USC Stands with St. Vincent & the Grenadines
The University of the Southern Caribbean views the unfolding dramatic events in St. Vincent & the Grenadines with great concern for the Vincentian population in general and the students of this University in particular.
Our prayers are being offered continually that the evacuation process would go smoothly and that there would be no injuries or loss of life. We also pray for calm in the country and that God will continue to guide the Government as it endeavors to make the best decisions for its people in these stressful times.
The University of the Southern Caribbean stands ready to assist in whatever way it can to bring comfort to the people of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
- Published in News, Office of the President
Dr. Colwick Wilson Elected the 29th President of USC
After an extensive international search and the diligent screening of candidates, the Board of Trustees of the University of the Southern Caribbean has voted to appoint Dr. Colwick Mervyn Wilson as the 29th President of USC. Dr. Wilson, an alumnus of Caribbean Union College (now the University of the Southern Caribbean) is of Guyanese heritage. His career journey has honed for him an impressive vita of academic and administrative experience and professional renown that robustly positions him to advance USC’s global reputation and stature.
Dr. Wilson is appropriately qualified for the challenge before him. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) Degree in Theology from Caribbean Union College, now USC, a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership and Counseling, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dr. Wilson comes to us from our sister Seventh-day Adventist university, Oakwood University, Alabama where he has been serving as Provost and Senior Vice President since the fall of 2017. Before his appointment at OU, he also served in leadership and academic roles at Loma Linda University, California and the Ohio location of Kettering Health Network. He also possesses non-denominational academic experience, and served as an associate professor at the University of Michigan.
An ardent researcher, Dr. Wilson has a strong record of executing solo research projects and participating and leading research teams. His published work appears in several peer-reviewed journals and he has been quite active as a presenter and participant on the academic conference circuit particularly in the areas of social and health sciences. Dr. Wilson is also very experienced in successful proposal and grant writing and has served as the principal investigator for single and interdisciplinary grant awards.
Dr. Wilson is a visionary, innovative, and collaborative leader with an extremely engaging personality. He is the consummate professional and places premium value on the spiritual well-being of the people he leads and interacts with. This is not at all surprising, since his earliest academic degree was in the field of theology and in the nascent phases of his career he served as a pastor – a calling he has not since relinquished.
Dr. Wilson is married to Dr. Deleise Cole-Wilson. They have two adult daughters: Chidinma and Corliss.
Dr. Wilson is expected to assume duty on July 01, 2021. The USC family and constituency welcome Dr. Colwick Mervyn Wilson and his family and wish them God’s blessings as they take up the mantle of leading this illustrious institution “Beyond Excellence”.
- Published in News, Office of the President, Programs, Stories
International Women’s Day 2021 #ChooseToChallenge
Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day (IWD). The administration, faculty and staff of the University of the Southern Caribbean wholeheartedly embrace this opportunity to celebrate the being and contributions of our women-folk to our families, workplaces, schools, churches, villages, nations, and the innumerable other physical and relational spaces where humans practice community.
The accepted origins of the celebration of IWD goes back to 1909 when at the suggestion of the Ukrainian-American labour-activist, writer and suffragette Theresa Serber Malkiel the Socialist Party of America – yes socialist and yes United States of America – observed what they called a “National Woman’s Day on the last day of the month of February that year, a Sunday. New York City was the epicenter of that antecedent observance. It was an election year, and as pervasive and bi-partisan as ‘progressivism’ had become to mainstream American politics, women’s rights, worker’s rights and that of minorities remained subordinate to affluent white patriarchy, leaving many in the US undone, disappointed and disenfranchised.
The historically busy Atlantic Ocean would transplant the idea to the European continent and on March 19, 1911 International Women’s Day – so named – was observed for the first time by more than a million people in several European countries. Like in the USA – where there continued for quite some time to be the celebration of National Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February – in Europe, too, the focus of the observances centered around protests against the political disenfranchisement of adult women, gender discrimination in the workplace and the inequality of opportunities to prosper.
Unsurprisingly, with the triumph of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917, IWD was accorded the status of a public holiday in that country. This pattern would accompany the national adoption of socialist-communist ideology in various other countries in Eurasia as the Soviets expanded their sphere of influence.
In the late 1960s and into the 1970s and 1980s with the rise of what is sometimes referred to as the second wave of feminism, when equal pay, the push back against violence against women, maternity benefits, sexual and reproductive rights and other such contemporary rights-issues for women and girls were being intellectually developed into their existing form, IWD was wrested from the social communist world and globalized. It was during this period that it was belatedly adopted by the United Nations in 1975.
For us in the Caribbean, grappling as we still are with emancipation and postcoloniality, living with our hard-wired histories that include conquest, enslavement, indentureship and the ruthless exploitations of our land and our labour by foreign capital interests, our appreciation of IWD must not be permitted to come from the artificial place of an adopted narrative of a comparatively recent exposure to abuses and troubles. It seems that our people, our women are, and will be, because they never surrendered and habitually and courageously “#choose to challenge”.
- Published in Faculty, News, Office of the President, Stories
USC Hosts 15th Annual Research Day
Under the auspices of USC’s Charter Week 2021 which commemorates fifteen years of University Status, the Department of Research and Innovation presents its 15th Annual Research Day. For the first time, USC’s Research Day will be hosted virtually under the theme: Education in Transition: Moving Beyond a Pandemic Response.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the educational landscape has dramatically transitioned from the traditional face to face teaching and learning experiences to remote mode on a digital platform.
Presentations will focus on the challenges, opportunities, innovative approaches in the diverse disciplines of study – health and medical care, management strategies, promoting student-centric culture, entrepreneurship, unemployment issues, online education and counselling, teacher-student attitudes and beliefs, home-schooling, national security issues and food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 10 & 11, 2021 presenters from Africa, Asia, the USA, South America and the Caribbean will participate in auspicious event inaugurated by The Honourable Minister Dr. Nyan Gadsy-Dolly, Minister of Education, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
USC’s 15th Annual Research Day will conclude with a lively Round Table Discussion facilitated by Sen. Paul Richards, Independent Senator in the Parliament, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Panelists from various Adventist Universities will focus on theme: Moving Beyond a Pandemic Response. Panelists will highlight their success stories and effective strategies undertaken during the pandemic.
As a pre-cursor, USC’s 5th Annual Public Lecture Series will see a feature presentation by Dr. Leslie N. Pollard, President of the Oakwood University. Dr. Pollard’s presentation will also reflect on the theme: Education in Transition: Moving Beyond a Pandemic Response.
For more information and to view a full schedule of activity: https://usc.southcaribadventists.org/researchday/
- Published in News, Research and Innovation
USC Assists Student Whose Home Lost in Fire
On Sunday, February 14, 2021, Nneka McNeil-Green lost her San Fernando home to a fire. The 4th-year Biology major lived with her mother and three siblings. The devastating loss of their home came just two weeks after Nneka lost her father to a fatal asthma attack.
USC’s Office of Spiritual Development reached out to Nneka to assess her family’s needs, and subsequently coordinated collaborative relief efforts.
Combined with financial assistance to help with any immediate needs, Nneka and her family were temporarily relocated and housed in a fully furnished and stocked apartment at the Married Students Complex.
On Sunday, February 21, 2021, USC’s I-Provide Ministry Team coordinated and assisted a renovation exercise of another property owned by the family but had fallen to disrepair. Collaborating with USC’s I-Provide Ministry Team were Pastor Lyndon Lewis and his wife Alice Lewis, and members of the Rainy Temple SDA Church. This San Fernando congregation also provided food, man-power, and other valuable assistance in helping the family to settle into the new location. The new home is presently being transformed into a livable dwelling, but still does not have basic amenities.
This is an ongoing relief effort and donations towards helping Nneka with scholarship funding, electronic items, appliances, and home furnishings are welcomed. To find out how you can provide assistance, please contact USC’s Office of Spiritual Development at (868) 612-4USC (4872) ext. 1170.
- Published in News
Intellectual Debating is Alive & Well at USC
On Thursday November 12, 2020, at 2:30pm, the University of the Southern Caribbean Economics Department fielded a team of debaters in the annual COTE Tertiary Debating Competition.
The theme: Be it resolved that International Financial Institutions are crucial for mitigating the impact of the Corona Virus pandemic in the Caribbean.
The USC Debating Team was comprised as follows:
- 1st Speaker for the Proposition – Gershom Byng
- 2nd Speaker for the Proposition – Mickael Walters
- Team Researcher – Velvet Benicourt
We looked forward with great anticipation to maintaining the Championship Trophy but alas our opponents, UWI Roytec edged us out in the finals. We congratulate them on their success! Though securing the 2nd place, the USC team is confident that at the very earliest opportunity, they can reclaim the trophy at the next debate.
Dr. Stephen Pilgrim, recently appointed Professor of Economics, was the lead coach for the team and he was ably supported by the Chair of Department – Esther Cedeno as well as, the Acting Dean of the School of Business & Entrepreneurship, Sherri-Lyn Legall. We also acknowledge the sterling contribution of Duane Winchester, an adjunct Economics Lecturer in the School of Business & Entrepreneurship. We also express thanks to Mr. Dwight Francis and team, as well as several others for their invaluable support in preparation for the day of the Debate.
The spirit of togetherness and positivity was very real among the team members, and among the Economics students as a whole, who regularly attended debate practice sessions, along with the teachers indicated above. The determination of the Economics debaters, augers well for the future of the Economics Academic Program at USC. It is the hope that this form of intellectual curiosity and rigor would characterize a desirable style of learning throughout USC, going forward. Further, we hope to strengthen the pursuit of scholarly research and raise awareness and enthusiasm among students and faculty alike.
We salute our team!
- Published in News
Virtual Conferral Ceremony
On Friday, October 9, 2020, at 10:00am the University of the Southern Caribbean shall confer degrees upon the members of the Class of 2020 who have met all of their requirements, marking the completion of their academic program.
You are cordially invited to this Virtual Conferral Ceremony in support of our approximately 600 graduands.
Join us live at the following links:
USC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usctt/
USC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/USCTrinidad
- Published in News
USC offers virtual classes for 1st Semester 2020/2021
The University of the Southern Caribbean wishes to advise that classes for its first semester of the 2020/2021 School Year will be offered virtually.
The government of Trinidad and Tobago has been successfully managing the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past months through the enforcement of various innovative strategies. Some of the strategies include closure of Educational Institutions as well as the closure of the “borders” to commercial traffic. However, while educational institutions will be allowed to reopen their doors in September, there remains uncertainty as it relates to the reopening of the borders. This will greatly impact the University’s international students and their ability to travel to Trinidad to attend classes for the first semester.
In an effort to ensure that new and continuing students are not debarred from pursuing their degrees, all the courses for the first semester will be offered remotely via online and zoom. All labs and classes with practical components will be offered through the face to face modality.
Students who are required to complete classes with labs, as well as students who are required to complete practicum/internship courses, are asked to contact the Dean or Chair of their School for the details regarding lab completion and practicum/internship hours.
- Published in News
USC establishes its Student Relief Fund due to COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial impact it has had, the University of the Southern Caribbean has established a Student Relief Fund.
The Student Relief Fund is an effort which engages all stakeholders of the USC community and friends to support our students through this period of financial crisis. It will officially be launched on Thursday 14th May, 2020 at 5:00pm and will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.
How will our students benefit?
- Subsidized tuition fees for non-GATE students.
- Subsidized registration fees for GATE students.
We request your support by way of personal fundraising and we also encourage you to support by your attendance, participation and promotion of the University’s upcoming crowd fundraising activities which includes online concerts, webinars and more. Further details of these upcoming events will be shared in subsequent correspondence.
For further information, kindly contact:
Chairman, Student Relief Fund
How you can contribute:
a. Online Donation
Account Name: USC Donations
To make a payment/donation using Third Party Payment Key
i. Go to Aeorion’s home page at aeorion.usc.southcaribadventists.org
ii. Click on the Third Party Payment link
iii. Enter the Third Party Payment Key 47938727, then proceed
iv. Fill out the Credit Card details and Billing information
v. Click on Pay Now
vi. An email will be sent to the user as confirmation of payment
b. Wire transfer
Beneficiary: University of the Southern Caribbean
Beneficiary Address: Maracas Royal Road, St. Joseph
Beneficiary Account Number: 1000 180 103 16573
Beneficiary Bank Name: RBC Bank T&T Ltd.
Beneficiary Name Bank Address: St. Augustine Shopping Centre, EMR, St. Augustine
Swift Code: RBTTTTPX
Thank you for your continued support and may God Bless you.
Hilary Bowman
President
- Published in News
USC closes its campus & transitions to its academic plan
Dear USC Community:
I wish to thank you for your continued cooperation and resilience in these unprecedented times.
The University continues to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the region, especially as additional cases, have been confirmed. We are taking all necessary precautions in line with the recommendations by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and all regional governments and as a result, we wish to provide you with the following updates:
- With immediate effect our Main campus, South and Tobago extension campuses will be closed until April 20, 2020.
- Effective March 23, 2020 until further notice, all classes will be conducted virtually via a distance education approach. Full details of this plan is available on the USC website.
- The week of the 16th – 19th March is our week of transition to Distance Learning. During this period, the School of Distance Education will commence training for all faculty and students to facilitate the distance learning model. Lecturers will take this time to load all their information on Aeorion (our student management system) in preparation of teaching via distance by the week of the 23rd March until the end of the semester.
- Our residence halls will be closed from March 22, 2020 until further advised. We encourage our international students residing at our dormitories to return home to their loved ones at this time. Any student having challenges meeting this date kindly liaise with your dean.
- Residents living on our main campus are kindly asked to follow all the essential health practices as outlined by the Ministry of Health and also notify the command centre if and whenever you are expecting external visitors.
Kindly note the following key contact details:
Command Centre / Head of Security
Stevenson Byng
+(868) 787.2099
byng@usc.southcaribadventists.org
Senior Safety Officer
Ellen Sorzano-John
+(868) 688.4237
sorzano@usc.southcaribadventists.org
Health Services
Shelly Ann Madansingh
+(868)471.7469
madansinghs@usc.southcaribadventists.org
Office of the Provost / Academic Administration
Dr. Wanda Chesney, Provost (Ag.)
+ (868) 499.6603
chesneyw@usc.southcaribadventists.org
Dean of Distance Education
Dr. Leroy Hill
+(868) 773.0400
hill@usc.southcaribadventists.org
Marketing & Communication
Josh Rudder
+(868) 474.1181
rudderj@usc.southcaribadventists.org
We will keep you the university community updated as circumstances evolve. For additional information, please visit the USC website.
Sincerely,
Dr. Hilary Bowman
President
- Published in News