Summer Session Dates, Fall Semester Information Available on UVI Web Site
Dates and detailed registration information on UVI's two 2008 summer sessions, as well as for the upcoming fall semester are now available on the UVI web site. UVI's Summer Session I is scheduled for May 19 through June 23. Summer Session II will run from June 25 through Aug. 1.
UVI's fall semester classes begin on Aug. 18 and end on Dec. 3. Direct links to this information is available from the Academics link and the BUCSS – Banner Utilization Central for Self Service – button on the UVI home page: www.uvi.edu.
Online registration for both summer sessions and the fall semester begins on March 17. Students must confer with advisors on course selection and obtain personal information numbers before they can register online.

Business Major: Miss America Pageant A 'Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience'
Upon her return from what she terms "an amazing experience," competing in the Miss America Pageant, 2007 Miss Virgin Islands Janeisha John has resumed her studies at the University of the Virgin Islands. John, who is earning a Business Administration degree on UVI's St. Croix campus, says it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience participating in the 2008 Miss America Pageant, which was broadcast live on January 26 from Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood. A news release and photo are available from the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu.

February Issue of UVI VOICE Available Online and On Campus
The February 2008 issue of the student newspaper UVI VOICE is now available online, while printed copies have been distributed on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. Among other items, the eight-page Feburary issue includes stories about a student protest, spring semester issues, an introduction to UVI Registrar Edward Alexander, and a look at the new Bucs Fitness Center on the St. Croix campus. UVI VOICE can be accessed on the Internet at www.uvivoice.com.

Senior Week Activities Set on St Croix
A series of senior week activities for UVI's St. Croix campus have been announced. The week begins at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, with an introduction of the seniors in the UVI Great Hall (NWW). All family, friends, faculty, staff and the general public are invited. Admission is free. A series of workshops on health and finance topics are scheduled at 4 p.m. on Feb. 19 through 22 in the Great Hall. The Senior Ball/Dinner is slated for 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the Great Hall. For details, call class president Andres E. Velazquez at 277-7852.

Bucs, Lady Bucs on the Road; Plan Homecoming Games Feb. 23
UVI Buccaneers basketball squad, 1-2 on the season, and the Lady Bucs, 2-1 on the season, enter their third week of LAI league play with a road trip to Puerto Rico for games against UPR-Carolina on Friday, Feb. 15, and UPR-Humacao on Saturday, Feb. 16.
The Buccaneers' next home game is slated for Feb. 22, when Polytecnica visits the Sports and Fitness Center. The Bucs and Lady Bucs have designated their Feb. 23 matchups in the Sports and Fitness Center against Metropolitan as this year's Homecoming games. The UVI community is encouraged to come out and support their teams.
The complete 2008 basketball schedule as well as team photos are available from the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu.

Black History Month Presentation of 'Roots' Set Feb. 26 on St. Croix
In celebration of Black History Month, the Office of Student Activities in conjunction with the St. Croix Educational Complex PTSA invite students, faculty and staff to attend a presentation from the award winning television miniseries "Roots" at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the UVI Great Hall (room 134 in NWW). Based on Alex Haley's best-selling novel about his African ancestors, "Roots" followed several generations in the lives of a slave family. The saga began with Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), a West African youth captured by slave raiders and shipped to America in the 1700s. The family's saga is depicted up until the Civil War where Kunte Kinte's grandson gained emancipation. Light refreshments will be available.

Annual UVI Queen Mary 5K Walk/Run Set for March 14
The seventh Annual UVI Queen Mary 5K Walk/Run – a UVI Charter week event – is scheduled for Friday, March 14. The entire UVI community – students, alumni, faculty and staff – and members of the general public are encouraged to participate. The run will start at 6 a.m. at Sunshine Mall and conclude on UVI's St. Croix campus. Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers. Light refreshments will be served at the end of the event. Transportation will be provided to the Sunshine Mall. Registration forms are available in the St. Croix Campus Executive Administrator's office. Registration is $12 for UVI faculty, staff and others, and $7 for students and children. For details, contact Irene Ramos at 692-4000.
Workshop on 'Managing Visitor Use in Protected Areas' Set March 26-28
A workshop on managing visitor use in marine and coastal protected areas is planned for March 26 through 28 on St. Thomas. It will be presented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. Included will be an overview of the human dimensions of protected area management, examples of visitor use and associated impacts to natural resources and visitor experiences, and suggestions to help managers address the people side of resource management. In addition to training sessions, presentations will be made by Hubert Brumant, director of the Magen's Bay Authority, Elba Richardson, a concessions specialist at the Virgin Islands National Park, and Sybille Sorrentino, owner of VI Ecotours. Days one and two of the workshop will take place at UVI's Small Business Development Center at Nisky Center. An optional field exercise is planned for day three. For more information, contact Sylvia Vitazkova at 693-1427.

Accounting Association Seeking to Honor Anniversary Couples
The UVI Accounting Association is looking for couples on St. Thomas who will have celebrated their golden or silver wedding anniversaries on or before April 1, 2008. Nominated couples that are selected will be honored at a dinner dance and presented with awards and gifts. To nominate a couple, contact Prof. Sharon Simmons at 693-1314 or send email to [email protected]. The Accounting Association's Anniversary Committee is asking for the names, phone contact information, anniversary dates and reason for nominating your special couple.

MBA Comprehensive Exam at UVI Set April 11; Signup Deadline March 14
UVI's Business Administration Division will offer the MBA Comprehensive Examination from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, on the University's St. Thomas and on St. Croix campuses. The rooms to be used will be announced at a later date. The deadline for registration is Friday, March 14. Applications are available in the Business Administration Division offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix. For details, call Jacinthe Proctor at 693-1300 or Renise Johnson at 692-4150.
37th AGRIFEST to Open Saturday
The three-day, 37th annual USVI Agriculture and Food Fair – dubbed AGRIFEST – officially opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the fair grounds on St. Croix. The gates are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 16, 17 and 18. Thousands are expected to turn out for the fair's popular combination of local foods, cultural entertainment and exhibits – including agricultural products, livestock, and arts and crafts. This year's theme is "The Business of Agriculture: The Way Forward." The Agrifest is sponsored by the V.I. Department of Agriculture, the V. I. Department of Tourism and UVI&
#39;s Cooperative Extension Service. Visit the Agrifest 2008 web site – www.viagrifest.org – for complete details, including schedules of events and entertainment.
UVI to Waive Application Fee During 'Cream of the Crop' Ag Fair Promotion
Individuals planning to apply for admissions to the University of the Virgin Islands for the fall 2008 semester can save the $25 application fee by visiting the UVI tent at the upcoming Virgin Islands Agriculture and Food Fair on St. Croix. The fair is scheduled for Feb. 16 through 18. Persons applying during this "Cream of the Crop" promotion at the UVI tent must present a sealed, official transcript from their high school, or another college or university, and an official, original copy of their SAT/ACT scores. For more information contact the UVI Office of Admissions at 693-1150 on St. Thomas or 692-4158 on St. Croix. Details are also available from Ivan Connor at 693-1097 or [email protected].
SBA to Hold Federal Procurement Seminars on St. Croix, St. Thomas
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) invites small business owners to participate in seminars covering government contracting on Thursday, Feb. 21, on St. Croix and on Friday, Feb/ 22, on St. Thomas. Both seminars begin at 2 p.m. at UVI's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) training facilities.
The free seminars will cover the SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program, the Small Disadvantaged Business Program and the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program. Attendees will learn about the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database, a government-maintained resource that serves as the primary source for agencies to learn about prospective vendors.
"We encourage Virgin Islands small businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to increase their visibility in the marketplace and to improve the economic conditions of their communities," said SBA Acting District Director Ana del Toro. For details or to register, call 692-5270 in St. Croix or 776-3206 in St. Thomas.

Basic Computing Course for Beginners Starts March 9
UVI's Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Center will offer a course for individuals interested in learning the basics of using a computer. Classes will be held 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday, from March 5 to April 9. Sessions will be held at the UVI campus on St. Croix. The course will cover the basics of computing such as working with windows, using the Internet, emailing, safe computing and much more. The information will be presented in an easy to understand format, with hands-on exercises. For details or to register, call 693-1100 or visit UVI-CELL online at http://cell.uvi.edu.
For more about the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the Web site: www.uvi.edu.