UVI Carnival Notes ...

Carnival Troupe Participants Sought;
Web Page Offers Look at Costumes

The UVI community is invited to join in the fun of Carnival 2008 by becoming members of the University's Carnival troupe. A new web site featuring the 2008 costumes and other troupe details is now available from the "Latest Links" menu of the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - and carnival.uvi.edu. Students, faculty, staff, friends ... now is the time to sign up by calling Liza Margolis at 693-1053 or Sean Georges at 693-1112 on St. Thomas, or Jay Wiltshire at 692-4181on St. Croix. UVI's 2008 theme is "Aquatic Escape - Coral Reefs ... A Learning Environment." The troupe will consist of five sections - mermaids, turtles and coral reefs for women, and sea horses and stingrays for men. The Carnival's adults parade is scheduled for Saturday, April 26.

Paulette Stevens' Daughter
Crowned Carnival Princess

Congratulations to UVI employee Paulette Stevens, who's daughter, Kyrelle Thomas, was crowned St. Thomas' 2008 Carnival Princess at the Princess Selection Show on Sunday. Kyrelle is 10 years old and an honor student at Wesleyan Academy. Stevens is an administrative assistant in UVI's Division of Science and Mathematics.

New & Updated Items posted April 7, 2008

Faculty, Staff Workshops Offered
on Proposal Budgeting on Both Campuses

UVI's Office of Sponsored Programs is once again offering short workshops on each campus for faculty and staff entitled "Proposal Budgeting." The sessions will review how to develop line-item budgets that comply both with federal and UVI standards. While the sessions will focus primarily on budgeting for federally funded projects, they will also cover budgets for V.I. agencies, private foundations and nonprofit organizations. Information about estimating personnel costs, fringe benefits and indirect costs will be included.

The St. Croix session will be held in Evans Center room 713 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11.

The St. Thomas session will be held in room B-110 (Chase Auditorium) from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 17.

For details, contact Steve Goode at sgoode@uvi.edu or at call ext. 1202.

UVI Chamber Concert Choir, Voice Students
to Perform on April 12 in St. Thomas

The Music Area of UVI's Humanities and Social Sciences Division will present a performance by the UVI Chamber Concert Choir and students in UVI's voice studio at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the Nisky Moravian Church on St. Thomas. The concert will be under the direction of Professor Jennie Carmona. Also performing will be accompanist Dr. Lorna Young-Wright and Darryl Williams on piano, and Omari A. Williams on saxophone. Admission is a freewill donation. For more information call 693-1191.

UVI New Hires Report Posted for March 2008

The UVI Human Resources Department has released the University's New Hires, Promotions and Separations report for March 1-31, 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.

Shadow Our Students Program Slated
for April 16 on St. Thomas Campus

The 2008 Shadow Our Students (SOS) program on UVI's St. Thomas campus is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16. SOS is a student-run recruitment initiative involving seniors from local high schools spending the day at UVI attending classes and interacting with UVI students. UVI students interested in participating in the program should contact Ivan Connor (693-1097 or iconnor@uvi.edu) in UVI's Access and Enrollment Services Department. A meeting for interested volunteers is slated for 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in the Dining Pavilion. St. Croix campus students conducted an SOS program on March 13.

Film, Speak out Presentation to Mark
National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

UVI students on the St. Croix campus are encouraged to attend a National Sexual Assault Awareness Month film presentation and speakout titled "No Means No" at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, in the UVI Cafetorium. The event is presented by the Women's Coalition in conjunction with the UVI offices of Student Activities and Health Services. For details, contact Hedda Finch-Simpson at 692-4228.

Graduation Ball for 2008 Graduates
Slated for May 11; Tickets Available April 9

The annual Graduation Ball for prospective 2008 graduates (Associates, Bachelors and Masters) on UVI's St. Thomas campus will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort. Tickets are $60 and are available at VI Bridal & Tuxedo - Tutu Park Mall, Modern Music - Havensight, Max Mart - Nisky Center and at the UVI Bookstore. A $5 discount is available for students with an I.D. There is also an early bird special rate of $45 available for 10 days beginning Wednesday, April 9. For details on this and other class of 2008 events call 693-1111 or send email to myideasforclass2008@yahoo.com.

St. Croix Intramural Notes ...

Tennis Tourney Begins April 16

The St. Croix campus intramural tennis tournament begins at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, on the tennis courts. Mixed doubles will be offered, with the playing format and schedule based on number of participants. To sign up contact Coach Bruce Wray at 692-4139.

Bowling Tournament Set for April 15

The UVI intramural bowling tournament will take place in the Tropical Ten Pins Bowling Center beginning at noon on Tuesday, April 15. Men’s, women’s, and co-ed teams are planned. All participants must rent shoes at the Bowling Center. For details or to sign up contact Coach Bruce Wray at 692-4139.

Other Current Items ...

Young People Sought for Reichhold's
2008 Youth Moviemaking Workshop

UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts is accepting applications for its 2008 Youth Moviemaking Workshop. The workshop starts Monday, June 23. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 30. Applications are available at the Reichhold Center's office at 693-1550 or via email from ffenton@uvi.edu. For more information on the Youth Moviemaking Workshop visit Reichhold Center's website at www.reichholdcenter.com. A news release is available from the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or this direct link.

Student Employment Appreciation Week
Set for April 7-11 on St. Thomas Campus

The week of April 7 through 11 has been designated Student Employment Week on UVI's St. Thomas campus. Students will be recognized for their dedication, desire and determination. The award winners will be announced during a ceremony at noon on Thursday, April 10, in the Dining Pavilion. A reception for the student employees and supervisors immediately follows. Other activities during the week include a workshop on ethics in the workplace on April 8 and a Karaoke-Lucky Dip on April 9. A calendar of the week's events is available from this link. For more information, contact Mary Myers at 693-1088 or send email to mmyers@uvi.edu.

Replay of Nikki Giovanni Lecture
Set April 10 on St. Thomas Campus

Due to public demand, the University of the Virgin Islands will show a videotape replay of the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Speaker Series lecture originally presented on March 21 by award-winning poet Nikki Giovanni. The videotape will be shown in its entirety at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in Chase Auditorium (B-110) on the St. Thomas Campus. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for students. All proceeds from the showing will go to the Alfred O. Heath Speaker Series fund. (The Giovanni videotape was presented on the St. Croix campus on March 27.) Books by the author will be available for purchase. For details, contact Michelle Smitherman at 693-1042.

Rotary Offering Scholarship
to UVI Student for Study Abroad

Rotary of St. Thomas is presenting students in their first or second year of study at UVI with the opportunity to compete for an ambassadorial scholarship for international studies. The scholarship is valued at $23,000 per year. Students interested in studying abroad should attend an informational session to be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, in the conference room at the Office of Institutional Advancement on the St. Thomas campus. Please call Ardrina Scott Elliott at 693-1040 or Yegin Habtes at 693-1323 for additional information.

St. Croix Student Volunteers Sought
to Plan 2008 Orientation Sessions

Student volunteers are sought on UVI's St. Croix campus to serve on the committee planning the orientation program for incoming freshman students in the fall of 2008. Students will help develop and implement creative activities for orientation. The committee's first meeting is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, in the Cafetorium. For details, contact Hedda Finch-Simpson at 692-4228.

Other Current Items ... (Cont.)

Mead Film Festival Promises
'Eye on Outside World' at UVI

An eye on the outside world will be available in the U.S. Virgin Islands in April when the second annual Margaret Mead Film Festival comes to the University of the Virgin Islands. Presented by the American Museum of Natural History, the festival's films will be shown beginning at 7 p.m. on April 10, 11 and 12, and on April 17, 18 and 19 in the first floor conference room of the new Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. A news release is available from the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Workshops on Autism Slated
April 14 and 15 by VIUCEDD

Workshops on autism will be offered by the Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) on St. Thomas on April 14 and on St. Croix on April 15. Miami University Professor Dr. Daniel Armstrong will lead the workshop. Dr. Armstrong is associate chair of the University's Department of Pediatrics and director of the Mailman Center for Child Development. The workshops will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with breakfast and lunch included. The St. Thomas session will take place in the UVI Administration and Conference Center. The St. Croix session is scheduled for the Great Hall in the North West Wing. Registration for the workshops is available online from this link: Autism Workshop Registration Form. For details or to reserve space call 693-1322.

UVI-PEP to Present Play 'It's Still A Mess'
on April 19 on St. Thomas Campus

The general public and the UVI community are invited to attend a presentation of the play "It's Still A Mess - Part II" at 8 p.m. on April 19 at the Dining Pavilion on UVI's St. Thomas campus. The play, written by junior nursing major Nadia Thomas, is sponsored by UVI's Peers Educating Peers (PEP) program. It addresses the issues of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and domestic violence. A cast of 10 students will perform. Guest appearances by "BV and Drastic," the UVI Sports Committee Dance Squad Team and Code Blue are also planned. Admission is $5. For details contact Health Services Supervisor Ronda Hatchett at 693-1124 or Nadia Thomas at 643-3693.

Volunteers Sought for Study
on Health Status, Health Practices

African American and Afro Caribbean women who are 40 or older are being sought for participation in a study on health status and health practices by the Caribbean Exploratory Research Center in the Division of Nursing at the University of the Virgin Islands. The study will begin with one-hour, face-to-face interviews with a nurse researcher. Some participants will be randomly selected for inclusion in two-hour focus group sessions. The Caribbean Exploratory Research Center is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. For details, call 693-1212.

Next Student Trustee Election
Set for April 22 on Both Campuses

UVI students will elect the next student representative to the UVI Board of Trustees in balloting scheduled for Tuesday, April 22. The vote will take place on both campuses, with the student trustee candidates to come from the St. Croix campus. The student trustee position alternates each year between campuses. The current student trustee for 2007-2008 is St. Thomas campus student Dwayne Petersen. The next student trustee will begin service on the UVI Board of Trustees during the upcoming fall semester.

SGA Elections Scheduled in April

Student Government Association (SGA) elections are slated in April on both campuses.

On St. Thomas, the elections - to select a president, vice president, secretary and three student senators for the sophomore, junior and senior classes - are slated for April 15 and 16. The deadline to apply as a candidate on St. Thomas was Tuesday, April 1. For details, contact Junie Violenes at 693-1111.

On the St. Croix campus, the SGA election is scheduled for April 22. Along with a president, vice president and secretary, St. Croix students will select three student senators for the sophomore, junior and senior classes. The deadline to submit a petition to be an SGA candidate on St. Croix is April 16. For details, contact Hedda Finch-Simpson at 692-4228.

Staff Council Seeks Committee Members

The UVI Staff Council is seeking members to serve on its Standing Committees. Each of the four committees has a number of assigned responsibilities outlined in the bylaws. Now, after several months of work by the Executive Committee, tasks are being assigned to each committee to fulfill the mission of the Staff Council. Employees are asked to contact committee chairpersons directly to indicate interest and willingness to serve. A description of the role each committee plays and the names of the committee chairpersons is available from this Staff Council Membership link.

Summer Internship in Agriculture
Available at UPR-Mayaguez

UVI's Agricultural Experiment Station has announced that it has funding to support the attendance of one student from UVI at a four-week summer internship/course in agriculture at the University of Puerto Rico. The course goal is to provide an experience in Caribbean tropical agriculture to students from member institutions of Cari-Pac Consortium. For more information, contact Dr. Bob Godfrey, assistant director of UVI's Agricultural Experiment Station at 692-4042. Program details are also available at this link (PDF file).

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 began on March 17. Students must confer with advisors on course selection and obtain personal information numbers before they can register online.

Human Resources Selects PeopleAdmin
to Enhance Services; Training Planned

UVI's Human Resources (HR) Department, in an effort to improve the University's human resources process, has selected the web-based company PeopleAdmin to provide the assistance needed to help improve efficiency and make improvements to the delivery of services. PeopleAdmin is a web-based human resources information system used by more than 400 institutions of higher education in the U.S.

Implementation of the PeopleAdmin system will include user training sessions across the University. HR will announce the scheduled times and places for demonstrations and user training in the near future. The complete text of the department's PeopleAdmin announcement from March 10, which details the company's position management and applicant tracking features, is available from this link.

Cooperative Extension Service Office
on St. Thomas Temporarily Relocated

The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) offices on UVI's St. Thomas campus have been temporarily relocated to the University's former Business and Finance Office building (behind the golf course). The relocation was necessary to allow the CES's quarters in the Newhouse Building to be renovated and repaired. Full service, which was limited during last week's move, has been restored from the new, temporary location. For more information, contact the CES office at 693-1080.

CELL Notes ...

Real Estate Sales Course
to be Offered on St. Thomas

Individuals interested in learning more about the real estate industry are encouraged to register for the Real Estate Sales course offered by the University of the Virgin Islands' Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Center. Classes will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays beginning April 19. All sessions will be held at the UVI-CELL Center on the St. Thomas campus. The Real Estate Sales course is designed to prepare individuals for the Real Estate Salesperson licensing examination. A variety of topics will be covered including Real Estate Theory, Mathematics, USVI Rules, and Regulations and all applicable sections of the VI Code. For more information on the course, call 693-1100 or visit UVI-CELL on-line at http://cell.uvi.edu.