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:

1. With immediate effect our Main campus, South and Tobago extension campuses will be closed until April 20, 2020.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. 
5. 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.edu.tt

Senior Safety Officer
Ellen Sorzano-John
+(868) 688.4237
sorzano@usc.edu.tt

Health Services
Shelly Ann Madansingh
+(868)471.7469
madansinghs@usc.edu.tt

Office of the Provost / Academic Administration
Dr. Wanda Chesney, Provost (Ag.)
+ (868) 499.6603
chesneyw@usc.edu.tt

Dean of Distance Education
Dr. Leroy Hill
+(868) 773.0400
hill@usc.edu.tt

Marketing & Communication
Josh Rudder
+(868) 474.1181
rudderj@usc.edu.tt

We will keep you the university community updated as circumstances evolve. For additional information, please visit the USC website. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Hilary Bowman
President

Dear USC Community:

Happy Sabbath to you!

By way of a further update kindly be advised that effective March 14, 2020 all our extension campuses will be closed for one week in an effort to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

On this Sabbath Day let us continue to be vigilant and thank God for His continued protection.

Dr. Hilary Bowman
President

Dear USC Community:

We have some important updates to share with you.

Last evening we were informed via a televised news conference involving the Minister of Health and the Minister of national security of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, that Trinidad and Tobago recorded its first COVID-19 case.

In anticipation of this reality the university has put immediate measures in place and wishes to provide you with the following updates:

1. Effective tomorrow, our main campus, south campus and Tobago campus will be closed for one week in keeping with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s decision to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
2. With immediate effect, all major campus events and activities are cancelled. These include: Olympiad, Blitz, International Students Week and others.
3. An isolation unit is being established for our international students living on the dormitories.
4. Thorough sanitization measures are being implemented campus-wide and will include the acquisition of hand-sanitizer dispensers.
5. All campus meals be served “take away”, thus reducing the number of gatherings on campus. 
6. A Campus Disaster Management Command Centre has been established at the Campus Security Building and Commanded by the Chief Security Officer, Steve Byng.
7. Our health services department will share pertinent COVID-19 information, which will be determined via email and the university’s website. 

As we continue to take all the necessary steps and precautions to protect our entire USC community, the long-term closure of our campuses is an active consideration and all the necessary contingency measures are being prepared in case of this eventuality.

As we continue to keep you updated, it is important that you take steps to reduce the transmission to the spreading of COVID-19. Kindly also pay attention to the following: 

• Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your mouth with tissues whenever you sneeze, and discard used tissues in the trash.
• Avoid people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces.
• In closing, as a faith-based community we do believe in the power of hope and prayer. Let us continue to seek God in prayer for the protection of all our students, faculty, staff, families, our neighbours and loved ones. We serve an all powerful and mighty God as we expect this trial to pass through the blood of Jesus.

Sincerely,

Dr. Hilary Bowman
President

The School of Sciences, Technology and Allied Health held its annual Science Week 2020 celebrations under the theme: Water and Climate Change: The Great Meltdown, Pollution, Flooding and Heat from 10th to 15 February, 2020.  It was an activity packed week that began with the Chapel Launch on Monday 10th, Science Day on Thursday 13th, the first ever Science Week symposium on Friday 14th and it culminated with the Science Week Divine Service on Saturday 15th February at the USC University Church. 

The Chapel Launch program saw an appeal to the USC community to carefully consider this important issue not only by the Dean Antwi but also by Dr. Hillary Bowman, President of USC as well as Dr. Wanda Chesney, Acting Provost. The key note speaker for the chapel session was Mr. Kenneth Kerr, a climatologist associated with the Meteorological Services of Trinidad and Tobago also reinforced this call. He spoke extensively about the effects of climate change currently being experienced by Trinidad and Tobago and the role and contribution that the public makes towards this issue. His informative and captivating presentation was well-received by the audience which comprised students, faculty and staff from various departments across the university. 

On Thursday 13th February, the Science Complex became a bee-hive of activity with the visits from secondary schools students from across the country who were actively engaged in demonstrations and discussions at the various booths highlighting the theme and hosted by faculty and students of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemical & Physical Sciences, Family & Consumer Sciences, Computing & Mathematics, Nursing and Occupational Therapy. There were also other interactive booths that were put on by various environmental stakeholders including the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Solid Waste Management Company Ltd (SWMCOL), El Socorro Wildlife Conservation Centre and Altech Energy.

The Science Week Symposium held on Friday 14th February saw a joint collaboration of School of Sciences, Technology and Allied Health and the Trinidad and Tobago Chapter of the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA). Mr. Wayne O. Williams of CWWA TT Chapter was in high praise for the opportunity to share about his organization and Dr. Quincy Edwards, an environmental researcher who joined the session using zoom was able to share with the young audience his findings with regard to the emergent pollutants such as caffeine in ground and surface water in Barbados. Mrs Anuradha Maharaj-Jagdip examined thoroughly the case of Trinidad and Tobago in water and climate change. After these experts had their say it was then time for young leaders to add their voice and a special panel discussion which included the USC Associated Student Body President, Mr. Jamel Providence, UTT Guild President, Mr. Berald Joefield and Ms. Arielle  S. Ramsook, NAPS Girls student and Environmental Officer of the Sixth Formers’ Association Services and moderated by Chyienne Samuel of the GNOSTAI Science club.

The Divine Service Sabbath program was another major highlight of Science Week 2020. There were many creative, engaging and interactive presentations based on the theme: Earth Metamorphosis: Creation, Destruction, and Restoration. From Creation to Restoration segments the students and faculty of the various departments of the School of Sciences, Technology and Allied Health engaged the church audience in deep reflection. There were many references to the natural aspects of Earth’s creation and existence and emphasis of the spiritual journey of man. There were many outstanding musical items performed by the University Church Orchestra under the master directorship of Mr. Kerron Hislop, Chair of the Department of Music. Also, supporting the music ministry was HIS LUV. An engaging story entitled “The CDR Principle” was the Children’s feature that captivated the little ones among the audience. The seriousness of the theme and occasion was brought during the panel discussion which was moderated by Dr. Diadrey-Anne Sealey, an Associate Professor at USC. The panellists included Dr. Joan Latchman, UWI Seismologist, Dr. Jerome Joseph, Associate Professor at UTT and Mr. Peter Missole USC Ministerial student. Pastor Clive Dottin was the main speaker and expounded on the topic in his unique style and charisma whilst University Church Pastor, Terry John closed the afternoon with a solemn prayer for Restoration. Indeed it was a fitting end to Science Week 2020 and we look forward to 2020!