From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Local
College of The Bahamas Progressing Towards University Transition
By College of The Bahamas Communications
Sep 19, 2012 - 11:01:30 AM


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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.

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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