Academics
The University of the Virgin Islands is a liberal arts-based institution with two campuses located on St. Croix and St. Thomas. The English-speaking university offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs through its five colleges. Accessibility is key at UVI, which has a dedicated division that helps to make some of its degrees available online for remote students, including those from nearby St. John. That’s why the school has partnered with other U.S. schools to create additional opportunities and programs wherein students spend their first three years at UVI before transferring to the partner university to finish up, whether that’s in engineering (a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from UVI and Bachelor of Science in a specialized engineering field from the partner) or medicine (at Boston University Medical School). Recognizing the various paths to a degree is also why UVI runs the Emerging Caribbean Scientist (ECS) program, which creates numerous hands-on opportunities for science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and psychology students, with opportunities to present research projects conducted both locally and abroad. Work involving the Marine & Environmental Science Programs is particularly popular, as one might expect from the setting, with students getting to conduct a practical study of tropical marine life and environmental issues.
Career
While the warm climate and beaches create a relaxed backdrop, UVI offers a vibrant, forward-thinking culture and atmosphere. Student research opportunities are numerous, and many students do research abroad. Entrepreneurship is encouraged, and each year, students compete to create businesses that provide much-needed products and services to the community. Eligible students receive $30,000 to launch a new business in the Virgin Islands. Community engagement is also key to UVI culture, and students regularly volunteer for projects that lift up their neighbors. The arts play a large role in campus culture. The Reichhold Center for the Arts has hosted Ray Charles, Celia Cruz, the Dance Theater of Harlem, and many others. Student-run facilities, like the radio station, literary magazine, and online newspaper, give participants a chance to get real-world experience while providing valuable services to the school. Likewise, a long list of clubs allows students to explore their passion projects, whether that’s in the Pan-Hellenic scene, the Criminal Justice club, or serving in the Social and Cultural Committee. The UVI Buccaneers athletics program is part of three leagues of American universities throughout the Caribbean (most of which are from Puerto Rico) and has varsity teams in a variety of sports including basketball, soccer, and swimming. UVI hosts the annual Paradise Jam Tournament with teams from across the U.S. mainland.
Culture
The university offers counseling and career services to full- and part-time students, including interpersonal, personal, social, and cognitive development education. Other services include postings of employment opportunities both on and off campus, career development workshops and job fairs, résumé and cover letter development, and planning for graduate degree programs and professional schools. UVI has been the university of choice for many notable alumni, some of whom were the first in their family to attend college thanks to the school’s affordability. Among those who have achieved prominence in their fields are the current Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Silveria Elfrieda Jacobs; Saint Kitts and Nevis cabinet minister Richard Skerritt; and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Melvin Claxton.
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