Some degree students during orientation. Amongst them are alumnus Kharl Oliver, SGA representative Ria Khudan and Marketing and Admissions Specialist Mitsha Shobhan Giterson.
Some education students during a video conference at USM.
POND ISLAND–A total of 116 students started classes at University of St. Martin (USM). The 116 students included 43 degree students, eighteen pre-USM students and 55 students for the General Education Diploma (GED) programme.
The degree students started their semester with a two-day orientation organised by USM Marketing and Admissions Specialist Mitsha Shobhan Giterson, who is also coordinating the student clubs and activities on campus. The pre-USM orientation was offered by Coordinator Marva Sam Arrindell and the GED orientation by Micaela Hart. The sessions were done to ensure that the new students are prepared, motivated and ready to accomplish their goals at USM, the institution said in a press release on Thursday.
Degree students met with USM President, who welcomed them with warm words of encouragement, and other staff of USM. Government’s Study Financing Department also addressed the students with a presentation regarding its policies and application procedures. “The information was well fed by Senior Study Financing Officer Ms. Lissa Carter,” USM said.
On the second day of orientation, students were organised according to their areas of study and met with division heads. Education majors had the opportunity to participate in a video conference with representatives of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) in St. Thomas and St. Croix. The Business and Hospitality management majors had the opportunity to sit with their division heads before classes began and the General Liberal Arts (GLA) students had the opportunity to meet with Dean of Academics, Dr. Rolinda Carter, who also followed the GLA programme when she started her academic journey at USM.
Alumna Jael Dollison also shared her experience as a student at USM and left the students with words of motivation to “never to give up no matter how difficult the road may look.”
Giterson commended students for applying and taking this next step in their academic journey. She said education is often a difficult product to buy into as it is a major investment that cannot be seen or touched in the beginning. “However, it is one that will pave many roads ahead for you and for future generations, one that is worth the investment. Having educated people is what will build a stronger nation,” said Giterson.
Students were encouraged to be active in Student Government Association (SGA) and participate in the traditional first Tuesday event that is organised by the SGA team. Student Counsellor Amy Arrindell welcomed students and bade them a successful school year ahead.
As far as new courses are concerned, USM will be offering a course in Science, entitled Agroecology, whereby students will visit and become familiar with local organic farms. English as Second Language (ESL) will also be offered to the public at levels 1 and 2; these courses begin on Tuesday, September 24, but the entrance exams to the ESL programme will be held from September 17 to September 19. Applications for the ESL programme are still open.
The 2019-2020 Academic Year will mark 30 years since the foundation of USM.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/90239-116-students-start-classes-at-usm
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