New & Updated Items - June 16, 2008

UVI Trustees Approve Tuition Increase;
Appoint Alexander A. Moorhead as Chair

Faced with escalating costs, the UVI Board of Trustees on Saturday reluctantly approved University tuition, fee and room rate increases that will be phased in over a period of three years. The board also appointed Alexander A. Moorhead chair of the Board of Trustees. Attorney Henry C. Smock was appointed vice chair of the Board. A five percent University tuition, room rate and fees increase will take effect at the beginning of the Fall 2008 semester, with a four percent increase slated for Fall 2009 and another four percent increase in Fall 2010. A five percent tuition increase will amount to $165 for a full-time undergraduate student. A news release is available on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Countdown is on for Relay for Life;
Support Sought for UVI's Four Teams

Members of UVI's four Relay for Life teams are in the final stages of preparation for this weekend's Relay for Life on St. Thomas. In an email, Team Captain Inez Bartlette asked the UVI community for additional donations of food to support the approximately 60 team members who will be walking throughout the night. Contact Denisa Jordan-Wattley at 693-1259 with your contributions.

This year's UVI theme is "Pirates of the Cure-ibbean."

The American Cancer Society fund raising event begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at Charlotte Amalie High School. Members of the UVI Community are also encouraged to come out to the opening ceremony at 4 p.m. to add their support for the teams. For a $10 donation they will receive a Relay for Life t-shirt and gain entrance to the track's infield. The relay's popular luminary ceremony is scheduled for 9 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, contact Bartlette at 693-1482.

UVI FBLA-PBL Students Prepare
for National Competition

Twenty students from the University of the Virgin Islands Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) St. Thomas campus chapter will travel to Atlanta on Thursday to attend a national conference and competition. For the third consecutive year, UVI students will attend and compete in the FBLA-PBL National Leadership Conference and Competition. Along with attending workshops and networking with attendees, the students will test their skills in areas of competition that include computer applications, digital video production and impromptu speaking. FBLA-PBL Academic Advisor and Information Systems Assistant Professor Aurelia Donald said the students have been preparing academically for the competition all year. The UVI FBLA-PBL was reorganized in August of 2005. It is based in UVI's Business Division and encompasses all of the business disciplines.

UVI Seeks to Expand Number of Employees
Taking Advantage of Direct Deposit

UVI is working to increase the number of employees who take advantage of the direct payroll deposit program. Details of how the program works and assistance in setting up bank accounts, if needed, will be offered at special sessions scheduled for June 24 on the St. Thomas campus and June 26 on the St. Croix campus.

Representatives from several banks and the UVI Accounting office and Human Resources offices will be on hand to answer questions on payroll, banking and personnel matters. Information on such topics as making changes to W4 forms, setting up direct deposit, opening new accounts, changing beneficiaries, interest rates, certificates of deposit and bonds will be available.

• The St. Thomas campus session is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, in the Administration and Conference Center's first-floor conference room.
• The St. Croix campus session is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, in the Great Hall of North West Wing building.

For details, contact Peggy Smith at 693-1446.

Reichhold Center's Youth Moviemaking
Registration Deadline Extended to June 16

Other Current Items

Reichhold Center Seeking
Artists to Display in Gallery

UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts is seeking artists who want to display their work in the Reichhold Gallery for the 2008-2009 season. Celebrating 30 years, the Reichhold Gallery is a prime venue for showcasing Virgin Islands artists. Interested sculptors, painters, mixed-media artists and others should call the Reichhold office at 693-1550 for more information.

UVI Students, Recent Grad Involved
in 2008 Miss Virgin Islands Pageant

Two UVI students and one recent graduate will be in the spotlight when the 2008 Miss Virgin Islands Scholarship Pageant takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at Antilles School's Prior-Jollek Hall. The event, an official state pageant of the Miss America organization, will feature UVI student Janeisha John, the reigning Miss Virgin Islands. In addition to crowning her successor, John will perform during the pageant. In the fall, John will enter her senior year on UVI's St. Croix campus, where she will apply the one-year scholarship that was among the prizes she won along with the 2007 Miss V.I. title.

UVI 2008 graduate Shamika Thomas and St. Thomas campus student Al'Lima de Lugo, are among this year's five contestants. Other contestants include Taiesa Lashley, Abigail Hyndman and Rachael McCoy. All five will participate in the interview competition on Friday, June 20.

Tickets are available at: V.I. Bridal & Tuxedo, Modern Music, Home Again, Draughting Shaft, Connections on St. John and the Caribbean Marketplace at Yacht Haven Grande.

UVI to Co-Host National
Title III Workshop for HBCUs

The University of the Virgin Islands will co-host a technical assistance workshop for a U.S. Department of Education grant program. More than 150 managers of the Department of Education's Title III Part B Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) program will gather on St. Thomas for the National Association of HBCU Title III Administrators Technical Assistance Workshop. The workshop will be held June 25-27 at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas. A news release is available on the UVI home page - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Family Movie Night to Feature
'Finding Nemo' on June 27

The 2008 International Year of the Reef (IYOR) Committee on St. Croix invites the UVI community to a free family movie night from 7 p.m .to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27, in the Great Hall in the North West Wing building on the University's St. Croix campus. The popular underwater cartoon "Finding Nemo" will be shown. There will be free popcorn. Drinks will be on sale. The IYOR committee will provide a brief update on upcoming community events. For details, contact Emily Tyner at UVI's Center for Marine and Environmental Studies at 692-4144.

Other Current Items (Cont.)

UVI Reviewing Preparedness Plans
for 2008 Hurricane Season

The 2008 hurricane season officially started on June 1. It ends on November 30. Current forecasts predict an above normal hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin. The most recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) outlook projects 12 to 16 named storms, including six to nine hurricanes and two to five major hurricanes reaching category three or above on the Saffir Simpson Scale.

UVI employees are encouraged to take the forecasts seriously and begin early preparations both in the workplace and in their homes for this hurricane season. The Hurricane Preparedness Coordinators on both campuses are reviewing preparedness plans for their respective campuses and will begin meeting on a regular basis with their preparedness teams. The University will keep employees and students apprised of any developing storm systems that may affect our area throughout the season.

Oliver Samuels to Bring New Play
'River Bottom' to the V.I. in July

Comedian Oliver Samuels will bring what the Jamaican press calls one of the best plays of the last five years to the Virgin Islands in July. Samuels plays a shrewd spiritual leader and prophet in the Jamaican village of "River Bottom."

"River Bottom" has its Virgin Islands premiere at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 11, at Island Center for the Performing Arts on St. Croix. The comedy gang moves to St. Thomas for two 8 p.m. shows slated for Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, at UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts. A news release is available on the UVI web site - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

Ongoing Items ...

UVI's Summer Session I Under Way,
Registration Open for Summer Session II

UVI's Summer Session I classes began on May 19. It concludes on June 23. There is still time to register for Summer Session II classes which will run from June 25 through Aug. 1. Detailed class schedules and registration information is available from the BUCSS - Banner Utilization Central for Self Service - button on the UVI home page - www.uvi.edu. Online registration for Summer Session II and the Fall Semester - which begins on Aug. 18 - is under way. Students must confer with advisors on course selection and obtain personal information numbers before they can register online.

ITS Summer Schedule

UVI's Information and Technology Services component has announced summer session hours for the ITS Services Desk which is a combination of the Information Technology HelpDesk and the Library Circulation Desks. The hours are as follows:

• Mondays through Thursdays -- 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Fridays -- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturdays -- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sundays 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Among the services offered by the ITS Service Desk are book checkout, password resetting, library card activation, equipment loans, sign up for voice/data activation in the residence halls and software loans. It also accepts HelpDesk requests for technology services. ITS Services Desks are available in UVI's libraries. The HelpDesk can be accessed via extension 1466 or via email at helpdesk@uvi.edu.

St. Thomas Summer Exercise Schedule

UVI's Student Activities Office has organized a free summer exercise program on the St. Thomas campus. The following classes are offered on the schedule below. They take place in the UVI Recreation Center (next to the tennis courts). For details, call 693-1111 or 693-1120.

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

• Yoga: 7 to 8:15 a.m.
• Aerobics: 5 to 6 p.m.

Tuesdays & Thursdays

• Pilates: 7:30 to 8:15 a.m.
• Cardio and Abs: 5 to 6 p.m.
• Kickboxing: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

UVI Community Encouraged to Support
Bucs in St. Thomas Co-Ed League Play

The UVI community is encouraged to support UVI's Buccaneers basketball team that is participating in the Housing, Parks and Recreation Co-Ed League on St. Thomas. The Bucs have a 2-1 record. Games are played at 9 p.m. in the Charlotte Amalie High School gym. The league schedule is as follows:

• June 16, 2008   WICO vs UVI
• June 25, 2008   UVI vs Health
• July 02, 2008   Fire vs UVI
• July 14, 2008   UVI vs Police
• July 18, 2008   UVI vs Airport
• July 23, 2008   UVI vs VIPA

Reminder: Performance Incentive Award
Nominations Are Being Accepted

All UVI employees are reminded that nominations for the University's 2008 Performance Incentive Awards program are now being accepted. The goal of the program is to promote consistent and exceptional performance by recognizing the achievements of those who have exceeded personal, unit, and organizational goals, and who have contributed significantly to the progress of UVI and the Virgin Islands community. Employees are encouraged to nominate individuals they feel have met these criteria.

Details of the 2008 program and links to online nomination forms are available from the "University Employee Compensation Program" area in the Archives section on the UVI Announcements web page - http://announce.uvi.edu. Information is also available from this direct link. The nomination process continues through August 20, 2008.

UVI's Eastern Caribbean Center
Conducting 2008 V.I. Community Survey

The Eastern Caribbean Center of the University of the Virgin Islands is conducting the 2008 Virgin Islands Community Survey (VICS) during the months of May, June and July. This scientific survey of a sample of households is a follow-up to the one conducted in 2007 that collected information similar to that gathered in the census of 2000. VICS data for 2008 will be gathered on two topics - population and housing. A news release is available on the UVI web site - http://www.uvi.edu - or from this direct link.

CELL Notes ...

CELL Offers Personal Computer
Summer Courses on St. Thomas

UVI's Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Center is offering two, five-week Personal Computer (PC) Boot Camp courses this summer on the University's St. Thomas campus. Intermediate and advanced sessions will be offered. Each course costs $200. A late fee of $25 will be charged for those who sign up after the posted registration deadlines. To register, or for additional information, call UVI-CELL at 693-1100 or visit http://cell.uvi.edu.

An Intermediate PC Boot Camp course will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from July 23 through Aug. 11. The course will teach basic skills needed to operate a computer and use commercial software packages. Participants will explore Windows, word processing functions, spreadsheet basics, using the Internet, email and much more. The registration deadline for the intermediate course is Friday, July 11.

The Advanced Boot Camp course is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays from Aug. 28 through Sept. 8. This course will allow students to explore advanced topics such as troubleshooting PCs, the internal structure of a PC, using system tools to maintain peak performance and much more. The registration deadline for the advanced course is Friday, Aug. 1.