Orientation activities for new and transfer students at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) will be held next week on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas.
Student orientation, which includes a range of informational, immersive and interactive activities, is mandatory for all newly admitted students and helps to ensure that students are equipped with the tools they need to have a successful transition to their academic careers at UVI.
On the Sheen campus, activities on Tuesday, Aug. 9, begin with Check-In at the Northwest Wing Great Hall at 8:15 a.m., followed by a campus tour, resource presentations, lunch at UVI Trellis, and a Residence Life Open House/Parent Session. “It’s All Academics Dean’s Talk,” an opportunity for students to connect with the school deans and learn about each curriculum; student advisement and registration; and the New Student Convocation and Buccaneer Welcome are slated for Wednesday, Aug. 10, beginning at 11 a.m. Students at both campuses are invited to wear a white top paired with black or blue bottoms for the ceremonial Student Convocation events.
Dr. Camille McKayle, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs encourages the new students to take full advantage of the resources available during Orientation such as the various Student Affairs offices, including the Dean's Office, Counseling and Career Services, Residence Life, Student Life, and Health Services.
“We are excited to interact with our incoming students next week. Orientation gives us an opportunity to introduce you to all that UVI has to offer in addition to an excellent, world-class education. My team and I are here to help in any way we can to support our students.”
Beginning on Aug. 9, students attending Orientation at the Kean Campus will have a campus tour; receive information about accessing helpful resources, clubs and organizations and enjoy lunch. Students will also participate in a Housing Open House, which includes a Parent’s Session. New students will have an opportunity to meet with advisors and register for classes on Aug. 10. New Student Convocation for the St. Thomas campus is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 11, and on Saturday, Aug. 13, “BucNic” offers food, drinks, fun, games and giveaways for UVI students, faculty, and staff at Brewers Bay Beach.
“We can’t wait to welcome our new and transfer students to the Orville E. Kean Campus, where they can join our dynamic community of student-centered faculty and staff who are all committed to helping them excel in their academic pursuits,” said Verna Rivers, dean of Students on the Kean Campus. “As they begin their college careers at UVI, we have worked hard to provide an Orientation Week experience that sets a solid foundation for success in every aspect of their journey.”
To begin the Fall 2022 school year, all students, residential and commuter students, will need to take a COVID-19 test between 48 hours and 24 hours prior to starting the semester. The University’s revised COVID-19 vaccination policy for students permits a testing protocol to substitute for the vaccination requirement for unvaccinated students. At this time, unvaccinated students may attend in-person classes and participate in other campus-based activities. These students will need to submit to testing on a monthly basis. Students desiring to live in the residence halls must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Visit https://www.uvi.edu/coronavirus/default.aspx for the full testing schedule.
New students are encouraged to check the Prospective Students section of the UVI website – http://orientation.uvi.edu – for scheduling updates and additional details such as campus maps, class schedules, downloadable forms and residence hall information.
Classes begin on both campuses on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, and students are encouraged to apply for UVI’s Free Tuition Plus Program, which allows qualifying students who attended three years of private, public or parochial schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands to attend UVI tuition-free. In addition to tuition, Free Tuition Plus can also provide funds for books, room and board (on or off campus) and other expenses.
For more information, contact pr@uvi.edu.