THE NEAR-TERM FUTURE OF SGU

[dimipt]

The hard work of SGU administration, the immediate response of Dr Rao and the rest of the faculty in SGU-Grenada and the unity of the students resulted to the uneventful return of most students back to their homes. It seems that the evacuation plan moves along as it should and most students will be back home by the end of this weekend. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL INVOLVED !

Starting next week the plan of the restoration and safe re-opening of the university must begin. It is apparent that in order for us not to miss this current term we must start the latest on September 28 as the Chancellor indicated in a previous posting.

After speaking with several classmates of mine, we feel that even if the university becomes structurally ready to host most of the students to start classes on September 28, mosty likely Grenada as a country will not be ready to support a university with more that 1,500 students, faculty and support personnel. Are there alternative solutions?

In 1987, during the period of the political instability in Grenada, the university functioned successfuly for a period of time out of leased facilities in NY and NJ. Apparently something similar can take place at this time too. For terms 2,3 & 4 this will be relatively easy since there are no significant labs invloved in those terms (neuro, micro & path labs can take place via CD-ROMS). For term 1 the university may have to identify a college with an anatomy lab in order for them to properly take anatomy. Actually, it does not have to be a medical school's anatomy lab, it could be a dental school, physical therapy school or nursing school (they all have efficient anatomy labs).

The temporary relocation of the university for 3 to 6 months will give adequate time for Grenada to get back on its feet and for the university to become able to provide students with a safe and educationally sound environment.

As far as concerning rumors that some professors may not want to continue teaching or they may want to take time off since their homes may have been destroyed I would like to address the following. Many medical schools, including medical schools in the US, have 1 or 2 professors teaching one particular subject. Obviously, SGU always seeks to provide excellence in education that's why administration hires several top professors to teach one particular subject. One or two qualified professors can probably offer the same quality of teaching and I am certain that if we only had one or two professors teaching each subject, for the next a few months, the quality is NOT going to be compromised.

I believe that this forum can also serve as a source of ideas and opinions about the restoration and reopening of the university.

We trust that SGU administration will make the best decisions and take the most appropriate steps for all of us.

[wolfvgang22]

I wonder if holding the classes on U.S. soil would be legal? For some reason I seem to remember that foreign schools holding session on U.S. soil is illegal, at least in some states.....something to do with the LCME.

[stephew]

its legal. auc did it and sgu has in the past i believe with the 83 invasion. ross infamously tried to open a wyoming campus but that was nixed because no one wanted a permenant presence of an img school.

[dimipt]

It should be legal. Ross university host the last 1 or 2 terms out of a campus in Miami.
Also as you stated correctly in 1983 SGU had a term done somewhere in NY or NJ.
Especially in an emergency case like this such a provision should be feasible!

[Scott1981]

you can definetely open classes in the states as long as it is only temporarily. AUC was initially started in ohio while their monsteratt campus was being built in the 1970's. then when hurricane hugo hit monserott..... they moved to ohio once again. the last time was when the volcano erupted on the island. they moved the school temporarilly to plainview, texas. they where their quite a while during the construction.

US doesnt mind if their is a REAL reason behing the temp move. SGU can do this in any state.

[BabaOriley]

From what I hear, the reason that they are having trouble securing a US school for us to continue our studies, is because SGU is an international school with many international students. They would be unable to obtain Visas for all the international students. In 1983, I think the school was much smaller and consisted mostly of Americans.

I would love to continue the term in an American university if adminstration could figure out how to make it happen.

[wolfvgang22]

you can definetely open classes in the states as long as it is only temporarily. AUC was initially started in ohio while their monsteratt campus was being built in the 1970's. then when hurricane hugo hit monserott..... they moved to ohio once again. the last time was when the volcano erupted on the island. they moved the school temporarilly to plainview, texas. they where their quite a while during the construction.

US doesnt mind if their is a REAL reason behing the temp move. SGU can do this in any state.
That clears up a lot of rumors I heard from friends at the private university in Plainview about a medical school having been housed there at one time. Small world. :)

[dimipt]

Chancellor ****** just announced of the possibility to run a couple of programs simultaneously. A program in Grenada and another program possibly somewhere in the US.

We must trust and support the SGU administration at this point. They do everything possible to identify means in order for us to successfully complete our term.

[CptPlanet]

hey all,

Just got back today--big relief! Another snag to having classes on U.S. is that many of the profs (especially in 4th term) are not U.S. nationals, and they would have a hard time getting work visas here. I know that this was one of the big concerns when this idea was proposed initially in one of the 4th term meetings. I for one would love to have classes on the U.S..we'll have to wait and see.

[tkhusker]

to all concerned,

i strongly feel we should take into serious consideration this gentlemen's idea to continue our terms in the united states on sept. 28th. we all know that money would not be a problem for the school in this endeavour. i also happen to get a general sense impression from speaking to a great many students that they indeed would prefer to continue as soon as possible, and not delay any further, the pursuance of their medical education.
a new york/new jersey relocation seems very practical from the standpoint of direct flight convienience for international students and also for u.s. students who are not ny/nf residents. also, a great many public institutions are in that area, and this may facilitate sgu's attempt to find a location for lectures, etc. (laboratory and clinical skills accomodations have already been spoken for in previous posts).
i do not feel we should let a hurricane prevent us from accomplishing our goals. let us not succumb to the rhetoric of pessimists who feel people do not have control over nature and that we should stand back pathetically in awe of what has happened. instead, let us get back on our feet quickly and finish what we started. granted, there is much healing to be done, and i empathize with the dispossessed. however, it does no good to wax philosophically about how we should pause, ponder, and put off any productiveness in the meantime. if we have the means, motive, and opportunity, we should intitiate it as soon as possible. trust me, i was there and saw death and destruction before my very own eyes. i have not been unaffected by this tragedy. however, i refuse to quit. and i know a great many who share this opinion with me.
and, hey, if you want to have the relocation in valentine, nebraska of all places, i would be all for it!!! just let me know and i will do all i can to make arrangements. all you would have to do is put up with a little midwest hospitality and some good ol' country livin'.
but seriously, i do feel that the dimipt message speaks for the majority of students' wishes to continue their journey with sgu, and not abandon their hope and dreams in light of this setback. so if you read his message and agree with him, please share your thoughts. everybody's opinion matters now.......

[golfstrawberries]

Very Well Said....we came to SGU for the sole intention of becoming medical doctors. We cannot let an unfortunate situation take hold of our dreams and goals. We have to stay strong and continue to pursue our degree. This past week is one of many obstacles that we will have to face and overcome. We were all affected by the events in Grenada but we have to use it to our advantage. We helped each other through the storm and we will continue to help each other through the end.

~Michele

[docks]

I agree. Let's look for ways to move on with our dreams and let's not allow for one event to prevent us from pursuing it. Remember to give a hand to those who really are unable to reattend (e.g., financially, emotionally). We got through the hurricane together... we can get through med school together, regardless of where we end up.

- Docks

[snitzle]

I personally am all for continuing the semester in the States, but there's one little snag everyone seems to be forgetting about: BOOKS!!! Almost all of us left our books/course guides in Grenada. Are we supposed to fly back to Grenada just to pick up our stuff, or buy them all over again?

[docks]

I personally am all for continuing the semester in the States, but there's one little snag everyone seems to be forgetting about: BOOKS!!! Almost all of us left our books/course guides in Grenada. Are we supposed to fly back to Grenada just to pick up our stuff, or buy them all over again?

The administration is already aware of the issue. To me, books are one of the lesser problems,... many people now and in the past have succeeded academically simply by borrowing books from the library or sharing with other folks. We also have the added advantage of the Internet. While I also prefer books, at least it is a way to study. To me, the greater concerns will be things like housing, lecture halls, teachers and cadavers. Don't forget, people have been becoming doctors with lesser advantages. Stay confident. Figure out possible solutions and send those in constructive form to the right people. That will be the fastest way to get all of us back on track.

- Docks

[stephew]

2:30PM EDT September 15, 2004

The Chancellor’s Task Force for the Resumption of Classes has convened at this time, 2:30PM EDT. It is comprised of student government and other representatives from each term of the various educational programs, administrators and faculty.

In addition to the SGU Talk Forum which has been enormously helpful with ideas and discussion about the resumption of classes, the University has set up individual forums for the academic program where the discussion of details will take place with members of the Student Government Association who are monitoring those sites.

Therefore, for these reasons and others, which include the strong urging of many parents and students concerned about the useless and destructive negativism repeatedly posted by internet “trolls” and others purporting to be SGU students or parents, we have discontinued the Public Forum. It helped many people stay in touch during the initial period of the hurricane, and for that reason we left it here on the University website, despite the sometimes destructive nature of the comments.

Communications are much better, if not perfect, and those parents who wish more communication with their students who stayed on the campus to help or for other reasons, can feel free to call the numbers below or write to sguinfo@sgu.edu. We can no longer leave this forum open and anonymous, no longer allow unidentified people post expressions of anger, bitterness and hostility. These postings serve only to hurt all those who attend, have attended, or who center their lives around St. George’s University. True discussion will continue on the many forums open to the members of the SGU community.

We are pleased to announce that the Task Force will begin to review the many options that exist for the resumption of classes. We will be able to get our academic programs running with the same high academic standards by our target date of September 28th.

· All School of Medicine terms have suitable locations in the US. The possibility of parallel programs in Grenada or St. Vincent is on the agenda for the task force meeting.

· All School of Veterinary Medicine terms will be accommodated at three of our affiliated US veterinary schools.

· The premedical and preveterinary terms have location options in the US as well as in Grenada and St. Vincent. These choices are also on the agenda for the task force.

· The undergraduate programs in Arts and Sciences will be operational in Grenada; however a location in the US has been secured. This is on the task force agenda.

· The Master of Public Health Program has location options in the US and the discussion of remaining in Grenada is on the agenda for the task force.

· The timing of the other graduate programs is on the task force agenda.

· Discussion forums have been created for terms 1, 2, and 4 for the medical programs, one forum for terms 1-6 for the veterinary programs, one forum for those enrolled in graduate programs, and one forum for those enrolled in undergraduate programs. Again, discussions will be moderated by members of the Student Government Association.

We thank all those who gave support to the students, parents and members of the SGU and Grenada community during this intense period of the hurricane’s devastating affect on the island of Grenada. We have initiated an SGU Relief Fund for Grenada to help the peoples of Grenada; an announcement will be posted later today on the University’s Website.

[fedfin]

The St. Martinus Medical University in Curacao has offered it's newly renovated wing to the S.G.U school administration for a very low price; SGU brings professors, and students, and takes them back at the end. Absolutely no strings attached. We have the facilities, and they are currently empty. these facilities can handle a couple of hundred students.
Also usage of the anatomy lab can be arranged.
Paperworwork and visa for foreign students is less of a problem in Curacao than for the U.S.
The St. Martinus has not received any response from S.G.U. yet.

[stephew]

so what is a very low price?

[emt036]

SGU also has a couple thousand students, not a couple of hundred.