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Student Life and Development
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The Division of Student Life and Development has as its goal the attainment of a campus environment where meaningful human development and student leadership can be fostered through social, cultural, and recreational programs and services outside of the classroom. Educational programs are also designed to supplement classroom instruction.
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.
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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.
Later, during registration advisement, students and their faculty advisors,
with assistance from the counseling staff or Freshman Center Coordinator,
may examine students’ goals and aspirations. During the freshman
year, students may explore emerging interests, using the resources of the
Counseling and Placement Office and the Freshman Center to determine
the career choices open to them. Such systematic investigation, together
with any summer work experiences 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 Coordinator, while upperclassmen are
encouraged to turn to the counseling staff or other appropriate Student
Life and Development personnel for counsel and guidance. 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, the faculty advisor who maintains office hours for
these and other purposes, or an understanding instructor. 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 staff within the Division of Student Life and Development.
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 services and advisory
resources provided by the University.
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Counseling
& Placement
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 unit 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 unit 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 résumé 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.
The Counseling and Placement unit 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.
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.
Click on Comprehensive Student Career Development System (CSCDS) for more information.
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Student Employment
While the Counseling and Placement Office serves undergraduate students
seeking off campus employment and job placement after graduation, On-Campus
employment is coordinated by the Program Specialist within the Counseling
Office on the St. Thomas campus and by the Administrative Specialist in
Student Life and Development on the St. Croix campus. U.S. citizens and permanent
residents who qualify for the Federal College Work Study (CWS) as part
of their Financial Aid Package, and would like to work on-campus,
should report to these offices for coordination of their work study placement
as soon as possible in the benign 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.
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Health Services
and Insurance
The University Health Center staff provide fir staid, 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. A full-time University
Nurse maintains regular office hours and is on call in case of emergencies
on the St. Thomas campus. A licensed physician is available at the
Health Center at regular intervals. Emergency care that cannot be
handled at the Health Center is referred to the local hospitals.
All full-time students are required, during registration, to pay a Health
Center and medical insurance fee. All on-campus summer residents
are required to pay a health service fee. Insurance claim forms are
available from the Health Center. On the St. Thomas Campus, the Health
Center is located in Gordon House and, on the St. Croix Campus, within
the residence hall complex. Part-time students who wish to be covered by
the student insurance plan may obtain information from the Health Center
on St. Thomas or Student Life and Development on St. Croix
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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 lifestyles 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 University's Mentorship Program which pairs UVI student
mentors with elementary school aged youth is one of DAPEP’s major prevention
education programs.
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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 Division of Student Life and Development’ Counseling Office during Orientation and
prior to the commencement of classes (new students) and prior to registration/advisement
(continuing students). 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 Deans 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.
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Student Activities
and Convocations
The Student Activities component of the Division of Student Life and Development 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. A series of Ideas and Issues Seminars 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.
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Student Government
Association
The Student Government Association (SGA) is under the aegis of the Office
of Student Activities in the Division of Student Life and Development and works closely
with Student Life and Development personnel in planning its 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.
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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, Japan, Spain and Alaska 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. Staff within
the Division of Student Life and Development and 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.
In order 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
Opened for student occupancy in January 1999, the new Residence Hall Complex
on the St. Croix Campus is comprised of a 102-bed residential facility,
the Office of Student Housing and Residence Life, meeting and study rooms,
laundry facilities and the Student Center. The Student Center houses
a cafeteria / auditorium, snack bar, the Office of Student Activities,
a Student Activities Lounge, 500 student mailboxes 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 made 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
and the signed Student Housing Contract, and has paid the $50 room deposit
fee and when space is available.
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 canceled
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.
Off Island students who have applied for housing 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 definitive off campus
housing accommodations should not report to the Housing Office with expectations
of being assigned a room immediately.
8.
The assigning of special students to University housing facilities will
be determined by the 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 maker 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 hand in keys 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 Division of Student Life and Development. 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.
Food Services
On both campuses, the cafeteria Food Service and/or Snack Bar are under
the general supervision of the Student Housing supervisor or Residence
Hall Director. On the St. Thomas campus, both room and board fees
are required of all students residing on campus. Residence hall students
must pay for their meals (board) at the same time that room and tuition
and fees are paid. Meals are served cafeteria style except for special
occasions. Non campus based students may purchase meal ticket booklets
from the Food Services Manager. On the St. Croix campus, students
may either purchase their meals on a cash and carry basis or make arrangements
directly with the Snack Bar proprietor to pay for all meals, in advance,
for the entire semester.
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.
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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 league and invitational tournaments with teams from other universities in the 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. Students compete in basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, volleyball, cross country and soccer. 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. UVI's recently completed, $10 million Sports and Fitness Center provides a home for sports teams and physical education classes and intramural competition. The Sports and Fitness Center is also home - through 2008 - to the annual Paradise Jam, NCAA Division I basketball tournament. This gem of a building seats 2,500 to 3,500 depending on the type of event being hosted. The University is a member of the Caribbean Universities Sports Association (CUSA), La Organization Deportiva Inter-universataria (ODI), the Central America and Caribbean Sports Organization, and is a corresponding member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
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Please send all questions and comments to:
Public Relations Office