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UVI Bulletin Board for June

UVI RTPark to Celebrate Caribbean Week with VIP Investment Showcase in NYC The University of the Virgin Islands Research & Technology Park, (UVI RTPark) will celebrate Caribbean Week in New York and Caribbean American Heritage Month in the USA with a Big Apple VIP Investment Showcase Reception this June.

          The event is set to introduce the opportunities of the RTPark program to business leaders and key members of the Caribbean Diaspora in New York and highlight the many advantages to doing business with the RTPark program and the US Virgin Islands. The RTPark will be sharing information on their progress, and how they are succeeding as a specialist economic development agency dedicated to facilitating technology and knowledge intensive investment for the economic growth of the U.S. Territory in the Caribbean. They will be showcasing new clients that have recently joined the program.

Details of the event are as follows:

          Date:  Wednesday, June 7, 2017

          Where:  Morgan, Lewis & Brokius LLP 101 Park Avenue, Grand Conference Room – 39th Floor

          New York, NY 10178

          Time:  6-8 p.m. EST

          RSVP: kbronson@hardbeatcommunications.com

UVI to Host Two Astronomy Conferences Showcasing Major Discoveries  The University of the Virgin Islands’ College of Science and Mathematics, together with the Etelman Observatory, are organizing two upcoming astronomy conferences this summer.  The first one, “Generation-GW: Diving into Gravitational Waves” will take place from June 5-9. The second conference, “Unveiling the Physics Behind Extreme AGN Variability” will take place from July 11-14.  Both conferences will facilitate discussions about crucial breakthroughs in the field of astronomy over the last few years.

          “We are establishing a legacy, and these events will improve the recruitment of Virgin Islands students to study physics and astronomy at UVI,” said Dr. Antonino Cucchiara, assistant professor of physics. “The conferences will also demonstrate how research and activities undertaken at UVI can benefit the community.” 

          The scientific breakthrough to be discussed by groups of international astrophysicists from around the world at the June conference is “Gravitational Waves.” Widely considered to be the greatest discovery of 21st century astronomy, this phenomenon describes ripples in the curvature of space-time that propagate at the speed of light, outward from their source.

          The other discovery to be discussed by more than 50 astronomers at the July conference is Fast Variable Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).  The center of every galaxy has a ‘super massive black hole’ which is millions of times heavier than our sun.  Everything that gets too close to it or falls in is destroyed, explained Cucchiara.  That destruction produces energy that is observable in optical, X-ray, gamma-ray radiation – producing an AGN.  The July conference will focus on Fast Variable AGNs, which radiation changes quickly in time and are therefore difficult to observe in detail.

          More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI Web site –http://www.uvi.edu/ 

UVI-CELL to Offer Certification for Individuals New to the HR Profession The UVI-CELL Center is pleased to offer the first entry-level certification program for the human resources (HR) profession. Launched in early 2016, this one-of-a-kind program is the industry’s first-ever HR certification designed specifically for those who are new to or transitioning into the HR profession.

          The Associate Professional in Human Resources™ (aPHR™) is a rigorous program which demonstrates basic knowledge of human resource operations. Upon completion of the course, participants will be eligible to sit for the exam, which focuses on the fundamentals of HR principles and practices to include recruitment, development and retention, compensation and benefits, employee relations and health, safety and security.

          The aPHR program was developed by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), the premier professional credentialing organization for the human resources profession. The aPHR joins HRCI’s family of the most recognized, respected and sought-after credentials in the profession. The aPHR Certification course will begin on June 22, and will run until July 29. Sessions will be on Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UVI-CELL Center on the St. Thomas Campus.

          A separate course will be available in September for current HR professionals who need to obtain their Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

          For more information on the aPHR course, call 693-1100 or visit the UVICELL; Web site at http://cell.uvi.edu.

UVI to Host Event in Observance of ‘Safe + Sound Week’ The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), through its Safety In Paradise (SIP) Program will join the nation in observing Safe and Sound Week, June 12-18.

“Safe+Sound Week” is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the value of workplace safety and health programs.  As part of the initiative, SIP will host a free Safe + Sound workshop from 9–11 a.m. on Friday, June 2, at the UVI-CELL Center on the St. Thomas Campus.

          The Safe + Sound Campaign is designed to help employers and workers identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness. The event will highlight the core elements of an effective safety and health program – management leadership, worker participation and finding and fixing workplace hazards. Businesses will be presented with valuable information and training materials that can assist them in developing an effective safety and health program.

          The event is free and open to companies of any size or in any industry looking for an opportunity to show their commitment to safety.

          For more information on the Safe + Sound Program, contact Maricel Flores Diaz at (340) 693-1146.

UVI Announces Summer CLEP Testing Schedule The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is pleased to announce CLEP exam dates for the summer 2017 semester. The College Level Exam Program (CLEP) is a computer-based exam taken by college students with previous knowledge of the subject matter and is taken in lieu of college courses. Students can earn college credit by achieving qualifying scores on any of the 33 exams offered by CLEP. Students interested in taking the CLEP exam should first consult their academic advisors. To register for the exam, students should visit the College Board Web site at https://clep.collegeboard.org/register/exam.

          Once the online registration has been completed, students should then contact the appropriate testing center to schedule an appointment. Testing Centers are located at the UVICELL Center on their respective islands. On St. Croix, the UVICELL Center is located at No. 23A Hospital Street in Frederiksted. On St. Thomas, the testing site is located at the UVICELL Center on the UVI St. Thomas Campus.

          The CLEP testing schedule is as follows:

  • Croix Thursday, June 15, 2017 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 11, 2017 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 13, 2017 – 12:30 p.m.
  • Thomas 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 28, 2017, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

          For testing fees, eligible courses or more information on the CLEP exam, contact the UVICELL Center at 693-1100 on St. Thomas or 692-4230 on St. Croix. Students may also visit the UVICELL Web site at http://cell.uvi.edu/programs/clep-testing.aspx.

LeFebvre of Anvil 1 to Donate $750,000 to UVI The University of the Virgin Islands received a $750,000 donation on Wednesday, May 24, from Dale LeFebvre, founder of the investment and holding company 35711 and manager of Anvil 1, LLC, a technology and knowledge-intensive consulting, advising and investment firm. Anvil 1 is a Research and Technology Park client (RTPark). This donation commitment will be disbursed to the University over a 15-year period and will initially support energy and process technology courses. Additional areas will be selected over the course of the donation period. The contribution will be divided annually between named scholarships for UVI students, and support for UVI academic programs.

          “This commitment, which is a result of the company’s involvement with the RTPark, is a shining example of how the RTPark is fulfilling its mission and vision, and how Mr. LeFebvre continues to invest in the growth and quality of the University,” said UVI President David Hall. “His prior gift has strengthened our programs in various areas, and this one will do the same through scholarships and curriculum enhancements. We are delighted that Dale continues to invest in the future of the Virgin Islands by investing in UVI.”

          More information is available in a news release on the Media Section of the UVI Web site – http://www.uvi.edu/ 

 UVI Website Homepage Feature: Class of 2017 Celebrates Commencement Amid Themes of “Rising Up”    The University of the Virgin Islands Class of 2017 took their first steps into the future at Commencement Ceremonies, which were held on May 11, on St. Croix, and on May 12, in the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas Campus. Themes of rising up and persevering in the face of adversity were embedded in every aspect of the event from President David Hall’s welcome, to Iyanla Vanzant’s keynote address, to Monel Marcellin’s class speaker remarks, to select interviews with students and alums. “

          The thought that got me through college as a single mother on welfare with three children by three different fathers was that there is nothing to fear,” said Keynote Speaker Iyanla Vanzant, a commanding author, inspirational speaker, television personality and healer of people. “Fear comes from what you tell yourself about yourself, and whether or not you believe it. Fear can hold you back, but only if you let it.”

          Vanzant, who helps people by encouraging them to engage in deliberate thinking, shared a narrative of her personal history peppered with insightful and amusing anecdotes. She then suggested to the graduates that they tackle the future by arming themselves with a kind of personal intelligence apparatus. But in the world according to Vanzant, CIA stands not for Central Intelligence Agency, but rather for Character, Integrity and Appreciation.

          “Developing your unique character means making sure that what you do is in line with who you are,” she said. “Integrity is about making sure that what you think, feel, do and say are all in alignment. Do what you know is right even when nobody is looking.”

More information is available AT the UVI Web site – http://www.uvi.edu/ 

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