From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
College of The Bahamas Progressing Towards University Transition
By College of The Bahamas Communications
Sep 19, 2012 - 11:01:30 AM
From left are: Ms. Antoinette Seymour, Archivist; Dr. Joan Vanderpool, Higher Education and Development Policy Specialist; Mr. Sears, College Council Chairman; Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald; UTS Team Leader Professor Olivia Saunders; Mrs. Rubie Nottage, Legal Advisor; Mrs. Sandra Dean-Smith, Administrative Assistant, and Mr. K. Quincy Parker, Community Relations Attaché.
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Nassau, BAHAMAS – The University Transition
Secretariat (UTS), appointed to envision the character and roadmap for
The University of The Bahamas, met with Minister of Education, Science
and Technology Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald and Chairman of the College
Council Mr. Alfred Sears on Monday, September 17th .
Minister
Fitzgerald stressed his support for the work of the Secretariat, which
he termed an “important, critical initiative for national development.”
“I
look forward to doing whatever I can to help you in this most important
work,” Minister Fitzgerald said during the meeting at the UTS
headquarters at The College’s Oakes Field Campus.
Professor
Olivia Saunders, team leader of the Secretariat, updated the Minister
on the group’s work, which she said had begun as early as July 2012. She
said consultations are underway with the College community, including
faculty and staff, as well as the community at large.
Professor
Saunders also noted that the Secretariat had already visited Exuma to
consult with communities on that island on what their needs are from the
national university. Exuma is the first of a number of islands the
Secretariat plans to visit for consultations.
Consultation will be among the central guiding principles of governance for the University of The Bahamas, she said.
In
May 2012, Minister Fitzgerald affirmed the government’s commitment to
the establishment of The University and the College Council is now
proceeding towards that realisation by 2015.
On
11 July, 2012 the College Council approved the establishment of a
Secretariat to envision the character and design the roadmap to The
University of The Bahamas. Through its Terms of Reference, the
Secretariat will assure that the voices of administrators, faculty,
staff, students, alumni and external stakeholders of The College receive
full consideration in the conceptualisation of the character of The
University of The Bahamas and in the identification of steps to be taken
towards its realisation.
Composition of the Secretariat:
Professor Olivia Saunders, Team Leader
Dr. Joan Vanderpool, Higher Education and Development Policy Specialist
Ms. Antoinette Seymour, Archivist
Mr. K. Quincy Parker, Community Relations Attaché
Mrs. Sandra Dean-Smith, Administrative Assistant
Associate Professor Mrs. Rubie Nottage, Legal Advisor
Dr.
Saunders noted that the Secretariat had already formed four working
groups to involve faculty and staff and other interested parties in
consultation and collaboration on Research (led by Dr. Vanderpool);
Legislation (led by Mrs. Nottage); Core Values (led by Ms. Seymour) and
the Academic Plan (led by Professor Saunders).
“We
are very happy with the response that we’ve gotten from within The
College of The Bahamas,” she said. “Everyone’s excited about The
University of The Bahamas.”
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