The numbers were negative, but the mood was positive at a Saturday morning trustees meeting at the University of the Virgin Islands. Reports from President Dr. David Hall and various staff and committee chairs revealed that both enrollment and revenues are slipping, although they also highlighted some bright spots.
Hall said the university is facing a $3.5 million reduction in its local government funding for its 2013 budget, and early next week it will announce a series of open forums seeking input from the community on how to deal with the decrease. He noted it already has instituted a number of personnel measures to cushion the blow of an 8 percent salary cut for its staff. Included in those measures is the option to convert leave time to cash and a liberal flex time policy.
While local government funding is down, so are private contributions. The report covering the fiscal year from its start October 1, through February 9, shows a 27 percent decline in overall contributions, which Dionne Jackson of the Development Office said is directly attributable to the closing of Hovensa. The St. Croix oil refinery had been one of the institution’s major corporate sponsors. She said the office is looking aggressively for other corporate sponsors, including outside the territory.
Meanwhile, one revenue source for the institution has been solid and continues to improve. Externally funded grants and contracts increased by 7 percent over last year. UVI is actually second among its peer institutions in the amount of money received in federal grants.
However, overall enrollment, which already showed a decline last fall, has dropped another 4 percent. That figure includes graduate and undergraduate students, full and part-time. The figure listed in the Spring Report for freshmen was perhaps more alarming, as it indicated a 21 percent drop in the number of students entering the school this year as freshmen. Provost Karl Wright blamed the general decline in the territory’s economy in large part, but said the university also is facing increased competition.
“We used to be the only game in town,” Wright said. He and Hall added that UVI needs to come up with new strategies to attract students.
The bright spot in the enrollment figures was a very slight increase in the percentage of male students, who traditionally lag far behind the number of women. For incoming freshmen the percentage of males was up by 6 percent; overall it was up by just 1 percent. The headcount for spring enrollment on both St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses is 2,513. Of that, 1,184, or roughly 72 percent, are women, and 699, or a bit over 27 percent, are men.
The university has been campaigning to increase male enrollment with enhanced sports activities, special programs aimed at young men, and the popular Man Up series in which UVI hosts high school seniors for a day to hear from popular, positive male role models. Wright said the push is beginning to pay off.
Other good news came from David Zumwalt, executive director for UVI’s Research and Technology Park. He reported that there are now 12 active tenants with three more just approved and another 19 in various stages of application. Historically, about half of the companies who apply make it through the process and set up business. The combined commitments of the 12 active companies total roughly $250,000 annually in scholarships, fellowships, and other contributions to UVI.
Zumwalt said the Park’s budget has increased from $1.1 million to $1.4 million, but “the commercial revenue streams we’re generating” cover all expenses, and the Park will not ask for operating money.
Responding to a question, he said the Park is seeing a lot of interest in alternative and renewable energy projects.
There was considerable discussion of the university’s Golden Jubilee which it is celebrating this year with a number of programs and special events. Dovetailing with the development efforts, the school has launched a 50 for 50 initiative to tap its alumni for support.
Jackson said the goal is to become the first HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to get financial support from 50 percent of its alumni. The suggested minimum gift is $500. Currently, only a little more than 13 percent of alumni contribute. Several trustees and staff members expressed support for the campaign; as the public portion of the meeting drew to a close, Hall threw out a challenge. Referring to his computer, he said he had been researching during the discussion and discovered another HBCU recently hit 45 percent and is now aiming to break 50, so UVI has competition.
After two hours, the board voted unanimously to move into executive session. Board Chairman Alex Moorehead said the closed portion of the meeting would be devoted to ratification of actions taken in previous executive sessions, the consideration of a proposed gift, personnel issues, and an update on pending legal matters.
