The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees approved a budget request for the 2014-015 fiscal year.
The action was taken Saturday during the board’s quarterly meeting.
According to UVI, the request to the Legislature will be $30.05 million.
In his remarks to the board, UVI President David Hall mentioned several recent accomplishments by the school’s students and faculty. There has been an increase in publications by faculty members, the School of Education received a positive review by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education during a site visit, and 88 percent of the students in UVI’s Minority Access to Research Careers program who start working on doctorates complete that degree, compared to a national rate of 50 percent of students who begin working on a doctorate achieving that goal.
Hall also presented Presidential Appreciation Awards to two staff members he said had performed exceptionally.
Nereida Washington, director of campus operations on St. Croix, was recognized for repurposing vacated spaces on the campus. The spaces were vacated when the College of Science and Mathematics was moved to the Research and Technology Park. The renovated spaces ended the practice of dual occupancy offices for St. Croix faculty.
Hall called the work a "magnificent transformation" that has "enhanced the quality of faculty life in a wonderful and meaningful way."
"We have made a tremendous improvement int eh quality of work space for the St. Croix faculty," Hall said.
Charles Martin, the physical plant director on St. Thomas, was recognized for the renovation of the Social Science Building on the St. Thomas.
"Under his leadership working with architects, construction companies and his own staff, he was able to really transform the Social Science Building and has made it the second signature building on our St. Thomas campus," Hall said.
Hall also presented a certificate of appreciation to board chairman Alexander Moorhead, lauding him for "outstanding service and leadership" during his 18 years on the board.
The board set a April 19 meeting date to review a proposal for creating a medical school.
