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President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OCTOBER 26, 2014 TO FEBRUARY 25, 2015 The President’s Report for this reporting period is organized into two sections. Part I provides highlights of new and ongoing presidential initiatives and institutional accomplishments since the last report. Part II highlights major accomplishments within the framework of Pathways to Greatness, the University’s five-year strategic plan. This framework has been adopted to ensure that all Components and Departments across the University are focused on areas that the University has determined are critical to our future success. I continue to be extremely impressed with the productivity and commitment of our University’s students, faculty, staff and administrators. PART I: PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS I am honored to share with the Board of Trustees highlights of the University’s activities and achievements for the reporting period. This section contains some of the major achievements of the University. These accomplishments speak to the commitment and resilience of our students, faculty, staff and administrators. SIGNIFICANT INSTITUTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS UVI Receives Prestigious Carnegie Community Engagement Classification The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected the University of the Virgin Islands as one of its recipients for their 2015 Community Engagement Classification award. UVI is among 361 institutions nationwide who have received this designation since the inception of the program. UVI received this honor due to our compelling alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement and exemplary institutionalized practices of community engagement. This prestigious designation demonstrates our integrated and sustained commitment to responsive community service, outreach and partnerships that strengthen the bonds with our community partners to address issues impacting our society and provide meaningful outcomes in our community. Obtaining this recognition was one of the transformative goals of our strategic plan. Our classification is valid until 2025 when we would have to reapply. 1 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President LCME Grants UVI School of Medicine (UVISOM) Site Visit The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) reviewed the accreditation materials and planning self-study documents submitted regarding the planned UVI School of Medicine. The LCME is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the reliable authority for the accreditation of medical education programs leading to doctor of medicine degrees (MD). Our documents were submitted to the LCME as background for the medical education program’s request to be granted a survey visit to assess the program’s readiness for preliminary accreditation. At its February 10-11, 2015 meeting, the LCME voted to authorize a preliminary accreditation survey site visit to the University of the Virgin Islands and the Territory. The granting of the site visit is a significant milestone and brings UVI closer to being the only LCME-accredited English-speaking medical school in the Caribbean. A territory-wide School of Medicine in the Virgin Islands would provide expanded health professional opportunities for VI residents; enhance the quality of clinical care in the Territory; increase the academic offerings of the University in the health professions; provide more healthcare research in the Virgin Islands; and encourage economic development in the Territory. The UVISOM vision is to improve the healthcare of the people of the Territory and wider Caribbean community and to address pressing national and international health issues in support of the global community. If the UVISOM is accredited, the school will open in 2016. UVI’s Endowment Ranks Among Best in the Nation According to the 2014 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE), the Foundation of the University of the Virgin Islands (FUVI) ranked number 37 among 832 U.S. college and university endowments and affiliated foundations who took part in the survey. For fiscal year 2014, the University’s endowment, managed by FUVI, earned net investment returns of 19.20% compared to the reported average return of other endowments of 15.50%. The 2014 NCSE results represented $516 billion in endowment assets with an average endowment size among respondents of $620 million. HBCU Money, a publication that ranks HBCUs according to the size of their endowment, placed UVI in the top ten for the first time. UVI’s endowment investment returns for this past year was the highest of all HBCUs. UVI Awarded Five-Year $1.3M U.S. DOE Cybersecurity Grant Vice President Joe Biden recently announced the creation of a Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline designed to create a consortium composed of 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The consortium will receive a $25 million grant award over the next five years. UVI was awarded $1.3 million of the five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), as part of a White House initiative to strengthen cybersecurity expertise in America. Dr. Marc Boumedine served as the Principal Investigator on the grant. 2 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President President Hall had the opportunity to represent the University in Washington, DC in January 2015 at the signing ceremony at the DOE and at the inaugural program sponsored at the White House. The NNSA will lead the cybersecurity initiative with a goal of instituting a partnership with the next generation of future leaders to increase the number of students of color pursuing cybersecurity careers. Cybersecurity is a new multi-disciplinary field involving processes and technologies to protect critical infrastructures and data from vulnerabilities or attacks. The grant will also support national cybersecurity workforce demands and help attract students of color for employment within the cybersecurity field. UVI will also use the grant to expose junior high and high school students to the cybersecurity field. The issue of cybersecurity is a national priority and UVI will be one of the institutions at the forefront leading this initiative. Innovative Technological Solutions Showcased at First UVI Hackathon UVI held its first annual Hackathon – UVI Hackfest on February 6-7, 2015. Hackathons are events in which computer programmers, software developers and innovators collaborate on software projects. UVI students had the opportunity to compete for cash prizes for developing innovative solutions and creating new products and tools to innovate and improve the Virgin Islands community and the world. The event was sponsored by NEARiX, a local software development company, and its principal Leon Hughes. UVI Hackfest was organized by UVIDEA, the innovation and entrepreneurship club on campus and Dr. Timothy Faley, Kiril Sokoloff Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship. UVI Hackfest will be an annual event and will be hosted on the Albert A. Sheen Campus next year. A new RTPark company, Nexus Group, will provide an all-expenses paid trip to a software development conference in New York for each member of the winning team. Successful Fifth Annual Man-Up Male Empowerment Conference The University recently hosted the fifth annual Man-Up Male Empowerment Conference featuring millionaire entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and philanthropist Chris Gardner. Gardner is best known as the subject of the 2006 movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith. The Man-Up Conference also featured Virgin Islands natives and Grammy award winners Rock City (Timothy and Theron Thomas) and Andrew Morrison, successful entrepreneur and President of Small Business Camp. This year’s conference with a theme of “Man-Up – Awakening the Leader Within,” attracted over 3,000 young men from public and private schools throughout the Territory. The messages of hope, perseverance, sacrifice and dedication resonated with the young men in attendance. The primary focus of the Man-Up Conference is on junior and high school males, young men who desire to get back on the academic track, adult men, and community leaders. The fundamental message is that there is something very powerful about staying on an academic path and aiming for a university-level education. Overwhelmingly, the feedback received from students and others in attendance was that this was the best Man-Up Conference. The Conference was hosted in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Department of Education and the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services. 3 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President Appointment of Dr. Gillian Marcelle as Executive Director of UVI RTPark After an extensive national search, the UVI Research & Technology Board selected Dr. Marcelle to lead the UVI RTPark in the capacity of Executive Director. Dr. Marcelle also holds a faculty appointment in the School of Business. She is a senior executive, economic development policy advisor and scholar with more than twenty years of global experience. Dr. Marcelle combines her academic interests and achievements with commercial experience and a track-record in consulting, investment banking and leading project teams in large development agencies. Executive Director Marcelle also has considerable experience in global high-level advocacy including serving as a member on the Board of the UN ICT Task Force, at the invitation of the then Secretary General Kofi Annan. She also served as a member of the International Advisory Panel on ICT4Development, and founded a global advocacy network, the WSIS Gender Caucus, which was active in the World Summit on Information Society. With the new RTPark leadership, Executive Director Marcelle reports to the President of the University with oversight from the RTPark Board. This change signals a strong commitment from the RTPark to work more closely with the University and our local government agencies to provide a vibrant culture and partnership in regards to economic development in the Territory and the region. Reichhold Center for the Arts 36th Season At the unveiling of the Reichhold Season last year, I promised that this season would be a "Rebirth of the Reichold Center." This outstanding season so far hasn’t disappointed and included world-renowned artists who have thrilled audiences all around the world like Natalie Cole and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. This season has also featured two sold-out performances with a gospel explosion featuring Kirk Franklin and international reggae artist sensations Tessane Chin and Virgin Islands own Pressure. This rebirth embraces our commitment to attracting more outstanding and well-known artists who provide quality performances for our community, to improve the facility and to ensure that outstanding customer service is always provided. I want to thank Denise Humphrey for her leadership and the entire Reichhold staff for the tremendous work they have put forth this Season. Reichhold Center for the Arts has also partnered with our Hospitality & Tourism Management (HTM) program for management and oversight of the concession area in the rain shelter sections of the theater. The rain shelters were remodeled and now features a Sky Lounge managed exclusively by our HTM students. The Sky Lounge now provides a signature relaxing and sophisticated setting for patrons to visit during performances. Students are expected to ensure and deliver a high-quality level of service as expected of Reichhold guests. In addition to tips, HTM students earn degree credit hours as part of their internship and have an opportunity to develop their bar management and customer service skills. Due to the success of the Sky Lounge, Reichhold has tapped our HTM students to manage the facility’s other concession areas for many of its season shows. I want to applaud the collaborative efforts of Interim Director Humphrey and Ms. Tamara Lang, Director of the Hotel & Tourism Management program, on this successful partnership. 4 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President Increase in Spring Student Enrollment and Fall Freshmen Applications The preliminary enrollment data for Spring 2015 reflects an overall 2% increase in enrollment as compared to a similar period in Spring 2014. The most significant increase was among new transfer students, which jumped 42% compared to last Spring. The growth in transfer students is attributed to expanded recruitment efforts across the mainland and the Eastern Caribbean. There has also been an increase in the Fall 2015 freshmen applications. There are currently 2,694 freshmen applications as compared to 891 applications at this same point for Fall 2014. The increase in applications is attributed to our newly established relationship with Royall & Co., which is a comprehensive enrollment management firm. Royall & Co. initiated a Global Leader marketing campaign on both the mainland and here in the Territory. In addition, the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions expanded visit opportunities in the Eastern Caribbean and mainland. Middle States Commission on Higher Education Accreditation Update The University of the Virgin Islands is at a crossroad on its Pathways to Greatness, and the 2017 Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Decennial Self-Study Process is providing the opportunity for UVI to evolve into the institution that it wants to be – an institution where every action is supported by data and a deliberate utilization of resources. This two and one-half year project has been named “GREATNESS BY DESIGN” in reference to the focus and planning required to achieve the goals in Pathways to Greatness. Based on UVI’s success with the Periodic Review Report (PRR) and its overall relationship with MSCHE, it was selected by MSCHE to serve in its Collaborative Implementation Project (CIP) as a pilot for the seven new Standards for Accreditation along with a select group of fourteen other institutions. The CIP project began in October of 2014 when Dr. Frank Mills and Dr. Magdalene Tobias were appointed as co-chairs of the Self-Study Steering Committee. MSCHE also provided training institutes for CIP members. Following training sessions, chairs or co-chairs were appointed for each of the seven Middle States standards. These chairs will lead the development of materials to support UVI’s compliance with the standards as well as serve on the Self-Study Steering Committee. The Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Advisory Board (IEAAB) will provide oversight to the Self-Study Steering Committee. This Committee has been operating since 2009, and has provided guidance on accreditation and assessment activities for the University. The IEAAB will assure that the Self-Study Steering Committee meets the necessary timelines and standards for submission of the Self-Study. A schedule is already in place for this Committee to meet regularly throughout the 30-month process. To ensure that the re-affirmation of the University’s accreditation process is consistent with the goals outlined for the Strategic Planning Online (SPOL) software package that was implemented 5 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President last year, a SPOL Working Group was established. This group made up of senior administrators will serve as a resource to the Self-Study Steering Committee to provide the data and resources necessary for the group to be successful. This was done in lieu of these members serving on each of the subcommittees. The Self-Study Steering Committee will also be receiving input from the UVINext Task Force. The UVINext Task Force and process will provide guidance on its program review and institutional effectiveness model that will be implemented going forward. With the committee members and committee structure in place, a comprehensive timeline was established to guide the entire 30-month process. The first major milestone will be the submission of a Self-Study Design document that will serve as an outline for the development of the Self-Study. This document will be developed by the Steering Committee and is due to Middle States by April 15, 2015. Middle States Vice-President Ellie Fogarty will visit the University on May 4-5, 2015 to meet with the Committees, the President, the Board of Trustees and the University constituents to review and provide approval for the Self-Study Design. Work will commence during the summer to gather data and documents, and the development of the Self-Study sections will begin in Fall 2015 under the leadership of the Self-Study Steering Committee. On February 20, 2015, a well-attended Town Hall Meeting was held by videoconference between St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John to inform the University on the process and how it can participate. Regular Town Hall meetings are scheduled through the process to engage and inform all members of the University community. Ms. Tina Koopmans is leading the accreditation efforts as part of her new role as Vice President of Information Services and Institutional Assessment. Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) • Bureau of Corrections – The Bureau of Corrections (BOC) and Institute for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (ILOE) have entered into an agreement for the delivery of technical assistance in the area of instructional design for BOC supervisors across the Virgin Islands. The consultancy consists of a five-day course in development and delivery of BOC specific training to better improve the effectiveness of the Bureau as part of the consent decree between the BOC and the federal government.  MOU with the Jamaica consortium – As part of its continued efforts to expand across the region, the University of the Virgin Islands has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ). The MOU among other things calls for the matriculation of students from eight community colleges to UVI, joint research projects and consultancies, faculty and staff exchange, and the physical delivery of UVI programs at the colleges in Jamaica.  MOU with OMNI Systems – As the University through its business development and innovation agenda seeks to increase the level of non-government income through the award of contracts for applied research purposes from the federal government, the 6 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President University has signed a MOU with OMNI Systems to serve as a contracting partner in the nation’s capital to assist the University in receiving federal contracts. The University is currently finalizing a “Capability Statement” which will be submitted to the federal government as part of its registration to qualify for federal contracts on its own and in collaboration with other institutions, entities, and agencies.  MOU with University of Nebraska (UNO) – UVI and UNO have signed an agreement for functional cooperation in a variety of programs including criminal justice, social work, data collection and analysis, and aviation, among others. The MOU also calls for the technical assistance in the establishment of an educational personnel academy aimed at better preparing education officials to improve their level of leadership effectiveness across the Territory; faculty and students exchange and joint/courtesy appointments, among others. UVI Next Implementation Task Force Progress The UVINext Task Force has completed its review and ranking of the documents that were submitted by each program or department on the Strict Scrutiny List. Each member of the Task Force spent many hours reviewing the information provided by the program and the associated data gathered from University offices. The Task Force used a standardized rating tool, developed by Dr. Frank Mills and approved by the Task Force, to achieve the ranking. The next step is that the Task Force will be inviting each program to come before the Task Force to answer follow-up questions and share information that may have been overlooked in the initial analysis. The UVINext process is an important initiative to review programs and departments. The Task Force is charged with overseeing and implementing the Board-approved recommendations aimed at maximizing the efficiencies of the University, prioritizing programs, and generating savings through the elimination, merger or redesign of existing programs so that identified resources can be used for salary increases for staff and faculty. The Task Force is working diligently to meet its goal of delivering its recommendations to the Board of Trustees at its June meeting. It is the goal of the Task Force to make the UVINext process an ongoing part of program rationalization and institutional effectiveness at UVI. Center for Student Success Writing Center Earns National Certification The Center for Student Success Writing Center, located on the Albert A. Sheen Campus, was awarded national certification by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). The College Reading and Learning Association is one of the leading tutor certification organizations in the U.S. The CRLA provides guidelines for training and certification of tutors and tutoring services and support. To obtain certification, a minimum level of training, skills, and experience must be demonstrated. This CRLA certification is a prestigious honor for our Center for Student Success (CSS) and provides recognition and positive reinforcement of our tutors' successful work with students. 7 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President UVI Wins National Award for Water Conservation Research The University of the Virgin Islands is part of a team of 19 land-grant institutions to receive a national award for water conservation research. The 2014 Experiment Station Section Excellence in Multistate Research Award recognizes outstanding efforts of researchers and extension specialists who have come together to tackle a priority issue. The award demonstrates compelling evidence of UVI’s exceptional collaboration on a multistate research project that helps farmers better use micro irrigation (MI) systems to irrigate their land, especially during droughts and water shortages. UVI’s project, titled “Scaling Micro Irrigation Technologies to Address the Global Water Challenge,” is located at the Agricultural Experimental Station on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. The University’s micro irrigation project was selected out of more than 300 multistate projects. The multistate team, which works on what is officially known as the W- 2128 Micro Irrigation for Sustainable Water Use Project, is supported in part through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) by the Multistate Research Fund, established in 1998 by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act to encourage and enhance multistate, multidisciplinary agricultural research on critical issues. UVI-CELL Accreditation Reaffirmed The UVI Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Center accreditation has been reaffirmed for the next five years with the International Association of Continuing Education and Training, which provides quality standards for the issuance and maintenance of continuing education. The organization follows the American National Standards Institute standards (ANSI) to determine the quality instructors, curricula, and requires confirmation of learning objectives. This successful effort was led by CELL Director, Ms. Ilene Garner. NABCEP Solar Entry Level Certification The University is now designated as a NABCEP Entry Level Exam Provider. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the most respected and widely recognized certification organization for solar professionals in North America. NABCEP was founded with the mission to support and work with renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals and stakeholders to develop and implement quality credentialing programs for practitioners. The University offered its first NABCEP solar entry level certification course in January 2015. The initial cohort included individuals from the military, solar industry, and private and public sectors. The 40-hour class prepared students to sit for the NABCEP entry level exam. The next course will be offered in June 2015. The NABCEP certification course is a revenue generating initiative led by Dr. Wayne Archibald, Director of the Caribbean & Green Technology Center. There will be ongoing partnerships and synergies with various private and public sector entities in the Territory. The NABCEP course offering will also be offered in in the near future in St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla. 8 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS One of the major achievements during this period has been the accomplishments of our students, recent graduates and faculty. Listed below are a few examples of the activities and achievements of our students. • Five UVI research students won top awards at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), the largest professional conference for minority students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. Khalin Nisbett, Ayanna Fredericks, Serena Joseph, Shelsa Marcel and Krystal Wynter presented posters on their research alongside 1,700 students from 700 colleges and universities all over the country. Seventeen UVI STEM students presented their research at the conference. Presentations are listed below with student names in bold and UVI faculty in italics. Fredericks, Ayanna, Kimarie Engerman, and Doris C. Battiste. “Perceived and Projected Alcohol and Drug Use Among College Students.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX November 15, 2014. Poster award presentation winner (social and behavioral sciences). Joseph, Serena, Robert Godfrey, Whitney George, and Lucas LaPlace. “Evaluation of Weaning Age on Parasite Burdens of Hair Sheep Lambs in an Accelerated Lambing.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 15, 2014. Poster award presentation winner (microbiology). Marcel, Shelsa, Bryan Quach, and Terrance Furey. “DeFCoM: A Novel DNA Footprinting Method for Accurately Detecting and Analyzing Transcription Factor Binding Sites.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX November 13, 2014. Poster award presentation winner (molecular and computational biology). Nisbett, Khalin, and Yakini Brandy. “Synthesis & Characterization of Geranial, an E-isomer of Citral, Found in Cymbopogon.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX November 14, 2014. Poster award presentation winner (chemistry). Wynter, Krystal, Mary Huff, and Ryan LaLumiere. “Post Training Optogenetic Modulation of Basolateral Amygdala Projections to the Ventral Hippocampus Influence the Consolidation of Emotional but Not Spatial Learning for Contextual Fear Conditioning.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX November 14, 2014. Poster award presentation winner (neurosciences). 9 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President UVI students from the College of Science and Mathematics who presented their work at eight different national and international conferences this Fall: • Tuitt, O., Yabba, E., Williams, A., Reale-Munroe, K. and Castillo, B. F. II., “Antioxidant Activity in Commercial Spices.” Presented at: 2014 Princeton Engineering Graduate Symposium (PEGS), Princeton, NJ and Ana G. Méndez University System (AGMUS) Conference 2014, San Juan, PR. Poster presentation. • Bradshaw, Rhodel, Rianna Murray, Rachel Rosen-Goldstein, Daphne Pee, Karen Aspinwall, and Amy R. Sapkota. “Analysis of Private Well Water Quality and Well Owner Education in Maryland.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 14, 2014. Poster presentation. • Charles, Murchtricia, Ross C. Walker, and Benjamin D. Madej. “Towards the Accurate Calculation of Passive Membrane Permeability.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 14, 2014. Poster presentation. • Clifford, Allena and Imad Damaj. “Pharmological Evaluation of Desformylflustrabromine (dFBr): A New α4β2 Positive Allosteric Modulator in Mice.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 15, 2014. Poster presentation. • Emmanuel, Shanan, and Tracy L. Meehan. “The Mechanism of Nurse Cell Degradation by Follicle Cells in the Drosophila Ovary.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 15, 2014. Poster presentation. • Farrell, Lynisha, Alexander Stankiewicz; Sharon Fan; Lili Yu; and Irina Zhdanova. “Neurogenesis in Adult Zebrafish Requires Two Nights.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 15, 2014. Poster presentation. • George, Jonique, Stanley Latesky, and Tonya Bartlette. “Complexometric Titrations Using a Platinum Indicating Electrode.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 13, 2014. Poster presentation. • Gonsalves, Kyle, and Kristin Alligood. “The Genetic Basis of Phenotypic Variation in Threespine Stickleback.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 15, 2014. Poster presentation. • Ible, Chantel, Ross C. Walker, Murchtricia K. Charles, and Benjamin D. Madej. “Towards the Accurate Calculation of Passive Membrane Permeability.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 15, 2014. Oral presentation. 10 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President • Joseph, Lorne, Alvin A. Holder, Michael J. Celestine, and Jimmie L. Bullock. “Spectroscopic Elucidation of the Equilibria Involving Pyridine and Its Analogues with Cobaloximes in Various.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 13, 2014. Poster presentation. • Tison, Krislen, Alice Stanford, Sheresia Gumbs, and Sherika Alexis. “Low Level of Chytrid Fungus on the Island of St. Thomas.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 13, 2014. Poster presentation. • Watkins, Rawle, and John Spitsbergen. “Myostatin Inhibition Alters Gdnf Expression in Skeletal Muscle Cells in Culture.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. San Antonio, TX. November 13, 2014. Poster presentation. • Brandtneris VW, Smith TB “Mesophotic Reefs as Energetic Refugia: Caloric Content of Corals in the US Virgin Islands.” Oral presentation at 2nd International Mesophotic Coral Reef Conference, Eilat, Israel Oct. 26-31, 2014. • Biggs C R and R S Nemeth ”Movement and Resident times of Male and Female Snapper within a Spawning Aggregation in the U.S. Virgin Islands ” Oral presentation at the 67th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Barbados Nov 3-7, 2014. • Brown, J. and RS Nemeth “Temporal and spatial characteristics of a red hind, Epinephelus guttatus, spawning aggregation in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands: using acoustic telemetry for conservation and management”. Poster presentation at the 67th Gulf And Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Barbados Nov 3-7, 2014. • Jossart, J. R Nemeth, A Primack and R Stolz “Modeling a Yellowfin Grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) Spawning Aggregation with Passive Acoustic Telemetry on the Grammanik Bank, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.” Oral presentation at the 67th Gulf And Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Barbados Nov 3-7, 2014. • Keller, JA, AS Reeve, and KR Wilson. “Groundwater and sediment analyses of a mangrove swamp near Bovoni landfill, St. Thomas, USVI.” Oral presentation at the Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC Canada. October 19-22. Other Student Activities: • During the recent 2015 Hackfest held on the St. Thomas Campus, teams of students developed sophisticated and thoughtful software applications and mobile device applications which were created in less than 24 hours. The four-member winning team of Sean R. Benjamin, Jr., Keturah Bethel, Shaquan Lewis, and Daricia Wilkinson took home the award for “Best Hack” for developing a telephone app titled “Cup Check.” The app features methods to monitor alcohol consumption with the goal of keeping drunk 11 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President drivers off the roads. The “ Most Innovative Hack” was awarded to team members Jason Baron, Nichole Etienne, Denny Smith and Leon Wheeler for their “Plant-O-Gram” telephone app. The app uses photo recognition technology to identify plants and communicate their health value to the community. Students Andy Breaton, Julisa Marcel, and Kailen King received “Most Impactful Hack” for their real-time crime reporting and mapping phone application. • Charles, Murchtricia (formerly Miss UVI) was recently accepted into the PhD program in bioinformatics at the University of Michigan. Murchtricia is a UVI senior mathematics major who is currently conducting research with Dr. Robert Stolz modeling coral disease in collaboration with Dr. Marilyn Brandt. Murchtricia also worked with Dr. Justin Shorb in chemistry. She has conducted summer research at the Supercomputer Center last summer and at Rutgers University in summer 2013. At UVI she has had support from the MARC program and the HBCU-UP Program. • Allen, Joselyn a UVI MARC alumna, is now a doctoral candidate in Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Penn State. • Smith, Denny captain of UVI’s soccer team, was chosen to represent the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Combine in Puerto Rico for Major League Soccer. • The Spring 2014 capstone project, focusing on an invasive sea grass in the Territory, and conducted by Master’s in Marine & Environmental Science (MMES) graduate students was featured in the local news publication, St. Thomas Source. • MMES graduate Leslie Henderson was hired as the new Coral Reef Initiative Coordinator for the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources. • MMES graduate Bryan Legare won Texas Parks and Wildlife: Employee recognition award Certificate of Appreciation “Outstanding Team Coastal Fisheries Restoration” and he won best professional poster at the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting, Tanglewood, TX. Mr. Legare also published work from his Master’s thesis: Legare BJ, Kneebone J, DeAngelis D and G Skomal. 2014. The spatiotemporal dynamics of habitat use by blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus) and lemon (Negaprion brevirostris) sharks in nurseries of St. John, United States Virgin Islands. (In Press) Marine Biology Pittman SJ, Monaco ME, Friedlander AM, Legare BJ, Nemeth RS, et al. (2014) Fish with Chips: Tracking Reef Fish Movements to Evaluate Size and Connectivity of Caribbean Marine Protected Areas. PLoS ONE 9(5): e96028. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0096028 12 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS Our faculty continues to be very productive in regards to teaching, scholarship and service. Below are some selected examples of publications, presentations, other faculty activities. Publications and Papers Accepted: • Godfrey, Robert Director and Animal Science professor, published an article in the Journal of Animal Science on a USDA-TSTAR funded project evaluating thermography as a method to monitor body temperature of livestock (George, W.D., R. W. Godfrey, R. C. Ketring, M. C. Vinson and S. T Willard. 2014. Relationship among eye and muzzle temperatures measured using digital infrared thermal imaging and vaginal and rectal temperatures in hair sheep and cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 92:4949-4955) • Morgan, Michael Research Specialist, and Zimmerman, Thomas published an article entitled “Evaluation of Drought Tolerance in Five Native Caribbean Tree Species with Landscape Potential” in Tree Planters’ Notes Volume 57 pages 49-60. • Morgan, Michael and Zimmerman, Thomas published a book chapter entitled “Agroforestry in the Caribbean, Traditional Systems, both Sustainable and Biodiverse” in Sustainable Horticultural Systems: Issues, Technology and Innovation Ed D. Nandwani pages 129-141, Springer International Publishing. • Cooperative extension Service had its official launch of its latest publication entitled Tropical Fruits of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Their Nutritional Values on November 19, 2014 in the Research and Extension Center on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. This is a ground-breaking publication, which positions the Cooperative Extension Service once again at the forefront of local nutritional exploration. The book provides easily accessible information on the nutritional values of local fruits, their native origins, identifies nutrients through a star-rating system, compares nutrients of local fruits with those of imported fruits, highlights the health benefits and specifies the fruit bearing seasons. • Rowell TJ, RS Nemeth, RS Appeldoorn, MT Schärer (2014) Sound production and acoustic telemetry reveal Nassau (Epinephelus striatus) and yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) reproductive behaviors in two marine protected areas, Marine Ecology Progress Series. (In press). • Baums IB, Devlin-Durante M, Aren Ajeng Lian B, Feingold J, Smith TB, Bruckner A, Monteiro J. A highly replicated remnant coral clone in volcanic pools of Isabella Island is the only known representative of Pocillopora type 1a in the Galapagos. Frontiers of Marine Science 1 DOI 10.3389/fmars.2014.00059 13 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President • Glynn PW, Riegl B, Purkis S, Kerr J, Smith TB. Coral reef recovery at Darwin, the northern-most of the Galapagos Islands. Coral Reefs • Schärer-Umpierre MT, Mateos-Molina D, Appeldoorn R, Bejarano I, Hernández- Delgado EA, Nemeth RS, Nemeth M, Valdés-Pizzini M, Smith TB (2014) Marine managed areas and associated fisheries in the US Caribbean. In: Johnson ML, Sandell J (eds) Advances in Marine Biology: Marine Managed Areas and Fisheries. Elsevier, pp416. Presentations: • Hill, J. and Arthurton, M. November 14-15, 2014. “It’s SIOP: Make it Comprehensible for Your Students”. 41st Annual PRTESOL Convention, Puerto Rico. • Tobias, M. assisted the Virgin Islands Department of Education in the delivery of workshops for teachers in three (3) public schools on the island of St. Croix, on the new Teacher Effectiveness System for Performance Evaluation. • Engerman, K. and Martin, S. (2014). Faculty and students’ perspectives on academic advising. Poster presented at the 21st Annual HBCU Faculty Development Conference, Raleigh, North Carolina, and October 16-18, 2014. • Morgan, M. gave a lecture on Traditions of Caribbean Agroforestry at the National Park Service December 11th on St Croix; Dr. Thomas Zimmerman was invited to the Guyana Agricultural Research Conference in October and presented a paper involving pre- and post-emergent weed control in rice; and Viktor Brandtneris, Dan Holstein, Dr. Tyler Smith were invited speakers to the International Mesophotic Reef Conference in Eilat, Israel on Oct 26-31, 2014. • Brandtneris VW, Smith TB “Mesophotic Reefs as Energetic Refugia: Caloric Content of Corals in the US Virgin Islands” 25 minute presentation. • Holstein DM, Smith TB, Paris CB “Fertile fathoms: mesophotic reefs and reproductive refugia” 25 minute presentation. • Smith TB, Brandt ME, Gyory J, Brandtneris V, Jossart J, Holstein D, Miller WJ. “Mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific and their potential as climate change refugia.” Invited 30 minute presentation. • Biggs, CR and Nemeth, RS “Movement and Resident times of Male and Female Snapper within a Spawning Aggregation in the U.S. Virgin Islands” 67th Gulf And Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Barbados Nov 3-7, 2014. • Brown, J. Nemeth, RS “Temporal and spatial characteristics of a red hind, Epinephelus guttatus, spawning aggregation in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands: using acoustic telemetry 14 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President for conservation and management” 67th Gulf And Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Barbados Nov 3-7, 2014. • Buckley, L. (presenter), Meritzer Lawrence, and Vivian Pickering. 2014. Preliminary results: Factors affecting cultivated growth of the invasive Halophila stipulacea and the native Thalassia testutidum in the Virgin Islands. Presented at: The 67th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Barbados; November 3-7, 2014. • Buckley, L. 2014. The Masters in Marine and Environmental Science at the University of the Virgin Islands. Poster presented at: The 67th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. Barbados; November 3-7, 2014. • Castillo, B. F. II & Reale-Munroe, K. 2014 “Water Quality of Biolumescent Bay in St. Croix, USVI” EPA Region 2 Caribbean Science Consortium Workshop, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR. Oral Presentation. • Greenstein, S., Ekici, C., Wooten, T. (Oct 2014). An analysis of locally effective practices towards developing a contextually situated STEM teacher education program. Paper presented at the ISER-International Society of Educational Research Conference (Oct 29-Nov2). Cappadocia, Turkey. • Howard, M., “Pressure Sore: A Nurse’s Eye Sore” (Addressing the social and financial costs of pressures ulcers and outlining the nurse’s role as a change agent in the prevention process). Presented at the 29th Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Nurses Organization in St. Lucia in October 2014. • Ekici, C. was invited to participate in the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences Forum "The First Two Years of College Math: Building Student Success" on October 7-9 in Reston, Virginia, representing UVI among the leaders and working alongside the chairs who develop mathematics programs around the nation. Grants and Special Projects Funded: • Morgan, Michael and Zimmerman, Thomas were awarded a $31,500 grant from US Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service to study native plant species on St. Croix that are on the Federal Endangered Species List. • Zimmerman, Thomas was awarded a $14,500 grant from Ventria Scientific to study cover crops in rotational rice production. • Weiss, Stuart, Acting Agronomy Program Leader, received a 2-year grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for $15,000 for an agriculture soil conservation project that will evaluate cover crops to aid in minimizing soil erosion and increase soil quality. The work will be conducted as on-farm projects in collaboration with local farmers on St Croix. 15 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President • Alexandridis, K. and Primack, A. Feasibility Design Study for Evaluating Techno- Economic Viability of OTEC for USVI. Grant award from Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation for research and technical support conducting a Feasibility study for ocean thermal energy conversion plants in USVI $37,652. • Jobsis. P. UVI CaRA statement of work submitted to University of Puerto Rico for review for 2014-15 in May, the signed MOU is still being processed, $112,000. • Smith, T. Territorial Coral Reef Monitoring Program Database Maintenance. USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources, $12,000. • Brandt, M. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan-Puerto Rico Mission. $16,531. Contract awarded. • Brown, K. CMES Environmental Analysis Lab contract with Great Lakes Environmental Center to conduct water quality sampling and measurements $22,800 (this quarter). • Two major private donations were accepted by Etelman Observatory totaling $21,000 (Atlas Tracking Corp and Tecoma Asset Management LLC). 16 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President PRESIDENTIAL APPRECIATION AWARD In a prepared statement dated November 7, 2014, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) granted accreditation status to the School of Education. The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) as a professional accrediting body for teacher preparation. NCATE accreditation is a nationally recognized standard of excellence in the education profession and demonstrates that a university has met rigorous standards as set forth by the professional education community. Our School of Education’s undergraduate program is accredited until 2020 and the graduate program accreditation runs until 2016. In addition to the above, our Elementary Education Program was also approved by its national Specialized Professional Association, the ACEI (Association for Childhood Education International). ACEI is the national accrediting body that approves Elementary Education programs. Our approval is until 2020 and requires ongoing periodic assessment. Our School of Education is also working on acquiring national approval of all programs to include the Early Childhood (NAEYC) and Graduate (ELCC) programs. By attaining national accreditation, we demonstrate our commitment to meeting the highest standards of the education profession. This extraordinary achievement is the result of the outstanding leadership and dedicated work of Dean Linda Thomas and all members of our School of Education. I also want to thank all of our students in the School of Education because their academic work, portfolios and conversations with the visiting team communicated a very positive impression. The various external stakeholders, including the Department of Education, the Board of Education and the various schools where our students conduct their practice teaching, were all instrumental to our success. It underscores the hard work of our faculty and staff, and the extraordinary commitment of our students, education partners and all those involved in the accreditation process. 17 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President PART II: PATHWAYS TO GREATNESS INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES AREA OF FOCUS #1: ACADEMIC QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE • Two doctoral programs at UVI are being explored — one focused on creative leadership and the other on sustainability. Both PhD programs are focused on practitioners who already possess an advanced degree, at least at the Master’s level. The program will draw from many sectors: Education; Business; Public Administration; Management; the Sciences. Thus, the reach of this program will provide opportunities for persons in the Virgin Islands, the wider Caribbean, and, indeed, across the globe. The programs will be based on distributing customized and highly mentored learning and research components in formats to meet the needs, aspirations, and learning styles of its community learners, including online and blended education, face-to-face instruction, as well as self-directed active, and community based learning. The proposed UVI PhD in Leadership seeks to integrate creativity studies into the traditional leadership curriculum. Having professionals trained in this way could have an impact on the Territory through training decision makers to approach problems and issues in a different way. It will also assess prior learning and award credits towards a doctorate in creative change leadership, through the lenses of education leadership, business management, and public policy. Plans are underway to implement at least one of these programs beginning in Fall 2015. • The Master Professor Selection Committee continues the work of the Master Professor Committee, which, last year, was charged with creating a Master Professor Program. This initiative is being led by Provost Fellow, Dr. Rosalyn Rossignol. The current committee was constituted by inviting each School and College of the University to elect one member as its representative. The committee received completed applications from four applicants. All application materials were submitted in electronic format and a Blackboard site was created where they were uploaded so that members of the committee could review them. Dr. Rossignol created an evaluation rubric based on the application criteria, which committee members are using to evaluate candidates. • There following list represents a number of new and unique learning resources now available through the myCampus portal: a.) ASK-US – Students requiring research assistance but have trouble getting to the reference desk can now submit a query through the ASK-US link on the Libraries web page: http://library.uvi.edu. Librarians respond within 24 hours during the normal work week. 18 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President b.) Earth & Environmental Science is a new scientific research database from Springer Publishers. It is included in the databases list on the Libraries website and through the Library Databases link in the myCampus portal. Funding for Earth & Environmental Science is provided by VI-EPSCoR. c.) EndNote reference manager application is once again available for the University community. Users may access EndNote through computer labs, or contact the HelpDesk for installation. The site license for EndNote is funded by VI-EPSCoR. d.) Search Everything with EBSCO Discovery Service, is a one-stop search tool for locating paper books, journals, video recordings, and eBooks. EBSCO Discovery Service is an efficient way to get started in finding peer-reviewed, full-text resources for research projects. This resource also includes Publication Finder, an efficient way to see titles of full-text journals included in library databases or journals and magazines. e.) The UVI Libraries subscribe to over 133,000 eBooks. Library eBooks may be checked-out for seven days at a time, or browsed online for easy access. AREA OF FOCUS #2: STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS • Under the leadership of Associate Provost, Dr. James Maddirala, UVI is developing a strategy for globalization through partnerships with institutions across the globe aimed at student exchanges, faculty exchanges, and collaborative research in areas of interest to UVI, its faculty and its programs. We will also seek key UVI programs (including the new PhD program(s)) to market in new regions. Faculty groups have recently reported on, or are still discussing, potential partnerships with China, Brazil, India, Morocco, Turkey, Taiwan, Thailand, and Caribbean Islands. UVI recently entered a partnership with the HBCU-China Network that provides opportunities for UVI students to spend a semester or up to two-years in selected Chinese Universities. The Chinese government pays tuition and room and board for UVI students during their study in their respective disciplines. • The Athletics Department reported the below noteworthy achievements in Fall 2014: o Inauguration of the UVI Soccer Field on the Albert A. Sheen Campus o Men’s Soccer Team was represented in the intercollegiate LAI play-offs and were able to play some of those games on the Albert A. Sheen Campus o UVI Weightlifting Team debut in intercollegiate LAI competition o UVI Cross Country Men qualified for the intercollegiate LAI finals o Extension of Paradise Jam contract through 2023 • The Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (SAILS) test was administered to students enrolled in FDS 100 classes to collect information literacy data for incoming students. SAILS is a standardized test of information literacy skills that 19 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President allows libraries to document research skill levels for groups of students. Results are used to identify areas for improvement and library instruction needs. AREA OF FOCUS #3: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND GLOBALIZATION • The Dual Credit initiative has been implemented at UVI with a pilot cohort in Spring 2015. Orientation activities were held for parents and students on December 11, 2014, on St. Croix and St. Thomas. Eleven students (seven on St. Thomas and four on St. Croix) are participating in the pilot cohort. • The Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research and Planning (VI-ISERP or The STEM Institute) is being developed with funding from VI-EPSCoR. The Institute will increase research in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in the Territory and work closely with the VI Department of Education to transform STEM education. • UVI faculty worked with the VI Department of Education this Fall to improve STEM education in the Territory with support from our National Science Foundation NSF- NOYCE grant. Faculty in the College of Science and Mathematics and the School of Education, including Celil Ekici, Michelle Peterson, Chasda Clendinen, Nancy Morgan, Rita Howard and Marc Boumedine, developed two course proposals that were approved. These courses, STE110 STEP 1: Inquiry Approaches to STEM Teaching; STE112 STEP 2: Inquiry Based Lesson Design, are designed to increase interest in STEM teaching among UVI undergraduates with the aim of training more STEM teachers in the Territory. In addition, the group organized and ran training workshops for 25 in-service elementary mathematics and science teachers on November 8, 2014. Similar activities will be occurring through the work of the STEM Institute. • Three public outreach events were held at Etelman Observatory in October, November, and December, 2014 with participation of over 300 community members. Eight science students from Seventh Day Adventist Academy spent the afternoon at UVI on October 30, 2014 working with five different faculty members in the College of Science and Mathematics. • Working with the Department of Education (DOE), UVI-CELL (Community Engagement & Lifelong Learning Center) developed and offered two professional development programs for in-service teachers. Both programs were designed to prepare teachers for national exams. The PRAXIS I and II provided teachers with mock exams which were used to strengthen each teacher in areas that needed improvement. The second program was targeted to paraprofessionals, preparing them for the national exam. The agreement with DOE extends through FY 2015. Additional cohorts are planned for the spring and fall semesters. 20 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President • The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) has on its staff, the only Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the Territory. The credential of BCBA enables one to supervise the field training of candidates in pursuit of this professional certification. VIUCEDD is currently providing supervision services for one candidate in the St. Croix community, who is helping to oversee the service to children with autism within private settings, and within the Virgin Islands Department of Education. • The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) hosted its 11th Annual Voices That Count Conference in October 2014. Voices that Count is a policy forum designed to link people with disabilities and their advocates to incumbent and aspiring legislators, as well as gubernatorial and delegate to congress candidates in an effort to have their direct concerns addressed. The forums took place on the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas across a 4-day time period. The conference was held for two days on each island. During the course of this event, a total of 28 senatorial candidates, 1 candidate for the delegate position and 4 gubernatorial candidates were in attendance between both events. The forum was well attended, 139 members of the disability community participated across both islands. • The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD), in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDOE), the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Autism Network, Island Therapy Solutions, and the Virgin Islands Developmental Disability Council, launched a yearlong Training Institute to strengthen the knowledge base and practical skills of parents of children with disabilities, adults with disabilities, and their advocates. The trainings were created and are facilitated by Dr. Kimberly Mills, the new Associate Director at VIUCEDD. Topics in the training Institute include, but are not limited to, Applied Behavior Analysis, Social Skills Training for Youth and Adults with Disabilities, Best Special Education Practices and Youth with Hidden Disabilities and Their Involvement with Juvenile Justice Systems. All trainings are presented to the community free of charge. VIDOE staff and others who attend the trainings receive Continuing Education Unit credits. • The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) staff participated in a grant program in partnership with the 21st Century Learning Centers. The 21st Century Learning Centers’ program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non- school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low- performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children. In this capacity, two parent trainings were conducted in association with this grant and were delivered by Dr. Yegin Habtes, assisted by Jerae Forde, VIUCEDD Program Coordinator. Sessions were held at Gladys Abraham and E. Benjamin Oliver schools. 21 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President • A new training initiative was launched by VIUCCED in collaboration with the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands in which individualized technical support can be delivered to families of children with disabilities even though trainings are conducted in a group setting. Eight (8) families were served in the first workshop and fifteen (15) during the second. This training represented a new approach to parent support. The model includes a small panel of experts to field questions from families, but other parents were also present to act as experts in their area of expertise and help support other parents through their previous experiences. • The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) sponsored an eight week Art Class during the Fall of 2014 on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. The class was comprised of sixteen (16) students with disabilities. Students were exposed to art as a recreational/creative activity and classes enabled them to work cooperatively in a group setting and enjoy the development of leisure recreation skills. This art class also provided the parents of children with disabilities with a few hours of respite each Saturday. Some of the artwork is on display at the VIUCEDD Center on St. Croix. • The majority of the Research and Public Service (RPS) units participated in the 31st Annual St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair held on November 22-23, 2014, on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas. Staff from the Cooperative Extension Center (CES) displayed several types of growing systems to include tires, raised bed/box gardens, and a portable raised garden bed built by young men from My Brother’s Workshop. CES provided the vegetable plants that were used in the educational display, and distributed handouts on tire and raised-bed gardening. Approximately 250 to 300 persons interacted with extension staff about the unique display and usefulness of that type of garden system. In addition, staff from other RPS units provided and distributed information to the public about the various programs and services available through this area. The fair was attended by approximately 3,000 persons. • The Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS) unit launched the program entitled, Environmental Learning Outside the Classroom (ELOC). There were approximately 50 students, 5 teachers and parents who went to Compass Point Salt Pond to observe mangrove forests and learn about their significance. VIMAS held a second ELOC activity on December 5, 2014 engaging 23 students, several parents and teachers about marine debris, marine wildlife, and conservation practices at Brewers Bay. VIMAS is now certified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research to conduct research on human subjects via completion of the training course “Protecting Human Research Participants.” • In October 2014, Eastern Caribbean Center (ECC) in partnership with the Institute for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (ILOE) conducted a pre-election poll for the 2014 political races for Governor, Delegate-to-Congress, and the VI Legislature. Results 22 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President of the poll were presented in a public forum on October 30, 2014. This was the first scientific telephone political poll in the US Virgin Islands. Results of the poll were virtually identical to the actual results of the elections held on November 4, 2014. This poll was managed by Dr. Frank Mills and Dr. Asha DeGannes. • On December 3-4, 2014, Cooperative Extension Service (CES) held its annual holiday baking workshops to 30 participants. The unit also held the 9th Annual V.I. Woodworkers Expo on St. Thomas, December 5-7, 2014 with 11 woodworkers and approximately 350 to 400 attendees. A similar expo was held on St. John on December 19-21, 2014. CES also conducted four computer courses for 108 individuals. • The Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) engaged in Coast Weeks with 973 volunteers in 27 beach clean ups. They collected approximately 8,000 pounds of trash on all three islands. The unit also held Reef Fest on November 9, 2014 for approximately 800 attendees. • The VI Small Business Development Center (SBDC) participated in the “Hype Your Hustle” entrepreneurial initiative committee proceedings, hosted by the Virgin Islands Department of Labor on October 7, 2014; the “Delta G.E.M.S.” Mentorship Program, hosted by the St. Thomas Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on October 18th; the “40th Fall Yacht Show” hosted by the Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League on November 10, 2014; the “Rapid Response Session”, a service initiative of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor’s Dislocated Worker Unit; the Divi Carina Bay Casino “2014 Employee Health & Information Fair” on October 24, 2014; and attended the St. Thomas - St. John Chamber of Commerce’s “Business After Hours” event, hosted by Scotia Bank on October 9, 2014 and November 13, 2014. The unit reached a total of 283 clients during these events. • UVI Libraries, in partnership with the University of Florida, received a sub-award for $8,625 from the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) to support ongoing preservation and digitization of collections in the field of agriculture. The project will enable UVI Libraries to expand the digitization and organization of materials published by UVI’s RPS component between 1962 and 1988. Some materials were digitized previously through the Libraries USVI History and Culture digitization project in 1999-2002. Through this project, metadata and cataloging of resources will be enriched and a bibliography produced to document land-grant activities at UVI during the years identified. Project CERES is the result of a collaboration between the United States Agricultural Information Network (USAIN), the Agriculture Network Information Collaborative (AgNIC) and the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) to support ongoing preservation and digitization of collections in the field of agriculture. The Project CERES targets agricultural resources at HBCUs, to ensure effective access and preservation. 23 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President • The Alumni Affairs Office continues to liaise with the DART leaders to ensure that recruitment and alumni efforts remain consistent with the Presidential Goals through frequent telephone meetings. Discussions include upcoming enrollment and alumni events in Antigua, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis and St. Maarten. During the first quarter, over 50 student prospects have been submitted to Access & Enrollment Services for enrollment opportunities. • The Fall edition of UVI Alumni Chronicles was published in December 2014 and featured the University’s 52.49% participation rate, the highest contribution rate among HBCUs and spotlights Ms. Chawnique Schjang, a recent alumna of the University who has returned to the Alumni Affairs Office to make a difference. The publication also features Elisa Thomas, 2014-2015 Miss UVI and National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame (NBCA). AREA OF FOCUS # 4: MODERN AND SAFE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT • During the month of December 2014, a software module from SchoolDude.com, named Maintenance Direct, was purchased for use on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. The software, considered a leading education platform to manage facilities, provides enhanced tracking and management of work orders from request to its completion. It also provides management with real-time information on work orders status, numerous reports that can track project expenses, specific trade demand, as well as building analysis for deferred maintenance projects. Work orders can be entered as well as received from anywhere including mobile devices. The implementation and roll-out of the software on the campus began on January 5, 2015. It is anticipated that with the implementation of the software both customer service satisfaction and responsiveness will be enhanced. Customers will have access to view the status of their requests as well as receive automatic completion notifications. • In an effort to complete the project for the automatic temperature control systems on the Albert A. Sheen Campus, four energy efficient air-conditioning units were installed; one in the Northwest Wing Annex, two in the Modular Building and one in the Student Activities Center. With the installation of the new units, all facilities on campus are now programmed electronically according to the University’s energy management protocols. The electronic on-line access provides the capability to schedule occupied and unoccupied temperatures for each facility. This project was funded by a grant received from the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) under the U.S. Department of the Interior – Office of Insular Affairs (DOI-OIA). • The music program on the Albert A. Sheen Campus began use of room T-100, the music room, immediately after the acoustic panels were installed in November 2014. Sound proofing the facility included the installation of the acoustic panels on the walls and on the ceiling as well as the installation of double drywall. 24 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President In addition, in order to facilitate the multi-purpose use of the facility by the concert band as well as the steel pan classes and ensemble, customized steel pan storage racks were constructed and installed that enable the steel pans to be secured along the perimeter of the back of the room, clearing floor space for other music classes or programs. • Mini-paint projects were completed on the Albert A. Sheen Campus between November and December 2014 that ensured a fresh and welcoming environment. The interior areas painted were the receptionist area located near the School of Business, the Business Services area, including by the Cashier’s office, and the Campus Operations Office. UVI logos were also applied on the walls of the Business Office and the Campus Operations Office to improve campus signage and branding. • The outdoor railing of the 300-, 700-, and 900-levels in the Melvin Evans Center on the Albert A. Sheen Campus were painted during the December 2014 holiday recess. • As part of an ongoing effort to monitor and enhance the outdoor lighting on the Albert A. Sheen Campus, while also addressing the overall safety concerns of the campus community, an outdoor lighting survey was completed on campus on November 24, 2014. Twenty-six regular electrical lights identified as not working were repaired in December 2014. • The University’s Campus Security Department continues its efforts to provide training and development opportunities for the unit. Its focus is to create a safe and secure environment for faculty, staff and students alike, with hopes that their campus experience is an enjoyable one. For this reporting period the Campus Security unit met Peace Officers Qualification mandates; training in the Implementation of the Violence Against Women Act Amendments to the Clery Act; attended a professional perspective Webinar on Improving Campus Safety; and Acting Chief Glasford attended the Security Today Conference and Expo and completed Execution Under Pressure Training in Dallas, Texas. • Employees in the Campus Operations unit on the Albert A. Sheen Campus, including Custodial, Business Services, Security, and Physical Plant were the recipients of five unlimited access one-year passes to online training, via live webinars, archived webinars, audio conferences, video-clips, as well as reference materials. The unlimited passes were purchased from Star12, National Seminars Training, and a division of Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center, Inc. Numerous learning tracks in the areas of compliance, management, communication, customer service, time management, etc., are available to each registrant. Passes allow for each employee to access training on-demand from anywhere at any time within the year, thus enabling flexibility to participate in training despite hectic schedules. Management resources facilitate assigning training sessions to staff and obtaining training reports for each employee. It is anticipated that this tool will enhance 25 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President the ability to provide opportunities for professional development. • The Center for Student Success (CSS) on the Albert A. Sheen Campus is being renovated. The project consists of space reprogramming, minor structural repairs, code compliance and the overall upgrade of the space. The goal of the project is to provide the following: o An ADA compliant workplace with upgrades to restrooms, doorways, hardware and exterior access. o Improve indoor air quality with a new ducted, central air conditioning system. o Energy efficiency with LED light fixtures, an efficient air conditioning system and occupancy sensors. • The Classroom Administration Building Air Conditioner Chiller Replacement Water System is comprised of two 60- ton McQuay chillers. The facility usually operates one chiller at a time on a rotation schedule in normal operation mode. The older of the two chillers is presently inoperable and was in operation for over twelve years. Based on an assessment of the unit, it has been determined that it reached its useful mechanical life and was replaced. • The St. Thomas Campus established a goal to improve the Food Service Operations. This goal started a process which included assistance from consultants and the selection of a new caterer through the procurement process to provide food services for the St. Thomas Campus. This new venture also dictated a number of improvements for the Dining Pavilion which included equipment replacement, installation of doors, ceramic tiling, new furniture, air conditioning, space reconfiguration, an independent stand-by generator, new refrigerated walk-in boxes, painting and other miscellaneous repairs and upgrades. A phased approach was established for the overall project and the facility became functional for the Spring Semester 2015 opening. • Penha House’s second floor has been designated for the relocation of the WUVI Radio Station. The scope of this project addresses the renovation of the space as well as ensures ADA Code Compliance. The goal of the project is to provide the following upgrade which would also include installation of structural support, tiles, air conditioning system, electrical upgrade and painting, in addition to the following: o An ADA compliant learning space and workplace with upgrades to restrooms, doorways, and hardware. o Correct the water intrusion and minor structural deficiencies, and install operable windows. • The former Office of Capital Projects facilitated the development of plans for major renovations and site improvements at the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies 26 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President (CMES). A plan to upgrade the existing facilities in order to address the needs of this rapidly expanding academic and research program was developed in consultation with CMES faculty and staff. • The Office of Environmental Health and Safety provided a formal UVI training format for Safety and OSHA compliance and it’s being coordinated campus-wide through work with the Career Advancement Policy Committee. The office is working to develop an institutional-wide system where much of the training can be offered through computer- based training modules with exams that test participants to assure and document comprehension of the material, as well as participation in the training. Another benefit of this method of training is to make electronic tracking of required and other training easy and readily accessible. It is envisioned that component training through modules can become a primary source for training; however, it is not meant to completely replace training through seminars, hands on demonstrations, or other more conventional types of training whenever it is preferred or desired. • Work continues on the new Pesticides Safety Manual, Biology Laboratory Safety Manual, as well as development of an Agricultural equipment safety manual. Review by stakeholders will provide the opportunity for comments and requests for edits to the draft documents. An institutional-wide Environmental Health and Safety Training Plan is being developed in conjunction with the compliance matrix. Not only will this training promote safety on campus, but will help assure fiscal responsibility by minimizing the chance of OSHA violations and penalties. Last quarter, technical guidance was provided concerning proper disposal of fluorescent lamps and ballasts and a Best Management Practice guidance document was developed for use. • Information and Technology Services has implemented the SobekCM application, which is being developed as the platform for document storage. The service vendor will review standards of practice at other institutions, in addition, to staff training and development. A recommendation will be made regarding integrating throughout the University environment. • Students now have the option to have their photo taken by one of the Dean of Students staff or upload their photo directly to the ID Photos community that is located on the myCampus portal, which is very secure. This option is open to new and returning students. Students must follow the guidelines and post their photos in the respective folder for their campus. • EMS, the University’s scheduling system, was upgraded to the latest release. This upgrade will enhance the space utilization reporting, which will inform class development and improve class scheduling. 27 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Reporting Period: October 26, 2014 to February 25, 2015 Dr. David Hall, President AREA OF FOCUS #5: ORGANIZATIONAL AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT • The time and effort certification Ban-Web set up project is completed. The next phase set for completion is to populate historical personnel data into the effort certification BANNER form in order to link BANNER grants to Ban-Web. AREA OF FOCUS #6: FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH • The FY 2014 financial audit is underway; auditors from Ernst and Young, LLP have requested information from the Controller and staff for testing. Audit meetings are being held monthly to ascertain the status of the fieldwork. Testing for the Single A-133 audit began on January 29, 2015. 28 Board of Trustees’ Meeting on March 7, 2015 Albert A. Sheen Campus