Pond Island:--- The staff at the USM welcome the President of the University of the Virgin Islands, Dr. Hall, on campus at the University of St. Martin on Friday, August 25, 2017. Dr. Hall also attended the scheduled staff meeting, where employees got the chance to address pressing issues and concerns that they felt was affecting their students under the growing partnership.
Dr. Hall was without hesitation hands on to help resolved the issues at hand and took on full accountability of the challenges and hiccups that the University has been facing over the past year. The President of UVI then explained that there’s been a search for representatives at UVI to Liaison with the students and teams at USM however, it has been clear that more is needed.
For such, plans for an on-campus liaison are in the works. This liaison would be based on the USM campus to assist students and answer pertinent questions. The best approach was determined to be someone established in St. Maarten who will have a nuanced grasp of the needs of the students. This person will also be travelling between USM and UVI to meet with key persons, maintain fruitful relationships and keep informed on the latest changes and developments to programmes and regulations.
“This visit by the President of UVI, Dr. Hall, is symbolic of the fact that the concerns of St. Maarten students are being taken seriously. No one should be left behind in the educational and social progression of our island. The UVI@USM is the opportunity for all those persons who cannot leave the island to also obtain North American accredited Bachelor and Master degrees. Dr. Hall was cordially welcomed by stakeholders in the educational & social field such as Mr. Antonio Aventurin, the director of Study Financing, and Ms. Aida Holaman of the Department of Community Development. He also met the chief architect of education on Sint Maarten, the honourable Minister Ms. Silveria Jacobs.
The staffs of USM and UVI are confident this will g ways towards solidifying their relationship. DR. Hall mentioned “The upcoming graduation of students next year through the UVI@USM partnership is significant. The goal “has always been to expand and grow in new areas that we need to explore”. New also is the start of a PhD programme, with one of USM’s own who is pursuing a PhD. Mutually beneficial, this renewal of open communication between the universities is progress for tertiary education on the island.
