Opinions about the University

Hello Southerner,

The overall general feeling is positive. Are you looking for feedback on particular aspects of the university? Perhaps if you expanded your question to those aspects you'd get more responses.

--Islander

Thanks, Islander, for your reply. I guess I am most curious to know what do most people do with a degree from UVI. I know the STX campus has a good program in agriculture and STT is known for marine sciences but do folks other than local students turn to the university for other opportunities.

I am thinking of going into the PRT program which is a feeder to Hovensa. I've heard students have done well in this program and often get picked up by the refinery before their two years in the program are up. Anyone have any information on this?

We have a friend who came to STX specifically to enter the nursing program at UVI. She will be graduating next May and has been very pleased with the program.

Her plan is to go back to the mainland to work. She wants to get more and varied hospital experience.

Linda J

The Hovensa program at STX's UVI campus had all of its graduates get job offers from Hovensa by graduation last spring. If you want to work at Hovensa and begin a career in refinery work, this program wouldn't be a bad place to start.

The nursing program also seems quite well respected, with many of the students coming from the mainland to enroll.

Among students at the private high schools on STX, only a few enroll at UVI each year. The others tend to head for mainland universities where they have more options in major course of study.

The university is a great opportunity for locals who choose to stay on the island after high school to be able to pursue additional education. It also offers new arrivals the chance to complete a degree they may have begun elsewhere or to take classes in local history or various arts, etc. to learn more about the USVI and Caribbean.

With the problems the public high schools have had in recent years (non-accreditation for a while that has now been rectified), UVI has been an available resource for students who want more of an education in life than they were offered in the public schools. It has given others the chance to return to school to learn specific skills to prepare them for office jobs, etc. once they got out into life beyond high school and maturity set in and they became inspired to improve their lot in life by returning to school. For many mainland young adults in that same position, there are community colleges and technical colleges to offer that training. Without UVI, the USVI would not be able to offer much of a jump start into adulthood and the workforce to its young people.

While a degree from UVI may not have the panache of a degree from Harvard or Stanford, it is an accredited university that offers some useful degrees, filling an important role in helping the USVI train its youth and retain them as professional adults in the workforce.

Thanks for all of the information. This is very helpful. I am looking forward to enrolling at UVI. We've really appreciated all of the information and support from everyone on this board.

Southerner