Academic and Student

Support Services and Programs

Academic and student support services and programs are provided to enhance students' acclimation to the University, foster professional growth and development, augment leadership skills, complement classroom instruction, promote wellness, and facilitate the attainment of students' personal and career goals and aspirations. This is achieved through orientation programs, advisement, the services of the Freshman Center, counseling and placement, student employment, health services, student governance, student activities and residence life programs. Many services and programs are academic in nature while others may be social, cultural, athletic or recreational.

Orientation

All newly matriculated students are required to come to campus a few days before the fall or spring semester begins for program planning, development of their class schedules, and participation in orientation. Some segments of the orientation program are designed to acquaint students with rules and regulations of the University, to explore the campus, and to meet faculty, administrators, and fellow students, while others are designed to enhance students' academic and social adjustment to college life. Attendance at all orientation programs and activities also facilitates the registration process for new students as well as for transfer students.

Advisement

The University, throughout its teaching, advising, and other relationships with students, expresses its concern for students as individuals - not to do for them what they should do for themselves - but to help them assume responsible management of their own affairs.

Because college-age adults must make many decisions of relevance to their future, students at the University of the Virgin Islands are given professional assistance in solving educational, vocational, social, and personal problems. This service starts with the students' applications for admission and continues even beyond the period in which they are enrolled in the University. By the act of admitting students, the University is expressing its considered judgment that students can succeed in one of the programs of the University. During advisement and registration, students and their faculty advisors, with assistance from the counseling staff or Freshman Center staff, may examine their goals and aspirations. Throughout the freshman year, students may explore emerging interests, using the resources of the Counseling and Placement and the Freshman Center staff to determine the career choices open to them. Such systematic investigation, together with any summer work or on-campus work-study experiences, should enable students to select satisfying careers in which they can succeed.

In the normal course of events, students may face crises of a personal, social or economic nature. In such circumstances, freshmen should seek assistance from the Freshman Center staff, while upperclassmen are encouraged to consult the counseling staff or other appropriate personnel for counseling. It is not uncommon for students to encounter academic difficulties. At these times, students should first consult the instructor of the class in which difficulties are being experienced or their faculty advisor who maintains office hours for these and other purposes. Additionally, assistance in improving study and test-taking skills is provided through enrollment in the Freshman Development Seminar class, by Freshman Center staff, and by Counseling and Placement staff. Tutorial services are also available. In most cases, if students do not delay action, a means of overcoming their academic difficulties can be found.

The essential point for the students to keep in mind is that they should take the initiative in taking full advantage of the Academic and Student Support Services and other advisory resources provided by the University.

The Freshman Center

Freshman centers on both campuses provide peer and professional tutorial services, academic advisement, video-assisted learning, and computer-aided instruction. Students are strongly urged to utilize the Freshman Center to augment their progress in skill development courses, accelerate their proficiency levels in specific areas, and develop computer skills through use of the Freshman Center Computer Lab. The Freshman Center on St. Thomas is located on the first floor of the Classroom Administration (CA) building and on the 700 level of the Evans Center on St. Croix. Consult the Coordinator of Freshman Development for more information on the Freshman Center.

Counseling and Placement Services

Personal, academic and career guidance counseling services are available for full-time and part-time students. As a community service, academic and career advisement are also made available to prospective students on a limited basis.

The Counseling and Placement Office is unique with respect to services offered. Services provided are specifically designed to facilitate the interpersonal, personal, social and cognitive development of the student outside of the classroom.

To assist students with this process, the office sponsors a variety of programs and services including career counseling, on- and off-campus employment, graduate and professional school recruitment and advisement, career fairs, workshops on resume preparation, interviewing skills and job search techniques, credential and file services. There are also workshops on values clarification, interpersonal relationship skills, conflict resolution, and much more.

Counseling and Placement Office also coordinates the National Student Exchange Program and the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Program. A resource library provides a wealth of information on preparing for graduate study, career choices and other life skills processes.

Student Employment Services

Student employment services are available through the Counseling and Placement Office on both campuses. Students seeking off-campus, as well as on -campus employment, should contact the Counseling and Placement Office for further information. U.S. citizens and permanent residents who qualify for federal College Work-Study (CWS) as part of their financial aid package, and would like to work on-campus, should report to the Counseling and Placement Office. Counselors will coordinate their work-study placement as soon as possible in the beginning of the first semester of their eligibility. To promote community service, some CWS placements are off-campus, usually in an educational setting or non-profit agency. To qualify for CWS, students must be enrolled full-time and meet the March 1 deadline date for submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students on F-1 Visas, who do not qualify for CWS, may apply for on-campus employment through the Institutional Work-Study (IWS) program. Application under IWS, however, does not guarantee employment as placement is based on the availability of funds. International students on F-1 Visas are eligible to apply for IWS after the completion of one year of full-time study at the University. Many departments of the University also hire students for on-campus employment. Student employment programs allow students to work, on average, between 12-15 hours per week.

Health Services and Insurance

The University Health Center provides first-aid, health counseling and instruction, referrals to other community health facilities, and health education in the form of mini-courses, seminars, dissemination of literature and informal individual or group discussions. The campus nurse maintains regular office hours and is on call in case of emergencies. A licensed physician is available at the Health Center at regular intervals. Emergency care that cannot be handled on campus is referred to the local hospitals. All full-time students are required, during registration, to pay health services and medical insurance fees. All on-campus summer residents are also required to pay a health services fee. Insurance claim forms are available from the Health Services Center located in Gordon House on the St. Thomas campus and in the Great House on the St. Croix campus. Part-time students who wish to be covered by the student insurance plan may obtain information from the Health Center.

The counseling and placement office, by federal mandate, is required to maintain a job bank which is used to facilitate employment searches for UVI graduates. For compliance purposes and to aid students in securing post-graduation employment, all prospective graduates must submit an up-to-date resume to the counseling and placement office prior to graduation.

Drug and Alcohol Prevention/Education Program

The main goal of the Drug and Alcohol Prevention/Education Program (DAPEP) is to develop programs that reach all segments of the University community in order to educate and help prevent drug and alcohol abuse. The DAPEP attempts to create a healthy, drug-free environment in order to enhance learning, professional development, job performance and safety. In carrying out its mission, the DAPEP promotes healthier life-styles for all members of the University community, sponsors on-going drug prevention and education programs, and provides referral services to community agencies for persons in need of further counseling or treatment (see the University's Drug-free Work Place Policy in the Academic Information and Regulations section). The St. Thomas campus' Mentorship Program, which pairs UVI student mentors with elementary school-aged youth, is one of DAPEP's major prevention education programs.

Students with Disabilities

No student will be discriminated against because of disability. Grievance committees in each academic division will include, in their areas of concern, any grievances raised by disabled students that relate to academic programs and practices. Students living with disabilities should report to the Counseling and Placement Office prior to advisement and registration.

In addition to providing personal, career and academic counseling services, the counselors also facilitate the coordination of services with other departments of the University in order to meet students' special needs. These may include, but not be limited to, facilitation of testing and registration processes, scheduling of back-to-back classes, scheduling of classes within the same building and other services as needed. Long-range academic program planning is essential in order for counseling staff to communicate course needs with the Academic Divisions and personnel in charge of developing the schedule of classes. It is also recommended that students familiarize themselves with the services of the Virgin Islands University Affiliated Program (VIUAP), which exclusively serves students and families of students with disabilities.

Student Activities and Convocations

The office of Student Activities assumes major responsibility for the implementation of social, recreational, cultural enrichment, and student leadership development programs as well as other extracurricular activities. It also serves as a facilitator for the development of clubs and organizations in response to student needs and interests. Convocations are scheduled each semester for the entire University community to provide cultural and intellectual enrichment; members of the faculty and staff, students, and outside speakers assume leadership in stimulating thought and discussion. Because the University functions as a cultural center, many activities, lectures, musical performances and theatrical performances are open to the public as a means of drawing together the University community and the larger community. UVIsion, a student newspaper produced by Journalism and Mass Communication majors, welcomes contributions from all students on both campuses.

Student Government Association

The Office of Student Activities, works closely with the Student Government Association and student leaders in planning their own programs and activities. All full-time students belong to SGA, which provides a channel for the expression of student opinion and representation of student concerns and interests. Part-time matriculated students who wish to become members of the SGA may do so by paying the student association and activities fees.

Varsity, Intramural and Club Sports

The University maintains an active varsity, intramural and club sports program that emphasizes student development and leadership through sports competition, physical fitness and the development of recreational skills which can be enjoyed after leaving the University. Intramural games are held between various components of the University community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. Club teams compete in local amateur leagues and varsity teams participate in leagues and invitational tournaments with teams from other universities in the Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Central America and, occasionally, the U.S. mainland. Consequently, there is a diverse program of outdoor activities and individual and team sports at the University. Varsity teams compete in basketball, track and field, tennis and volleyball. Both campuses offer outdoor athletic and recreational facilities including volley/basketball courts, tennis courts, and grounds for track and field, softball, baseball, and soccer. With the sea at the edge of the campus, the St. Thomas Campus provides an ideal setting for water sports and also offers a golf course for physical education classes and golf enthusiasts. The University is a member of the Caribbean Universities Sports Association (CUSA), La Organizacion Deportiva Inter-Universitaria (ODI) de Puerto Rico, the Organizacion Deportiva Universitaria Centroamericana y del Caribe (ODUCC), and is a corresponding member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Student Housing

Residence hall living promotes the interaction of students from various places, ethnic backgrounds, and cultures. While most students living on campus come from the U.S.Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, the Eastern Caribbean and the continental United States, students from as far away as Africa, Asia and Europe have lived on campus. In addition to the benefits of experiencing cultural diversity and cross-cultural exchange, campus residents find academic resources and student support programs and services, including tutoring, the library, the Freshman Center, computer labs, counseling and many others readily accessible. Resident Assistants offer a variety of residence life programs designed to provide a comprehensive living-learning environment. Only full-time students are eligible to live on campus. To maintain eligibility to reside on campus, students must comply with all rules and regulations of the University, adhere to the Student Housing Contract, and maintain full-time status (12 or more credits) at all times.

The St. Croix Campus

The Residence Hall Complex on the St. Croix Campus is comprised of 17 three-bedroom suites; on-campus living quarters for housing supervisor; a reception area; lounge; the Office of Student Housing & Residence Life; seminar / study rooms; and laundry facilities. The Student Center, adjacent to the residence hall, houses a cafeteria / auditorium, snack bar, the Office of Student Activities, a Student Activities Lounge, student mailroom and the campus bookstore.

The St. Thomas Campus

Student Housing on the St. Thomas Campus is comprised of four residence halls with a capacity of approximately 230 students. Residence Halls South and East provide double occupancy bedrooms for females. East Hall also provides double occupancy bedrooms for males; North Residence Hall for males and Middle Residence Hall for females provide single bedroom occupancy.

Housing Procedures

1. Each student desiring on-campus housing is required to submit an Application for Student Housing and a signed Student Housing Contract by the deadline date listed below. The Application for Student Housing must be accompanied by a $50 room deposit (certified check or money order) made payable to the University of the Virgin Islands. The application and payment (no cash) must be submitted to the Student Housing Office. New students should not submit an Application for Student Housing until they have received an acceptance letter from the Admissions Office. New students who do not register for the academic year in which they were admitted should not assume that original acceptance into the University meets the Housing Office's requirements for placement or that a room assignment is carried over into the next semester or the next year. Newly admitted students who do not register within the academic year of admission must formally submit an application for readmission to the University. (See section on Readmission to the University )

2. Applicants will be mailed a room assignment notice or will be notified in writing if space is unavailable. A room assignment will be made only after a student has been officially admitted to the University; has met the deadline for submission of the Application for Student Housing; has signed the Student Housing Contract; and has paid the $50 room deposit fee.

3. The completed Application for Student Housing and Student Housing contract for room and board must be received by the Student Housing Office by the dates below:
For fall semester not later than June 1
For spring semester not later than November 15

4. The Student Housing Contract is binding for the academic year (fall and spring semesters) in which students are enrolled. The contract terminates at the end of the spring semester.

5. The Student Housing Contract and room assignment notice may be cancelled and a refund of $50 (less a $5 administrative charge) will be made provided the Student Housing Office is informed in writing at least 21 days prior to the opening date of the residence hall. No refund of the deposit will be made for cancellation after this date.

6. Students who have applied for housing but have not been assigned a room, may transfer their $50 reservation deposit to the next semester by indicating on the housing application their desire to be placed on the waiting list. Students who have not received official confirmation of a room assignment should seek off-campus housing.

7. Off-island students who have applied for housing but have not received a room assignment and have not been able to secure off campus housing accommodations should call the Housing Office before arriving on campus.

8. The assigning of special students who are working on special projects with the University will be determined by availability of space.

9. Residence Hall Changes, Room Changes, Length of Stay: Students assigned to University housing are required to abide by the terms of the Student Housing Contract and the Student Handbook. The Housing Office reserves the right to make residence hall and room changes for the benefit of all. Students assigned on-campus housing may reside on-campus for up to and no more than eight semesters.

10. Termination of Student Housing Contract: For all campus residents who drop to part-time status (less than 12 credits), withdraw, are suspended, dismissed, or otherwise cease studies at the University, the Student Housing Contract will be terminated and they must return keys to the Housing Office and vacate the premises within 24 hours.

11. All campus residents, visitors and overnight guests are required to observe accepted standards of social conduct at all times and to adhere to all rules and regulations governing the residence halls. Policies and procedures for visitors and fees for overnight guests are outlined in the Student Handbook.

12. Opening and closing of the Residence Halls: University housing facilities are not available for occupancy prior to the opening dates as posted by the Housing Office. Residence Halls are closed at the conclusion of each semester.

13. Summer Housing: Summer housing is provided for matriculated UVI students who are enrolled for at least 6 credits during the summer session. Applications for housing for the summer session must be filed in the Housing Office by April 15 along with the Student Housing Contract and $50 room deposit.

Personal Property:

The University cannot be responsible for, and does not insure, student property at any time. If concerned, students should investigate individual or family property insurance which would provide adequate protection.

Off-campus Housing:

The University does not assume the responsibility for placing students in off-campus accommodations. However, the Housing Office keeps a list of available housing for students wishing to seek off-campus accommodations. The University assumes no control over off-campus rates.

Food Services:

Students may select one of three Meal Plan Options:

Option 1- $1,915: Seven (7) day meal plan with three (3) meals per day Monday through Saturday and two (2) meals on Sunday; 20 meals weekly;

Option 2- $1,340: Seven (7) day meal plan with two meals per day Monday through Sunday, 14 meals weekly;

Option 3- $958: a Five (5) day meal plan with 2 meals per day Monday through Friday, 10 meals weekly.

Fees are outlined in the Cost and Financial Aid section of the catalog.