1 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 2 Assuring Quality Ensuring Relevance "If we do not build our national university, the National University will not be able to build Belize. So we are looking to our Belizean partners for support in this major endeavour," Assistant Provost, Dr Cynthia Thompson. Another milestone in the history of the University of Belize was held on August 29 with the launched of the University’s Curriculum Review entitled: “Assuring Quality – Ensuring Rel- evance” at the Radisson Fort George Hotel, Belize City.
The Curriculum Review, “is aimed at retooling the University to address national develop- ment needs and to promote, the role of the University as a catalyst for change to enable socio-economic transformation and sustainable development in Belize,” said President of the University of Belize, Dr Cary Fraser.
He explained the curriculum review is part of the road-map for moving the University to- wards accreditation, strengthening programs that will address the needs for skills in the workforce of both the public/private sectors; for establishing a wider range of four-year degree programs; and for providing students with the relevant skills and competencies for employment and entrepreneurship.
Leading the Review process with strong support from the Deans and Department Chairs is the Assistant Provost, Dr. Cynthia Thompson. She said “this review is something that should have happened in the early days of the University. We should have stopped and said we are amalgamating 5 institutions and with different cultures but I think not enough attention was given to making the shifts, not only in put- ting people together- but the shifts in changing the culture of the institution.”
The review process which commenced in August 2012, includes faculty consultations, reviews of past programs, assessment of expertise in each faculty, reviews of regional and international curriculum standards, and surveys for current students, alum- ni, employers, and faculty. It is designed to create an ongoing program of academic reviews that will help to monitor and constantly improve the quality of the institution’s academic programs.
The curriculum was identified by the President Fraser shortly after his appointment as a major area requiring intervention and a compre- hensive review. 2 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 3 Orientation Ceremonies for newly enrolled students
The University of Belize held its orientation exercises during the period July 29 to August 2, for 1,559 new students for the new academic year 2013–2014.
The new students will be entering programs in information technology, accounting, para- legal studies, tourism, pharmacy, nursing, social work, entrepreneurship skills for market- ing, agriculture, and teacher training to meet the country’s developmental needs.
Students at orientation were introduced to policies and procedures of the University in particular academic policies and procedures, non-academic policies and procedures, and student life on campuses. The Orientation sessions allowed students to establish connec- tions with their colleagues in the various programs, and to meet their respective lectur- ers and deans. REGISTRATION BY FACULTY 1500 FNAHSW Orientation was held under the theme: 1200 FST GET INVOLVED: UB is for all of us FEA UB Da Fi Aal A Wi 900 UB Para Todos FMSS UB Woun Sounwagiya 600 UB Ke X’Kajunil 4,329 300 students registered for this 0 semester FNAHSW: Faculty of Nursing, Allied Health, and Social Work; FST: Faculty of Science and Technology; FEA: Faculty of Education and Arts; FMSS: Faculty of Management and Social Sciences UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 4 UB Celebrates 13 years of contributing to national development of Belize The University of Belize today celebrates its 13th Anniversary as the national tertiary institution 2000-2013 for Belize and is proud to con- tinue to serve Belize as a vehicle for training more students to develop a wide range of opportunities for Belizeans.
On August 1, 2000, the University of Belize (UB) was born from a merger of five institutions: the University College of Belize (UCB), the Belize Technical College (BTC), the Belize Teach- ers’ Training College (BTTC), the Belize School of Nursing (BSN), and the Belize College of Ag- riculture (BCA). UCB, BTC and BTTC were under the supervision of the Ministry of Education (MOE); BSN was under the supervision of the Ministry of Health (MOH); and BCA was under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).
Initially, UB offered programs from the location of the five former institutions; however, in 2004, the main campus was officially moved to Belmopan City. UB now offers programs from its main cam- pus in Belmopan, from three locations on its Belize City campus, from its Central Farm campus, and from its southern campus in Punta Gorda. UB also owns and manages two marine field stations at Calabash and Hunting Cayes.
The University has trained 7,658 graduates since its amalgamation. It has sought to meet national demand in the areas of accounting, tourism, para- legal studies, social work, nursing, and pharmacy as well as marketing, managerial, and entrepreneurial skills and competencies to meet the needs of the public and private sectors. They have also been provided with Information Tech- nology skills and competencies to adapt to new technologies that play an increasingly important role in Belize’s development and its educational system.
The University wishes to thank the people and Government of Belize for their confidence and will continue to serve as a catalyst for change by pro- viding relevant, affordable and accessible educa- tional and training programs that address national needs. 4 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 5 Learning a New Language by Living it Closing ceremonies for student summer exchange program between the University of Quintana Roo and the University of Belize were held in Quintana Roo on July 10 and Belmopan on July 11.
The goal of the one-month exchange program is for students from UB to learn Spanish and experience the culture of the coun- try, and for students from UQROO to learn English and immerse theirselves in Belize’s language and culture.
At the closing, students from UB and UQROO spoke in the language they had been practicing, reminisced about their learning experiences, and gave performances of songs, dance, and drama including reading poems.
The Student Summer Exchange has fostered relations between both universities. In July, 2012 the agreement was consolidated by the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Belize and University of Quintana Roo. At the signing Dr. Cary Fraser, President of the University of Belize said the agreement, “demonstrates the strategic collaboration between the two universities in fostering and enhancing aca- demic and cultural exchanges among students of the University of Belize and Universidad de Quintana Roo.” UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 6 83 Students Receive Scholarships The students were awarded the scholarships at the University of Belize Scholarship Award Ceremony at the Jaguar Auditorium, Central Campus, Belmopan on August 9.
The awards to the students were in three categories: Barton, UB Alumni Association, and Student-Athlete Scholarships.
The Barton Scholarship fund provides full and partial scholarships to students en- rolled in Univer- sity of Belize’s Associate and Proud recipients of the scholarships Bachelor De- gree programs. A total of 15 students were awarded this scholarship. Funding for UBAA President Mr. Kerry this scholarship is provided through annual support from one of Belisle along with the University of Belize’s benefactors, Nick and Debbie Barton from Ms. Dyandra Williams the UK.
The University of Belize Alumni Association (UBAA) Scholarship is based on financial need, academic excellence and other conditions set by the UBAA and the Office of Student Affairs. This year’s recipi- ent is Dyandra Marleney Williams a student pursuing an Associate Degree in Tourism Studies. President of the UB Alumni Association, Mr. Kerry Belisle, pre- sented the scholarship to Ms. Williams.
The Student-Athlete Scholarship Program is funded by the University of Belize and it has been in exis- tence for the past eight years. The scholarship is awarded to students who excel in both academic and athletic skill. This year the University awarded 67 student-athletes (male and female) in the areas of Basketball, Football, Softball, Cycling and Canoeing.
Dean of Student of Affairs, Mr. William Neal presented the scholarships to the students and congratulated them. The students also signed a contract where they pledged to observe requirements for maintaining standards for good behavior, good grades, and com- munity service. Athletes on a physical test Congratulations to all the awardees. 6 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 7 Ambassadors in Mathematics Two of our former Math students, Luis Ek and Jair Pol, who both graduated in June 2013 with Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, represented the Univer- sity of Belize in Tegucigalpa , Honduras attending seminars in Master's level mathematical courses at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. The students are attended seminars in 'Introduction to Non-Linear Optimiza- tion', 'Algebraic Extensions and Galois Theory' and 'Regression Models.’ The seminars are being facilitated by lec- turers from the region and beyond and is being attended by students from the Central American and Carib- bean regions. The EMALCA (Escuelas de Matematicas para Latino America y el Caribe - Latin American and Carib- bean Mathematics School) seminars Jair Pol and Luis Ek at EMALCA are being funded by UMALCA (Union de Matematica de Latino America y el Caribe - Latin American and Caribbean Mathematic Union). Jair shares his experience This was a life changing experience as we got exposed for the first time to mathematics courses at the master’s level. In addition to this, we got the opportunity to meet other mathematicians from other Central American countries where we worked together as colleagues, shared ideas and most importantly shared our different cultures with each other.
I would like to thank God for giving me the life and knowledge to form part of the magnificent event, to my family for the unconditional support, and to Mr. Steven Lewis and Dr. Joaquin Urbina for tak- ing the initiative in talking and inviting us to form part of this group and, most importantly for their full support before, during and after our attendance at the seminar. Jair with Professor It was the first time that Belize was being represented at the event, Maria Redondo and that an invitation has already been extended to Belize and UB to participate on the next EMALCA which will be held in 2015.
I strongly recommend every Belizean mathematician should participate in this enlightening and life changing opportunity. UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 8 “...priceless knowledge,” Luis... These classes were intense but manageable. It was my first time I was being taught mathematics in formal Spanish, and this indeed proved to be a challenge to me. The drastic change in termi- nology and jargon was quite a thrill. Nevertheless, thanks to God, I was able to pull it off. The content covered by the professors was at the master’s level and I con- sider it to be priceless knowledge. We also went on some exciting outings like visiting “Valle de Angeles”, “Las Cuevas de Taulabe” and touring in Tegucigalpa. And these trips helped us appreciate the great beauty of the capital of Honduras.
Now, these ten days swiftly passed by and we did enjoy Study hard... every moment of it. then it is time for an outing
Overall, it was an interesting and unforgettable experience, and we hope that UB continues par- ticipating in future EMALCAS. Understanding the Past Shaping the Future Mrs. Barbara Thummalapally, wife of the former US ambassador to Belize H.E. Vinai K. Thummalapally, presented history books to the University of Belize on behalf of a donor. The books will be useful to students majoring History. Dr. Cary Fraser received the books on the University’s behalf and he thanked Mrs. Thummalapally for this valuable dona- tion.
President Fraser receiving book from Mrs. Barbara Thummalapally
On related news Mrs. Thummalapally donated an autographed Pat the Great Cat book to the library. Pat the Great Cat is a story for children about a Belizean jaguar that is in The Milwaukee County Zoo in the United States. 8 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 9 Read to Succeed Excitedly the children walked up for their certificate on August 2, 2013. They had participated in the UB Library Summer Reading Program and were now at the end of it. For three weeks, 36 at risk students were taught how to improve their reading skills, and to develop an appreciation and love for reading that will help them in the long term as they proceed through school and life.
Guest speaker at the ceremony was Mrs. Evangelina Xiu. She asked parents to pledge to take time with their children to help them with their homework and other school related activities. She also encouraged parents to establish a good relation- ship with teachers.
The program This program has been helping in improving reading Approximately started with skills among students and approximately 200 students have benefited over the past five years. The program started in 2009 with 15 students and Mrs. Xiu was the first teacher in the program. Parents commend the 200 15 University for the program and provide feedback on students have benefit- students the improvement they have seen in their child. ed from this program
Students at risk from the primary schools in the City of Belmopan are selected by their re- spective principals and teachers and are then enrolled in the Summer Reading Program.
Coordinator of the Summer Reading Program, Ms. Desreen Williams, says their goal is to continue help moving children to higher levels of reading ability.
Special thanks to the teachers who took time out to help children improve their reading skills: Zoie Marin, Racheal Hughes, Shevon Ramirez, Denisha Marin, Olivette Gillett, Kimberly Stuart, Agatha Tush, and Tiffara Waight
Keith Vasquez has im- proved his reading skills. UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 10 Primary school students to benefit from UB Outreach Programs in Northern Districts The University of Belize held Opening Ceremonies on July 5, 2013 to inaugurate its Bachelor in Primary Edu- cation and Certificate in Primary Education in Orange Walk.
The programs will provide classes in the Northern Districts of Belize to primary school teachers who have an Associate Degree in Primary Education or a Certificate in Primary Education. It will provide Bach- elor level certification for primary school teachers in the two districts.
Dean Dr. Priscila Brown-Lopez and Coordinator Mr. Nestor Chan
Registered students for summer 2013 in the Bachelor’s program numbered 58, and 24 others will be pursuing the Certificate in Primary Education.
Dr. Wilma Wright, Interim Provost, in her opening remarks expressed, “my heart is always in teacher training,” and to teachers she said, “you will impart your knowledge in a way that children will learn.”
Dr. Priscilla Brown-Lopez, Acting Dean of Faculty of Education of Arts, made it clear that this center is not intended to be a place where classes are held, minimal learning oc- curs, and students are awarded degrees. It is intended to create trained teachers who are very skilled and knowledgeable. The University of Belize is holding you accountable for maintaining high standards and to witness the change this initiative is designed to create. And so I will await demonstrations of your skills as teachers and how you have influenced the children entrusted to your professional care.
This initiative from the University seeks to increase the number of trained school teachers across the country. These programs will ultimately provide better services for the teach- ers and students of the Northern Districts. 10 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 11 Welcome for RLC students The University of Belize wel- comed the incoming students for the Regional Language Centre on August 9, 2013. Forty-five students will be enrolled in the English as a Second Language Program where they will be learn- ing Belize’s official language and will be exposed to our culture. The students come from different countries including: Mexico, Cuba, Peru, ROC (Taiwan), Republic of China, Honduras, and Guate- mala. Former NBA Champion inspires young basketball players Former NBA player, Derek Anderson delivered a Motiva- tional Speech on Entrepreneurship to basketball players and members of the surrounding areas of Belmopan on August 8 at the Jaguar Auditorium, University of Belize, Central Cam- pus, Belmopan.
He is one of 13 players who won an NBA Championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat, and an NCAA Championship. Grow- ing up poor and without parents who had left him to the streets, Derek found his inner self-motivation that led to his success as a producer, philanthropist, inventor and author. His inspi- rational story is detailed in his book titled “Stami- na.”
Derek’s visit to Belize is to reach out and help others who have experienced similar challenges. He retired from the NBA in 2008. UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 12 FEA Assists Calvary Temple Students of a Standard One class at Calvary Temple School now have a renovated class- room, complete with a corner class library. On May 15 and 16, the Belize City faculty and staff of UB’s Faculty of Education and Arts pulled up their sleeves and went in to replace ceiling hardboard panels and to scrape and paint walls and the corridor leading to the classroom. The activity culminated in May, following six weeks of faculty members collect- ing over one hundred (100) appropriate and well-kept books for the Standard One library, acquiring donations of paint and supplies, and coordinating with the classroom teacher and school principal. Classroom teacher Tricia Reneau—herself a UB primary education bacca- laureate graduate with 20 years of teaching experience at Calvary Temple—said “I am so proud of UB, and to top it off I see my former UB lecturers helping us!”
Calvary Temple, opened in 1952, is located on Regent Street West in Belize City. It has 250 students and 14 teach- ers. Its principal, Miss Georgette Bartley, expressed her gratitude to the FEA crew, saying that the bigger schools often get more regular contributions given the alma mater pool. “I really appreciate this from UB,” she said, “es- pecially seeing FEA lecturers, from my own alma mater, living up to their service contributions to the community … this school is small and these children here are like my children; I really appreciate this gesture from UB and it energizes all of us to continue meeting the new challeng- es of daily operations while having a symbiotic relation- ship with our students and the community.” The principal, who also noted the challenge of getting more parental involvement and support, then shared some of the inno- vative measure the school and its own teachers and staff have taken up to assist with internal class upkeep and supplies, such as impressive ethnic crocheted earrings and baby quilts labeled “Calvary Temple School Products.”
The faculty and staff of FEA Belize City did the service activity as part of their contribution to the Faculty of Education and Arts Education Week in late March, which is when the deci- sion was made to approach the Education Department’s Literacy Unit to get ideas on which schools could most benefit from FEA’s idea to collect books for a classroom library. Once the management and principal of Calvary Temple agreed, the FEA team visited the school and realized that just a bit more effort could result in also doing some renovations before creating the library. Donations were contributed, either paint or supplies, from the follow- ing: Brothers Habet on Barrack Road; UB’s President Emeritus Dr. Corinth Morter-Lewis; Melissa Hoare-Perrera; Mr. Kevin Tucker, through Restore Belize; Dk. Silvaana Udz; Chair Nadine Tun and her husband Ismael and son Dorant, both of whom provided much elbow grease and expertise in replacing the hardboards; Trenelle Samuels-Reneau; Dr. Maxine Mckay; Nyahbinghi Price; and Mrs. Maureen Cayetano. Chair of the Belize City FEA campus Nadine Tun noted that “the best thing is that we all at FEA agreed and gave a commitment, a meaningful commitment, and we kept it. What we do at FEA does not only occur in the classroom where, through our teacher training, Belizean schoolchildren are influenced. We are also showing them that we care.” 12 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 13 Student Leaders Members of the new Student Government from the different campuses gathered at the Central Cam- pus to be sworn in as the Student Govern- ment for the aca- demic year 2013-2014. The students were given an orientation on the rules and responsibilities of being a student leader.
The students then proceeded to elect the members of the Association of Student Governments (ASG). The Chair of the ASG will represent the students in the Board of Trustees; Ms. Anita Ack, Student Gov- ernment President for Belize City, was elected as the Chair. Yanira Garcia, Central Campus President, ASG members (l-r) David Alcantara, was elected as the Vice President of the Associa- Anita Ack, Yanira Garcia, and Darren tion. Darren Williams was elected as Treasurer and Williams TheDavid Alcantara Art as Secretary. of Teaching Students of the Art Education class put into practice what they had learnt during the summer semester by doing art work with materials that can be found right at home. Art Education provides teachers with skills to effectively expose students to the elements of arts. Teachers can be better teachers by making use of avail- able local materials in creating and designing art pieces. With arts, students can improve their learning environment to make it more conducive to learning. Teachers can also help to stimu- late students' artistic talents so that they can become entrepre- neurs in producing local art piec- es. UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 14 Counseling in the Belize Educational Setting The University of Belize, in partnership with the Minis- try of Education Teacher Education Development Ser- vices (TEDS), hosted a conference entitled, “A Critical Look at Counseling in the Belize Educational Setting,” on August 5&6, 2013 at the ITVET Compound, Belize City.
The University of Belize, recognizing the increasing need for counseling services facilitated the national dialogue with key stakeholders; Counselors, Social Guest Speaker Workers, Mental Health Professionals, School Counsel- Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow ors/Administrators, and agencies and institutions that offer counseling services.
The participants discussed concerns about contemporary issues in counseling, particularly at risk adolescent boys; examined the counseling profession in the educational and train- ing institutions in Belize, and drafted a roadmap for the institutionalization of professional counseling in Belize.
Children and young adults are experiencing dif- ficulties, which can lead to emotional problems and even mental illness. Risk conditions have manifested themselves in numerous ways including a dropout rate in schools among adolescent boys, a high rate of teenage pregnancies, and a steady increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases.
Stakeholders also discussed available data that Dr. Priscilla Brown-Lopez would allow the University to develop relevant
courses or programs to train practitioners for counseling in the educational setting in Belize.
The University is committed to the view that young people should be able to access coun- seling services. Counseling in schools, may provide an important avenue for such inter- ventions.
Sessions at the Conference included Devel- oping School Counseling, Crisis Management, Conflict Mediation Techniques, Counseling Programs and Values & Ethics of the Counsel- ing Profession. 14 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 15 UB facilitates Competency Based Education Training The University of Belize facilitated a two-week training workshop in Competency Based Education Training (CBET) at the Central Farm Campus (UB- CFC), Cayo.
CBET is a strategy for education and training used in professional environments and academic institu- tions as an alternative to the traditional course- credit based curriculum. It focuses on defined com- petencies which are used as benchmarks to assess Improving teaching techniques the progress of students. Competencies are a set of skills, knowledge and behaviors someone needs to have achieved in order to perform tasks, jobs or activities in the world of work.
Present in the country, facilitating the training program were Patricia Bidart from Bow Val- ley Community College of Calgary, Angela Wilm of Lakeland College in Vermilion Alberta, Canada and Richard Peppinch who assisted in the participants’ teaching sessions.
A total of 30 personnel from ITVETS and Technical institutes from the districts, UB, and UBCFC are participating in the training program to improve their teaching techniques and to become competency-based educators. They are studying various teaching and learning theories that focus on learning outcomes with specific, measurable definitions of knowl- edge, strategies and behaviour.
This training at the University’s Central Farm Campus is integral to the CARICOM Education for Employment Program (C-EFE) which is funded by the Canadian International Develop- ment Agency (CIDA). It is designed to support the economic development of the Caribbean region through the strengthening of its TVET system.
The project will build the capacity of the UBCF in agricultural programming, CBET teaching methodology, curriculum development and implementation. In addition the project will help to build skills in project planning and management, entrepreneurship and developing strat- egies for meeting the needs of the labour markets across the region.
Successful participants at the conclusion of the training program received a certificate at a cer- emony which was held at 1 p.m. on Friday August 16 at UCFC. The certificates were presented to participants by Dr. Wilma Wright, Interim Provost of the University of Belize. They were also invited to the Advanced CBET training - "Training of Trainers course,” in December, 2013. UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 16 Learn at your own pace in your own space The University of Belize in fulfilment of its Acting Dean of the Faculty of Education and mission to contribute to the development of Arts, Dr. Priscilla Brown-Lopez at the launch. Belize, and as a member of the Common- wealth Open Schooling Association (COMO- Speaking at the event, Assistant Provost, Dr SA), has collaborated with Gwen Lizaragga Cynthia Thompson said that the establish- High School in the launch of the first ever ment of an Open School at Gwen Liz will Open School in Belize in August. make a difference based on research which demonstrate a link between a country’s Initially over 125 women and men who other- economic growth and the education of its wise would not be able to access secondary population. school will benefit from the use of innova- tive technology while pursuing a Secondary “This project strives to provide the enabling School Diploma. environment that will allow access for a larger proportion of learners who are seek- ing secondary education certification,” re- marked Dr Thompson. “Many of these learn- ers are working parents who must juggle their commitment to work, commitment to their families, and commitment to obtaining an education.”
Mrs. Frances Ferriera came to Belize to work with administration and teach- This initiative sponsored by the Common- ers at Gwen wealth of Learning (COL) and supported by Lizaragga and the University of Belize will form the ba- administra- sis for the development of Open Schools tors at the country-wide and for the development of University as the University of Belize Open and Distance they begin the Learning Unit. process of es- Mrs. Frances Ferriera tablishing the The vision of the initiative is also for the Open School. She is an Education Specialist current Evening Division of Gwen Lizaragga with responsibility for Open Schooling at the High School to be converted into an Open Commonwealth of Learning in Vancouver, School that offers courses and programs to Canada, meet the needs of adults and out of school youth. “It is envisioned that students at Ms. Ferrera trained instructors at Gwen Gwen Lizarraga Open School with support Lizarraga Evening Division on how to use from the University of Belize…and the Com- Open Educational Resources and innovative monwealth of Learning will be highly moti- technology to enhance instructional practic- vated, exposed to innovative technology and es; identify resources and support to effec- excel in their programs of study,” said the ►Continued from page 17 16 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 17 UB Graduate Teaching English to Students in South Korea Twice per month, rewarded with the opportunity to make a Francine Sabal (2013 difference in the life of a child. MDP, Belize) leaves the KDI School of The program runs from April to December Public Management and currently enrolls 25 eager teens and 9 and Policy campus dedicated student-teachers. At the end of and makes her way the program, the teachers each receive a to the Dongdaemun Voluntary Community Service Certificate and Welfare Center memories to last a lifetime. where, for an hour, she teaches English Francine graduated from the University of to third graders, Belize with a Bachelor Degree in History with Magna Cum Laude distinction in January, "I strongly believe 2012. She is currently pursuing a Masters de- that whatever gree in Public Policy with a concentration in knowledge was passed on to us by others International Relations and Political Economy we owe it to others to pass it down to them at the Korean Development Institute in South too.” Korea.
Francine is one of nine devoted students participating In the Volunteer English Pro- gram run by the KDI School Library.
The volunteer program, which started in 2009, provides Korean teens from low- Income families the opportunity to improve their English and be exposed to diverse cultures. At the start of the Spring Semes- ter, the library sends out the call asking for students with a proficiency In English, enthusiasm and love for children to sign up. Nine students from Bangladesh, Belize, Iran, Egypt, Belarus, Algeria, Colombia and <
Discussions focused on the University’s first Masters Program in Biodiversity Conserva- tion & Sustainable Development, Marine Biology, Education, Agriculture and Research and other programs offered by UB. Also high Dr. Cary Fraser along with BSU Team on the agenda was UB Study Abroad Pro- gram and Student Exchange Program that would allow BSU students through their interna- tional study at UB to participate in an international educational experience in a multicultural society.
Representatives of BSU included Dr. Arthur Goldstein, Dean, College of Science and Math; Dr. Stephen Kaczmarek, Assistant Professor of Geological Sciences; Dr. Jennifer Mendell, Assis- tant Professor of Biological Science and Dave Ostroth, International Liaison.
The visiting delegation also met with senior faculty members of the Faculty of Science & Technol- ogy and the Faculty of Education and Arts of the national tertiary institution, and tour facilities of the University of Belize - Calabash Caye where UB is building national scientific capacity for effective Both teams discussed collaboration management, sustainable use and conservation of Belize’s natural resources and national treasures: Turneffe Atoll, the Belize Corridor and National Protect- ed Areas System, and the Central Farm Campus, which contributes to Belize’s food security and national development through agriculture and research.
Bridgewater State University’s offers more than 30 undergraduate academic programs in four different schools: the School of Business, the School of Education and Allied Studies, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Science and Mathematics. There is also a School of Graduate Studies. 18 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 19 Ongoing Beautification Project The University of Belize Campus Beautification Project, initiated by Mrs. Pearl Fraser with support from members of the faculty is approaching the end of its first year and wishes to encourage students to volunteer to transform the Belmopan Campus.
This summer, the Beautification Project took advantage of the rainy season to plant. The rainy season also stimu- lated growth of weeds so the volunteers worked harder weeding out the unwanted grass. The volunteers started painting the rock fence and tree trunks with White Lime, planted Hibiscus, Pride of Barbados, Ginger Lily, Frangipani, Croton, Allamanda and Orchids.
Thanks to the volunteers who have joined the project: Dr Dion Daniels, Mr Pedro Carrillo, Mr Santos Chicas. Thanks also to the students who helped as well, Ivan Aguilar, Dorian Enriquez, Connally Canto, and Vernon Moody. In addition, there were community volunteers, Ms Melissa Sobers, Mrs Becky Gushwa and the nieces and neighbours of Dr Perez-Rogers.
This semester, the Campus Beautification Committee will continue planting more plants and has embarked upon several mini projects, including planting a living fence by the front gate, planting hardwoods such as Cedar Rosewood, Zericote, Logwood specimens, planting indigenous Palms, assorted Vines, Ferns and Ornamental Grass.
The committee meets under the White Tent at the Belmopan Campus and welcomes volun- teers on Fridays from 8-11AM. UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 20 Protecting Sea Turtle... present and future generations The University of Belize Environmental Re- search Institute (ERI) in partnership with Oceanic Society, and financial support from the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conserva- tion Fund along with UB students, conducted the first baseline study of sea turtle distri- bution and abundance around the Turneffe Atoll. Three species of sea turtles have been documented to inhabit coastal waters and nest Belizean beaches. They include: Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Logger- head (Caretta caretta) and Green (Chelo- nia mydas) sea turtles. In Belize, sea turtle research is limited especially when looking fied at 18 sites distributed around the atoll at factors such as abundance, habitat use, - 61 hawksbills, 17 green and 9 loggerheads. connectivity, threats and impacts. Of those recorded, 17 were captured, mea- sured, tagged and released. All captured The objectives of the study were to: execute hawksbill and green turtles were juveniles. a circum-atoll visualization survey using Only a single adult female loggerhead was trained and supervised volunteer snorkel- captured. It seems that hawksbill and green ers to assess abundance and behaviors of turtles use the atoll as a juvenile foraging turtles in different habitat types; capture and developmental area. turtles by hand when possible to collect biometric information and tag individual All data collected is being housed at the turtles to establish a long-term capture- University and will be published at an online mark-recapture program, and create maps database later in the year. The Turneffe and a report of sea turtle distribution and Atoll is the largest of 3 offshore atolls and abundance at Turneffe Atoll for national and the most recent of Belize’s marine protected local resource managers. areas, established in November 2012. Span- ning some 52 km long and 18 km wide, it is The team conducted in-water surveys in a haven for marine life being comprised June, and employed the distance sampling of numerous mangrove cayes, beaches, methodology developed by the Wildlife sea grass beds and reef ecosystems. The Conservation Society (WCS), which allows hawksbill, green and loggerhead sea turtles comparison and joint analysis of sea turtle have all nested on the atoll. data between the different sites. ERI’s ma- rine team had previosuly worked with this method through participation in WCS’s Belizean Tagged turtle survey at the Glovers Reef Atoll in April. In-water surveys provide the oppor- tunity to estimate population size along with Turtle Nesting chances to capture, measure and tag indi- viduals, providing morphometric data of the In Mexico population. A total of 87 turtles were identi- 20 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 21
In related news, ha area in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The same Among the 17 turtle tagged in June had travelled 300km. tagged turtles According to Mexican biologists, this par- was a female log- ticular turtle is a new recruit to the nesting gerhead (Caretta population at Xel-ha and laid over 100 eggs. caretta) that was captured on the Although this kind of traveling behaviour fore reef area has been hypothesized in the past, this is near Crawl Caye the first record of a tagged sea turtle cap- and was docu- tured foraging in Belizean waters and later mented as the observed nesting on a Mexican beach. This largest turtle and suggests that the Turneffe Atoll serves as was also the sole a foraging ground to sea turtles nesting capture of its in Mexico and probably other countries in specie. the region. It also highlights the importance for regional collaboration in continuing the The loggerhead was tagged on both flip- present efforts of in-water surveys and pers. The turtle was weighed in at approxi- beach monitoring, among others. mately 86 kg with a straight carapace length of 88.7 cm. Due to its large size, the team Special thanks to our friends at “Flora, Fau- only managed to get shell measurements na y Cultura de Mexico A.C”, the Belize Sea and weight. Turtle Conservation Network, Linda Searle (Ecomar), Isaias Majil (Fisheries Department) We were informed that on July 25, that a and Kirah Forman (Hol Chan Marine Reserve) loggerhead turtle, matching our tags was for communicating this finding. observed nesting on a beach near the Xel- President & wife tour Barnes Arboretum During a recent visit to Philadelphia, Dr and for the Mrs. Fraser visited the Barnes Arboretum study of and Museum in that city. The Arboretum and Belizean Museum were established in the early 20th plant century by Dr Albert Barnes and his wife, species. Laura, and are currently managed by the Barnes Foundation as centres of education The de- about plants and art. velopment of an Arboretum can also serve as a research facility that can contribute The Barnes Arboretum is host to a collec- to the study of Belize’s natural environment tion of Native American plants and imported and the scientific/pharmaceutical proper- species from Asia and South America. Mrs. ties of its flora. Laura Barnes was an avid horticultural- ist and the Arboretum that she created The President and Mrs. Fraser would like to provides a model for the development of express their gratitude to Ms Nicole Juday, a similar facility at the University of Belize, Horticulture Education Coordinator, for a which can be used as a living classroom very informative tour of the Arboretum. UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 22 22 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 23 UB Ebulletin Volume 2 Issue 4 24