Dr. Francis O. Severin said he is “honored and privileged” to have been appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies Open Campus.
In an interview with our newsroom today, Severin expressed that he has never felt entitled to any position and believes that he has been given a “special opportunity” to serve his alma mater at a “high level.”
His appointment as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal (Interim) took effect on August 1, 2021 and is the first male Principal of The UWI Open Campus.
“It is quite an honor and privilege. I have never felt entitled to any position or privilege whatsoever, so I sincerely and authentically believe that I have been given a special opportunity to serve my alma mater at a very high level. I am deeply aware that it might have been someone else to receive that honor. This keeps me grounded and centered,” he stated.
As the designation interim indicates, it was an acting or provisional appointment. At the Annual Business Meeting of the University Council on April 29, 2022, he was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal and that appointment takes effect on August 1, 2022.
“This is not uncommon or unusual and indeed has much precedent. The University Council is the highest decision-making body of The University of the West Indies and includes external stakeholders, the Regional Guild of Students, government officials, and generally wide representation, chaired by the Chancellor. I say this to underscore the ‘democracy’ and extensive participation which characterize this fundamental body,” he explained.
said there is a very strong sensibility that he has an obligation, almost a covenant, to meet the high expectations of his fellow Dominicans, Caribbean citizens, former students at the Dominica Grammar School and Clifton Dupigny Community College (as it was formerly called), colleagues, friends and well-wishers.
“This can feel overwhelming at times, because I am fully cognizant of the fact that we are judged differently depending on what others perceive as our values and our integrity, I am fully conscious of the hopes and aspirations out there and what is expected of me. I know… my staff and my students have high and reasonable expectations. Hence, there are a lot of positive emotions that I perceive,”
He added that there is also deep sense of pride because he has made my entire family proud.
The new Principal explained that he is aware that the campus’s philosophy of leaving no one behind and ensuring that students enjoy learning and that their experiences must remain central agenda items for his team.
“We must continue to strengthen our continuing and professional education programmes that can immediately empower and enable our Caribbean people and indeed people everywhere. I reflect that we must continue to develop programmes, especially practical and vocational type programmes, which will attract males, and increase their enthusiasm for, interest in and participation in higher education.”
Severin further mentioned that the staff’s aim is to ensure a quality experience for all students, as well as a culture of inclusion and support. He said students must always feel that they are not alone and in fact are “well supported throughout their journey at the Open Campus”.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with our Guild of Students to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of our students.”
He has worked in education his entire life and taught at the Dominica Grammar School as an “unqualified assistant teacher”; at the former Clifton Dupigny Community College as a lecturer of and at the Dominica Teacher’s College as a tutor.
Dr. Francis O. Severin said he is honored and privileged to have been appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies Open Campus.
