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President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 1 PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 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 Greatness Through Innovation, the University’s current 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. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 2 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS  The Miss UVI Ambassadorial Coronation was held on April 13, 2019 and provided an opportunity for newly crowned Sherkquan Henry to display her talent and intellectual ability.  At the 13D Student Business Launch Competition, UVI’s version of “Shark-Tank,” three successful winning teams received the following funding awards: o Nina Scott ($20,500) for Supple Body Scrubs (a natural body lotion company) o Khaleila Krall and Sherkquan Henry ($18,500) for AnnAlice (a jewelry design company) o Kyle Murphy ($17,000) for Mad Hot Media (the Virgin Islands version of ESPN)  On March 20, two students vied for the title of Miss Charter Day, Christine George and Love Pluviose. Ms. Christine George captured the title of Miss Charter Day 2019. The competition provided a platform for students and residents to work on presentation, time management and other leadership and developmental skills.  The 2019 SGA Spring Olympics was held on February 22-24, 2019. The event is a cross-campus competition that was hosted this year by the Albert A. Sheen Campus. This annual activity is recognized as part of the educational process which has been developed to promote educational leadership and physical fitness, and to provide opportunities for recreational pursuits and athletic excellence through competition. The group of approximately 35 students and staff actively participated. The 2019 Champion is the St. Thomas Campus. Our MVPs this year are Cameron Prailes and Shanice James.  Arl Polydore, junior computer science major, will be joining Walmart in Arkansas as a Network Specialist Intern in June 2019. This is a paid internship where Mr. Polydore will be working with individuals in the computer science and network engineering fields. Mr. Polydore was afforded this opportunity by participating in the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute in October 2018.  Azhar Hussein, physics major, was accepted to the PhD Program in Biophysics at Oregon State University.  Iris Battiste, junior accounting major, joined The Boeing Company as a Payroll Intern in May 2019. This is a paid internship where Ms. Battiste will be working with top executives in the field. Ms. Battiste was afforded this opportunity by participating in the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute in October 2018.  Jahvan Navarro, graduating senior in Bachelor of Arts in Accounting major, was offered a full-time position with Caterpillar Inc. Mr. Navarro will be joining Caterpillar Inc. as an entry-level Accountant in the Finance Services Division in June 2019. Mr. Navarro was afforded this internship opportunity by participating in the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute in October 2018. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 3  Manal Asad, nursing major, received the Student Prize on Research Day at the Albert A. Sheen Campus held on April 5, 2019. Ms. Asad’s poster presentation, entitled “Umbilical — The Cord Care Treatment in Newborns,” compared the use of alcohol/antiseptics verses dry cord care to determine which treatment is best to reduce adverse events and time to cord separation.  Vernon Callwood, CAHS and VI-ISERP teacher, was selected for a competitive “Journalist for a Day” program at the 2019 Aquatic Sciences Meeting of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). He will be producing at least one article and reporting on research presented at the meeting, to be published in an upcoming Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin issue.  Students in the Health Disparities course collaborated with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health in a research project documenting walkability problems in the Virgin Islands. Results will support funding for improving pedestrian safety with installation of crosswalks.  Two nursing students participated in data collection for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey that was referenced in the National Public Radio (NPR) Morning Edition broadcast on April 24, 2019. PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS (Student names are bolded. Faculty names are italicized.)  Alexander Fortenberry, Antonino Cucchiara, David Morris, "Enhancing Undergraduate Astronomy Learners Through Technology at the University of the Virgin Islands.” Beta Kappa Chi/National Institute of Science Conference, March 27-31, 2019, Atlanta, GA.  Azhar Hussein, Xavier Boix and Tomaso Poggio, “Training Neural Networks for Object Recognition Using Blurred Images.” Poster presentation, APS Physics Conference, March 4-8, 2019 Boston, MA.  Kyle Jerris, Teresa Turner, “The Effect of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on the Invasion of Halophila stipulacea.” Benthic Ecology meeting Society April 3-6, 2019. St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada.  Fourteen UVI students attended the Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM (ERN) in Washington, DC from February 21-23, 2019. There were thirteen poster presentations and one oral presentation with two students (Azriel Williams and Makeda Mills) winning poster awards. o Angel Cedeno, “Phenolic Content in Virgin Islands Plants.” o Azriel Williams, “Sex, Ideal and Self Body Perceptions, Depression, and Obesity in United States Virgin Islands.” Award Winner. o Carlan Romney, “Using CRISPR-Mediated Mutagenesis to Analyze Protein Phosphatase Regulatory Subunit Functions in Arabidopsis thaliana.” Poster Presentation. o Danielle Olive, “Hematological Impacts of Hypoxia on the Clearnose Skate (Rajaeglanteria).” Poster Presentation. o Darryle Cyrille, “The Effects of Rounding Errors on Polynomial Interpolants.” Poster Presentation. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 4 o Harmonie Hanley, “Our Falling Sky: Tracking Space Junk.” Poster Presentation. o Josette John, “Population Dynamics and Differences Between Deep (Mesophotic) and Mid- Shallow Orbicella spp Corals in the U.S.V.I.” Oral Presentation. o Kaheem Walters, “Locating Hazardous Asteroids with Python Coding and the Virgin Islands Robotic Telescope.” Poster Presentation. o Makeda Mills, “The Blood Traveller: Apicomplexan Blood Parasite of Dusky Damselfish Apicomplexa.” Poster Presentation. Award Winner. o Matthew Mullins, “Large Amounts of Detached Algae Increase Juvenile Fish Abundance.” Poster Presentation. o Nikkoiya Cromwell, “Random Sampling of Nodes in Polynomial Interpolation.” Poster Presentation. o Nina Scott, “Characteristics of Mantis Shrimp Telson Armor.” Poster Presentation. o Selena Parrilla, “Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacity in Virgin Islands Plants.” Poster Presentation. o Yarilynn Guadalupe, “Mathematical Learning and the Language of Instructions in the Virgin Islands.” Poster Presentation.  Thirty-three UVI students (17 Master of Science in Marine & Environmental Science (MMES) students and 16 in-service teachers working with VI Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice (VI- ISERP), attended the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Aquatic Sciences Meeting in Puerto Rico from February 23-March 2, 2019: o Allie Durdall; S. Nick, C. Pott, Rick Nemeth, Kristin Wilson Grimes. “Decline of a Critical Fish Nursery Habitat in Great Pond, St. Croix, USVI: Invasive Tilapia, Mangrove Die-off, Fish Kills and Hurricane Maria.” Oral Presentation. o Amanda Long, J. Ignacio Espinoza, J. Fuhrman. “Estimating Marine Bacterial Growth Rates using Metagenomics and Metatranscriptomics.” Oral Presentation o Amber Packard, G. Hendrick, M. Nicholson, Paul Sikkel. “Closing the Loop: Integrating Parasites in Trophic Connectivity of Diel Migratory Fishes.” Poster Presentation. o Antonio Farchette; Paul Jobsis; S. Wyllie-Echeverria, B. Tussenbroek, D. Willette, J. Kenworthy, Alice Stanford, Teresa Turner. “Halophila stipulacea within the Eastern Caribbean.” Poster Presentation. o Cleopatra Skerrit, Tameca White, Nadia Monrose Mills. (February 25, 2019). Oral Presentation. “ Recovery with Renewable Energy: Project Based Learning in a Mathematics Classroom.” o Danielle Lasseigne, J. Masura, K. Wilson, Marilyn Brandt. “Microplastic and Microfiber Abundances in Coastal Environments of St. Thomas, USVI.” Oral Presentation. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 5 o George Francis, Lovynette Brown. (February 25, 2019). Oral Presentation. “The Impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Virgin Islands and the Recovery Process through Action in Science.” Halophila stipulacea.” Oral Presentation. o J. Antoine, Alexandra Gutting, Tyler Smith, Marilyn Brandt. “Recruitment and Succession in Space Created by Coral Mortality.” Poster Presentation. o Jan-Alexis Barry, P. Sikkel, Kyle Jerris. “Effects of the Parasitic Isopod Anilocra chromis (cymothoidae) on its Host the Brown Chromis, Chromis multilineata (pomacentridae).” Poster Presentation. o John Cassell, Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Paul Jobsis. “Seasonal Nutrient Patterns of Three Seagrass Species in a Small Bay on St. Thomas, USVI.” Oral Presentation. o Joseph Townsend, Marilyn Brandt, Sonaljit Mukherjee, M. Medina, Tyler Smith. “Lesion Recovery of Corals along a Shallow to Mesophotic Depth Gradient.” Oral Presentation. o Karli Hollister, R. Ennis, H. Spalding, Tyler Smith. “Coral-algal Competition and Overgrowth Dynamics of a Rapidly Emerging Red Alga (Tamicrusta sp.) in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.” Oral Presentation. o Kathryn Cobleigh, Joseph Townsend, Karli Hollister, Jessica Nagel, Kyle Jerris, Patrick Owen Clower, Martha Raymore, Manu Afshar, Kristine Funk, Zola Roper, Antonio Farchette, Amber Packard. “Impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Coral Restoration and Associated Fish Diversity in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.” Poster Presentation. o Kathryn Cobleigh, N. Macknight, M. Medina, L. Mydlarz, Marilyn Brandt. “Evaluating Differences in Microbial Communities of White Plague Diseased and Healthy Colonies of Major Reef Building Caribbean Corals.” Oral Presentation. o Kyle Jerris, Teresa Turner. “The Effect of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on the Invasion of Halophila stipulacea.” Oral Presentation. o M. Aleman, J. Ignacio Espinoza, Amanda Long, J. Fuhrman. “Dynamics of Viruses Analyzed Metagenomically in Relation to other Plankton during an Algal Bloom.” Poster Presentation. o Michael Charles). Oral Presentation. “Normalcy in Education: Hurricane Recovery at a School in the United States Virgin Islands.” o Michael Henry, Andre Pompey, Steve Lawrence, Ann Marie Gibbs, Cassandra King, Shana Gilbert, Jaynae Williams. “A Comparison of the Presence of Heavy Metals in Soil and Water from Fresh as well as Brackish Water in St. Croix.” President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 6 o Patrick Owen Clower, Kristin Wilson Grimes, I. Hartwell, Marilyn Brandt, S. Nick. “Assessing the Levels of Pollutants in Mangrove Lagoon, St. Thomas East End Reserves, United States Virgin Islands, between 2011 and 2018 and the Ability of Mangroves to Intercept Pollutants.” Oral Presentation. o Risa Gordon, Nora Santana. (February 26, 2019). Oral Presentation. “Assessing the Impact of the Lionfish through Education and Outreach Activities in the United States Virgin Islands.” o Tameca White, Cleopatra Skerrit, Otensia Peets-Allamby, Nadia Monrose Mills, Michele Guannel. “From Trash to Treasure to Turn the Tides: Project Based Learning in a Mathematics Classroom.” Oral Presentation. o Yasmine Salem Jubran, Vernon Callwood. Oral Presentation. “Classroom Teachers’ Perception of the Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Student Behavior in High School Classrooms in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.”  Four UVI students presented their work at the American Astronomical Society Annual meeting in Seattle, WA on January 11, 2019: o Christopher Murphy, “The Breakthrough Listen Search for Intelligent Life: Characterization and Mitigation of Satellite RFI.” Poster presentation. o Fatimah Hussein, “Gamma-Ray Bursts Light Curve Fitting with Swift- XRT.” Poster Presentation. o Gerlinder Difo-Cheri, “The Search for Disintegrating Planets Orbiting White Dwarfs.” Poster Presentation. o Kaylan Husband, “Characterization of Silicon Photomultipliers.” Poster Presentation.  Five UVI students (in-service teachers working with VI Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice (VI-ISERP) presented their work at the National Science Teachers Association meeting, April 11-13, 2019, in St. Louis, MO: o Anne Wilkins, Chris Plyley, Oral Presentation. “Green Homes: Development, Assessment, and Learning Impacts of a Culturally Responsive Project.” o Michael Henry, Andre Pompey, Oral Presentation. “Water Quality: Modeling and Assessing a Real-World Problem.” o Michealrose Ravalier, Michele Guannel, Nadia Monrose Mills, Oral Presentation. “What Does Sugar Have to Do With It: Evaluation of Project-Based Instruction in a High School Biology Course.” President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 7 o Vernon Callwood, Ann Marie Gibbs, Michele Guannel, Kristin Grimes, Sennai Habtes, CarrieJo Bucklin, Howard Forbes, Jr., Marcia Taylor, and Jarvon Stout. Oral Presentation. “Place-Based Curricula and Project-Based Learning Units Address a Real-World Problem of Marine Debris in the United State Virgin Islands.” ALUMNI UPDATES  Florida Atlantic University announced the appointment of Dr. Safiya George Dalmida as Dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing effective July 8, 2019. Dr. George’s career began with her service as a direct patient care provider and evolved into a far-reaching research agenda at Emory University. The University of Alabama recruited her to build their research enterprise. She is a board member and secretary of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. She is recognized nationally for both her research and her commitment to service.  Juliet Ruggiero, December 2018 marine biology graduate, was accepted into a fully funded Master’s program at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute which is part of Florida Atlantic University. She will be working in the lab of Dr. Andia Chaves-Fonnegra. Dr. Chaves-Fonnegra did post-doctoral research at UVI working with Dr. Marilyn Brandt and Ms. Ruggiero.  Michele Donihe, Master of Science in Marine & Environmental Science (MMES) graduate, has been working on partnerships with a conservation organization and tourism companies in the Arctic, detailed in the following article: “Let’s Zing: Engaging tourism companies and tourists in ocean plastic clean up.” (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14724049.2019.1596116)  Nicole Fleming, biology graduate, earned her PhD in February 2019 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Pathobiology and Translational Science. She now works for United Therapeutics Corporation doing tissue engineering related to lung function.  Paul Hillbrand, a Spring 2018 graduate, was hired in April 2019 by Bald Head Island Conservancy as a sea turtle program coordinator at Bald Head Island, North Carolina.  Sophia McKenzie, Master of Science in Marine & Environmental Science (MMES) graduate, was hired as MMES Coordinator in January at UVI. Her experience as a former student provides a valuable perspective that is beneficial to current student satisfaction with the program. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 8 FACULTY AND STAFF ACHIEVEMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP (Student names are bolded. Faculty names are italicized.)  Dr. Andre’a Dorsey, Center for Student Success Specialist, successfully defended her dissertation on February 1, 2019, and having completed all the other requirements, earned the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change at the University of the Virgin Islands.  Dr. Joyce Campbell, Finance Professor, successfully defended her dissertation on April 17, 2019, and having completed all the other requirements, earned the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change at the University of the Virgin Islands.  Dr. Karen Brown was selected by the Association for University Centers of Excellence and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to serve as the CDC’s Act Early Ambassador to the US Virgin Islands for the 2019-2021 term.  Dr. Kimberly Mills, the Director of V.I. University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD), secured an outbound ambassador and technical assistance opportunity to East Africa with the U.S. State Department through their Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment programs, at no cost to UVI, spent several weeks in Kenya. The program ran from April 18-May 4, 2019. While there, Dr. Mills provided technical assistance to disability professionals in the region.  Dr. Renel Smith organized an Information Systems and Technology (IST) Career Forum for students to discuss their career goals with industry professionals from Omni Systems, the Bureau of Information Technology, and Caribbean Collaboration Information Technology (IT) Services on February 15, 2019. Eight students from the School of Business and the College of Science and Mathematics joined the participants to learn key skills related to job searching and career management.  Dr. Robert Godfrey, Director of Agricultural Experiment Station (AES), was appointed as the Insular Land Grant Institution representative on the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Board on Agriculture Assembly Budget & Advocacy Committee (APLU-BAA- BAC). His role is to represent the Insular Land Grants in discussions regarding the federal budget for agriculture and the National Institute of Food & Agriculture.  Dr. Tamara Lang, Director and Assistant Professor of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, successfully defended her dissertation in January 2019 and having completed all the other requirements, earned the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in General Business Management at Capella University. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 9  Dr. Xuri Maurice Allen was considered among professional counseling professionals nationwide for an American School Counselor Association 2019 Annual Conference Ambassadorship.  Ms. Dahlia Stridiron-Felix, Director of Counseling, was the recipient of the Visionary Voice Award for the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, in conjunction with state, territory and tribal coalitions, offers the Visionary Voice Award for Sexual Assault Awareness Month each April. Ms. Stridiron-Felix was recognized for her outstanding work at the University in raising awareness of sexual assault.  Mr. Mike Morgan and Dr. Thomas Zimmerman, Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) Biotechnology & Agroforestry program, were awarded a $45,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crops Block Grant administered by the VI Department of Agriculture. The title of the grant is “Propagating Guavaberry: A High Valued Native Virgin Islands Fruit Tree.” FACULTY PUBLICATIONS (Student names are bolded. Faculty names are italicized.)  C. Alagoz, C. Ekici., Resa Gordon, Chris Plyley, Ph.D., and N. Santana. (2018). Integrated Development and Assessment of Mathematical Modeling Practices for Culturally Responsive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Lionfish Case Study. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational & Social Sciences, 9, 1-10.  Chris Plyley and C. Ekici. (2018) “Developing Strategic Competence with Growth Modeling in Calculus.” Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, 1102-1110.  D. Cox, T. Arikawa, A. Barbosa, Greg Guannel, D. Inazu., A. Kennedy, R. Slocum (2018). “Hurricanes Irma and Maria Post-Event Survey in U.S. Virgin Islands.” Coastal Engineering Journal, In Press.  L. M. Wedding, S. M. Reiter, G. M. Verutes, H. E. Hartage Greg Guannel and L. Good, (2018). “Values at the Land-Sea Interface: Mapping Ecosystem Services in the Coastal Environment.” Journal of Marine Education, 32(1).  Killion, Cheryl M, Sloand E, Gary FA, Glass N, Dennis BP, Muller NC, Hassan M, Callwood GB, Campbell DW “Culturally Anchoring an Intervention for Gender-Based Violence.” International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, Vol. 56, 2 (2018): 85-94. doi:10.1080/14635240.2017.1415766 President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 10  Rita Dudley Grant, Dara Hamilton & Sophia Parrilla. (2018). Mental Health Issues and Therapy with Caribbean Peoples: Reflections of Seasoned Psychologists. Caribbean Journal of Psychology, 10 (1), 223-260.  T. Vegh, T. Troxler, K. Zhang, Greg Guannel, E. Castañeda-Moya, A. Sutton-Grier, B. Murray. 2018. Ecosystem Services and Economic Valuation: Co-benefits of Coastal Wetlands. In A Blue Carbon Primer: The State of Coastal Wetland Carbon Science, Practice and Policy. FACULTY CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (Student names are bolded. Faculty names are italicized.)  Charles, I., T.W. Zimmerman. (2019). Using Floral Bud Length to Predict Sorrel Harvest Date. Association of 1890 Research Directors 19th Biennial Research Symposium, Abstract # 482, p. 250.  Karen H. Brown, and Fifer, R. (2018). “Facilitating Interdisciplinary Professional Practice to Zika in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” The American Speech–Language-Hearing Association Convention, Boston, MA.  Mathurin, K., M. Morgan and T. W. Zimmerman. (2019). “Comparisons of Six Native Eugenia Species Found on St. Croix, Virgin Islands.” Association of 1890 Research Directors 19th Biennial Research Symposium, Abstract # 556, p. 280.  UVI had strong representation at the Aquatic Sciences Meeting: Planet Water, Challenges and Successes. The event was held February 23 through March 2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico (ASLO), an annual national meeting focused on the ocean sciences. Presentations were made by 11 Faculty, 22 Master of Science in Marine & Environmental Science (MMES) students, 16 VI. Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice (VI-ISERP) teachers, and four staff members, including representatives from the Center for Marine & Environmental Studies (CMES)and VI-ISERP. The presentations included: o Howard Forbes, Jr., Jarvon Stout, Kristin Wilson Grimes, Michele Guannel, Nastassia N. Jones, Marilyn Brandt, CarrieJo Bucklin, Monica Medina. “Youth Ocean Explorers: A Pathway to Diversifying the Field of Aquatic Science in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” Oral Presentation. o Kristin Grimes, Marilyn Brandt, CarrieJo Bucklin, Nastassia N. Jones, Monica Medina, Howard Forbes, Jr., Michele Guannel.. “Supporting Emerging Aquatic Scientists (SEAS) Your Tomorrow: Increasing Diversity and Inclusion in the Marine Sciences in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” Oral Presentation. o Kynoch Reale-Munroe; Bernard Castillo II; James Pinckney; Mariah Munroe (February 2019). Influences of Watershed Inputs on Water Quality and Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates in Mangrove Lagoon, St. Croix, USVI. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 11 o Kynoch Reale-Munroe, James Pinckney, Dianne Greenfield, Carmelo Tomas, Chad Lane, Bernard Castillo II, Michael Latz, Michelle Zimberlin; Paula Reidhaar; Zandy Hillis- Starr. “Highlights - Bioluminescent Mangrove Lagoon, St. Croix, USVI. “ o Marilyn E. Brandt; Olson, J.; Chaves-Fonnegra, A.; Tyler B. Smith; Ennis, R.; Gochfeld, D.: “Impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Coral Reef Sponge Communities in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.” o Michele Guannel, Imani Daniel. “Transformation of a Freshman-Level University Science Course to Incorporate Real-Time Hurricane Response, Recovery, and Resiliency.” Oral Presentation. o Michele Guannel, Nadia Monrose Mills, Chris Plyley. “Professional Learning Communities in the United States Virgin Islands Provide Support through Teacher Training and Project-Based Learning in Aquatic Sciences.” Oral Presentation. o Palumbi, S.; Anthony, K.; Baker, A.; Baskett, M.; Bhattacharya, D.; Bourne, D.; Knowlton, N., Logan, C., Naish, K., Richmond, R., Tyler B. Smith; von Stackelberg, K.: “A Research Review Of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs.” o Sennai Habtes, Kristin Wilson Grimes, C. Bucklin, Michele Guannel, Howard Forbes, Marcia Taylor, J. Stout, Zola Roper. “How Place-based Curricula and Community Projects can Address Real-world Problems Affecting the U.S. Virgin Islands.” Oral Presentation. o Sonaljit Mukherjee; Sennai Habtes: “Analysis of Input Climatologies for the Development of a Coastal Ocean Circulation Model for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.” o Tyler B. Smith, T.; Sonaljit Mukherjee, S., Rosmin S. Ennis, Viktor W. Brandtneris, Marilyn E. Brandt; Miguel Canals: “Hurricane Generated Wave Thresholds for Damage to Coral Reefs in the U.S Virgin Islands.”  Michele Guannel, Chris Plyley, Nadia Monrose Mills. (April 13, 2019). Oral Presentation. “Professional Learning Communities for Integrated STEM Learning – A Project-Centered Approach.” NSTA 2019 National Conference on Science Education, America’s Center Convention Complex, St. Louis, MO.  Chris Plyley, Angelica Hernandez (2019, January 4). Oral Presentation. “Language of Instruction and Mathematical Learning on the Island of St. Croix.” Society for Pidgin and Creole Linguistics at 93rd Annual Meeting of Linguistic Society of America, Sheraton Times Square, New York, NY. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 12  David Morris, Antonino Cucchiara, Jan Staff (January 11, 2019). “The Physics Bachelor of Science Program at the University of the Virgin Islands: Enabling Careers in Science and Engineering Through Astrophysics.” Poster presentation at the American Astronomical Society’s annual meeting, Seattle, WA.  Greg Guannel (2019). “Ecosystem Services in Action: Observations from the 2017 Hurricane Season.” Poster at the National Council of Engineering and Sciences Conference. Washington D.C.  Greg Guannel (2019). “High-Water Mark Survey in the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.” Presentation at the Caribbean Geospatial Analysis Conference (CAGeoCon) in San Juan, Puerto-Rico.  Greg Guannel (2019). “Plans, People and Natural Hazards in the Virgin Islands.” Presentation at the American Planning Association Meeting, San-Francisco, CA.  Jan Staff, Kei Tanaka, Jonathan C. Tan (2019, January 9). “Disk Wind Feedback from High-mass Protostars.” Poster presentation at the American Astronomical Society's annual meeting, Seattle, WA.  Lawanda Cummings, Chris Plyley, Michele Guannel, Nadia Monrose Mills, Sandra Romano, Celil Ekici. (2019, February 20). “Capacity and Network Building: Expanding the Job Experienced Professional Development (JEPD) Model for STEM Teacher Professional Development-Partnering for Student Success.” Oral Presentation. 2019 Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 13 GRANTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS FUNDED  Marilyn E. Brandt, Tyler B. Smith, Amy Apprill, Adrienne S Correa, Daniel M Holstein, Laura D Mydlarz “RAPID: Collaborative Research: Predicting the Spread of Multi- Species Coral Disease Using Species Immune Traits” NSF Biological Oceanography. March 13, 2019. $200,000 ($33,296).  Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC) and Institutional Advancement received a $26,000 donation from Keep America Beautiful to install recycling bins on UVI campuses.  CGTC and Institutional Advancement received 5 solar panels from Solar Relief Team as part of a project with the Clinton Global Initiative to build a solar house at UVI.  Frank Mills secured a $15.5 million contract with the U.S. Census Bureau for the conduct of the 2020 U.S. Virgin Islands decennial census which will be managed by the Eastern Caribbean Center (ECC) from June 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 14 SIGNIFICANT INSTITUIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON CONVENES THE CGI ACTION NETWORK ON POST-DISASTER RECOVERY IN ST. THOMAS AT UVI The Clinton Foundation, Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the University of the Virgin Islands collaborated to host the fourth Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) on Post-Disaster Recovery conference at UVI on June 2-4, 2019. Previous conferences were held in Miami and Puerto Rico. The CGI Action Network brings together leaders across the public sector, private sector, and civil society to discuss and develop solutions that address hurricane recovery needs facing the Caribbean, advance recovery efforts and promote long-term resiliency across the region. President Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed more than 350 participants who discussed recovery efforts in the region, progress to date, and ongoing challenges. The conference was held at the Sports & Fitness Center on the St. Thomas Campus with breakout sessions in the Administration & Conference Center Building. The conference, which spanned three days in the Territory, began with a series of site visits on all three islands led by President Clinton and Secretary Clinton. Conference participants came from throughout the Caribbean region and the U.S. mainland. Among the dignitaries were Heads of States from Dominica, British Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Aruba. Notably, of the Heads of States in attendance, two were UVI alums and one was enrolled in our PhD program before being elected prime minister. President Hall served as a speaker on the program leading the closing plenary session. Dr. Greg Guannel, Director for the UVI Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC), led a conversation on renewable energy and was successful in securing additional resources for a solar house project on campus from funders in attendance. President Hall also had the opportunity to host an exclusive private roundtable discussion and luncheon in his conference room on campus. The invitation-only event included: President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Aruba Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes, St. Martin Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo, British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie, Kevin Thurm, CEO of Clinton Foundation, Tom Secunda, Co-Founder of Bloomberg LP and various other high profile corporate and philanthropic leaders. President Hall served as moderator of the private roundtable and led the discussions on how leaders can enhance cross- governmental collaboration, in conjunction with the private sector, to create a roadmap for addressing the most critical challenges facing the Caribbean region. Some of the key issues discussed included economic diversification, stronger workforce development programs, clean and affordable energy, small business growth, and how members of the CGI Action Network community can play a role in ensuring that the future of the Caribbean economy is resilient, prosperous and inclusive. Another key discussion area was the role of a university in this process and roadmap. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 15 The CGI Action Network conference was the most elaborate event hosted on campus requiring access to three campus buildings and over 100 personnel providing security, logistics and programming. The CGI organizers also commended the University for hosting the event and remarked that the successful roundtable discussion was the largest it had convened of their four meetings and included over 25 key leaders and stakeholders. The conference organization and logistics on campus required the expertise and support of various areas to include Institutional Advancement, Athletics, Physical Plant, Information Technology & Services, Administration & Finance, Campus Security and the Office of the President. The success of the event on campus in part was due to the leadership and coordination of Mitchell Neaves, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, and his team with the CGI organizers. UVI MEDICAL SIMULATION CENTER STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS The University recently hosted stakeholder meetings regarding the UVI Medical Simulation Center (UVIMSC), which is a fundamental part of our Medical School project, that is due to become operational in late 2019 or early 2020 on our St. Croix campus. The University of South Florida (USF) Medical School's simulation center has served as consultants in the design of our planned state-of-the- art simulation center. USF has one of the most cutting-edge simulation centers in the nation and one of the world’s largest, free-standing simulation facilities. Their Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) is also working with us in the selection and training of personnel, and in the operation of UVIMSC. A team from CAMLS visited the University and the Territory from June 10-12, 2019. During this period, the University conducted stakeholder meetings on St. Thomas and St. Croix to update the healthcare community, first responders and government officials about the Medical School project, the vision and economic impact for the UVIMSC, the CAMLS and UVI collaborative partnership and to get feedback from key local stakeholders about the gaps that the UVIMSC can fulfill in the community. The successful 2-day event included approximately 75 persons including physicians and other healthcare professionals, leaders from the hospitals and clinics, Senators, nurses, other government officials, military personnel, first responders and a representative from FirstBank. The stakeholder sessions also included meetings with individuals who are interested in serving as members of the UVI medical school faculty and instructors at the facility as well as tours of the construction sites of the simulation center on St. Croix and classroom building on St. Thomas. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 16 UVI INNOVATION FUND ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE PROPOSALS One of the goals of the new strategic plan, Greatness Through Innovation, seeks to establish an Innovation Fund to support selected innovative proposals, distinct programmatic areas or initiatives on campus. Through the support of the Foundation for the University of the Virgin Islands (FUVI) and various Research and Technology Park (RTPark) companies, the University was able to establish its first Innovation Fund in the amount of $1 million. The Innovation Fund encourages collaborative partnerships across the institution with a view towards developing new approaches that transform innovative ideas into meaningful impact and those that foster a culture of innovation. Proposals must describe an innovative process, program or initiative that is revenue generating or an expenditure reduction (cost savings) which will benefit UVI. All academic and administrative units are eligible to apply to the Innovation Fund. Groups of individual employees and students can also apply as long as there is a designated unit within the institution willing to be responsible for the disbursement of funds and will provide some oversight of the project. Priority will be given to proposals from those areas designated as areas of distinction under the strategic plan (STEM Leadership, Marine Science, Entrepreneurship and Health Sciences). The University Community was provided with guidelines for application to the Innovation Fund and the basis of the selection criteria which includes submission of realistic and substantiated budget and revenue projections, a formula for distribution of profits to the entity and University, and a justifiable timeframe for implementation of the full project or initiative. In this initial round, the funding limit will be $100,000 per proposal. It is anticipated that three proposals will be selected for this first round. The application deadline for the first round is July 1, 2019. Units may be awarded less than the amount requested, if appropriate. Selection of winning proposals will be made by the Vice President for Business Development and Innovation, the President and the Chairman of the FUVI Board. UVI 2019 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES WITH CNN ANALYST BAKARI SELLERS UVI conferred just under three hundred degrees at the 2019 Commencement Ceremonies on Thursday, May 16, on the campus grounds of the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and on Friday, May 17, at the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas Campus. Attorney Bakari Sellers, CNN political analyst and former state legislator, served as this year’s keynote speaker. UVI also bestowed honorary degrees upon two prominent alums - Cornel Williams and Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson. Cornel Williams received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration at St. Thomas’ commencement ceremony and Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson, a former dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters on St. Croix. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 17 Other commencement highlights from this year’s ceremonies included: o Five students earned their PhDs in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change including graduates for the first time on St. Croix. Two of the doctoral recipients are full-time employees at the University: Dr. Andréa Dorsey, Center for Student Success, and Dr. Joyce Campbell, Assistant Professor in the School of Business. o The Class of 1969 celebrated their 50th Golden Anniversary by visiting campus and participating in a number of Grad Week events. These events included the Pre-Commencement Breakfast, Class Prayer Breakfast, Nursing Pinning Ceremonies, Game Night and Commencement. Eight members of the Class of 1969 returned to campus — five (5) at the Albert A. Sheen Campus and three (3) on the St. Thomas Campus. o The 31st Legislature of the Virgin Islands, with specific advocacy from Senator Kurt Vialet, provided funding so that the University could create a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. This year’s commencement showcased the results of that investment with a large cohort of fifteen (15) BSN graduates on St. Croix and six (6) BSN graduates on St. Thomas. STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT 13D GALA LUNCHEON The progress of integrating innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the UVI student experience was highlighted with another year of successful experiential-learning programs on April 27, 2019 at the second annual 13D gala luncheon. Fifty-five UVI students from both campuses were recognized for participating in such programs. This year a record 19 students representing 17 projects earned Business Design Program Grants. The Business Design Program is designed to guide students through the qualitative steps involved in designing a successful business model. The program provides an opportunity to further develop a business concept, interview potential customers to determine the value proposition, develop a supply chain, articulate the revenue model, and qualitatively assess the feasibility of the proposed business. This foundation is necessary in preparing a business model for the quantitative steps involved in the 13D Entrepreneurship Competition, but it is not required that students participate in the grant program in order to enter that competition. Teams that successfully complete the deliverables of the Business Design Grant Program each earned a $750 grant. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 18 The 13D competition is the marquee program showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship student initiatives at UVI that culminates in the distribution of business seed money to three winning teams. The highlight of this year’s gala luncheon was the announcement of funding awards for the 13D Student Business Launch Competition. This is UVI’s version of “Shark-Tank.” Three teams were deemed to not be launch-ready and received small “encouragement” awards. The three winning teams received a total funding amount of $56,000. In addition, there were 20 students from the UVI Fall Hackathons who were also recognized. UVI hackathons are marathon problem-solving events that typically result in the concept for a new phone app or other digital solution to a problem. Among the students being recognized were the UVI winning team of the national HBCU Hewlett Packard (HP) Business Challenge that occurred in November 2018. The national HP competition included more than 70 students across 22 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who worked in teams to develop business plans addressing real-world challenges that are core to HP’s business model. UVI EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS CELEBRATE 45 YEARS With a theme of “Love, Passion and Pride — Service Awards 45,” the University of the Virgin Islands celebrated its "Sapphire Year" of recognizing employees. The annual Employee Service Awards ceremonies were held on April 23 and April 25 on the St. Thomas and Albert A. Sheen Campuses, respectively. This year’s ceremonies recognized a total of 76 employees with 1,020 years of combined service to UVI. The guest speakers were Senator Donna Frett-Gregory (St. Thomas) and Senator Allison DeGazon (St. Croix) – both of whom are UVI alums and affiliated with the institution in various capacities. Mr. Ian Turnbull, Marketing Manager for the Reichhold Center for the Arts, was selected as Employee of the Year for the St. Thomas Campus and Sue Lakos, Research Analyst for the Agricultural Experiment Station, was selected as Employee of the Year for the Albert A. Sheen Campus. As part of the recognition ceremonies, there was a fun "Stomp the Yard" Footwear Contest. The annual event is coordinated by our Human Resources Department. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 19 UVI RESEARCH DAY HIGHLIGHTS DIVERSE TOPICS IMPACTING THE V.I. COMMUNITY Research Day has become one of the cornerstones of our University's community outreach. It is a special opportunity to showcase the important and cutting edge research of our students and faculty, which highlights diverse topics that impact our community and region. The Eighth Annual Research Day was held on April 5, 2019 in the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas Campus and in the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. The event featured UVI student and faculty research with a variety of displays on community issues such as: Coral Reef Resilience; Local Cyberspace Safety; The Homeless and Mentally-ill; Waste on the Island; and Post-Hurricane Impacts. This year’s Research Day also featured round-table discussions on current social and development topics and various demonstrations. Approximately 76 poster presentations were presented at Research Day. For the first time at Research Day, attendees had the opportunity to observe underwater habitats such as corals and mangroves using virtual reality technology. One of the highlights of Research Day on St. Thomas was the introduction of the concept of creative thinking aimed at high school students in attendance. Research Day continues to grow and its outreach has resulted in increasing attendance from the local high schools. Over 200 high school students between St. Thomas and St. Croix attended this year’s event. TERRITORY-WIDE LAUNCH OF GREATNESS THROUGH INNOVATION STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2023 The University officially launched its new strategic plan, Greatness Through Innovation (GTI), on March 25-27, 2019 on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, respectively. The launch events were well attended and participants engaged the President in regards to the Plan and the University’s future. GTI will serve as the University’s roadmap in creating a "culture of innovation” over the course of the next five years. The Territory-wide events engaged both internal and external stakeholders on the innovative and creative processes utilized in the development of the strategic plan and its 35 goals and 106 measurable objectives. GTI was collaboratively developed by all sectors of the University and with input from the broader community. Critical leadership was provided by the Strategic Planning Task Force, which consisted of representatives from the UVI administration, staff, faculty and students. GTI has six key focus areas: Focus area I. Innovation and Distinction; Focus Area II. Leadership and Excellence in Academics, Research, and Public Service; Focus Area III. Student Access, Recruitment, and Success; Focus Area IV. Measurement, Analysis, Knowledge Management, and Results; Focus Area V. Operational Efficiencies and Focus; and Focus Area VI. Valuing People, Relationships, and Culture. It is anticipated that creativity and innovation will serve as guiding hallmarks for achieving the Plan’s success. As a result, one of the key measurable objectives of GTI include providing ongoing opportunities for the entire University community to participate in creativity and innovation workshops and training to help shift the organizational culture towards a more innovative one. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 20 Our Institutional Effectiveness area under the leadership of Ms. Sharlene Harris, Vice President for Information Services and Institutional Assessment, is in regular communications with University stakeholders to ensure that unit missions are aligned with the goals and objectives of GTI and that assessment activities measure and track progress. A tracking form was developed to monitor the progress of the strategic plan and provides for periodic institution-wide updates in a more uniformed manner and over the course of the entire five-year plan. In line with GTI, revised Key Performance Indicators were developed and presented to the Planning Committee of the Board together with a revised list of institutional and aspirational peers for the University’s comparative and benchmarking purposes. The updated Institutional and Aspirational Peers List and the institutional Scorecard tracking GTI progress will be presented at the June Board of Trustees meeting for the full Board consideration. 29TH ANNUAL AFTERNOON ON THE GREEN The University hosted its 29th Annual Afternoon on the Green on March 24, 2019, on UVI’s Herman E. Moore Golf Course on the St. Thomas Campus. The annual “friend raiser” featured decadent food, family fun and live entertainment. This year’s Afternoon on the Green was the first to occur since 2017 when the event was cancelled due to the impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria. With a theme of “Welcome Back to the Green, Rebuilding our Dreams in 2019,” this year’s event featured one of the largest attendance in recent years with over 3,000 attendees. Approximately 80 cooks donated 120 dishes and over 100 volunteers help organized this year’s successful event. The proceeds from Afternoon on the Green go toward supporting the Edward E. Thomas Volunteer Scholarship Awards. Two Ivanna Eudora Kean High School seniors were named as scholarship recipients at Afternoon on the Green. Both students plan to attend UVI this fall. UVI COMMEMORATES 57 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE UVI celebrated its 57th charter on March 16, 2019. The University’s Charter month in March featured many activities including its annual Charter Day Ceremony, which occurred this year on March 20. The keynote speaker was Governor Albert Bryan Jr., who is a UVI alumnus and the first governor of the Virgin Islands to be a graduate of the University of the Virgin Islands. Governor Bryan’s remarks resonated with the audience and other alums present. Over 80 UVI alums, including members of the Class of 1969, came to our campuses to join the Charter Day festivities. The Charter Day ceremony began with a 100 Man March on the Albert A. Sheen Campus led by the UVI student organization, Brothers with A Cause. The ceremony also included a special reflection on the first College of the Virgin Islands President, Dr. Lawrence Wanlass, who passed away in December 2018. The ceremony also honored former UVI Board of Trustees’ members, Jennifer Nugent-Hill and Edward E. Thomas, who the Board recognized with the distinction of Trustee Emeritus status at the March 2019 Board meeting. On the St. Thomas Campus, guests were treated to lively jazz music under the leadership of UVI Music Director, Dion Parson. On St. Croix, the UVI Voices of Inspiration Community Choir, under the leadership of Josephine Thomas-Lewis, serenaded guests. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 21 As part of the Charter Day celebration, the offices of Institutional Advancement, Student Affairs and the President hosted an ice-cream social at the conclusion of the Charter Day Ceremony on both campuses. The ice-cream social was the first held at the University with the aim of fostering an environment for thoughtful engagement among employees, alums and students and was well-received by those in attendance. In addition to having a diverse selection of ice-creams and sorbets, there were a number of vegan and sugar-free options on hand which allowed for all participants to enjoy the festive occasion. Other Charter Month activities included a Charter Day Concert, the annual Walk/Run race, Miss Charter Day competition and a “UVI Pride Edition” of Sip & Paint. UVI RISE RELIEF FUND One of the goals of the new strategic plan is to institutionalize the UVI Rise Relief Fund. The University recently received a generous donation of $100,000 from Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam towards the UVI Rise Relief Fund, which will allow the University to achieve this goal. In the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria, the University created the UVI Rise Relief Fund supported by the generosity and philanthropic efforts of donors and others wishing to provide assistance to students, faculty and staff who were impacted by the storms. Since the creation of UVI Rise Relief Fund, the University has been able to provide financial award distributions to students requiring scholarship assistance to assist with paying tuition and easing any economic hardship or burden in continuing with their studies. In addition to scholarship support, a number of students also received other financial assistance towards the purchase of laptops, textbooks, computer software, clothing, housing and household and personal items. In addition, based on employee completed surveys, over 100 distributions have been made to employees to support employee needs for assistance with housing, home and auto repairs, furniture, childcare, medical considerations, replacement of lost items and ongoing expenses and needs. The Fund has also helped to support meals, medical supplies, disaster relief efforts, community distributions and various support to the impacted UVI employees and students. It is intended that the UVI Rise Relief Fund remain a permanent resource for the institution to address the lingering effects of the storms and to be prepared for future events that negatively affect students and employees. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 22 CAMPUS SHUTTLE TRACKER IMPLEMENTED In the past St. Thomas Campus innovation hackathons, students have developed shuttle tracking apps as part of the competition. There was clearly a need among the student body to determine the location of the campus shuttle. With that in mind, Information Technology Services (ITS) researched options for providing students this much desired functionality. After watching demos of several products, Ride Share Systems was selected as offering an easy to install, and use, product which integrates both with the UVI portal and mobile apps. Using real-time GPS tracking, riders can now see the shuttle location and the estimated time of arrival for the various stops.   Students now also have the option to track the campus shuttle via my campus.uvi.edu or the UVI Mobile app, making it easier for them to catch it on the run. Ridership data is also available, providing Security and others important information on this service. Campus Security is also able to track the number of riders and the speed of the shuttle while driving. Usage data is also important in determining if additional shuttles are needed and other considerations like when the schedule can be relaxed based on low ridership, etc. The implementation of the shuttle tracker was done in partnership between ITS and Campus Security. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 23 PRESIDENT’S APPRECIATION AWARD One of the major accomplishments during this reporting period has been the work of the School of Education to create and launch an Inclusive Early Childhood Center on both campuses. The grand opening of the Center on St. Thomas will occur on Monday, June 24. The St. Croix Center is scheduled to open in August. The goal of the Center is to become a model learning environment for early childhood education. Though its initial focus will be to provide support to University students who need child care services, especially at night, the Center plans to expand in the future by providing services to others in the community. In addition, the Center will have a learning laboratory for childcare providers in the Territory so that through courses, seminars and lectures at the Center, it can improve the quality of early childhood education throughout the Virgin Islands. One of the unique features of the Center will be a Diagnostic Lab, where children can be examined to identify any learning disabilities or challenges, and prescribe appropriate educational interventions and support. The opening of the Center will be an historic moment in the life of the University as we strive to fulfill the mission of supporting our students and transforming the quality of life in the Virgin Islands. In honor of the tenacity and hard work of Dean Linda Thomas, Dr. Karen Brown, and Ms. Sherryl Tonge- George, Director of the Center, for reaching this critical milestone, I present them with the President’s Appreciation Award. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 24 PART II: GREATNESS THROUGH INNOVATION — INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES AREA OF FOCUS #1: INNOVATION & DISTINCTION  In preparation for the opening of UVI’s much needed after-school child care center for UVI community members, the Eastern Caribbean Center and the School of Education collaborated in the development of a survey instrument to uncover potential enrollment for the new UVI Inclusive Child Care Laboratory and Diagnostic Center on the St. Thomas Campus. Along with providing after-school child care, this center will also provide training for School of Education students.  The University’s strong representation at the Aquatic Sciences Meeting: Planet Water, Challenges and Successes held February 23 through March 2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico (ASLO), an annual national meeting focused on the ocean sciences, included a high school poster session organized by Michele Guannel, with support from Howard Forbes, Jr., Jarvon Stout, Yudis Castillo Rodriguez, Jessica Levenson, Dr. George Matsumoto (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) and Dr. Aurea Rodriguez (Taller Ecológico de Puerto Rico). Seventeen Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican students presented their research posters at this event, which was attended by over 100 participants, including ASLO scientists and Puerto Rican high school educators and peers. Three secondary-level educators accompanied seven Virgin Islands high school students. These educators were Cleopatra Skerrit with VI-ISERP, Rebecca Hoffart with Ocean and Coastal Observing – Virgin Islands, and Karl Callwood with Camp Umoja. The high school students represented four schools (All Saints Cathedral School, Charlotte Amalie High School, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Virgin Islands Montessori School and International Academy) and two informal science programs (Youth Ocean Explorers, Camp Umoja). Two additional VI- ISERP teachers (Yasmin Salem Jubran, Vernon Callwood) presented posters created by three of their CAHS students who were unable to attend. Both Jubran and Callwood are UVI alumni.  Three College of Science and Mathematics and VI-ISERP faculty (Michele Guannel, Nadia Monrose Mills, Chris Plyley) accompanied and co-presented with seven VI-ISERP secondary school educators at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) 2019 National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis, Missouri, from April 9-14, 2019. VI-ISERP educators represented St. Croix Educational Complex, St. Croix Central High School, Charlotte Amalie High School, and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 25  Through Title III funding, four classrooms (two on both campuses) received technology upgrades during Spring Break.   The upgraded classrooms can be used to conduct Zoom meetings.  The rooms include two projectors, a camera, two desktop monitors, Blu-ray player, Intel Nuc mini PC (windows 10), HDMI, VGA and wireless connectivity for laptops and a document camera. This design allows more flexibility for users to choose which projector displays selected content and allows the user to display the same content from both projectors. Users are also able to display any selected content on the two PC monitors on the instructor’s desk.  The following rooms were upgraded on the St. Thomas campus: CA-204 and CA-302. On the Albert A. Sheen campus, EC- 207 and EC-305 were upgraded. AREA OF FOCUS #2: LEADERSHIP & EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS, RESEARCH, & PUBLIC SERVICE  Ten faculty participated in the Faculty Development Writing Group (FDWG) for the 2018- 2019 academic year. Participants included Nisha Clavier, Barbara Flemming, Kula Francis, Eddie Gordon, Dara Hamilton, Kenny Hendrickson, Sharon Honore, Meria Marcel, Verleen McSween, and Angelina Prince-Jeffers. Kimarie Engerman was the facilitator. A major group outcome was the Multiculturalism and Its Impact on Cultural Identity: What is Virgin Islands Culture? roundtable discussion at UVI Research Day. Other outcomes include national conference presentations (Hamilton and Clavier), local conference presentation (McSween and Mercel), journal and/or book chapter publications (Hamilton, Hendrickson, & Francis), and grant proposal submission (Clavier, Engerman, and Honore).  The UVI Music Program’s concert choir, concert band, brass ensemble and the saxophone quartet performed at Prior Jollek Hall at Antilles School. Ms. Jeanette A. Rhymer, choir director, Ms. Georgia Francis, concert band director, and Dr. Leroy V. Trotman director of the trombone trio collaborated to make this event a success.  The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) hosted its 12 th Annual Autism Conference on St. Thomas and St. Croix, April 15 – 16, 2019.  Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff participated in the 48th Annual Agriculture and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The AgFair was held on February 16-18, 2019 and was jointly organized by the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and CES. The Virgin Islands Department of Tourism was the event’s major sponsor. Approximately 20,000 fairgoers attended the 3-day event. Twenty-two UVI departments/programs participated under the UVI tent with educational displays that showcased publications and services offered to the community. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 26  The 22nd Annual Bordeaux Farmers Rastafari Agricultural and Cultural Vegan Food Fair was held on January 19 – 20, 2019, at the Bordeaux Farmer’s Market. UVI Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff actively participated in this successful event, where at least 350 fairgoers increased their knowledge and awareness of CES programs during this two-day event.  In partnership with the Government of the Virgin Islands Employee Retirement System’s Health Insurance Board, the CES staff conducted a two-day training entitled Garden 2 Table, providing participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and maintain a home garden at their respective residences.  In February 2019, 80 lbs. of sweet potatoes and 20 lbs. of turmeric from the Biotechnology & Agroforestry program were donated to charities on St. Croix (My Brother's Table).  UVI Physics and the Etelman Observatory held the first Etelman Observatory Public Observing night since 2017 (March 29, 2019) at the Etelman Observatory. Approximately 200 students and adults attended each.  VI Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice (VI-ISERP) faculty Dr. Nadia Monrose, Dr. Chris Plyley and Dr. Michele Guannel organized professional development workshops during the Spring for in-service teachers on both islands on each campus. In all over 50 teachers participated in the workshops.  UVI Physics and the Etelman Observatory held three “Astronomy Day” open houses (January, February, and April) using the UVI Planetarium set up in the UVI library on the St. Thomas Campus. Approximately 50 students and adults attended each (150 total). In addition, physicists organized several visits to the UVI planetarium, including students from the Ulla Muller Reading club, Antilles, Bowsky: around 200 visitors.  The Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC) facilitated the collection of plastic bottles and cans during Afternoon on the Green and Reef Fest, as part of a soft launch of a recycling effort on campus.  In partnership with the Department of Education Cultural Education Division, the Reichhold Center produced three cultural pop-up events during this quarter. The culture pop-up events are intended to promote Virgin Islands culture related activities to k-12 students throughout the territory. While art programs have experienced a sharp decline throughout the country, the Reichhold Center and Department of Education partnership is expanding art related opportunities through this innovative program. Several additional pop-up events are scheduled to occur through the remainder of the fiscal year. o Traditional Games (February) – St. Croix Ag Fair o Moko Jumbie (March) – Afternoon on the Green o Costume Building and Wire Bending (April) – St. Thomas, J. Antonio Jarvis Annex President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 27  Through Title III funding, the library on the Albert A. Sheen campus is currently undergoing renovations that will result in more spaces dedicated to supporting the academic needs of students, faculty, and staff. The long-awaited renovation project began in Fall 2018 and is expected to be completed by the end of Fall 2022. To date, Library staff have moved to a smaller space, allowing for the relocation of the general collection from the second to the first floor. This opens up the second floor of the Library for student spaces. AREA OF FOCUS #3: STUDENT SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT  The 2019 Annual Career Fair was held on April 3, 2019 and provided an opportunity for students and visitors to network, seek employment, research and internships, share information about the industrial trends, and allow attendees to realize the need for professional marketability. Twenty-nine (29) businesses/agencies and 60 representatives from the different sectors participated in this activity. Over 117 individuals, including UVI students, faculty, staff, and community members participated in this activity.  On the St. Thomas Campus, Student Governance and Leadership Elections were held on April 24. Approximately 275 students casted their votes in an effort to elect their representatives for the upcoming academic school year (2019-2020). The student representative to the UVI Board of Trustees was also selected.  The Office of Student Affairs on the St. Thomas Campus held the first Student Engagement Awards to recognize students’ outstanding achievement in leadership, service and global engagement at UVI and in the wider community. The award categories and winners are as follows: o Organization of the Year: Biology Society o Resident Assistant of the Year: Shemane DoSantos o Resident of the Year: Shirmara O’Garro o Commuter of the Year: Joevarny Herbert o Volunteer of the Year: Michael Garcia o Student Leader of the Year: Jamila Connor o Student Employee of the Year: Asel Mustafa Ms. Mustafa is a UVI student employee who works at Cooperative Extension Services. “She is in the 3/2 program with an early admit to medical school  The third Annual Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Program was held from March 11-15, 2019 and provided over 50 students with an opportunity to become immersed in meaningful community service campaigns, forge new and lifelong lasting relationships and become exposed to new and exciting experiences.  The University partnered with community organizations and agencies to provide the week-long service and experiential learning projects designed to foster self-awareness, teamwork and leadership skills.   President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 28 The projects and community partners are listed below: o Sound deh Alarm, American Red Cross, o Primary Focus:  Safety Awareness Presentation to Jr. High Schools students and Installation of Fire Alarms o Helping Hands, Queen Louise Home for the Elderly o Primary Focus:  Making a Difference in the Lives of the Elderly o Roots N’ Pride, Nisky Moravian Church, & St. Thomas Genealogy Society o Primary Focus:  Historic Restoration of the Cemetery and Family Genealogy o "Sort It Out", UVI Center for Spirituality and Professionalism, St. Thomas, VI Primary Focus:   Conflict Resolution Skills Development  The Athletics Department has shown significant growth and stability over the past year and is now a full member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Athletic Director and coaches continue to set goals that will allow the unit to better serve student athletes. The University has active men and women basketball and soccer teams. Other sports include cross country and track and field.  The UVI Bucs Men’s basketball program began the 2018-19 season with a roster of 24 players, which was the largest men’s basketball roster in recent UVI history. Eleven players were “walk- on” and 13 players received some type of financial assistance. The team’s overall academic achievement has been commendable and includes two players that made the Dean’s List. There were also two players that earned degrees this past year. The men’s basketball team played against NAIA/NCAA teams. UVI ended the season with a record of 10 wins, 13 losses and one exhibition game against Louisiana Lafayette University (NCAA-D1). With 10 wins, the UVI basketball program was ranked #6 out of 16 teams in the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) conference. UVI men’s basketball recorded wins against two highly ranked (#15 and #18) NAIA opponents. Three UVI players were selected to participate in the Europe College Invitational Tour and UVI player, Harold B. Cardwell, was selected to play in the NAIA All Start Game.  The men’s basketball coaching staff offered two basketball camps on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Over 100 students participated.  The women’s basketball program began the 2018-19 season with a roster of 11 players. All players received some type of financial assistance. Two of the players made the Dean’s List and one player earned her degree this past year. The women’s team played against NAIA teams and finished with record of 7 wins, 18 losses. Some promising outcomes of this competitive season include inquiries from players about transferring from other institutions and increased interest from local high school players. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 29  Four UVI students are currently participating in the National Student Exchange Program. Outgoing Students are Jeanna Adams, California State University, Monterey Bay;  Kevin King, Alabama State University; Selena Cuffy, Alabama State University; and Antonique Warner, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  Thirteen students studied at UVI for Spring 2019 form the following institutions: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (2), University of South Dakota, University of Wisconsin-Superior (2), University of Toledo, University of New Hampshire, University of South Carolina- Columbia (2), Louisiana State University, Colorado Mesa University, University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, and University of Wyoming  Golden Key National Honor Society implemented several initiatives during the Spring 2019 semester. The focus of the events were based on their three pillars: academics, service, and leadership. The events included a Resume Workshop, Beach Clean Up Competition, Food Drive/Queen Louise Home for Aged, a presentation focused on hygiene and proper body care was made at the Lockhart Elementary School to a group of 5th and 6th grade girls and a College 101 Presentation for high school students enrolled in the University Bound Program.  A number of Sexual Misconduct Awareness & Trainings were conducted on campus for students in partnership with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council. These included: o Sexual Assault 101 Resident Assistant Training - Resident assistants were trained on the types of sexual misconduct, strategies/tips on how to respond to sexual assault victims, and confidentiality. Fourteen resident assistants were trained. o Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Training took place in collaboration with the Student Employment Office. Seventy-five (75) student employees were trained. Students learned about the following topics: consent, definition of sexual misconduct/harassment, examples of sexual misconduct in the workplace, impact on the victim, UVI, and wider community, and resources available to victims (Counseling and Health Services, Title IX Coordinator, Equal Opportunity Officer, liaisons, and Campus Security). o Sensitivity Training for Security Officers - This training focused on strategies/tips on how to respond to sexual assault victims and confidentiality. Four officers were trained.  The Health Services Office on the Albert A. Sheen Campus hosted a Sexual Assault Awareness event entitled “Decide to End Sexual Violence” on April 2. Student volunteers engaged in a walking campaign to distribute reading materials on sexual assault. The main goal of the event was to educate the University community on the adverse effects of sexual assault and promote a stance against sexual assault on campus. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 30  “The Voiceless” Documentary Film Screening occurred on campus and chronicles the stories of five men and their experiences as victims of sexual violence. The filmmaker, Vanessa McNeal, is a national speaker who shared her story about social injustice, personal development, and overcoming adversity. This event was in collaboration with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council. Twenty-seven people participated in the screening.  In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a Denim Day Party was held in collaboration with Sisters With Purpose student organization. Denim Day started after an Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. The UVI event included an open mic where students shared their poems about self-love, growth, and justice.  The Counseling and Career Services Office hosted an event to mark National Student Employment Week (April 22 – 24), which allowed the UVI community to recognize and show appreciation to student employees. Students attended professional development workshops aimed at developing and enhancing their leadership, communication, and networking skills. Approximately 18 to 21 students participated in various workshops.  Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute Preparation Sessions were held on March 29, April 6, and April 8 in preparation for the visit by the TMCF Talent Acquisition team. The sessions included individual resume review, interviewing tips workshop, and mock interviews aimed at preparing students interested in the TMCF recruitment site visit and to provide them with the tools for increasing their professionalism and marketability as young professionals. The information session and individual resume reviews were conducted by Anyha Lord-Jerris. The Interviewing Tips workshop and Mock Interviews were conducted by Dr. Chenzira Davis- Kahina, Director of VICCC, Dr. Kenny Hendrickson, Associate Professor of Public Administration, and Counselor Patricia Towal, Director of Counseling and Career Services.  The Office of Counseling and Career Services hosted two representatives from the TMCF Talent Acquisition team from April 8-9, Mr. Deshawn Spellman and Ms. Martinique Thompson. The Two-Day TMCF Talent Acquisition site visit, organized by TMCF Campus Coordinator, Anyha Lord-Jerris, included information sessions and live radio presentations aimed at informing the community and students about job and internship opportunities available through the TMCF program as well as pre-screening sessions for students interested in the upcoming TMCF Leadership Institute. Fifty-six students participated in this activity over the two-day period. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 31  Eleven first year graduate students organized an art show called “MMES After the Storms: The Magens Bay Arboretum, a Collaboration of Science and Art” on April 19, 2019 as a student- initiated outreach event. Students collaborated with Seven-Minus-Seven, a local non-profit art collective, to bring art inspired by the students’ capstone research to over one hundred members of the community. Art forms in the arboretum inspired show included dance, photography, video, and sculpture.  At Reef Fest on April 27, approximately twenty students and several faculty members from the College of Science and Mathematics participated. First year Master in Marine & Environmental Science (MMES) students’ capstone research project, youth engagement and outreach by second year students, and other program information were highlighted. AREA OF FOCUS # 4: MEASUREMENT, ANALYSIS, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, & RESULTS  In conjunction with the Acting Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Director of Purchasing, the Post Award Grant Administrator conducted grant-related training for Principal Investigators and grant managers on March 13, 2019 in St. Thomas and March 14, 2019 in St. Croix.  In order to meet audit requirements and security best practices, a new network password policy was put into effect on March 11, 2019 during Spring Break. Users were prompted to change their passwords either through the Unifyed portal or a computer connected to the UVI network. The password had to be at least 9 characters and include at least 1 uppercase letter, 1 lowercase letter, 1 number and 1 non-alphanumeric character. On launch day, there were a total of 724 successful password resets.   In the weeks following, an increased number of resets were performed, until all valid accounts were updated. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 32 AREA OF FOCUS #5: OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND FOCUS  The audit of fiscal year (FY) 2017 was completed and issued on October 12, 2018. The late issuance of the report did not leave sufficient time for the Accounting staff to implement the necessary changes prior to the end of FY2018. As a result, management determined, and the auditors agreed that the audit should be paused until January 2019.The financial and single audit for the year ended September 30, 2018 initially commenced on November 12, 2018. Anticipated completion is July 15, 2019.  A sequence of Mold/Asbestos Remediation Projects were conducted on the St. Thomas Campus to ensure a safe environment and to restore facilities. Facilities were also monitored for safe and acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). The following facilities were completed and certified for Mold and Asbestos abatement: School of Business, Faculty West #3, 4, 5, 6 & 9; President’s Guest House and Quarters B.  The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Safety and Health (VIDOSH) previously conducted a consultation visit on the Albert A. Sheen Campus in efforts to identify any occupational safety hazards. Various employees were interviewed, as well as an inspection of all spaces in the building was completed, including offices, labs, closets, and restrooms. Various safety hazards, pertaining to electrical, walking-working surfaces, and exit routes were identified during the visit as well as housekeeping concerns including cluttered environments. The violations and recommendations were detailed in the VIDOSH report and all corrective actions were completed by the extended deadline of May 6, 2019.  Mandatory Occupational Safety Health Standards training sessions were held between March 15 and April 1, 2019 by the Offices of Compliance, Physical Plant and Campus Operations on St. Croix. The sessions were held to inform employees regarding the VIDOSH findings and the corrective measures needed. Corrective actions by the Physical Plant Department included the replacement of electrical outlet covers, water stained ceiling tiles, and damaged sheetrock in certain offices. In addition, to enhance space efficiency and eliminate tripping hazards on egress routes, the removal and disposal of old furniture was required. Finally, corrective actions by building occupants included the rearrangement of furniture layout in offices and the disposal of a large volume of old documents. Physical Plant organized a ‘Shredding Drive Day’ on April 3, 2019.  Demolition activity of the UVI Research and Technology Park (UVIRTP) as per specifications outlined was completed by March 31, 2019. The interior demolition is now 100% completed. The reconstruction project and roof repairs are still in progress.  As of May 20, 2019, the University received a total of $26,227,517 in allotments from the V.I. Government for Fiscal Year 2019. This represents 68% of the $38,390,025 approved for the fiscal year. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 33 AREA OF FOCUS #6: VALUING OF PEOPLE, RELATIONSHIPS, & CULTURE  The Human Resources Department coordinated the following employee training sessions on both campuses during the reporting period: AAS - February 13 – PeopleAdmin training. AAS - February 15 – PeopleAdmin training. AAS - February 18 – PeopleAdmin training. AAS - March 8 – PeopleAdmin training. AAS - March 21 – PeopleAdmin training. AAS – April 12 – PeopleAdmin training. AAS - March 12 – Training on completing employment forms for employees hired on grant funds. STT - March 14 – Search Committee training. STT - March 18 – 22 – HR Week cancelled due to conflicts with Charter Week. STT & AAS - May 20 – 21 – Administrative Support training. STT & AAS - May 28 & 29 – Supervisor policy and support training.  The Counseling and Career Services Office, in collaboration with Ranger American of the Virgin Islands, Inc. hosted a Security Job Fair on Tuesday, March 5, along with the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Department of Labor. Approximately 50 individuals participated, including students and community members.  The Division of Personnel of the U.S. Virgin Islands, in collaboration with Counseling and Career Services, hosted the GVI Job Fair on Thursday, April 4, 2019. The purpose of the job fair was to provide UVI seniors and alums with an opportunity to understand the role of the Division of Personnel in the hiring process, uncover the wealth of benefits provided by the agency, and explore career opportunities and qualifications for employment.  “The University of the Virgin Islands 19th Annual Health Fair” entitled “Revive” was held on March 19 on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. The event was designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, prevent and manage diseases and connect students, staff and the wider community to medical resources. The event attracted approximately 200 participants. Among the free services provided were hypertension, glucose and cholesterol levels testing. There was also vision screening, nutritional and fitness workshops, massage therapy, information on the use of medicinal plants, hair, skin and nails treatment, along with haircuts by Karibbean Kuts. The Office of Counseling and Career Services distributed pamphlets on stress management, getting a good night’s sleep, effects of alcohol and drug abuse, dangers of vaping, as well as how to counter the effects of anxiety and depression. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 34  The Spring 2019 Student Employee Appreciation and Awards Ceremony to recognize and celebrate the positive support and contribution of student employees was held on April 24. Students, faculty, and staff provided testimonials, distributed certificates of appreciation, certificates of attendance for workshops, presented gifts from supervisors and tokens of appreciation from the Counseling and Career Services Office. Approximately 50 individuals attended this activity.  At the Know Yourself Love Yourself Vision Board Party, participants were able to take control of their future by creating a vision board that outlined the dreams, aspirations, and goals for the future. There was a presentation by Dr. Yolanda Ragland. She shared her story of the power of a vision board in accomplishing goals. This event was done in collaboration with Sisters With Purpose and Sister2Sister. Forty persons participated in the event.  The UVI Alumni Call Center began their FY2019 calling campaign on March 17. Throughout the current fiscal year, the Center continues to maintain a historic credit card fulfillment rate above 98%. As of May 20, 2019, the Center collected $15,785.60 or 99.53%. This rate can increase once two (2) outstanding pledges are received. The credit card fulfilment percentage is a record high for UVI and considered an outlier amongst university Call Centers throughout the nation.  The UVI Alumni Office created the “My UVI Romance” campaign during Valentine’s week to showcase alumni couples who met during their time at UVI. Four couples were selected at random to have their stories shared through social media. The inaugural “My UVI Romance” campaign was well received and served to reconnect many alumni to their undergraduate campus experience.  The University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park, Intellectual Global Concepts and the University of the Virgin Islands organized a Music Is life – Benefit Concert in Coral Bay St. John on May 18, 2019 in support of the UVI Music Department. UVI’s Shutdown Band was the opening performance for the Coral Bay event. Other performers included Cool Sessions Band, DJ Mike Swells of New York and South African electronic music maestro, DJ Hyenah. The proceeds from the concert benefited the UVI Music Education Program.  Within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Science, the Communication, Art, Theatre, and Music Department sponsored the Margaret Mead Film Festival on March 28 on the St. Thomas Campus with video conference to the Albert A. Sheen Campus. Approximately 42 individuals were in attendance. President’s Report to the Board of Trustees Dr. David Hall, President Reporting Period: March 2019 - June, 2019 Board of Trustees’ Meeting – June 22, 2019 35  The Communication, Art, Theatre, and Music Department hosted the Spring Lyceum Speakers Series for Community Engagement and Student Training on Thursday, April 11 via video conference. The event featured invited guests- Chris Helton (film producer/director of Silver Lining productions) and Luanna Wheatley (Director, USVI Department of Tourism) whose collaboration with UVI resulted in a successful effort to expose students to 'real life' situations involving video and film production in the Caribbean. Approximately 10 students participated in this event.  As part of the ongoing outreach and student engagement, the Libraries hosted UX Café, an informal assessment of users’ experience. Conducted by librarians, assessments were completed by patrons and for students who attended information literacy sessions. Participants were asked to provide input on services, communication and other areas for development. Throughout the spring semester, the Libraries have offered complimentary bush tea and coffee for ‘Wake Up Wednesday’. Patrons are invited to take a break from their regular routines and enjoy free refreshments.  The Communication, Art, Theatre and Music Department hosted its first Caribbean Film and Artistic Cinematic Festival on April 6-7 on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. The weekend-long cultural festival featured original films by UVI students and local film enthusiasts. Caribbean artists and various filmmakers screened their work and hosted presentations. The festival also featured interactive ‘Sip and Paint’ sessions, which were conducted by visual artists Don Matthews from Atlanta and Danica David from St. Croix. The event also featured panel discussions that included media industry experts.  UVI Libraries joined libraries nationwide to celebrate National Library Week, April 7-13, 2019. With the theme, “Libraries = Strong Communities”, a week of activities was planned on both campuses. The events included a selfie and trivia contest, workers appreciation day, and a poetry/artistic stand.