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HLSCC grappling with resource challenges - Dr Richard E. Georges

- Says access to financial & human resources top list of shortfalls
Interim Acting President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr Richard E. Georges says the institution continues to face a number of resource challenges. Photo: HLSCC
 Past Acting President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Mrs Judith E. Vanterpool officially resigned from her post effective October 18, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
Past Acting President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Mrs Judith E. Vanterpool officially resigned from her post effective October 18, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
According to Dr. Richard E. Georges, the most essential challenge for the HLSCC is its access to resources such as human and finance. Photo: HLSCC/Google Maps
According to Dr. Richard E. Georges, the most essential challenge for the HLSCC is its access to resources such as human and finance. Photo: HLSCC/Google Maps
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI - Adamant that he has not considered the post of President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), following the departure of Mrs Judith E. Vanterpool, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the college, Dr Richard E. Georges says the institution continues to face a number of resource challenges.

Dr Georges, who was appointed Interim Acting President of HLSCC effective October 22, 2019, said, "The most essential challenge for the institution is its access to resources - financial and human. I believe the College has come to a proverbial crossroads. Standing still is not an option. Positive action has to be taken to propel the institution forward."

Embracing the Digital Age 

In an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, Dr Georges related that part of addressing the challenges, "includes developing our most viable educational products for international markets. These are our marine, maritime, culinary, and hospitality programmes and courses... In addition, we must embrace the digital age of education to ensure that we can compete on the global stage." 

He said after that, the college has to implement measures to attract international students both in-person to the programmes mentioned as well as online. When questioned; however, about digital access by local students given the local bandwidth challenges, he said that the bandwidth required from students for the digitisation initiative is minimal.

"But, to that end, we will be engaging with service providers to make considerations for our students. One provider will be ready to go in the near future," he said while noting that negotiations are still ongoing. 

Professional Growth

With the departure of Mrs Vanterpool, who officially resigned from her post on October 18, 2019, a new Presidential search has just commenced under the supervision of the Board of Governors at the College, Dr Georges said.

He noted; however, that he remains quite comfortable in his current role as VP even as he is serving as the Interm Acting President.

"I have been quite blessed in my career to have had a diverse number of enriching experiences. In addition to my work teaching and in administration at the College, I have taken advantage of opportunities to develop myself professionally," he said. 

Dr Georges further noted that some of his experience and opportunities included lecturing in the UK and USA, taking leadership positions in international societies, serving on boards of other educational institutions, and lobbying for support for the UK OTs writers at the British Council and the Commonwealth Foundation.

8 Responses to “HLSCC grappling with resource challenges - Dr Richard E. Georges”

  • ABC (27/11/2019, 09:16) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Call back karl
    • Brah (27/11/2019, 10:59) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Hell no. Richard should consider taking the post. He is the future of the college.
  • cgb (27/11/2019, 10:12) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Brilliant young man, kudos all the future
  • Quiet Rebel (27/11/2019, 10:56) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is no surprise that the HLSCC is suffering from a resource shortage. The oxygen that fuels any college is tuition. In the VI, locals for the most part are exempted from tuition. The VI is a small “farming area” of approximately 30,000 people. And if the majority of students are exempted from tuition, where will the money come from. Currently, it is coming from government coffers; this plan is not sustainable. Before people break out their pitch forks and attack, I’m not averse to locals being assisted. I’m for assisting the truly needed;I’m for meaning testing. Government needs to reevaluate the current tuition policy and make some reasonable structural changes. These structural changes are for the survival of the college. Being the president of HLSCC is a smoking hot potato so Dr. Georges is smart to stay a country away from it. How many presidents (acting or permanent) has HLSCC in the last 5 years?
    • @Quiet Rebel (27/11/2019, 17:37) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you. We could adopt a system similar to that used by state colleges/universities in the US where there is in-state and out-of-state tuition. Further concessions can be given through merit and financial scholarships to students with a GPA above a certain level and to those in financial need.
  • my 2 cents (27/11/2019, 15:39) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Knowing the young man for many years, i can attest that he has been academically ahead of the pack for a longtime. One of the VIs brightest gems if you ask me. He is more than capable of running the institution if he wishes to pursue that endeavor, but i truly believe him when he insinuates that that is not a goal right now.
  • Hit the nail on the head (27/11/2019, 16:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The job of the President of any tertiary institution is to source funding for its programmes while the VPs manage operations: policy and programme development; and daily operations. One such idea is developing an endowment programme. Ask philanthropists that have money to burn by requesting principal on safe investments and the interest will go to the college for specific programmes that the donor would like to see implemented. The principal are held on the College financial statements for 5 years or 10 years or even 20 years and returned at the end of the period.
  • teacher john (28/11/2019, 23:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get your aluminum active


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