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Education EmpowersA

Nation

Contents

Page 2SGA: FloodVictimsSocial WorkAssn.FEA’s BmpXmas Toy drive

Page 3UNO VisitsAcademicCouncil Meets-calendar change

Page 4UB Sports PageUB Hosts OapnPaki

Page 5FNAHSWHolds

HIVTraining+moreUB in TaiwanRLC’s VarietyDayHR- Xmas Party

Page 6

EngineeringFora:

Standards +more

Page 7FMSS Lecture:

Climate-Security

Page 8Calendar of Events

UB BULLETINNovember-December, 2008

Volume 8, Issue 6

www.ub.edu.bz The University of Belize has a new cyberlook; it launches its new website on November 10th. Faculty staff,current and potential students and alumni, external partners andgeneral users will get a refreshing introduction to Belize’s nationaluniversity, with more user friendly navigation. UniversityManagement Ltd (UML) designed the site with input from UB’sOffice of Public Information (OPI) & UB’s Information andCommunication Technology (ICT) Department. OPI thanks studentDaneli Haylock for allowing UB to feature her prominently on thenew site, as well as in the new UB catalog and in an upcoming “Destination Belize” print ad. Many otherstudents and UB activities are featured, and OPI thanks all. From October 3rd to 27th, OPI held a preview of the new site with UB deans, department heads,chairs, coordinators and SGA representatives to get their input. It is expected that further changes will bemade after the site is launched and OPI receives feedback from multiple users; additionally, at launchpoint, a few of the new site’s functions will not yet be fully operational, and users will be so advised;additionally, permission is being sought from several resource and UB affiliate sites to link to them from

the UB site. If you are reading this article before the site is launched, do check us out athttp://www.test.bz/ub2 After Nov. 10, the regular site address of www.ub.edu.bz is tobe used. UB thanks French students J. Bussod and J. Rennard, the I.C.D.F. and TaiwaneseOverseas volunteer L. Sung who had designed the initial site. We’re looking good, UB!

UB Launches New Website on Nov. 10th

Happy

Garifuna

Settlement

Day!

www.ub.edu.bz

UB student Daneli

UB’s Dec. 5th Crimes Symposium

UB’s Coordinator of Admissions, Andrea Middleton, is a mouse click away! admissions@ub.edu.bz

On Friday, December 5th, UB, in conjuction with the Ministry of National Security, brings stakeholdersto an all day Crimes Symposium at the Jaguar Auditorium in Belmopan. The theme is “Exposing theRoot Causes of Crime and Exploring Approaches for a Safer Belize.” It opens with registration at 8:30and a brief ceremony. Then six speakers present on root causes for 20 minutes each, followed by Q&Afor an hour until the lunch break. The afternoon fields six other speakers on promising approaches,followed by comments and Q&A. The objective is to look at what other fora have brought up, such as therecent Association of Concerned Belizeans (ACB) crimes forum, and the Ministry’s National SecurityStrategy, as well as editorial comments and other suggestions. The proceedings of the UB forum will bepresented to the Ministry to further guide its crime response. One speaker will be Dr. J.P. Foster of theUniversity of Kentucky, speaking on the role of the judiciary; he also assisted with setting up UB’sPublic Safety Office procedures. Other speakers from Belize confirmed to date are: Youth for the Future’sDiane Finnegan; UB student and activist Karen Adolphus, and businessman Romel Perdomo. Tentativelyconfirmed to date are Senator Godwin Hulse and businessman Lascelle Arnold. Leading the planningare Michael Gutierrez, UB’s Chief of Security and Joseph Sampson, UB History lecturer and veteranpolice community activist.

UB Hosts CSUCA: The Office of the Provost hosted a technical meeting of the Consejo Superiorde Universitario Centroamericano during the week of October 17th, even with some UB flood closures happening.UB is a member of CSUCA and UB’s NRM, Natural Resource Management program, organized the meeting. Lookout for more on CSUCA in future UB Bulletin issues.

Annual UB Belmopan Xmas Toy Drive: The Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA) in collaboration with UB’s Student Government Association are planning the annual Christmas Party for students around the Bmp area. They are soliciting the assistance of the university community-faculty, staff, coordinators, directors and everyone to donate one toy that can be given to a needy child. Monetary donations are also acceptable to defray expenses that will be incurred. Contact Mr. Leo Pott at FEA or the SGA Bmp office. Tks for supporting!

UB Students Assist Flood Victims

Social Work Student Association (SWSA) Sanctioned under UB’s Faculty of Nursing, Allied Health and Social Work, the SWSA allows more student involvement in social work and leadership. It organizes advocates, coordinates and promotes activities that benefit Associate and Baccalaureate UB Social Work students, governed by international and national industry code of ethics. At its Sept. 24 meeting, elected were Kendra Griffith, Pres.; Yolanda Martinez, VP; Cynthia Williams, Treas.; Pamela Stamp, Sec;, Roxanne Jones, Community Service Chair. Faculty Advisor is Starla Acosta. UB Social Work students - do join!

The Belize City Student Government, under the able leadership of its President Moses Sulph and VP Justin Espat, were featured on Channel 7 as they delivered numerous items collected from Belize City residents and businesses; special mention to Price Premier Products and other businesses and to UB alumni, faculty and staff who contributed time and items. Rebecca Castillo and the UB Toledo SG and other student volunteers also have been collecting items to contribute to the overall SGA efforts for those affected adversely by the October floods that ravaged areas of the Cayo District, the Corozal and Orange Walk districts, especially Albion Islands, Belize River Valley, & areas in Belize City and surrounds. The Bmp SGA specifically thanks Toucan Industries, Intl’ Refrigeration, Builders Hardware, Papi’s, Wood Depot & the Bmp community.

Belmopan students raised over $4,800 in the first week of the UB Flood drive; on NEMO’s advice, they purchased water, canned foods, beans, and other specified items for those affected by the devastating October floods. In upper left of second photo is the Vice President of UB’s SGA, George Tillett.

UB’s SGA coordinated closely with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). In the rightmost photo is Alex Anderson, President of the SGA. Great job UB! We are proud of our students!

Mr. Leo Pott, UB’s Faculty/staff rep./advisor to the SGA, unselfishly gave up countless hrs. Tks!

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Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA) and Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) beautify Belmopan campus: Full story

and photo display in January 2009 UB Bulletin.

University of New Orleans Visits

Academic Council Meets: Policies, Procedures, Programs

(L) Allison Betts (C )Dean Jean Perriott (R ) Dr. Elaine Brooks Students at one of the three UNO sessions

Dr. Jean Perriott, UB’s Dean of Student Affairs, hosted two visitors from the University of New Orleans (UNO) in late October. UNO’s Ms. Allison Betts and Dr. Elaine Brooks spoke to the UB community about scholarship opportunities. Students learned about transfer opportunities (after an Associate degree) and graduate opportunities at UNO ( after a Bachelor Degree). The visitors addressed students on Wednesday, October 29 as follows: at the Jaguar Auditorium in Belmopan from 10:00 a.m.—noon; at FMSS’s AV Room in Belize City from 2:00-3:00 p.m., and at FMSS’s Conference Room from 5:30-7:00 p.m. UNO is located in New Orleans, and one of its brochures notes that New Orleans is “a city that prides itself on the diversity of its citizens, neighborhoods and cultural traditions.” In addition to a rich culture - especially its jazz- New Orleans shares with Belize its propensity for hurricanes; readers will recall the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that certainly makes Belize part of the regional community of storm watchers.

UB’s Provost, Dr. Angel Cal, convened the regularly scheduled meeting of the Academic Council on Wednesday, Oct. 29 to discuss scheduled program matters and procedures. Also on the agenda was the discussion of how best to make up, from an institutional perspective, for the unavoidable loss of contact hours due to the recent UB and other countrywide closures occasioned by October’s devastating floods that accompanied Tropical Depression #16.

Changes in Academic Calendar December 2008

Fri. 12……. Classes end for Semester One (RLC ends Dec. 9th) Mon. 15 – Mon. 22: Final Exams (RLC ends on Dec. 12th) Tues. 23….. Faculty and staff vacation begins

January 2009 Mon. 5…………. All faculty and staff return Thurs. 8…………. Grades submission due to respective deans Mon. 12…………. Grade reports available to students from Registrar’s Office Tues-Fri: 13 – 16… Registration for Semester Two Mon. 19……………CLASSES begin for Semester Two

All deans, academic directors and campus administrators sit on UB’s Academic Council, which is chaired by the Provost. Together they are charged with ensuring the academic life of UB, its degree and certificate programs in particular, are running smoothly, and with ensuring UB’s academic policies and procedures are understood and disseminated to faculty.

UB Black Jaguars B-Ball Looking Good! Big kudos to the UB Black Jaguars Basketball team who won Oct.16th against BNE Energy in the Belmopan Basketball Association (BBA) tourney that is ongoing. UB Coach Kevin Siroki reports that it was a great game. UB was down 16 points in the 4th quarter and came back to win on a last second shot. Travis Lennan made a 3 point shot with 2 seconds on the clock to win 72-69. The team never gave up. All the players contributed to the victory. UB’s Sports and Recreation crew thanks the UB students and staff that came out and cheered on the UB Black Jaguars. UB Black Jaguars played again in the BBA tourney on Oct. 31st against Perk UP at 7:00 p.m. at the UB Gymnasium. UB won 89-65. Winston Pratt had 20 points and Travis Lennan had 13 points. Other upcoming UB play dates in the revised BBA schedule are: Nov. 6 at 9pm (against Bz Bank Bulldogs), Nov. 9 at 8pm(against Tiger Sharks), Nov. 16at 8pm (against Bmp Energy), Nov. 27 at 9pm (against Bmp Eagles), Nov. 30 at 8pm(against Bz Bank Bulldogs), Dec.7 at 6pm (against Tiger Sharks). Thereafter, playoffs for the winning teams begin.

Siroki and UB Student Athletes

Assist BBF UB’s B-Ball Coach Kevin Siroki, who is a certified FIFA coaching instructor, assisted with the Belize Basketball Federation’s (BBF) coaching session for secondary school basketball coaches. The session was held on October 25th at the Belize City Center. UB Black Jaguars players assisted Coach Siroki by demonstrating a variety of plays and defensive and offensive systems.

UB’s Recreation and Sports: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Football, Canoeing

(L) Jorette Jones, b-ball student (C ) Coach Kevin Siroki (R ) UB’s Director of Sports and Recreation Kirk Smith: they were OPI’s guests on the popular radio/TV show Oapn Paki” on Oct. 26.

(L) UB’s Public Information Officer Silvana Kriol Gyal Woods hosted the Oapn Paki show. (R ) SGA president Alex Anderson was also a guest, along with SG Bz City president Moses Sulph, the sports crew, and FMSS lecturer Nicole Haylock.

Softball Tryouts that were weather-delayed now are

scheduled for Sat. Nov. 8 at the GG Field, Belmopan

When the Black Jaguars aren’t playing, practicing or studying, they are having fun, like during the recent Independence parades.

Tune in every Wednesday to PLUS TV’s Conversaciones con Amado

This TV show is supported by UB and is hosted by FEA lecturer and poet, Amado Chan.

Tune in for great sports and other UB highlights!

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FHAHSW’s Nursing Students have rescheduled the flood-postponed Health Fair to Dec. 3rd

Faculty and Departmental News FNAHSW Holds HIV Training Dean Ismael Hoare and the Faculty of Nursing, Allied Health and Social Work (FHAHSW) of the University of Belize’s HIV Training Centre secured support from PAHO and the Ministry of Health to provide Voluntary Counsel and Testing (VCT) certification training. UB provided training to 10 staff members from the Ministry of Health, 6 from BFLA (inclusive of partners working along with UNIBAM and the MSM and CSW communities), 2 from Hand in Hand Ministries, 1 from the Red Cross and 1 from Alliance Against AIDS. This training leads to VCT Certification. The training was held October 20th - October 24th. 2008. Congrats to FHAHSW. FHANSW World Food Day Event Held: The faculty also held its scheduled World Food Day activities on October 16th, despite the heavy rains. Although the Run-For-Food segment was cancelled, the Jaguar Auditorium activities in Belmopan proceeded, with a Food Tasting in the lobby.

UB Lecturers Report from Taiwan Five members of the Engineering Department of the University of Belize are pursuing graduate and post-graduate studies at the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (Yuntech) in the Republic of China, Taiwan. The team, led by UB’s Leonard Mortis (C), Jeffrey Jones, Adrian Leslie, and Ruey-Shyang Ju (Richard), along with team advisor, Professor Hung-Jen Lee, par- ticipated in a program “Introducing and Demonstrating Earthquake Engineering Research in Schools (IDEERS)” held at the Taiwan National Ctr. for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) between Sept.25 – 28. Team UB along with 20 other post graduate teams from Taiwan, R.O.C, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, & Malaysia took part in the activities which included a day trip,a conference and two days of competition. Team UB members also recently paid a courtesy visit to Tsong-Ming Lin, Ph.D., president of Yuntech to convey their appreciation for the warm hospitality provided by the university. The occasion was also used to extend greetings and gifts of UB memorabilia from the president of the University of Belize, Dr. Santos Mahung.

Human Resources Office: Social for Faculty and staff The HR Department is holding a Holiday Social on Friday, Dec. 19 from 7:00pm—1:00 a.m. for all faculty and staff at the Princess hotel in Belize City. FREE for all faculty and staff. Want to bring a partner? $35.00. Great Music w/Kenny Gladden & New Creation Band! Great Food & Drinks! Prizes!

RLC to Host Dec. 5th Variety Show The Conversation RLC class and the Spanish Unit will put off their annual RLC Variety Show. The RLC students, who are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Mexico, Honduras, Taiwan and other places, including the Belizeans engaged in Spanish class, will showcase their newly acquired language skills via skits, songs, poetry and other activities. All activities are held in the RLC Lobby, Belmopan.

Students and visitors at UB’s World Food Day booths. At far right is UB’s FNAHSW lecturer Isabel Bennett who was instrumental in masking the event a success—despite the weather!

(C ) UB’s Leonard Mortis sent us this information

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UB’s OPI is collaborating with the Engineering Department come Semester Two to hold a design and building contest for its public relations booth needs. Cash Prizes! Details available soon!

FST’s Engineering Dept Holds Seminars

The Engineering Department of the Faculty of Science and Technology collaborated with the Belize Bureau of Standards to celebrate World Standards Day on October 14th under the theme “Intelligent and Sustainable Buildings.” UB’s Chair of the Engineering Department, Douglas Morrison, hosted officials from the Ministry of Economic Development, Commerce, Industry and Consumer Protection, as well as officials from the Association of Professional Engineers of Belize (APEB). Chair Morrison and lecturers also gave a tour of UB’s Engineering facilities.

November Seminars

Wed., Nov. 5: Finding Solutions: Thurs., Nov. 13: Industrial Safety Seminar Surviving the Crime and Violence Around You. Facilitator C. Phillip Waight, (P.Eng.) Facilitator: Dr. Corinth Morter Lewis

Both will be held from 1 –3:00 p.m. in Room AS102, Engineering Department, Freetown Road, Belize City. Students: Register NOW with Ms. Deborah Yates at the Chair’s Office, 223-0256, ext. 405

Phillip Waight, Chairman of the Central Building Auth. & p/t UB lecturer, delivers World Standards Day address.

Phillip Timmons, Lab Technician at UB’s Engineering Materials Testing Lab, at station preparing sample to test on Masonry Saw.

UB’s Engineering Chair Douglas Morrison and Secretary Deborah Yates (3rd and 4th from right) host Ministry, APEB & CBA visitors. The Building Code Act was signed in 2003.

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FMSS Belmopan Hosts Lecture on Climate Change and Security

Shiloh Fetzek is a researcher with the Climate Change & Security Project at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) . Her research interests include the security implications of climate-related population movements, health effects of depleted uranium munitions, and governance capacity building in Latin America.

(L-R) Ministry’s Oliver del Cid, British High Commissioner H.E. Patrick Ashworth, Deputy High Commissioner, and UB’s Chair of FMSS, Bmp,

Dr. Philip Castillo at the October 29th Jaguar Auditorium presentation

Dr. Tobias Feakin is the Director of Homeland Security and Resilience Dept. at RUSI. His Ph.D. is in International Politics and Security Studies. He established RUSI’s “Climate Change: The Global Security Impact Program” in 2003. Dr. Feakin and Ms. Fetzek were in Belize under the patronage of the British High Commission and the Ministry of National Security (MNS). Their organization RUSI is a prestigious UK think-tank concerned with defense and security. UB’s Dr. Castillo, whose Ph.D is in Developmental Studies, did a wrap up on the Belize dimensions of the speakers’ messages, particularly as Belize is the seat for the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC). The main message to some 200 students who attended was this: Climate change can erode a government’s institutional capacities to respond to disasters, food security and other needs. Environmental stresses can affect the health of a nation and its social stability. UB thanks Mr. Oliver del Cid, the MNS’s Deputy National Security Coordinator, for providing refreshments and also thanks Mr. Joseph Sampson for helping FMSS and UB’s Office of Public Information to organize this forum. Mr. Sampson is a UB History lecturer who is helping to coordinate UB’s Dec. 5th Crimes Symposium with MNS, UB’s Public Safety Office and other stakeholders. On another note, the CCCCC invites the UB community to its November forum on “Consequences of Climate Change and Initiatives to Reduce Risks” which will be presented by Dr. Martin Parry of the International Government Panel on Climate Change. The lectures: Mon. Nov. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at UWI Open Campus in Belize City and Tues. Nov. 4th, 2:30–4:30 at UB (Check with Ms. Pasos, Chair, Science Dept);6:00—8:00 p.m., George Price Center. in Bmp.

Almost 200 students attended. Seated at far right is Commander John Borland of the Belize Coast Guard. Commander Borland was given kudos for the Coast Guard’s work in the recent floods.

Sun Mon TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

2 3 4 –Climate Change speakers, Jaguar Aud. 2:30pm

5 - Engineering Seminar: Finding Solutions, Bz City AS102, 1-3pm

6 –Jaguars b-ball, 9pm, UB Gym

7 8 –New S\softball female tryouts, GG Field, Bmp

9 –Jaguars b-ball, 8pm, UB Gym

10 –UB’s new website goes up –Pre-Regis. begins for Sem. Two

11 –Pre-Regis. continues

12 –Culture Day -Pre-Regis. continues

13 –Engineering Seminar: Industrial Safety, Bz City 1-3pm, AS102 -Pre-Regis. cont.

14—Pre-Regis. continues

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16 –Jaguars b-ball, 8pm,UB Gym

17 –Pre-Regis. continues

18—Pre-Regis continues

19 Garifuna Settlement Day Holiday

20-Pre-Registration continues

21 22

23 24 25 26 27 –Jaguars b-ball, 9pm, UB Gym

28 29

30–Jaguars b-ball, 8 pm,UBGym

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

1 2 3 –Rescheduled Reproductive Health Fair – UB on Ch 7 & Wave “Lik Road”

4 5 –Crimes Symposium, Jaguar / -RLC Variety show

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7 -Jaguars b-ball, 6pm,UB Gym

8 9 10 11 12 –Classes end 13

14 15-Final Exams Begin

16-Final Exams continue

17 –Final Exams continue

18 –Final Exams continue

19 –Final Exams continue -UB fac/staff Xmas Party

20—Final Exams continue

21 22 –Final Exams end

23 –UB closes for the holiday

24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31 January 13—16: Registration for Semester Two Mon. Jan. 19: Classes begin for Semester Two Jan. 16-18: Scarlet Macaw Count-check NRM

Calendar of Events NOVEMBER 2008

December 2008

UB Bulletin: All UB faculty, staff and affiliates can submit information for publication. Send submissions via email to opi@edu.bz or forwarded on a CD to Silvana Woods, Public Information Officer, c/o UB Administration Building,-Second Floor, Central Campus, Belmopan. Tel: 822-3680, ext. 204 or 205.

UB Mission:

The University of

Belize is a national,

autonomous and multi-

location institution

committed to excellence in

higher education,

research and service for national

development. As a catalyst of change it

provides relevant,

affordable and

accessible educational and training

programs that address

national needs based on

principles of freedom, equity,

transparency, merit and

accountability

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