Higher Education in the Virgin Islands: A Focus on the University of the Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands higher education system is primarily served by a single public university, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). As an American territory, its accreditation adheres to US standards, specifically through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Reflecting the islands' geographic and economic context, the system places a special emphasis on Caribbean studies, marine biology, and hospitality management.

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI)

Founded in 1962, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) stands as the sole accredited university in the US Virgin Islands. This public, comprehensive institution, located in Charlotte Amalie, offers a wide range of programs from associate to doctoral degrees. Key fields of study include marine science, business, education, and nursing.

Historical Context and Evolution

UVI was initially established as the College of the Virgin Islands on March 16, 1962. In 1986, it officially gained recognition as one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). To reflect the expansion and diversification of its academic curriculum, research programs, and community services, the institution's name was changed to the University of the Virgin Islands in the same year.

Legal and Symbolic Milestones

The university has faced its share of notable events. On August 18, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that the university's regulations prohibiting signs and conduct that could cause emotional distress were unconstitutional. Further, on January 5, 2021, Governor Albert Bryan signed Act 8404 into law, renaming the St. Thomas campus as the Orville E. Kean Campus in honor of the former UVI President's contributions.

Campuses and Facilities

UVI operates with two campuses and two extension facilities. The original 388-acre (1.57 km2) campus, opened in 1963, is located on St. Thomas. The Albert A. Sheen campus is situated on St. Croix. Additionally, there is an academic center and an environmental research facility on St. John.

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The St. Croix campus is located on Estate Golden Grove in the mid-island area. The St. Thomas campus is located three miles (5 km) from Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the territory.

The St. Thomas campus sits atop two hills and includes its own beach, John Brewer's Bay beach, accessible directly from the main road that bisects the campus. Most buildings on the St. Thomas campus are constructed from volcanic rock and cement. The campus features a 64,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) Sports and Fitness Center, complete with a weightlifting and aerobic exercise gym, a golf course, tennis courts, and outdoor basketball, volleyball, baseball, and soccer fields. St. Croix also offers outdoor sports facilities with basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts, as well as a small exercise gym inside the Student Activities Center.

In 2012, the university expanded its residential capacity with a 37,000 square foot residential hall. The St. Thomas campus offers six different sets of dorms: Eastern Dorms, Western Dorms, Northern Dorms, Southern Dorms, and Middle Dorms. The Eastern and Western Dorms are unisex, while the South and Middle dorms are exclusively for female students. The Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix includes the Delta M. Jackson Dorsch Complex, which opened in 1999. This complex provides housing for 90 students, with 45 rooms containing two beds each. The halls are divided into blocks: Knight's Block, Pirate's Block, Spartan's Block, and Titan's Block.

St. John Academic Center

Although St. John, the northernmost island of the US Virgin Islands, does not have a full college campus, UVI has made efforts to provide educational resources to its residents. Students from St. John who wish to attend UVI are required to travel by ferry to St. Thomas to attend classes.

UVI President David Hall prioritized improving access to education for St. John residents. After consulting with the community, Dr. Hall identified obstacles such as a lack of access to a library and study spaces. Through the HBCU Library Alliance, funds were raised for the construction of a learning center in St. John.

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The St. John Academic Center (STJAC) includes four classrooms, a library, and a computer lab. Students can also attend classes via video conferencing, reducing the need for frequent travel to St. Thomas. The center provides individual and group study spaces. According to UVI chief information officer Tina Koopmans, UVI has "seen an increase in our St. John student population from 37 to 47, and we are only at the beginning of the process." The STJAC also serves the broader St. John community.

Research and Technology Park

The legislature of the Virgin Islands chartered the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park to promote technology-based economic development. Its mission is to expand the technology sector in the islands, encourage businesses to operate there, and foster technology research and activities at the university.

Academics and Programs

The university is staffed with knowledgeable individuals dedicated to supporting students in achieving their academic and career goals. The United States Department of Agriculture operates an agricultural experiment station on the St. Croix campus, focusing on areas such as agroforestry, aquaponics, biotechnology, forage agronomy, and tilapia farming.

UVI consists of five academic divisions: Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Nursing, and Science and Mathematics. The university offers a range of graduate and undergraduate degree programs.

Graduate programs include a Specialist Degree in Education Specialist in School Psychology and Master's degrees in Education, Mathematics for Secondary Teachers, Business Administration, Marine and Environmental Science, Psychology, and Public Administration. UVI's liberal arts curriculum is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The College of Science and Mathematics offers several academic programs, including an engineering program where students attend UVI for three years before transferring to Columbia University, the University of Florida, Washington University in St. Louis, or the University of South Carolina (Columbia) to complete their engineering studies. Upon completion, students earn a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from UVI and a Bachelor of Science in their engineering specialization from the partner university. A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in computational biology is available on both the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses.

UVI also has an early medical school selection program with Boston University, allowing selected students to study at UVI for three years before transferring to Boston University Medical School in their senior year to take medical school courses early.

The university also manages several National Science Foundation-funded research grants and programs, including MBRS-RISE, SEAGEP, HBCU-UP, and MARC, under its Emerging Caribbean Scientist (ECS) program. The ECS programs aim to enhance research training and promote excellence for students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and psychology at UVI.

The Caribbean Writer

Founded in 1986, The Caribbean Writer is an international, peer-reviewed literary journal published annually by UVI. Subtitled "Where the Caribbean Imagination Embraces the World," the journal's mission is to publish high-quality writing by both established and emerging writers that reflects the culture of the Caribbean, promote a strong literary tradition, and serve as an institute for the development of emerging writers throughout the Caribbean. The current editor of the journal is Alscess Lewis-Brown; the founding editor was Erika J. Waters.

Marine Biology Program

UVI's marine biology program attracts students from around the world. Through the National Student Exchange, students from across the United States can participate in semester- or year-long exchanges at UVI, paying tuition to either their home or host school.

Online Programs

In 2018, UVI began offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs online in science, arts, and business administration. Courses start on the second Wednesday of each month and run for eight weeks. UVI online students have the option to complete a mini-residency program on the island of St. Thomas.

Student Life

The University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus offers a variety of clubs and Greek Life organizations, including Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Anguilla Student Association, Chess Club, Criminal Justice Club, Foods Committee, Golden Key Int'l Honour Society, Japanese Club, Psychology Student Association, Queen's Committee, Social & Cultural Committee, Sports Committee, Student Nursing Association, UVI ACS Student Chemistry Club, UVI French Club, UVI St. Kitts/Nevis Association, Dominican Association, BVI Association, Interact (in conjunction with the local Rotary International Club), Queens Court Club, R.E.A.C.H, Carnival Committee, Cheerleading Squad, and Dance Team.

The Student Government Association is active on both campuses, especially the St. Thomas campus.

Athletics

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) athletic teams are known as the Buccaneers. The school colors are blue, white, and gold. A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), UVI primarily competes in the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), formerly the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), since the 2023â24 academic year.

UVI participates in five intercollegiate varsity sports: men's basketball and track & field; women's basketball and track & field; and co-ed eSports. Currently, the head coach of UVI's men's basketball team is Jeffery Jones.

The University of the Virgin Islands hosts the Paradise Jam tournament every November. Teams from the US mainland compete in men's and women's basketball tournaments.

Ranking and Reputation

Currently, no US Virgin Islands universities rank in the global top 200 or top 1,000. Despite this, the University of the Virgin Islands provides a unique educational experience rooted in Caribbean culture and tailored to the specific needs of the region.

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