In the regular session of its quarterly meeting on March 9, the University of the
Virgin Islands Board of Trustees voted to request an appropriation of $27,417,712
from the Government of the Virgin Islands for fiscal year 2013-2014. In his presentation
to the Board, Finance and Budget Committee Chairman Edward E. Thomas said that his
committee was proposing the appropriation request "reluctantly," as it is $1.4 million
less than UVI's current budget, but met the expenditure ceiling set by the VI Government's
Office of Management and Budget.
"This, from my vantage point, is really a severe reduction for the University on the
heels of a $3.5 million reduction last year and other reductions the year before,"
UVI President Dr. David Hall said at the meeting, held on UVI's Albert A. Sheen Campus
on St. Croix. "This really will have a tremendous impact on us," Dr. Hall continued.
"The thing that makes this one more severe than any of the others is that we have
been able to keep our classes on a regular schedule. We have not affected the teaching
resources up until this time," Dr. Hall said. "There is no way, and I underscore no
way, that we can address the $1.4 million without affecting our instructional resources;
and I think that puts our students at jeopardy, that puts some of our academic programs
at jeopardy and I just don't think it's in our best interest," he said. "This is not
just about UVI, it is about the quality of the territory," Dr. Hall said, noting ripple
economic and quality-of-life effects.
In a lengthy President's Report, Dr. Hall focused largely on enrollment and retention
challenges at UVI. The two areas were discussed separately, with Dr. Hall explaining
the institution's traditional approaches to recruitment, and new initiatives to increase
enrollment. Those new initiatives include increased outreach to high school juniors
and seniors in the territory and abroad through strategic mailing and calling programs,
increased memorandums of understanding with eastern Caribbean countries, and open
houses on both campuses. UVI will also begin administering an admitted student survey
to gather data on why students choose to attend UVI or another institution.
Dr. Hall said the recently launched Center for Student Success (CSS) is UVI's main
answer to student retention. The Center is the umbrella body for UVI's Freshman Development
Seminar; Advisement, Registration and Rehabilitation; Learning Assistance; Summer
Bridge; and University Bound (formerly Upward Bound).
Trustee Jennifer Nugent-Hill said that UVI's enrollment and recruitment challenges
are directly linked to the territory's socio/economic issues. Nugent-Hill said she
often hears parents say, "I am sending my children off-island to save them." The community
can no longer deny the effects that crime is having, she said. "All of us are now
being affected directly," she said.
The Board also approved:
A memorandum of understanding between UVI and the Foundation for the University of
the Virgin Islands (FUVI), in keeping with best practices between universities and
their foundations, and also for financial benefits to UVI.
Amendments to FUVI's articles of incorporation that were adopted by the FUVI Board
in February.
A policy for Retention, Archival and Disposal of documents for the Board's office.
The Board also ratified several actions taken by the Executive Committee, including
a resolution authorizing a loan to the Research and Tech Park Corporation, the updated
Human Resources Policy Manual and a resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement
for the Solar Energy Project.
As customary in recognizing UVI employees, departments or groups that have performed
exceptionally with the President's Appreciation Awards, Dr. Hall recognized Albert
A. Sheen Campus Director of Campus Operations Nereida Washington for spearheading
UVI's new Emergency Management Committee and her leadership in the development of
UVI's first comprehensive Emergency Response Plan.
The Board also welcomed Trustee Oswin Sewer, Sr. to his first meeting and bid farewell
to Alumni Trustee Marthious Clavier, whose term will expire.
A review of UVI's Key Performance Indicators included the profile for entering freshmen
and compared UVI's retention rates with those of peer institutions.
In executive session, the Board's Executive Committee adopted a resolution to petition
the governor of the Virgin Islands.
