Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Dr. Hazel Simmons-McDonald, and the Acting Director of the School of Continuing Studies Mrs. Luz Longsworth were in Anguilla last week. The purpose of their visit was to meet one last time with the University of the West Indies Board for Non Campus Countries and Distance Education.

L-R: Luz Longsworth, Dr. Hazel Simmons-McDonald and Carla Harris Pascal

The meeting was held on Friday, September 14 and later on that night, HE The Governor Mr. Andrew George and Mrs. George hosted ministers of government from St. Kitts, St. Lucia and the Cayman Islands. Other invitees to the cocktail reception at Government House were top level UWI officials and academics as well as other delegates and members of the media. The meeting of the BNCCDE had two purposes; to look at outstanding matters and bring the board to a closure as they are now establishing the new “Open Campus.”

At a press conference held prior to the BNCCDE meeting, Dr. Hazel Simmons and Mrs. Longsworth spoke more intimately with members of the media regarding the launching on of the UWI “Open Campus” as well the 60th Anniversary celebration planned for 2008. Dr. Simmons-Mcdonald explained that the Open Campus is a new campus being formed by the university to handle all of its outreach business and will be delivering programs using technology so that people can be reached within the UWI twelve. The open campus will reach underserved communities and help people in the region to access higher education. It will have a slate of programs that will cater to various levels including degree programs but will also specialize in getting people the qualifications they need to get into degree oriented programs. Dr. Simmons-McDonald said, “I see this innovation of the open campus as perhaps the most wonderful thing that UWI could have done and it has come a long way in the past 60 years”.

It was agreed that UWI wants the West Indies to become a stronger region. UWI has already made a major contribution to the region and now, it wants to make an even better contribution with the Open Campus idea. Currently there are 52 students enrolled in various courses in Anguilla and Carla Harris Pascal, Resident Tutor and Head of the UWI School of Continuing Studies in Anguilla, hopes to have an increase in numbers once the program starts to take effect. The question of cost arose and it was mentioned that since the various classes and modules can be done in pieces, it is highly affordable. Moreover, one of the major costs involved in study in the West Indies is the need for students to leave the country. With this new concept, there will not be the need to travel and live abroad and will therefore be much more cost effective.

Invitees at the cocktail reception at Government House

Mrs. Longsworth spoke about the 60th anniversary of the UWI. January officially marks the celebration in its evolution from a college to an autonomous university with one campus to now having four campuses. When asked why celebrate a 60th year, she responded, “Well, sixty is the new fifty and the university recognizes that we are in a new century and therefore a new phase. UWI is now launching out on another level and the Open Campus idea is sort of the avant-garde of that.” Both Mrs. Longsworth and Dr. Simmons-McDonald urged and pleaded with Anguillian Alumni of UWI to come back and be part of the celebrations and at the least to get in touch with the heads of their centre. UWI wants to recognize and congratulate its alumni as well as use this opportunity to establish a new endowment fund that will provide scholarships for future students.
The Open Campus will begin in 2008 and will mark a new chapter in the history of the UWI.

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