DIVISION OF STUDENT SERVICES AND REGISRTY
CONT’D
Seventy-seven (77) Students’ Union and dorm
representatives, as well as presidents and executive
officers of the various clubs and societies at the
University participated in the sessions held on May 12,
2014 and May 13 -15, 2014 at the University’s Papine
campus and Moorlands Camp site in Manchester.
Student Leadership Programme
The Division of Student Services and Registry
collaborated with the International Recruiting and
Staffing Solutions (IRSS) to launch the UTech, Ja./
IRSS Student Leadership Development Programme on
January 22, 2015.
Over 100 attendees from various colleges/faculties
were greeted by Ambassador, the Hon. Burchell
Whiteman, the Hon. Andre
Hylton, Member of Parliament
for Eastern St Andrew and Mrs.
Faval Williams, JLP Caretaker for
Eastern St Andrew.
Special Needs Enhancement
Enabling special needs students
to achieve success is one of
the special Student Services
initiatives. During this review period the Special Needs
Unit hosted two Special Needs Enhancement Forums
and an Open Day showcasing assistive devices under
the theme, “Nothing about us without us”.
The Open Day held at the Technology Innovation
Centre (TIC) was a sensitization session for persons
with and without disabilities. Four (4) groups presented
various types of assistive devices used to aid various
types of disabilities which include: blindness, speech
impairment, physical disability and hearing impairment.
Students displayed hand-made devices ranging from
Braille and walkers for persons who were visually
impaired; flute and speech application for speech
impairments; wooden crutches, corner chairs and sleds
for physical disabilities and alarms and sign language
charts for hearing impairments. A number of special
needs students presented inspirational testimonials.
The Disabilities Unit continues to provide support for
new and returning students with disabilities. The Unit
caters to a wide range of professionally diagnosed
illnesses. During the period, the Unit registered over 30
students with special needs from the various college/
faculties including receiving academic accommodations
for 2014/2015 AY, of which five (5) are now alumnae
and four (4) current final year students.
First Year Experience Initiative
The First Year Experience Programme is designed to
expose new students to a broad spectrum of life and
culture beyond the walls of the University. The social
exposure partners the academic orientation which they
receive in the first week and is intended to broaden
Participants in the 16th annual Student Leadership Conference held from
May 13 – 15, 2014 at the Moorlands camp site in Manchester display
their creativity with their banner depicting UTech, Jamaica’s Core Values
of Excellence, Service, Innovation, Integrity, Accountability, Respect and
Team Spirit.
Mrs. Dorsett Gabbidon-Pottinger, Assistant Registrar, Student Services addressing high school students,
teachers and guidance counsellors in attendance at the launch of the UTech High School Mentoring
Programme held on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at UTech, Ja.’s Papine campus.
Page 18
University of Technology, Jamaica
• ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015