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MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 6, 2021 UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 9:00A.M. DRAFT MINUTES Regular Session MEMBERS PRESENT Attorney Henry C. Smock, Chair Ms. Oran C. Roebuck, Vice Chair Dr. David Hall, President and Secretary Mrs. Racquel Berry-Benjamin DOE Mr. Kyza A. Callwood, BOE Mrs. Nisha Clavier, Alumni Trustee Dr. Lois Hassell-Habtes Dr. Verleen McSween, Faculty Trustee Dr. John A. Quelch Dr. Yvonne E. L. Thraen Mr. Reginald Vigilant Rev. Dr. Wesley S. Williams, Jr. MEMBERS ABSENT Ms. Hadiyah Lang, Student Trustee OTHERS PRESENT Mr. Donald Sussman Attorney Marie ThomasGriffith, UVI Legal Counsel CALL TO ORDER The presence of a quorum having been determined, Chairman Henry C. Smock called the Executive Session of the meeting to order at 9:10am. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Trustee Williams, which was seconded by Trustee Roebuck, to approve the minutes of th PRESIDENTS REPORT The President reported on the following: Student Achievements Commented [GS2R1]: ▪ Raven Phillips was crowned the 40th Miss UVI at the Miss UVI Ambassadorial Presentation and Coronation on October 14, 2020 at John Brewers Bay on St. Thomas. The coronation dubbed “Our HBCU in Paradise” is a replacement for the annually held Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition. Ms. Phillips was the lone contestant to vie for the crown this cycle and hopes to highlight her platform of “Literacy Improvement” throughout her reign. She also participated in several social media events organized by the Miss National Black College Alumni (NBCA) Hall of Fame Queens Pageant. ▪ Music student Sherwin Williams and the SHUT Down Band performed at the live stream event Arts Across America sponsored by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on October 15, 2020. ▪ The UVI Association of Black Journalists (UVIABJ) was approved by the national executive board as the only student chapter affiliate in the Caribbean. The UVIABJ’s membership includes students in the Communications programs. ▪ The Student Government Association, under the assistance of the Student Activities Office on the Albert A. Sheen Campus, conducted the student leadership elections on October 2, 2020. The results of the elections are as follows: o Student Trustee Hadiyah Lang, Student Representative to the Board of Trustees, Sophomore/ Hospitality & Tourism o Executive Body Franchel Rodriguez, SGA President, Freshman/Nursing Kiara Christopher, SGA Vice President, Junior/Nursing Lance Frank, SGA Treasurer, Sophomore/Computer Science o Legislative Body Makayla Peterson, SGA Senior Senator, Biology Ariyan Victoria, SGA Junior Senator, Business Management Dazonte Mathurin, SGA Sophomore Senator, Biology Enperatriz Delgadillo, Sophomore Senator, Psychology Liz Rodriguez, Freshman Senator, Nursing ▪ The first joint Installation of Officers for the newly elected student leaders on both campuses was held on October 11, 2020. The event featured the Delegate to Congress, Honorable Stacey E. Plaskett, as the keynote speaker. Twenty-one student leaders took the oath of office to serve on their respective campuses. President David Hall administered the pledge to the newly elected leaders. ▪ The Thurgood Marshall College Fund 20th Annual Leadership Institute was hosted virtually in October 2020. Twenty-three students submitted completed applications, and the below nine were selected to attend this year's 2020 Leadership Institute from the St. Thomas Campus as listed below: o Christopher Murphy-Junior Science Major o Faith Prosper-Sophomore Business Major o Keziah Liburd-Junior Humanities Major o Khaleel Smith-Junior Business Major o Kisha Coulanges-Sophomore Technology Major o Nichel Daniel-Freshman Business Major o Rysa Bryan-Sophomore Pre-Law Major o Shamir Smith-Sophomore Engineering Major o Ty-Shana Maximea-Freshman Business Major Mary Myers served as Campus Coordinator and Virtual Chaperone. The following Thurgood Marshall Scholars received interviews with various companies: Khaleel Smith, Faith Prosper, and Nichel Daniel. ▪ The Student Employment Office on the Albert A. Sheen Campus hosted its Annual Student Employment Recognition Ceremony on November 30, 2020, via Zoom. Student Employees from Fall 2019 through Spring 2020 were recognized for their service and commitment. ▪ There were 19 students who earned $750 each in the Business Design Grant Program (BDGP), a “Learn- and-Earn” entrepreneurial skillset development program. The students designed businesses that ranged from expanding the snacks and treats available on campus to providing consulting services to opening retail stores. The students who successfully completed this rigorous program: o Taquanna Baron o Cedric Commodore o Drake Elliott o Lateefah Evans o Nicholas Figueroa o Michael Garcia o Xuxa Garroden o Joevarny Herbert o Cely Herrera o Sena Hussein o Andrew Jackson o Deanna Jeffers o Matika John-Pierre, o Tennika Lawrence o Tairik Martin o Joel Mwambungu o Ashly Powell o Teshema Richards o T'leah Serieux ▪ Three candidates in the Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change (CLIC Ph.D.) program successfully defended their dissertations as follows: o Carolyn L. Ashby defended her dissertation entitled: "Creativity Preferences As Diversity Contributors" on November 18, 2020. o Shamika S. Williams defended her dissertation entitled: "Exploring Secondary Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Teachers' Perception: Utilizing the SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Program to Bridge Connections between STEAM Education, Educational Robotics, and Constructionism" on December 10, 2020. o Vijonet Demero defended his dissertation entitled: "Examining the Organizational and Pedagogical Models of Two American Leadership Programs" on December 14, 2020. The President also provided highlights regarding the following: Alumni Updates Grants and Special Funded Projects Significant Institutional Achievements PRESIDENT’S ACHIEVEMENT AWARD As indicated above, the decennial U.S. Virgin Islands census was completed in November 2020 and will provide the Territory with the data, analysis and information to continue to receive funding from the Federal Government. Although the University has conducted and successfully completed four other decennial censuses prior to this one, this experience was the most challenging for everyone involved. The Census 2020 had to proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic that placed the lives and health of the workers and that of the public at risk. Despite these odds and challenges, Dr. Frank Mills, along with a dedicated and creative group of leaders and workers, completed the task in a successful, timely and professional manner. For this reason and many others, the Presidential Appreciation Award is presented to Dr. Frank Mills and his team for exceptional valour, professionalism and service to the people and government of the Virgin Islands. We are enormously grateful for their sacrifice and commitment. While all the names of the over 650 workers cannot be listed, we wish to recognize the following key individuals who were instrumental in the successful completion and execution of the Census 2020 US Virgin Islands project: St. Thomas/St. John  Dr. Frank Mills – St. Thomas-St. John Census Manager  Arlene Auguste – Assistant Manager Administration  Stacey Chados – Acting Controller  Leoneal Furet – Director of Accounting and Operations  Sharlene Harris – Vice President, Information Services & Institutional Assessment  Patrice Johnson – Partnership Specialist  Tessa Liburd – Human Resources Specialist  Marissa Johnson Rogers – Assistant Manager Office Operations  Erik Pattison – Director of Network Operations  Conrad Stancliffe – Security Officer  Nadine Williams – Programmer Analyst St. Croix  Lorna Williams-Sutton – St. Croix Census Manager  Shelly Anslyn-Jones – Human Resources Specialist  Cecil Coker – Assistant Manager Field Operations  Sally George – Assistant Manager Office Operations  Carolyn Keys – Geography Specialist SENEPOL CATTLE PRESENTATION At the Invitation of President Hall, Dr. Robert Godfrey, Associate Director & Professor of Animal Science provided the Board with an update on the Senepol Cattle Research. Included in the presentation was a brief history and the current herd inventory. He also provided a financial update including its current revenue. He reported on its research activity, research collaborations, student research, staff support and future plans for the cattle and the program.. After the presentation, Chairman Smock thanked Dr. Godfrey for the presentation and update on the Senepol cattle. CHAIRMAN COMMENTS Chairman Smock thanked the members for their participation in committee meetings for this cycle leading up to the board meeting. He stated that after meeting with Senator Genevieve Whitaker, she expressed interest in attending the Board meeting. He introduced the Senator and she provided brief comments regarding education and workforce development and the University’s role. During the meeting, Senator Whitaker also addressed the following: • UVI’s role in establishing a pipeline to VI Department of Education • Status of the free tuition program • New Programs • Nursing & Agriculture program After her comments , Chairman Smock thanked her and indicated that he looks forward to continued work with her and the Board of Trustees. BOARD COMMITTEE ITEMS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE…………………………..…………………………..….Henry C. Smock Ratification of Action taken by the Executive Committee in Regular Session Article VI, Section 1 (a) of the Bylaws of the University of the Virgin Islands states in part, “The Executive Committee may act for the Board between Board meetings, in the event of emergencies requiring Board action.” That section of the Bylaws further states, “The Executive Committee shall report to the Board at its next meeting on all actions taken by it, and the Board shall ratify or revoke such actions. President Hall provided an update regarding the Appropriation Request to the Office of Management and /Budget authorizing submission of the FY2022 Appropriations Request from the Government of the Virgin Islands The Executive Committee approved the University to be authorized to request a FY2021-2022 appropriation of $41,736,388 to cover salaries, benefits, equipment, supplies, and incidental expenses of the University for its operations and programs. A resolution was presented to ratify the action of the Executive Committee regarding the matter. A motion was made by Vice Chair Roebuck which ws seconded by trustee Kyza Callwood to ratify the actions of the Executive Committee. The motion passed unanimously. FINANCE AND BUDGET……………………..……………………………………….Oran C. Roebuck Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between University of the Virgin Islands and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College At the invitation of the Chair of the committee, President Hall provided a brief background and overview of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Finance and Budget Committee voted to recommend to the Board of Trustees the approval of: a. The Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College at a tuition rate of 1.75 times tuition rates established for residents of the US Virgin Islands to enroll in undergraduate or graduate programs at UVI. b. The MOU shall be for a period of ten (10) years from the date of signing. After his brief presentation, a motion was made by Vice Chair Roebuck which was seconded by Trustee Callwood to approve the MOU between UVI and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College. The motion was approved unanimously. PLANNING COMMITTEE……………………………………………………...…….Dr. John A. Quelch Key Performance Indicators/Greatness Through Innovation The Planning Committee received a report on the KPIs as linked to UVI’s Strategic Plan: Greatness Through Innovation. The report focused primarily on Campus Safety Indicators, Financial Indicators, External Grants and Other Awards, and Development. Executive session was then called to order to discuss the Risk Management Assessment. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 10:36 a.m., a motion was made by Trustee Williams, which was seconded by Trustee Callwood, to go into Executive Session to address the following matters, which could be reasonably expected to result in the disclosure of information of personal nature wherein public disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, or premature disclosure that would seriously frustrate implementation of the proposed action(s), and for the Board to obtain legal advice on these matters: 1. Approve Minutes of the Executive Session of the last meeting of the BOT 2. Receive an Update Report on the Medical School Project 3. Receive a report from the Planning Committee 4. Receive an update on Personnel Matters 5. Receive an Update on Legal Matters The Executive Session convened at 10:41am. RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION Upon return to the Regular Session of the Meeting at 12:05pm, the Chairman reported that while in Executive Session, the Board approved the following: • Executive Session Minutes of the October 24, 2020 meeting of the Board • Received an update on Risk Assessment • Had a discussion with President regarding personnel matters • Received an update on legal matters from Legal Counsel The Chairman thanked Board Members for their participation. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to be considered in the Regular Session, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 12:08p.m.