CFBC Celebrates 32 Years!
“My Government has always held the view that education is the master key to meaningful development
in our society, and the best foundation for nation-building” stated Education Minister the Honorable
Sidney Morris during his address to officially launch the College of Further Education, The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, then the College of Further Education, was officially opened on September 26, 1988 with Ms. Dulcie Richardson as the first Principal.
The College started the 1988-89 academic year with three divisions. The Division of Teacher Education,
the former Teachers Training College, had 58 students; the Division of Technical and Vocational
Education and Management Studies replaced the St. Kitts-Nevis Technical College, and had 180
students; and the Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies comprised of the Sixth Form at the
Basseterre High School, and Adult and Continuing Education classes, and had 452 students. Since then,
the College has opened an additional two divisions, the Division of Adult and Continuing Education and
the Division of Health Sciences.
In 1997, the College Library was opened with Ms. Virginia Browne as its first Librarian and the UWI Level
1 Programme was introduced with 23 enrollees in September 1998. This franchised programme was
delivered from the faculties of Education and Humanities, Science and Technology and Social Studies of
the University of the West Indies.
In 2000 the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations replaced the GCE Advanced Level programme
and the National Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) scholarship for top performance in
technical education was introduced. The CFBC issued Associate Degree Certification for the first time in 2000. Students who pursued the General Nursing Education programme were the first recipients.
The following affiliation and articulation arrangements with other tertiary institutions and professional
organizations developed over the years.
- University of Technology, Jamaica which offers special tuition rates to CFBC graduates.
- The delivery of the Barbados Community College (BCC) Associate Degree in Office
Administration and Management Programme - Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) Associate Degrees in Hospitality Studies and Culinary Arts.
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
- University of the Virgin Islands (UVI)
- City and Guilds of London which offers special tuition rates for CFBC graduates.
As we celebrate this momentous occasion, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College would like to say thank
you to the citizens and residents of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis for their continued support over
the years!
Sir Clarence Fitzroy Bryant Founder, CFBC
CFBC COVID-19 Compliant According to National COVID-19 Taskforce
In preparation for the reopening of CFBC campuses, the College was visited by the National COVID-19
Taskforce on 1 st September 2020 to ensure that our implemented guidelines were satisfactory. While
touring the campus, the team witnessed the College’s preparation.
New guidelines in place includes plexi-glass for various workstations around our campuses, adjusted
library hours, assigned seating and other regulations to limit the number of persons visiting the library
during a given period. Signage has been erected all around the CFBC campuses urging persons to
sanitize their hands, wear their masks and practice social distancing.
The College has made the move to engage in blended learning to limit the number of students gathering
at any given time. For classes, such as labs, that require hands-on learning, spatial seating and class
limits have been instituted and large classes will be split in two if necessary. However, the protections
put in place go beyond the classroom. Upon entering the College, persons are subjected to hand
sanitizing, temperature checks and a logbook meant for contact-tracing and designated isolation rooms
on all campuses are available in the event of a potentially sick student/staff.
As the team toured the Hospitality building, Ms. Marsha Bassue, Director of Hospitality, explained the
changes that were made to ensure the safety of the students as well as patrons of the various events
they normally hosted. Several of their events, including the Bar competition would be virtual, and the
themed lunches would be take-out only. Dr. Hazel Laws, Chief Medical Officer, gave approval for Ms.
Bassue to attend the training of hoteliers, bartenders and restaurant personnel, hosted by the St. Kitts
Tourism Authority.
We are pleased to announce that after the visit, the team discussed and deemed CFBC as COVID-19
compliant.
New CFBC Excellence Toastmasters Club Gets Chartered
The CFBC Excellence Toastmasters Club #07738285 is the second of its kind in the Federation and joins
the extensive Toastmasters International family which consists of over 16,000 clubs. Although formed at
the College, the club is a community-based club and has members from various backgrounds. The Club,
chartered on May 08, 2020 is supported by CFBC President and Distinguished Toastmaster, Dr.
Jacqueline Austin, Distinguished Toastmaster Sanjana Manek, and Gillian Carmichael-Brandford and
Eartha Cassius, members of the Sugar City Toastmasters Club.
The Club aims to fulfill the purpose and mission of Toastmasters International which is to teach public speaking and leadership skills and to support persons from diverse backgrounds as they become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.
The club is led by a seven-member Toastmasters executive team that consists of President: Terence
Dublin, Vice President of Education: Shernnel Thompson, Vice President of Membership: Venetta
Smithen, Vice President of Public Relations: Nigencia James, Secretary: Jalen Monzac, Treasurer: Fayola
Saddler and Sergeant at Arms: Lavonne Clarke.
Not only does the CFBC Excellence Toastmasters Club provide regional exposure for its members
through various leadership opportunities but it also provides international exposure through the ability
to attend meetings all around the world via zoom. With all the benefits derived from being a
Toastmaster, personal development is inevitable.
Persons who become Toastmasters improve their public speaking skills, build leadership skills, expand their network, gain a competitive advantage in the workplace and have access to an educational program that allows them to leverage over 300 practical workplace skills, including: interview preparation, project management and conflict resolution.
The club meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Feel free to visit one of
the meetings! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89165409286?pwd=YkIzZGFrc1h5OTdSZ05Yc0FqTm5GZz09
Webinar: Small Business Conversations from the Frontline: Problems and Solutions
The CFBC collaborates with the School of Business of the University of the Virgin Islands to promote and execute the webinar entitled, “Small Business Conversations from the Frontline: Problems and Solutions” on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 from 3 p.m until 4 p.m. There will be an opportunity for a business to engage in a collaborative consultation session with the UVI School of Business and the CFBC.
This webinar focuses on uplifting small businesses that have been severely affected by the current global pandemic, many of whom have been forced to reimagine their business as they reenter the economy.
Link to register: https://zoom.us/…/
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CFBC Celebrates its Inaugural Staff Appreciation Day
Friday the 13 th is usually synonymous with bad vibes and omens. However, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) put some positivity into the day by recognizing the hard work of all members of staff. On March 13, 2020, CFBC celebrated the first Staff Appreciation day under the auspices of CFBC President, Dr. Jacqueline Austin. wearing matching CFBC shirts, the members of staff gathered at the UWI Open Campus’ Conference Room ready for the day’s adventures.
Educational, inspirational and all-out fun were some adjectives used by staff members to describe the day’s events. The day began with Dr. Austin providing words of encouragement and gratitude to the staff members. She recalled an experience from her youth in which she was trying to learn how to roller skate. The lesson here Dr. Austin explained, is that “no matter how many times you fall, no matter how many persons are looking and laughing, you get up and keep trying.”
The staff members also participated in a developmental session on “Managing One’s Personal Finances.” Following a buffet lunch, the group departed to participate in the activities of their choosing. Some members enjoyed a historical tour of Brimstone Hill while others fueled their adrenaline with an energetic game of paintball.
Those members who wanted to savour a more relaxing experience, chose to receive facials and pedicures facilitated by the Advanced Vocational Education Center (AVEC) Cosmetology program. After all the festivities, several persons expressed their delight in the Staff Appreciation Day and suggested that it be a regular occurrence.
In the words of John F. Kennedy “as we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
CFBC Strives for Excellence with New MOU and Partnerships
For many years, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) has signed several Memoranda of
Understanding (MOU) with various colleges and universities. An MOU is a formal document between
two or more parties which outlines a number of agreements beneficial to all involved. Most recently,
CFBC refreshed an MOU with Novia Scotia Community College.
This MOU refresh has led to increased
benefits for CFBC as Nova Scotia Community College will be offering faculty the opportunities to
augment their teaching skills through an Adult Education Foundation program that highlights new
technology and andragogy or new ways of teaching adult learners. We have also entered into new
MOUs with Keyano College and DeVry University.
While MOUs are not new to CFBC, Dr. Jacqueline Austin, CFBC President, credits her participation in the
Canadian Bureau of International Education’s mission to Canada in November 2019 as a contributing
factor. This mission involved a rigorous application and selection process after which Dr. Austin was
selected to visit Canadian colleges and universities to glean best practices.
The acquisition of these MOUs has resulted in opportunities for student and faculty exchange,
professional development, scholarships and 2 + 2 matriculation. These agreements offer significant cost
savings to our graduates and global and cultural exposure. As the educational landscape changes, it is
important that we evolve and offer a seamless approach to learning which the MOUs can facilitate.
CFBC is pleased to announce that in our pursuit of excellence, we continue to partner with local,
regional and international institutions that provide opportunities for growth and development for our
faculty, staff and students.
CFBC Showcases Innovation and Creativity in Practice
On Feb 19th , 2020 the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Ministers of Education delegation visited the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) as part of their 5th meeting of the heads under the theme “Equity and Access”. CFBC was selected as a focal point of this gathering as an opportunity for us to showcase our innovation and creativity through our Hospitality Department,
Health Sciences Division and ICT program, SKN Robotics team. The delegation included participants from the independent member states of the OECS as well as British dependent territories. This visit placed us in a position to be viewed by the region and the world as a premier higher education institution and to showcase learning in practice. We demonstrated our ability to respond to real world challenges with the latter being heavily displayed by our Health Sciences
Division and the SKN Robotics team.
As part of their presentation to the delegates, the Robotics team displayed their humanoid project and 3D printed mobile prosthetics, a feat that is a first for the OECS. They also demonstrated their crop- dusting drone technology which aims to reduce the costs associated with aerial crop-dusting while still providing an efficient solution. At the Health Sciences Division, the student nurses and their lecturers demonstrated the use of technology in nursing practice through several scenarios, one of which was an accident victim. The delegates were able to observe the scenarios as well as learn more about our state-of-the-art skills lab that the nursing students utilize as central to their learning environment.
Host, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Honorable Shawn K. Richards; was intrigued by the college’s programs. The delegates enjoyed a scrumptious lunch curated by the Hospitality department, who also commended CFBC on the strides being made. Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, stated that he was delighted by the presentations at CFBC as they highlighted the importance for the member states to develop their own innovative projects.
Dr. Jacqueline Austin, CFBC President, highlighted the benefits of the visit to the College. Dr. Austin explained that having the opportunity to engage with high level decision makers was a game-changer for CFBC and its students as it offered the unique opportunity for us to express our needs directly to those who are the influencers. She also stressed that while CFBC was a focal point of the visit, the benefits extended to Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis as we were able to draw attention to the fact that while we may be a small island developing state confronted with resource constraints, we are still able
to signal to the world that we have wealth in our human resource and that education has a
transformational effect on our society.
The Ministers pledged to continue their dialogue on substantive issues regarding educational development in the OECS as well as the policies and strategies needed to advance the implementation of the OECS Education Sector Strategy.
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Dr. Moyia Rowtham appointed as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs (VPASA)
The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and its Board of Governors are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Moyia
Rowtham as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs (VPASA). Dr. Moyia Rowtham previously served as Dean of Arts, Sciences and General Studies and is a self-proclaimed Caribbeanist. She has educated students in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and St. Kitts and perceives herself as a knowledge enabler, whose calling is to guide students into understanding how to learn, in order to solve problems and to affirm their capabilities for the exploration of meaningful
solutions.
As a published author with over fifteen years within the field of education, Dr. Rowtham brings a wealth of invaluable knowledge into her new position. Her educational philosophy is fiercely focused on the advocacy of student self-awareness to transform
their mindsets for the enhancement of cognitive, attitudinal and behavioral resilience for overall development.
With her strategic-transformational style of leadership, we are confident that Dr. Rowtham will play a key role in guiding CFBC into an era of
excellence.
As VPASA, Dr. Rowtham will assist the President in the development of the College’s academic policies, programmes and procedures and will also provide academic and administrative leadership and guidance while simultaneously fostering a collegial
environment.
We welcome Dr. Rowtham to her new role as we continue to strive for excellence.
Read MoreCFBC Faculty and Students visit Mississippi State University
BASSETERRE, CFBC (22nd August 2018) – A four-member team of CFBC Faculty and Students visited Mississippi State University, located at Starkville in the United States, during the week of 15-21 August 2018 as part of an ongoing partnership between the two educational institutions.
The CFBC Team comprised of faculty members Dr. Quincy Edwards and Glenroy Blanchette, while the two students were Nichiel Huggins and Aleksei Burroughs. Dr. Edwards lectures Environmental Science and Chemistry, and Mr. Blanchette lectures Geography and Primary Science & Technology Education. The students are pursuing courses in Environmental Science and Geography.
While at MSU, the CFBC Team had the opportunity to visit the MSU Geosciences Department (Earth, Marine, Atmospheric, and Geospatial Sciences), MSU Library and Virtual Reality Lab, the Social Science Research Center, the Geosystems Research Institute, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Aquaculture, the MSU Delta Extension and Research Experiment Station for agriculture (crops and fish farms). The group also met with MSU officials of various departments and discussed areas for future research collaboration between CFBC and MSU, particularly in the areas of groundwater quality, aquaculture, rainfall variability and sargassum seaweed.
The CFBC Team participated in practical demonstrations of the use of virtual reality in applied research and physical planning during their visit to the MSU Library Virtual Reality Lab. And was exposed to new groundbreaking research in GIS technology that investigates the use of night light to understand population dynamics and economic development in coastal areas around the world.
The CFBC group also participated in a seminar whereby Mr. Blanchette made a presentation on the History and Geography of St. Kitts-Nevis and the federation’s development challenges and opportunities while Dr. Edwards presented his research on surface water quality in Barbados. The presentations were well received by the audience and several MSU students expressed their interests in conducting research in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The visit to MSU was very educational and we learned a lot about the natural environment in that part of the USA and how MSU is applying scientific research to solve many of the problems they face,” said Burroughs.
“I was impressed with the facilities at MSU and the educational opportunities for the students,” said Ms. Huggins. “I learned a great deal about the importance of research and the visit has motivated me to pursue a university education after I finish my tenure at CFBC,” she added.
Dr. Quincy Edwards noted the importance of the trip towards student learning and environmental research.
“The visit to the MSU was timely and a fulfilling experience that enabled both faculty and students of CFBC to better understand international environmental problems and the use of technology and student-based research as mitigation measures,” he said.
“The visit to MSU has great potential for developing faculty and student exchange programs between CFBC and MSU. Moreover, we have developed an educational bridge for students at CFBC to advance their education in undergraduate and graduate programs at MSU. Additionally, collaborative research with MSU can help us to solve some of our environmental issues such as rainfall variability, groundwater quality and further development in agriculture and aquaculture via the use of advanced technology,” Dr. Edwards added.
Mr. Blanchette expressed thanks on behalf of his colleagues. “We are eternally grateful to Dr. John Rodgers and MSU for their exceptional hospitality and the opportunity to visit MSU and learn more about what they offer. We are very excited about the future possibilities for collaboration in research between CFBC and MSU,” said Blanchette.
“We are also thankful to the CFBC Board of Governors and Senior Administration for facilitating our trip to MSU,” Blanchette added.
The trip was funded by the 100K Strong in the Americas partnership which aims to improve bilateral exchange in climate and coastal science education between US and West Indian university students while jointly conducting citizen science and environmental monitoring projects.
The partnership between CFBC and MSU also hopes to establish a climate citizen science program (called the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network; CoCoRHaS) and create pathways for MSU students to gain a deeper understanding of global climate and marine environmental changes and how those processes affect coastal communities. The partnership also seeks to develop a bilateral exchange to implement MSU’s faculty-led, credit-bearing study abroad program in West Indies that advances coastal and climate sciences.
View Photo Gallery
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PHOTO CAPTIONS
Pix 1 and 2: Field visit to MSU Delta Extension and Research Experiment Station (l-r:Dr. Quincy Edwards, Aleksie Burroughs, Nichiel Huggins, Glenroy Blanchette; back row: Jimmy Avery)
Pix 3: Nichiel Huggins tries out the Virtual Reality headgear.
Pix 4: Aleksie Burroughs tries out the Virtual Reality headgear.
Pix 5: The CFBC Team takes a short break while visiting the Memphis Zoo.
Pix 6: Nichiel collects data on the sun’s reflexivity on a pond under the supervision of Dr. Padmanava Dash and his colleagues of the MSU Geosciences Department.
Pix 7: Aleksie collects data on the sun’s reflexivity on a pond under the supervision of Dr. Padmanava Dash and his colleagues of the MSU Geosciences Department.
Pix 8: CFBC Team observes a presentation by Dr. Padmanava Dash on water quality.
Pix 9: Aleksie and Nichiel pose for a photo op.
Read MoreCFBC student wins Six Senses/ Range Developments internship in The Seychelle
Basseterre, KN– A partnership has been formed between the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Hospitality Department, Range Developments and Six Senses. A Six Senses Resort is slated to begin construction in St. Kitts this year and as part of their commitment to St. Kitts they agreed to offer an internship opportunity for a CFBC student in the area of Hospitality.
This Internship will see the student working in The Seychelles (an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa) for 6 months with a rotating schedule, allowing the student to learn varying areas of the operations in the resort. Six Senses/ Range Developments has agreed to cover the cost of flights to and from the location, as well as training and accommodation.
The selection committee reviewed all of the applications submitted, paying close attention to those who had exceptional recommendations, a strong academic background, and campus/ community involvement. A unanimous decision was made. The Six Senses/ Range Developments Internship 2018 was awarded to Mr. Wycliffe Clarke!
Wycliffe is extremely passionate about the industry and consistently goes above and beyond. He maintained consistently good grades in the Associate Degree in Hospitality Program, while being active on campus (History and Heritage Club, 2nd runner-up in Mr. Back to Roots) and in the community (Niche Disability Awareness Foundation, AH Consultancy, Food & Beverage Server for HTA, Liaison Officer for St. Kitts Music Festival). He was excited to share his take on what he expects from the internship:
“While education can open many doors, success relies on initiative; I have the desire and the determination. Not only will this opportunity contribute to my self-development and make me a more well-rounded individual, I am also certain that after a smooth transition I will be able to deliver the top performance the Six Senses Resort in Seychelles.
My attention to detail and viable work experience thus far within this industry will be put to great use while acquiring internationally recognized training and knowledge from this reputable brand. Through my creativity and ingenuity, I am certain that I will be an asset to this company by utilizing their strategies of reconnecting and refocusing on what really matters.
The support of friends and family (especially my parents) means the world to me. At this stage of my life, I am sure that the most important thing is to gain progress in my education and pave the way to a successful future. I view this opportunity as a pathway to further enhance my passion for customer service and hospitality. This internship will allow me to represent my school and country on an esteemed level, which I truly believe will foster growth and development in my personal and professional life.
This groundbreaking partnership will open the door for Mr. Wycliffe Clarke but also for CFBC and the Six Senses Resort as we seek to bridge connections between each of the organizations. We are incredibly thankful to the representatives who have bestowed the opportunity. We look forward to Mr. Clarke’s participation and continued growth, as a result of the experience. He leaves the federation on September 5th and we are confident that he will represent CFBC and St. Kitts & Nevis well.
By Samantha Fox
Director of Student Services
Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College
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