University of The Bahamas: Campus Locations, Programs, and History

The University of The Bahamas (UB) is the national public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. As the nation’s primary resource for research, innovation, and community engagement, UB aims to meet the educational aspirations of its students and nurture their creativity, promoting the values of learning, leadership, and service. With campuses and centers spread throughout the archipelago, UB plays a vital role in providing accessible opportunities for higher learning and contributing to the economic growth and development of the Bahamas.

History and Evolution

Established in 1974 through an Act of Parliament, the institution was initially known as The College of The Bahamas (COB). The College was created through the amalgamation of four institutions: The Bahamas Teachers' College, San Salvador Teachers' College, C. R. Walker Technical College, and the sixth form programme of The Government High School. After more than thirty-five years of serving The Bahamas, first as a two-year institution, then as a four-year degree-granting College, COB became The University of The Bahamas in 2016.

The transition to university status marked a significant milestone, with the institution continuing to deliver excellent undergraduate teaching while developing new undergraduate and graduate programmes. UB also increased its research and innovation activities, focusing its work in areas crucial to national development.

Key Statistics and Highlights

The University of The Bahamas has about 5,000 students and over 12,000 alumni. It is one of the largest employers in The Bahamas, employing 700 faculty and staff.

Campus Locations

The University of The Bahamas has three academic campuses and several teaching and academic research centres throughout The Bahamas. These locations ensure that educational opportunities are available to students across the archipelago.

Oakes Field Campus

The principal campus of The College of The Bahamas system, the Oakes Field Campus (OFC), is highly urbanised, situated within two miles of the centre of Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas.

Grosvenor Close Campus

Located in Nassau, the Grosvenor Close Campus houses the Division of Nursing and Health Sciences.

UB North Campus

The Northern Campus opened in 2011 as part of a planned university community 10 kilometers east of Port Lucaya and 15 kilometers east of Freeport. Operating initially with only the first two buildings, the campus features classrooms, faculty offices, library, computer and science labs, bookstore, cafeteria, conference room and administrative offices. UB North’s new location at the former Kipling Complex symbolizes resilience and hope. Five years ago, Hurricane Dorian severely damaged the former campus in East Grand Bahama. UB acquired the Kipling property two years ago to rebuild and spark a transformation. Phase 1 features two new buildings, including three science labs, three technology labs, a recreation hall, 10 classrooms, a café, and a campus clinic. The second phase, set to begin in early 2025, will add a library, lecture theatres, an entrepreneurship centre, business incubator and other facilities.

Gerace Research Centre

The Gerace Research Centre for the Study of Archaeology, Biology, Geology and Marine Science is located on the shores of Graham's Harbour on the north end of San Salvador Island. The centre (formerly The Bahamian Field Station) is used as a base camp for over 10,000 annual scientific researcher and student expeditions. The centre is currently run by Dr. Troy A.

Bahamas Environmental Research Centre (BERC)

The Bahamas Environmental Research Centre (BERC), located in central Andros, opened in 1995 as a collaborative effort with George Mason University in Virginia and the people of Andros.

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Marine and Environmental Studies Institute (MESI)

The Marine and Environmental Studies Institute (MESI) is a multi-disciplinary research unit meeting national needs in scientific and technical research and community health. The institute was designed to build the nation's capacity for research, monitor marine and environmental resources and provide policy options for natural resource management.

Poultry Research Unit

As part of a Sustainable Science Initiative (SSI), the Poultry Research Unit carries out research and training on sustainable tropical island agriculture and supports collaboration with counterparts with similar research foci and funding. The first phase was completed in 2004 with funding from the Freedom Foundation.

Library Services

The College of The Bahamas Libraries and Instructional Media Services Department (LIMS) is a system of three libraries: Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre [HCML] (the main library) located at the Oakes Field Campus, Hilda Bowen Library (HBL) at the Grosvenor Close Campus (off Shirley Street) and the Northern Campus Library (NCL) at the Northern Bahamas Campus in East Grand Bahama.

Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre

Opened in 2011, the 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) Harry C. Moore Library includes the law library, a 24-hour-a-day computer commons, auditorium, classrooms, media production studio, individual and group study spaces, institutional archives and exhibition spaces. The historical archives will serve as the de facto national library of The Bahamas, including the personal papers of Bahamian prime ministers. The library is named for American born Bahamian philanthropist Harry C.

Academic Profile

The university offers certificates and diplomas as well as associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees for 66 majors and serves over 5,000 students. In 2011, 66 percent of the graduates earned baccalaureate degrees, reflecting the change in student demand and the emergence of institution from college to university. Over 80% of entering students enroll in baccalaureate and masters programs.

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UB offers degrees through eight academic units, including an institute and seven schools.

Student Services and Campus Life

Among the core values of The College is the belief that the goal of higher education should be to produce students who are well-rounded intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and able to cooperate and work with others for the common good. While pursuing their academic careers, students must also be assisted to develop health and rewarding lifestyles. The principal campus of The College of The Bahamas system, the Oakes Field Campus (OFC), is highly urbanised, situated within two miles of the centre of Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas.

ICT Services

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) has responsibility for the development, provision and maintenance of communications and information technology at the College and for supporting the teaching and learning processes at The College. OIT maintains a network infrastructure built upon a single-mode, 12-strand fibre optic loop that spans the Oakes Field Campus.

Leadership and Administration

The University of The Bahamas is managed by a group called the Council. Alfred Sears leads this Council. The current acting President is Dr. Janyne Hodder.

Internationalization

UB is simultaneously pursuing international accreditation as a member of and contributor to the international community of universities. By its very nature, a university is an international enterprise. Successful universities recruit faculty from jurisdictions, seeking the ones most likely to carry out outstanding scholarly work as teachers and as researchers. Internationalisation has become a driving force to bring together students from different backgrounds to prepare them for a global society and recruit faculty with a record of outstanding scholarly work.

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