of workshops designed to help individuals acquire skills in one of the most widely used computer software being used in business today.

The first workshop in the series - Unleashing the Power of Microsoft Word - will be held 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, on UVI's St. Croix campus. This hands-on workshop will provide students with skills necessary to use the basic uses and functions of Microsoft Word. Participants will also learn to format text, create tables, letters, reports and much more.

For more information or to register, call 693-1100 or visit UVI-CELL on-line at http://cell.uvi.edu.