The University of the Virgin Islands closed on the purchase of 207 acres of land on the western border of the St. Thomas campus recently, effectively doubling its size, it was reported at a Board of Trustees meeting Saturday on St. Croix.
The purchase of the land had been approved at a previous meeting, though no plans were announced for its use.
In other action at the meeting, UVI President Orville Kean laid out the two main thrusts of the university's draft strategic plan. First is involving the community by more closely aligning UVI in a network of partnerships with government, business and other groups to focus the university's community service. Secondly, the plan aims to strengthen UVI's sustained development through revenue enhancement, increased enrollment, fund-raising and entrepreneurship, among other initiatives.
The Academic Committee reported on an agreement with the University of St. Maarten to offer an associate's degree online in accounting. And it was reported at the meeting that the new Sports and Fitness Center is slated for completion in December.
Resolutions approved by the board were as follows:
– approval of a naming policy for major financial contributions, with some slight modification;
– a budget for the UVI Foundation;
– extension of the university's early retirement plan;
– allowing UVI employees to be included in the V.I. government's early retirement incentive act.
