New & Updated Items posted March 10, 2008

UVI Opens Charter Celebrations
with Afternoon on the Green

The University of the Virgin Islands opened its Charter Month series of birthday celebrations and activities with the 19th annual Afternoon on the Green on Sunday, March 9. UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster, in a congratulatory announcement, thanked the 145 individuals who provided food dishes that were sold during the day. She also commended AOG Committee Chair Peggy Smith and the more than 100 volunteers who helped plan and execute the event.

UVI's official Charter Day ceremony - marking the University's founding on March 16, 1962 - is set for 9 a.m. on Monday, March 17, in Chase Auditorium (room B110) on the St. Thomas campus, with a videoconference link to the Theater of the Evans Center (room EC401) on the St. Croix campus.

Numerous other Charter Month activities are scheduled on both campuses. Included are the Queen Mary Walk/Run, an SGA-sponsored birthday party, several performances, the World Water Day Festival, the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Speaker Series featuring Nikki Giovanni and the Spring Research Symposium. Both campus libraries will feature Charter Day displays. Many of the activities will be videoconferenced between the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. A news release and an extensive list of activities is available on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.

UVI Web Redesign Effort Begins
this Week with Focus Group Meetings

Work on the redesign of UVI's presence on the World Wide Web begins this week, with focus group sessions designed to begin obtaining input from all components and offices at UVI that maintain web pages. Focus groups are planned on St. Croix from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 11 and 12. They will take place in Evans Center room 304, with a videoconference link to the Administrative and Conference Center's first floor conference room on St. Thomas. The St. Thomas sessions are slated from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14. They will take place in Administration and Conference Center's second floor conference room.

On March 6, the University announced the selection of the systems engineering and consulting firm OmniSystems, Inc. to implement the web site redesign. (Read the text of the OmniSystems announcement.) To help stimulate the discussion, three optional "concept pages" have been developed and are available via a Web Redesign button on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

UVI-Human Resources Selects
of PeopleAdmin for Services Upgrade

In an effort to improve the University of the Virgin Islands' human resources processes, UVI's Human Resources (HR) Department has selected the web-based company PeopleAdmin to provide the solution needed to help improve efficiency and make improvements. PeopleAdmin is a web-base HR information system that is utilized by over 400 hundred Higher Education Institutions within the United States. In keeping with VISION 2012, adopting the PeopleAdmin system will enhance service delivery through the implementation of process improvements in the Human Resources Department. The complete text of the announcement, which was provided via email to the UVI Community is available from this link.

UVI Employee of the Year
Nominations Sought by March 28

Friday, March 28, is the deadline for fulltime UVI employees to submit nominations for individuals they think should be honored as UVI's 2008 employees of the year on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. The objective of the program is to recognize employees who have made demonstrated contributions to the improvement of the quality and performance of the University. Employees of the year will be recognized during Service Awards ceremonies set for April 17 on St. Thomas and April 18 on St. Croix. Each will receive a $200 savings bond, an engraved plaque, and fruit and flower baskets. Employee of the Year program rules and regulations - including selection criteria and a nomination form - are available from the HR Section of the UVI Announcements web page - http://announce.uvi.edu - or from this Employee of the Year link. The material is also available from the Forms section of the Human Relations web site - http://hrweb.uvi.edu/forms. For more information contact UVI's Human Resources Office at 693-1410.

Employee Benefits Office Hours
Scheduled March 14 on St. Croix

Valena Veda Richards, Director, Employee Benefits and Immigration Services, will conduct office hours on the St. Croix campus from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14. Employees with questions or concerns about Flexible Spending Accounts, benefits, retirement, health and life insurance, and vendor services (AFLAC, MASA, SPECTERA, CIGNA HealthCare), should email or call Richards to schedule an appointment. Room location will be announced as soon as possible. Send email to vrichar@uvi.edu or call 693-1429.

Bucs Visit Catholic University Today;
Senior Night Home Game Set March 12

UVI's Buccaneers men's basketball squad continues inter-divisional play with a road game at 6:30 p.m. today (Monday, March 10) against Catholic University of Ponce. Following that, the Bucs return to the Sports and Fitness Center for a March 12 home game against Inter American University. That game has been designated as Senior Night. Seniors Omar Olivacce, Art Philip and Ryan Skinner will be honored during the contest which starts at 1 p.m.

UVI's Lady Bucs have two remaining home games scheduled, a 7 p.m. contest against UPR-Ponce on Friday, March 14, and another 7 p.m. game on Saturday, March 15, against UPR-Mayaguez.

Weekend Results

On Friday, March 7, UVI's Lady Bucs lost at home 64-33 to Inter American University. Their scheduled Saturday, March 8, home game against UPR-Cayey was forfeited by Cayey.

On Saturday, March 8, UVI's Buccaneers lost 82-68 to UPR-Mayaguez.

Renowned Drummer Dion Parsons
to Play at UVI Jazz Clinic, Concert

UVI Music Professor Martin Lamkin has scheduled a jazz clinic with renowned jazz drummer Dion Parson at noon on Thursday, March 13, in the Music Suite on the St. Thomas campus. The clinic is free and is open to the public. Parson, who was born on St. Thomas, began his musical career playing trombone. He took up the drums at the age of 15, and obtained a grant from the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts to study at the prestigious Interlochen Music Academy in Michigan. Parson has performed with John Faddis, Terence Blanchard, Babatunde Olatunji and Baaba Maal (to name a few), and was a co-founder of the 21st Century Band with Ron Blake. On Saturday, March 15, Parson will be the guest performer at a UVI Jazz Ensemble concert at Pilgrim's Terrace at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students) and can be obtained from UVI Band members, Lamkin and the Humanities Division. For further information call Lamkin at 693-1194.

Presidential Search Notes ...

Presidential Search Firm Announced

With the term of office of Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster, the fourth president of the University of the Virgin Islands, set to expire in 2009, the UVI Board of Trustees has retained Isaacson, Miller, a leading national executive search firm, to assist the University in its search for a new president. A news release is available from the UVI web site - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

UVI Community Invited to Meet
with Presidential Search Firm

On March 12 through 14, consultants from Isaacson, Miller - the national executive search firm retained by the UVI Board of Trustees to assist in the search for the University's next President - will visit UVI's St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. The goal will be to learn more about the University and the challenges and opportunities that will face a new President. Dr. Auguste E. Rimpel, Jr., chair of UVI's Board of Trustees, announced the presidential search in an email message to the University community on Friday, Feb. 22. (Click to read the text of Dr. Rimpel's announcement.)

Dr. Rimpel has also invited members of the University community - students, faculty, staff and alumni - to participate in meetings with members of the search firm to share their thoughts.

Email messages have been sent that list the scheduled meetings with specific groups as well as open sessions for faculty, staff, students and alumni on both campuses. Details for UVI students, faculty, staff and alumni are also available on the UVI Announcements page of the UVI web site - http://announce.uvi.edu - or from these direct links:

• Student, Faculty and Staff Meeting Schedule
• Alumni Meeting Schedule

For details, contact Gail Steele at 693-1008.

Other Current Items ...

VIUCEDD Sets St. Croix Workshop
on Youth 'Transitions' on March 12

The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) will conduct workshop for students with disabilities who are transitioning from school to the world of employment on Wednesday, March 12, on St. Croix. (A St. Thomas session was on Monday, March 10.) The workshop is formally known as "Research-Based Transition Practices that Support Students with Disabilities in Postsecondary Education and Competitive Employment." It is designed for the students themselves, as well as parents, care givers and teachers.

The workshop will be held in the Great Hall - North West Wing on UVI's St. Croix campus. It will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Presentations for parents and community members are also scheduled following each workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. For details, or to reserve space in a conference, call 693-1322.

Chamber Business After Hours Event
Set March 13 in UVI's ACC

The UVI community is invited to attend a Business After Hours event held by the St. Thomas/St. John Chamber of Commerce in UVI's new Administration and Conference Center (ACC) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13. The event is designed to help acquaint chamber members with the University's new facilities. Music, food and the Chamber's "Famous Cash Bar" are planned. Raffle prizes, including tickets to Reichhold performances, will also be presented. For details, contact Liza Margolis at 693-1053.

'UVI Got Talent' Show Set
for March 13 on St. Croix Campus

The St. Croix campus Office of Student Activities will host a "UVI Got Talent" show at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in the Cafetorium. Individuals interested in performing - those who can sing, dance, recite poetry, perform a skit, make jokes or play instruments - should call Hedda Finch-Simpson at 692-4228 or send email to hfinch@uvi.edu.

St. Croix Campus to Host Charter Month
Shadow Our Students Day on March 13

A Shadow Our Students (S.O.S.) program connecting high school students with UVI students is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, on the University's St. Croix campus. The program, part of UVI's Charter Month activities, is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Campus Executive Administrator's office and the Student Government Association. During the day, high school seniors from St. Croix high schools will have the chance to shadow UVI students as they participate in class, go to lunch and socialize. UVI students interested in participating should visit the Student Government Office in Evans Center room 707 or call 692-4191.

March 14 is Application Deadline
for Hill Memorial Scholarship

March 14 is the deadline for juniors or seniors at UVI to apply for Heyward G. Hill Memorial Scholarship. The one-time-only scholarship is for $5,000 in tuition assistance. For details on requirements and the application process contact Honors Program Director Professor Germaine Lewis at 693-1262 or UVI's Office of the Provost at 693-1200.

Regalia Order Deadlines

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 692-4162.

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.

Other Current Items (cont.) ...

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 6 92-4150.

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.

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.

UVI Board of Trustees
to Meet March 15 on St. Croix

The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees will hold its quarterly meeting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, in the Great Hall North West Wing on the St. Croix campus. It will be the Board's first meeting of 2008. The meeting will convene with regular session agenda items. President LaVerne E. Ragster will give the President's Report, followed by Chairman's Comments from Board Chairman Dr. Auguste E. Rimpel, Jr. Following the Chairman's Comments, the Board will consider the items that require action.

Rotaract Club Sets Car Wash on March 15

UVI's Rotaract Club will conduct a car wash at Tutu Park Mall (in front of the Inno vative office) from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. The event is part of the club's participation in World Rotaract Week activities. Prices are $7 for cars and $10 for vans. Larger vehicles will cost more. Tickets will be made available before the event to secure your space. Senior citizens qualify for discounts (with identification). For details, call Sharifa Maloney at 626-9268.

GRE Study Sessions Continue
on March 15 on St. Croix

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

St. Thomas SGA to Hold
UVI Birthday Party on March 16

The Student Government Association on UVI's St. Thomas campus will host a "Happy 46th Birthday Party" for UVI students, faculty and staff from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, on the golf course. The theme will be "Old School Style" and the party will feature old time cultural events such as musical chairs, rounders, stealing the old man bundle, dominoes, piniata, red light-green light, cricket, football, kickball, candle light story telling at sunset and cutting the birthday cake. Music and a barbeque are also planned. For details, contact the Student Government Office at 693-1098.

UVI's Richards to be Honored as
St. Thomas-St. John 'Librarian of the Year'

Cynthia Richards, Public Services Librarian at UVI's Ralph M. Paiewonsky Library, will be honored in March by the St. Thomas-St. John Library Association (STSJLA) as Librarian of the Year. Richards has worked in both public libraries and public school libraries in addition to the Paiewonsky Library, where she has been a full-time librarian for eight years and a part-time librarian for more than 20 years. Richards will be recognized for the contributions that she has made to libraries in the territory at the STSJLA's first annual Women's and USVI History Month luncheon at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, at Pilgrim Terrace. Tickets are $50 for the general public and $40 for (dues-paid) members of STSJLA. Tickets are available in the Paiewonsky Library. For details, contact Bethany Wilkes at 693-1372.

UVI to Host World Water Day
Festival on St. Croix campus

The first annual United Nations World Water Day Festival and Conference will be held on the grounds of the University of the Virgin Islands St. Croix campus on March 21 and 22. The first day of the event will feature a "Let's Talk Water!" conference centering on water conservation and protection and creating public education campaigns. The keynote speaker is William E. Marks, author of Water Voices from Around the World and The Holy Order of Water. A news release and an extensive list of activities is available on the UVI Web site - http://www.uvi.edu - and from this direct link.

UVI to Administer Noel-Levitz
Student Satisfaction 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.

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. Workshop registration is now open and available to all at this Workshop Registration link. 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.

Mathematics Placement Test
to be Offered May 8 at UVI

The University of the Virgin Islands has announced that the Mathematics Diagnostic and Placement Test will be administered on May 8. The test is required for all incoming students who scored below 490 on the math section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). UVI advises students planning to enroll in summer session or fall semester classes to take the test in May. Doing so will allow students who may need a non-credit math course to take it in the summer and be ready for college-level courses in the fall. Parents, teachers and school counselors are asked to urge their students to take this test in May. Students applying for UVI's SummerBridge program can also use the test to demonstrate eligibility.

The Mathematics Diagnostic and Placement Test will be offered at 4:30 p.m. on May 8 on both the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. The test will be offered in Classroom Administration Building (CA) rooms 305 and 306 on St. Thomas. On St. Croix the test will be administered in the Nursing Division's room R-100. For details, contact Dr. Rosalie Dance at 693-1253.

Ongoing Items ...

Human Resources Releases
February New Hires Report

The UVI Human Resources Department has released the University's New Hires, Promotions and Separations report for February 1-29, 2008. The list is available to individuals accessing the Internet via the UVI computer network from the HR section of the UVI Announcements web page or at this direct link.

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.

Access and Security Plan Set for Smart
Classrooms, Video Conference Rooms

UVI has established an access and security plan for the 26 smart classrooms and video conference rooms that are in use on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. The Security Department will collaborate with the University community in administering the plan. The plan lists all smart classrooms and video conference rooms, guidelines for use and specifies which individuals have authorized access. It is available from the Policies and Procedures page of the UVI Security web site and from this direct link. For more information, contact the Security Department at 693-1530 on St. Thomas or 692-4155 on St. Croix.

SBDC Notes ...

Seminar on Business Tax Filing
Set for St. Thomas on March 12

A seminars on filing 2007 Virgin Islands business tax returns will be offered by UVI's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on March 12 on St. Thomas. (A St. John seminar took place on March 5.) The St. Thomas seminar will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the SBDC Training Facility in Nisky Center. Senior BIR Revenue Agent Clifford Charleswell will cover tax changes for 2007, local and federal taxes, accurately filing business taxes and how tax returns are selected for audit. Admission is free. Pre-registration is requested. For details or to pre-register call 776-3206.