UVI Board Approves 2017 Self-Study For Accrediting Agency

ST. THOMAS — In a special session on Thursday, the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees approved the more than 100-page self-study document that will be presented to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is the accrediting body of the university, UVI announced late Thursday.

“This is a very critical year for us because Middle States, which is our accrediting agency, requires us to go through the process for the reaffirmation of our accreditation,” said UVI President David Hall. “One of the major things that they require as apart of that process is for the institution to develop a self-study document that demonstrates that we are meeting their standards, but also that we are engaging in processes that indicate we have plans for the future, that we are moving toward that and that we have the entire community engaged in that process.”

According to the release, UVI was selected by Middle States to participate with 14 other colleges and universities to pilot a new set of standards. The new standards came with a new approach for the document that included demonstrating how the university meets the Middle States standards within its mission, strategic plan, and seven management values.

The self-study was prepared by the Self-Study Initiative Steering Committee, which is led by Co-chairs Dr. Frank Mills, vice provost for Research and Public Service and Dr. Magdalene Tobias, assistant dean for Unit Accreditation. Vice President for Information and Technology Services and Assessment Tina Koopmans has administrative oversight of the entire accreditation process, the release states.

This committee, composed of faculty, staff and administrators, worked diligently over the past two years to compile evidence that UVI meets the Middle States standards. Also to ensure that the study tells the story of UVI and its successes.

The self-study also analyses areas of improvement, where the university can continue to grow.

“This is an extremely impressive document – clearly a lot work and effort,” said Board Chair Henry Smock.

The university must submit a board-approved self-study to the Middle States visiting team by Feb. 2, 2017.

In other business, the board ratified actions taken by the executive committee during the Nov. 18, meeting, including the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Compensation Strategy and the Fiscal Year 2017 Proposed Operating Budget.

The board went into executive session, but recessed in executive session without adjournment. The board will reconvene in executive session to complete the executive session’s agenda on a later date, UVI said.

The board last met in regular session on Oct. 22, on the St. Thomas Campus.