Sustainable Grand Bahama Conference Delves Into Hurricane Dorian Impact
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1 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 5 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 5 ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL 6 SENIOR ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATORS 7 ENROLMENT AND GRADUATION 12 FACULTY AT-A-GLANCE 13 YEAR IN REVIEW 2019-2020 26 ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT 28 GERACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE 30 FACULTY PROFILE 32 STAFF PROFILE 34 STUDENT PROFILE 36 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 38 UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS 39 FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 40 UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS 41 BOARD OF TRUSTEES DECISIONS 48 PRIVATE GIVING REPORT 49 ANNUAL FUND 50 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES e 2019-2020 academic year for the his administration with the task of of encouragement. In this regard, UB University has surely been shaped recommending to the Board a new has stood resilient - signaling to the by two major shocks: (1) the near Strategic Plan that would come into Bahamian people, “this too will pass”. complete destruction of the East eect at the end of 2019, and that I cannot overstate the importance Grand Bahama UB-North campus in the Board approved the Strategic of the morale-boosting role that the the wake of the passage of Hurricane Plan presented to the Board by the University has played in weathering Dorian; and (2) the health calamity President in November 2019. the literal and metaphorical storms and associated economic fall-out from battering our country. the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Despite the huge double blow to end of the academic year for which University’s development plans caused When UB-North’s East Grand this report is written, the University by the twin shocks, the University Bahama campus was blown to bits continues to confront these twin has continued its national tertiary by the raging seas and winds of shocks, and, as best as it can in the education mission, adapted to the Hurricane Dorian, Dr. Ian Strachan, circumstances, move forward with shocks, and stood as a beacon of Vice-President of UB-North, and the the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan for the resiliency for the country. When faced irrepressible employees and students University. Regarding the Strategic with a national crisis, the institutions of UB-North, kept UB’s tertiary Plan, it should be noted that the Board that project stability and continuity educational project going in the North of Trustees had set the President and oer the nation an important source through the use of temporary facilities 2 in the Freeport area. With the Board’s and online education platforms. is Despite the tough times, there are good full support, Dr. Strachan and his team adaptive transition was a complete things happening at the University then immediately set about to nd success thanks to the hard work of in the areas of academic programme a new location for the core services the faculty, the Chairpersons, and the review, teaching, and research. In of UB-North and to re-purpose the Deans under the leadership of the the face of any storm, and in the ne East Grand Bahama campus around VP of Academic Aairs, Dr. Maria tradition of Bahamian resiliency, the sustainability lessons oered by Oriakhi, and her team in Academic University of e Bahamas moves Dorian. While Dorian was a blow Aairs. Our students also have to be forward and upward. Together, with to the University’s goal of expanded commended for their understanding the support of all Bahamians, the access to higher education, the setback and strong support for the academic University will continue to strive to was temporary and the mission strategies that were put into place by support national development. And, in continues. the University during the academic this eort, the University is committed year to keep the University up and to continuous improvement and the e COVID-19 pandemic was also running. Last but not least, the Board development of a top-notch University met with a robust response from the and the entire University owe the of which all of us can be proud. University during the 2019-2020 Government a huge debt of gratitude academic year. e University was for maintaining the Tuition-Grant Onward. the rst institution to initiate remote Programme and stabilizing the working protocols for its employees, nances of the University during Dr. K. Jonathon Rodgers and led the way for other institutions the national scal crisis facing the Chairman to follow suit in compliance with the nation. rough providing free tuition, emergency regulations. is meant a the grant advances a key aspect of massive eort had to be undertaken the mission of the University and a by the University to shi from the national goal of the Government – physical classroom to remote teaching expanding access to higher education. using a variety of video conferencing 3 Message from the President is academic year has been an historic unfortunately visited by Hurricane Oakes Field Campus to continue their and challenging one for University of Dorian. is hurricane was like no other, programmes, and through the generosity e Bahamas. However, I am extremely and it devastated much of Abaco and of our friends at Hampton University in proud of UB’s students, faculty, sta Grand Bahama and our University of Virginia, USA, some students received and administration, who were able to e Bahamas-North Campus. scholarships to continue their studies respond well to all the challenges we there. faced and overcome them. is truly is was a blow to us, but under the speaks to our tenacity, and our belief in leadership of Dr. Ian Strachan, Vice e year 2020 began with renewed carrying out UB’s mission. President of UB-North, we were able vigor, but in mid-March the COVID-19 to secure a new location and resume pandemic reached Bahamian shores and, We started the academic year well, classes within one month of the storm. once again, we had to work swily to but the Northern Bahamas was Students who were able, also came to our adjust our operations. While moving to 4 Zoom meetings was relatively easy, We also quickly established a changed, and maintenance and Academic Aairs had the greatest COVID-19 Task Force, led by Dr. upgrades to ensure the proper challenge in transitioning over 90% Marcella Elliott-Ferguson of Vice sanitization methods and social of our face-to-face classes to online President of Administrative Services, distancing protocols. platforms. Dr. Maria Oriakhi, Vice and Mr. Ronnie Stevenson, Vice President of Academic Aairs, and President of Operations. e task the Academic Senate were able to force was able to put the necessary successfully do this, along with our plans in place for a phased reopening dedicated faculty. of our campuses, as the situation Despite the changes, we were able to successfully continue our operations and achieve the following: • We successfully broke ground for what will be our new campus residence hall, inclusive of retails spaces and a parking garage. • e Ceremonial and Occasions Committee planned and executed our rst virtual Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020. • e Academic Senate held virtual elections to continue working seamlessly. • e Division of Institutional Advancement held successful fundraising campaigns for both Hurricane Dorian Relief and COVID-19 technology needs. • Dr. Danny Davis, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Strengthening, was able to assist the Ministry of Health with work on the COVID-19 pandemic. I am looking forward to the 2020-2021 Academic Year, knowing that we have even greater things to achieve. Rodney D. Smith, Ed.D. President and CEO University of e Bahamas 5 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. K. Jonathan Rodgers, M.B.E., Chairman Ms. Alessandra Holowesko, Vice-Chair Dr. Rodney D. Smith, President and CEO, Ex-ocio Ms. Alexandra T. Hall, Trustee Mr. Raymond Rolle, Trustee Mr. Philip Stubbs, Trustee Mr. Peter Whitehead, Trustee Mr. Brian Jones, Trustee Mr. Henry St. George, Trustee Mr. D’Arcy Rahming, Trustee Ms. Kristie Powell, Trustee Ms. Margo Blackwell, Faculty Trustee Camille Lady Barnett, Retired Faculty Trustee Mr. Reno Miller, Alumni Association Trustee Ms. Ravelle Dean, Student Trustee Ms. Jeannie Gibson, Sta Trustee STAFF SUPPORT Mrs. Tracy Ferguson-Johnson, General Counsel Mr. Michael Stevenson, University Secretary Mr. Erald ompson, Chief Internal Auditor Mrs. Marissa Mason-Smith, Ombudsman ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL Dr. Rodney D. Smith, President and CEO Dr. Maria Woodside-Oriakhi, Acting VP Academic Aairs Ms. Ingrid Culmer, Acting VP Finance and Business Enterprise Dr. Mychal Coleman, VP Human Resources Dr. Marcella Elliott-Ferguson, VP Administrative Services 6 Mr. Dino Hernandez, VP Institutional Advancement & Alumni Aairs Dr. Ian Strachan, VP, University of e Bahamas-North Mr. Joe W. Stubbs, Dean of Students Mr. Elgin Smith, VP, Chief Information Ocer Mr. Ronnie Stevenson, VP Operations Ms. Maelynn Seymour-Major, Chief of Sta DEANS AND SENIOR ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATORS Dr. Danny Davis, Assistant Vice President, Institutional Strengthening and Accreditation Mr. Philip Weech, Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Research and Grants Dr. Douglas Barkey, Dean, Liberal & Fine Arts Dr. Carlton Watson, Dean, Pure & Applied Sciences Dr. Peter McWilliam, Dean, Faculty (UB-North) Mrs. Remelda Moxey, Dean, Business, Hospitality & Tourism Studies Dr. Vikneswaran Nair, Dean, Graduate Studies and Research Dr. Ruth Sumner, Dean, Social and Educational Studies Dr. Berthamae Walker, University Librarian Dr. Earla Carey-Baines, University Editor Dr. Pandora Johnson, Special Projects & Initiatives 7 ENROLMENT AND GRADUATION In Fall 2019, enrolment was 4,671 students, slightly more than the 4,399 registered in Fall 2018. While New Providence and Grand Bahama residents accounted for the vast majority of students, the student population included natives of 14 countries spanning several continents and regions around the globe. During 2019-2020, there were 443 graduates of UB comprising 76% (335) females and 24% (108) males, with more than three quarters of the graduates (81%) receiving baccalaureate degrees.