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University of the Virgin Islands Senate Meeting Minutes November 19, 2010 Present: Senator Gillian Royes Senator Alexander Randall Senator Hosana Solomon Senator Nanyamka Farrelly Senator Lyle Gumbs Senator Leliann Tonge Senator Raquel Santiago-Silver, Senator Maria Fleming Absent: Senator Ardrina Scott Elliott, Chair Senator Daniella Henry Cabinet Members Present: Senator David Hall (Teleconference) Senator Henry Smith Senator Vincent Samuel Senator Karl Wright Senator Dianne Piper Senator Claude Steele Senator Dionne Jackson Senator Judith Edwin Senator Haldane Davies Senator Noreen Michael Absent Cabinet Members: Senator Tina Koopmans (excused absence) UVI Senate ~ Minutes of November 19, 2010 2 CALL TO ORDER by: Senator Nancy Morgan ROLL CALL by: Senator Nancy Morgan Presentation of Minutes for the September 17, 2010 UVI Senate Meeting Senator Haldane Davies Made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Senator Solomon. Minutes were unanimously approved. Matters Arising: Installation of New Senators by Mr. Vincent Samuel: Mr. Lyle Gumbs was installed as a new UVI Senator. AGENDA ITEMS Brothers with a Cause Male Empowerment Conference: Presented by Senator Haldane Davies The University of the Virgin Islands Brothers with a Cause Male Initiative Group, in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Department of Education will host the 2011 Male Empowerment Conference. The theme of the Conference is “Man Up, Realize Your Potential: Tools and Resources on the Journey to a Successful Life. The Conference will focus on issue related to manhood and offer strategies and experiences geared to gaining a better understanding of what it means to be a man. The Conference which is a collaborative effort between UVI and the VI Department of Education will be held in St. Thomas on the 8th of February and on the 10th of February on St. Croix. The primary target audience are males from both public and private junior and senior high schools within the territory, those who have dropped out of school, and males in general. The venue for the event is at the Sports and Fitness Center and the St. Croix UVI Grounds. Schedule of event should include motivational speakers and musical entertainers. Logistics of the event will include sitting arrangements, security detail, transportation, chaperons and meals. Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment: Periodic Review Report: Presented by Senator Haldane Davies. The University of the Virgin Islands Periodic Review Report is due to the Middles States Commission on Higher Education by June 1, 2012. The goal is to have the document prepared, submitted to the shared governance process and then to the ARSA Committee in January – February 2012. The full Board of Trustees will vote on the document in March 2012. On November 5, 2010, the Office of the UVI Senate ~ Minutes of November 19, 2010 3 President hosted a one day workshop on Institutional Effectiveness with Dr. Michael Middaugh, Chair of MSCHE in support of institutional effectiveness and the PRR process. UVI Goes Green: Presented by Senator Haldane Davies Senator Davies reminded the Senate Body of the President’s Institutional Goals for 2010–2011 in which the UVI Goes Green goal was listed. To date, a one page document outlining the rationale for the initiative together with a more comprehensive power point presentation detailing present and future environmental sustainability strategies for the University has been prepared and shared with the University community. Future goals of the UVI Goes Green initiative include the development of an environmental sustainability policy that provides support for UVI Goes Green Initiative. By way of information, it was noted that a co-mingling program, for recycling purposes, has been on- going between the Reichhold Center and the Charlotte Amalie High School. Highlights from UVI Board of Trustee: Presented by Senator David Hall The Board of Trustees approved the Bachelors in Business Administration Degree with a Concentration in Hospitality and Tourism Studies, and the Tuition, Room and Board Increase proposal. The decision was made to increase the fund raising target $1.1M to $1.5M for the new Fiscal Year. The decision was also taken to increase Alumni giving by 3.0% - the new goal being 13.4%. The Board of Trustees also approved the University of the Virgin Islands Vision 2012 2009-2010 close Out Report with minor changes in language. Update on Salary Study: Presented by Senator Hall The President was requested by the Executive Committee to review statistical data of the Virgin Islands salary versus the cost of leaving to establish a platform for compensation and salary increases for UVI employees. In the past Hawver Data Organization program, the UVI Human Resources Department and Consultants were used to establish an appropriate measure for salary increase. Methods to fund this proposal as reviewed by the Board of Trusees are to present the request to the Legislature by June 2012, utilize the UVI Endowment funds, or tap the Operating Budget Process Salary Pool of $600,000.00. The St. John Project: Presented by Senator Hall This is an effective movement for the University to provide more accessible education to the estimated 30 UVI students who reside on St. John. The proposal brought forth by the Information Technology UVI Senate ~ Minutes of November 19, 2010 4 Department is to create a Learning Village on St. John, thus providing teleconference courses between UVI campuses and St. John and an electronic library resource. Funding for this project was provided by the SAFRA Grant at a sum of $$315K per year over five years. Senator Royes inquired about the asked about the status of the Virgin Islands Environmental Research Station and whether classes could be held at that facility on St. John. Senator Hall responded that the idea is open for exploration and the further discussion will take place about collaboration between the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies and the Marine laboratory project on St. Croix, which is in its infancy and collaboration with the Department of Interior. The CES and SBDC are seeking to collaborate with the St. John project for shared space in one facility. Senator Smith further added that VIERS is managed by Clean Islands International and the marine laboratory is used by UVI students and faculty as resources and for research. Holiday Party: Presented by Senator Hall. Senator Hall spoke of a proposal that was discussed at Cabinet about the location and cost of the Holiday parties. Thirty-five persons responded to a letter from the President seeking ideas about the parties with specific regard to the process and cost. A final decision on the Holiday parties will be made after further review of responses and discussions with potential host properties. Other Matters No other matters. Motion for adjournment Senator Fleming, Senator Royes Second. Meeting adjourned at 2:47 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by: Alina Matthew