University of the Virgin Islands

University of the Virgin Islands. The University of the Virgin Islands is a public historically black land-grant university in the United States Virgin Islands. Founded in 1962, it is the only Hispanic-serving institution in the Caribbean and a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The university operates two primary campuses on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix, serving as a critical center for higher education and research in the territory.

History

The institution was established by an act of the Virgin Islands Legislature in 1962, initially opening as the College of the Virgin Islands. Its founding was supported by federal legislation, including the Morrill Act, which facilitated its land-grant status. Early development was significantly influenced by Lyndon B. Johnson's administration and the Department of the Interior. The college achieved four-year status in 1967 and was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 1972. It was renamed the University of the Virgin Islands in 1986, reflecting its expanded graduate and research programs. Key figures in its growth include early presidents like Laurence C. Rockefeller, who served on its first board, and Arthur A. Richards.

Academics

The university is organized into several colleges, including the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the School of Business. It offers a range of bachelor's, master's, and associate programs, with notable strengths in marine biology, business administration, and education. The institution houses specialized research centers such as the VI-EPSCoR and the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, which collaborates with agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It also maintains a partnership with the University of Florida for its Doctor of Pharmacy program and participates in the National Student Exchange.

Campuses

The main campus is located on St. Thomas in the suburb of Charlotte Amalie, featuring the Etelman Observatory and the Sports and Fitness Center. The St. Croix campus is situated in Frederiksted and includes the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center. A third location, the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, serves as an administrative and academic hub. The campuses are strategically placed to serve the distinct communities of the territory and support its land-grant mission through extension services.

Student life

Student life is centered around various organizations, including chapters of the Alpha Kappa Alpha and Omega Psi Phi fraternities. The university's athletic teams, known as the UVI Buccaneers, compete in the NAIA and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Key facilities for student engagement include the Reichhold Center for the Arts, which hosts performances and the Virgin Islands Carnival, and the Caribbean Writer literary journal. Residential life is primarily housed on the St. Thomas campus, with students participating in events like Debate Team competitions and the annual University of the Virgin Islands Charter Week.

Notable alumni and faculty

Prominent alumni include former Governor John P. de Jongh, Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, and Major League Baseball player Elrod Hendricks. Distinguished faculty have included poet and professor Lorna Goodison, who served as the Poet Laureate of Jamaica, and marine scientist LaVerne Ragster. Other notable figures associated with the university are Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool, a renowned calypso musician and scholar, and Donna Christensen, who served as the territory's Delegate to the United States House of Representatives.

Category:Universities and colleges in the United States Virgin Islands Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1962