CES Plans Workshop on ‘Citrus Greening’ Disease on St. Thomas for May 23 A workshop on ‘citrus greening’ disease – a threat to growers on the U.S. mainland and the Virgin Islands – will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, at the UVI Administration and Conference Center on the University’s St. Thomas campus. The session will be presented by UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service (CES).
Citrus Greening, or yellow dragon disease, is one of the more serious diseases affecting citrus. Other than tree removal, there is no effective control once a tree is infected and there is no known cure for the disease. Infected trees may produce misshapen, unmarketable, bitter fruit. The disease also reduces the quantity of fruit produced, eventually rendering infected trees useless. The CES’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Program invites all farmers and homeowners who have citrus trees or those interested in growing citrus to attend this workshop. For details, call Dr. Joey Williamson at 692-4052 or Carlos Robles at 693-1083.
UVI Plans Commemorative Programs to Mark 40th Anniversary of Land Grant Designation The staff and directors of UVI’s Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) have planned a number of activities to commemorate this year’s 40th anniversary of the University’s designation as a Land Grant institution on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. The College of the Virgin Islands and the University of Guam became land-grant institutions of higher learning, when President Richard Nixon signed into law the Education Amendments Act of June 23, 1972. The public is invited to come out and participate in the celebration of this milestone in the University’s history.
Commemorative Event Calendar
- Wednesday, June 20 – CES and AES directors appear on the Virgin Islands Public Television “Face to Face” program with Addie Ottley on WTJX, from 8 to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, June 21 – Ag Forum discussion – Great Hall on UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix – 6 to 8 p.m. – Topic: The Role of Land Grant Programs in the Development of Agriculture and The Role of Agriculture in the Economic Development of the Local Community.
- Sunday, June 24 – Anniversary Celebration – 1 to 6 p.m. – Albert A. Sheen Campus grounds.
– Opening ceremony, open house, tree planting and workshops. The celebration will feature farmers and food vendors, the distribution of vegetable seedlings and musical entertainment.
For more information, call Clarice Clarke at 692-4060.
UVI Accepting Applications for ‘Mathematics Behind the Science’ Summer Bridge Program UVI’s College of Science and Mathematics invites incoming and prospective UVI freshman with an interest in biology, marine biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, applied mathematics (engineering) or physics to apply to a new Mathematics Behind the Science summer bridge program. This residential program will take place on UVI’s St. Thomas campus from June 18 to July 27, 2012. There is no cost to participants.
Mathematics Behind the Science is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) college preparation program. It serves students who have completed grade 12 and will enter university as freshmen in the fall, or students already attending UVI who have successfully completed the MAT 024 course. The program provides an introduction to the demands of a college STEM program. In addition to mathematics coursework, this year three new classes are being introduced: computer science, scientific writing and a Success in STEM course. They are designed to give incoming freshman students a head start on how to navigate college life. Students will also participate in workshops that introduce them to academic resources available on campus and take fieldtrips to local businesses to learn what jobs are available to students who major in STEM fields. Mathematics Behind the Science is intended to serve as a bridge between high school curriculum and expectations at the university level.
Admission applications can be obtained from the Emerging Caribbean Scientists (ECS) website – http://ecs.uvi.edu. ECS will continue to accept applications on a rolling admission basis until all slots are filled. For details, call Amanda Wright at (340) 693-1397 or send email to awright@uvi.edu.
CSAP Plans May ‘Gatherings’ with Focus on Health and Nutrition UVI’s Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism (CSAP) invites members of the University community and other interested persons to participate in its May “Gatherings,” the monthly series of informal conversations designed to stimulate dialogue around the theme of nurturing the whole person.
This month’s first activity will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, on the grounds of the Great House on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Health Services Supervisor Maritza DeCosta will lead a conversation centered on the theme of body and spirit, the importance of physical health in the overall wellbeing of a person. DeCosta, a health professional on the St. Croix campus, will encourage participants to think about how they care for their physical health and share ideas about health and wellness, particularly in the sometimes stressful work environment.
The discussion series will continue from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, on the St. Thomas campus, where Esther Lynch-Izaak a nutrition specialist for the Virgin Islands Department of Education, will lead a similar conversation on the patio of the Administration and Conference Center. She will focus on both individual and family health, drawing on experience as a teacher in the food and nutrition area and as director of the School Food Authority for the District of St. Thomas-St. John.
CSAP will provide a light lunch for participants at both events. Interested students, faculty and staff who wish to participate are asked to contact Tregenza A. Roach, Esq., at (340) 693-1240 or send email at troach@uvi.edu, by May 22.
Virgin Islands Small Business Week Observance Set May 28 to June 2 The Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration will honor small businesses during Virgin Islands Small Business Week, which is scheduled to take place May 28-June 2, 2012. The week will provide small businesses with the opportunity to participate in an array of specialized trainings to foster business growth, with the highlight being the annual awards ceremonies. “I am honored to have three major financial institutions, both private and public, assisting us this year to offer specialized trainings to small businesses,” said SBDC State Director Leonor Dottin. “It demonstrates their interest in furthering their commitment to the territory’s small business owners.” Small Business Week awards will be presented on St. Thomas on Thursday, May 31, and on St. Croix on Friday, June 1, 2012. A news release is available from the UVI homepage – http://www.uvi.edu
CELL Summer Program Offers Test Prep for SAT Exam Summer vacation is already upon us and with so many parents searching for something suitable for their teenagers to do, the University of the Virgin Islands – Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) Center will offer a summer SAT preparatory program. The program is ideal for high school students who want to prepare for fall SAT exams while participating in other enrichment activities, summer school or summer employment.
The 10-week program will be held 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday, beginning June 9, 2012. Interested students must submit their application by Friday, June 1, 2012, to enroll in the program. The program is open to any high school student with a GPA of 2.0 to 3.5.
The SAT is a standardized measure of college readiness used in the admission process of more than 95 percent of four-year, not-for-profit undergraduate colleges and universities in the United States. Aligned to high school curriculum, the SAT tests reading, mathematics and writing skills that students acquire during high school. The exam also measures how well students apply acquired knowledge, a factor that educators and researchers agree is critical to success in college.
The UVICELL SAT Prep course utilizes various forms of assessments, interactive instruction, test-taking strategies and practice exams to aid students in improving their scores. Additionally, participants will receive a Barron’s SAT Prep Book and an SAT approved calculator.
For fees or more information, call 693-1106 or visit http://cell.uvi.edu.
Submissions for UVI Golden Jubilee Time Capsules Sought Submissions of commemorative items for inclusion in UVI Golden Jubilee time capsules on both campuses are sought by the Time Capsule Subcommittee of UVI’s Golden Jubilee Committee. Contributions will be accepted from UVI students, alumni, departments and staff members through Oct. 31. Please submit items to be considered for inclusion in the time capsule. Indicate the contributor’s name, department and campus, and include contact information. Items can be mailed or dropped off as follows:
- Albert A. Sheen Campus – St. Croix: Raquel Silver / rsantia@uvi.edu / extension 4061 / Research and Extension Center Room 106
- St. Thomas campus: Dr. Angela Dikou / adikou@uvi.edu / extension 1284 / Quarters B Room 202
The time capsule will be capped in December 2012. Members of the subcommittee are Raquel Silver and Dr. Angela Dikou (faculty), Sharon Pickering (student), Maria Friday, Shelly Ansyln-Jones and Lorna J. Williams-Sutton (staff/alumni).
