Orientation Week activities for new and transfer students attending the University of the Virgin Islands will be held from Aug. 14 to 19, on the St. Thomas campus and the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.

A special open house for students planning to take videoconference classes at the new St. John Academic Center (STJAC), in Cruz Bay, is set for 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12. Visitors can tour the center, find out about the resources available and learn more about orientation and registration from UVI officials.

All newly matriculated students are required to participate in Orientation Week activities on St. Thomas or St. Croix. Orientation - including placement testing, class registration, island tours and social events - helps students adjust to college life, learn campus rules and regulations, and network with classmates. Students will also meet faculty advisors to develop their class schedules and register for Fall semester classes.

The first activity of Orientation Week is residence halls check-in beginning at noon on Sunday, Aug. 14, on both campuses. A highlight of Orientation Week will be an address by motivational speaker Marlon Smith. Smith, a former employee with IBM and Hewlett-Packard, left corporate America to follow his passion of helping people maximize their true potential. He has motivated thousands of people throughout the United States and around the world. In 2004, he was featured in Essence magazine as one of the top motivational speakers. He is an executive producer of "Real Man Talking," a multimedia stage performance.

Other orientation activities include placement testing, class registration, island tours and social events. Students will be officially welcomed by UVI administrators. There will also be activities for the parents of new students.

Fall Semester classes will begin on Monday Aug. 22, on both campuses and at the St. John Academic Center. See a partial list of Orientation Week activities below.

For complete orientation schedules visit the Admissions section of the UVI website at www.uvi.edu or these direct links:

  • St. Thomas campus Orientation Week Schedule
  • St. Croix campus Orientation Week Schedule

St. Thomas Campus

Sunday, August 14

  • Residence Hall Check-in - 12 noon to 10 p.m. - Student Housing Office

Monday, August 15

  • Welcome and Opening Ceremony - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Arena
  • English 100 Placement Testing - 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Room 222
  • English 101 Placement Testing - 11 a.m. to 12:15 - Sports and Fitness Center, Room 222
  • Math Placement Exam - 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Second Floor Room 222
  • Commuters Meeting - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. - Sports and Fitness Center
  • Cultural Reception - 5 to 7 p.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, VIP Room

Tuesday, August 16

  • Motivational Speaker - 10 a.m. - Sports and Fitness Center
  • Official UVI Welcome and President's remarks - 12:30 p.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Arena
  • Brothers With a Cause and Women with Purpose Meeting - 3:30 to 4 p.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Room 224
  • Class Schedule Distribution - 4 to 6 p.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Second Floor

Wednesday, August 17

  • Student Government Association Elections - 10 a.m. - Sports and Fitness Center
  • Academic Program Overview - 9:30 to 9:55 a.m. - Sports and Fitness Center, Arena
  • Academic Advisement and Registration - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Administration and Conference Center, First Floor

Thursday, August 18

  • Volleyball and Softball Competition - 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. - Athletic Field

Friday, August 19

  • Island Tour - 9 a.m. to 12 noon - Meet at the UVI Bookstore
  • Advisement and Late Registration - 10 a.m. to 4:30 - Administration and Conference Center, First Floor
  • Beach Picnic - 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. - Brewers Beach

St. Croix Campus

Sunday, August 14

  • Residence Hall check-in - 12 noon - Delta M. Jackson Dorsch Residence Hall

Monday, August 15

  • English Placement Testing - 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Q-100 and R-100
  • Math Placement Testing - 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. - Q-100 and R-100
  • Official UVI Welcome and Motivational Speaker - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - North West Wing, Great Hall

Tuesday, August 16

  • Campus Tour - 9 to 11 a.m. - North West Wing, Great Hall
  • Supporting Student Success - 11 a.m. to 12 noon - North West Wing, Great Hall
  • "It's All Academic" Meet the Deans - 1 to 3 p.m. - North West Wing, Great Hall

Wednesday, August 17

  • Orientation to Freshman Year Experience - 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - North West Wing, Great Hall
  • Academic Advisement and Registration - 1 to 4 p.m. - Evans Center-300 Level and North West Wing, Great Hall
  • "Down on the Corner" Social - 2 to 5 p.m. - North West Wing, Lawn
  • Non-matriculated Student Registration - 4 to 6 p.m. - North West Wing, Great Hall

Thursday, August 18

  • Student Workshops - 9 a.m. to 12 noon - North West Wing Labs 120, 131 and 133
  • "A Cultural Party" - 1 to 3 p.m. - Student Center and Cafetorium
  • Late Registration - 2 to 5 p.m. - North West Wing, Great Hall

Friday, August 19

  • Island Tour - 1 to 4 p.m. - Departing from the Delta M. Jackson Dorsch Residence Hall