UVI Board of Trustees Elects Officers and Renews President David Hall’s Contract In the regular session of its quarterly meeting on June 22, in the Administration and Conference Center Building on the St. Thomas Campus, the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees re-elected Henry Smock to serve as chairman and elected Oran Roebuck to serve as vice chair.
In executive session, the Board unanimously approved a five-year agreement to employ Dr. David Hall as president of the University for the period of Aug. 1, 2019, through July 31, 2024. The current employment agreement between the University and President Hall expires on July 31 of this year. President Hall and the chair of the Board, Henry Smock, will execute the new agreement later this week.
“I am very pleased that we have been able to renegotiate a new contract for a great president,” said Chairman Smock. “His leadership of the University during and after hurricanes Irma and Maria was significant in UVI’s ability to reopen quickly, resume classes, support its employees and students, and serve as a resource to the territory during its recovery efforts.” He continued, “The Board of Trustees is confident that he will continue to move the University forward under its new strategic plan, ‘Greatness Through Innovation’.”
More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI website – http://www.uvi.edu/
UVI Board of Trustees Approves MA in Social Work, Bachelor in Fine Arts & MOUs with TAMCC, SALCC & the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States In the regular session of its quarterly meeting on June 22, in the Administration and Conference Center Building on the St. Thomas Campus, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new Master of Arts in Social Work (MSW) degree Program and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA) Program. Both degrees will be administered in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) under the leadership of Dr. Kimarie Engerman, who serves as dean of CLASS.
“There is quite a need for trained social workers,” said Trustee Yvonne Thraen, who presented the Academic, Research and Student Affairs’ Committee recommendation to the Board. “The MSW program at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) will follow guidelines established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which accredits social work programs nationally. In addition to providing a robust curriculum that supports the generalist social work practitioner, the MSW at UVI will be designed to provide the student with an in-depth knowledge of trauma-informed practices. This is critical to working with populations who have been exposed to intergenerational trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and as the result of experiencing natural disasters. Moreover, all of the coursework and field experiences will include an explicit focus on the social institutions and needs of people belonging to the Caribbean diaspora.
“The University of the Virgin Islands feels that we can no longer depend on importing social workers into the territory, especially for those that are the most vulnerable,” said Dr. Camille McKayle, UVI provost. “We want to train from a Caribbean cultural perspective.”
More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI website – http://www.uvi.edu/
UVI Homepage Feature Story: UVI Class of 2019 Charged To Make the World a Better Place The University of the Virgin Islands conferred degrees to over three hundred students at the annual 2019 Commencement Ceremonies which took place on Thursday, May 16, on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and on Friday, May 17, at the Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas.
CNN political commentator, lawyer and former state legislator Bakari Sellers delivered the keynote address where he encouraged the graduates to acknowledge the shoulders on which they stand, noting that they are the seeds of dissent that have fallen into fertile soil. “You are living breathing examples that the age of miracles has not passed, that this is the land of opportunity even if you have to work longer and harder to find it,” Sellers said.
UVI’s president Dr. David Hall told the graduates that it was up to them to use their degrees to make the world a better place.
Christopher Michael Rosario, class speaker on the Albert A. Sheen Campus asked the graduates to celebrate their hard work and perseverance.
Anyah Ferris, class speaker on the St. Thomas Campus, reflected upon the strength and resilience of the graduates and the university during the past 619 days following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
UVI bestowed honorary degrees upon two prominent alumni – Cornel Williams and Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson. Cornel Williams received an honorary doctorate at the St. Thomas commencement ceremony and Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson, a former dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences received an honorary doctorate on St. Croix.
Dr. Andréa Dorsey is the first student to complete the University of the Virgin Islands’ Ph.D. in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change within three consecutive years. She is also the first UVI employee to earn this new degree.
ASE Moko Jumbie Academy to hold Summer Classes on the St. Thomas Campus Do you want to walk like a moko jumbie? Sign Up for the ASE Moko Jumbie Academy to learn how.
The Reichhold Center and the Division of VI Cultural Education are hosting the ASE Moko Jumbie Academy this summer. The program runs from July 1 to Aug. 2 from 1-5 p.m. at the UVI Sports & Fitness Center’s West Parking Lot.
The program is geared towards students from the third grade to high school who are interested in learning.
There is a $30 registration fee and there are no other costs associated with the academy.
Space is limited.
For more information, contact Denise Humphrey at (340) 693-1552 or rcaboxoffice@uvi.edu. Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reichholdcenter1/.
Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Presentations to be held on both Campuses The University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program cordially invites the community to attend our up-coming presentation entitled “Cooperatives in Action – A Reflection,” presented by Dr. Louis Petersen and U.S. Virgin Islands Farmers.
Topics
• Overview of the Cooperative Business Model
• Experiences shared by successful agricultural cooperative business owners in Georgia
• What USVI farmers learned about cooperative business production, marketing, and management
All persons interested in learning more about the cooperative business model are welcome to attend.
On St. Croix:
Thursday, June 27, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
UVI Research & Extension Center (REC) Room 133
On St. Thomas:
Wednesday, July 10, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
UVI Administration & Conference Center (ACC) 1st Floor Conference – Room 142
For more information, contact Dr. Louis Petersen at 693-1083 or email: louis.petersen@uvi.edu
Youth Clothing Construction Program to be held Beginning July 1-12 on the St. Thomas Campus A Clothing Construction Summer Program for youth ages 11 to 14 will be from Monday through Friday beginning on July 1 through July 12 from 1-2:30 p.m., in the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Office on the St. Thomas Campus. The class fee is $35.
Participants are required to bring scissors, thread and sewing pins.
For additional information and to register, contact Caryl Johnson at 693-1080 or email: cjohnso@uvi.edu
Nutrition and Healthy Cooking Class Offered beginning July 1-12 on the St. Thomas Campus Children between the ages of 11 to 14 will have an opportunity to learn about nutrition and healthy cooking beginning on July 1 -12 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Cooperative Extension Service
(CES) Offices on the St. Thomas Campus.
The registration deadline is June 24. Registration fee is $50.
For additional information and to register, contact Safiya Taylor at 693-1073 or email: safiyataylor@uvi.edu