Breaking

In special session on Tuesday, the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees approved UVI to offer online degrees, the institution of higher learning made known via release today.

Multiple graduate and undergraduate degrees and their general education requirements will be available online in the territory, nationally and internationally. The approved online degrees will be offered starting in Spring 2018.

“Where we are going in terms of the University’s online initiative is absolutely the norm,” said Board Trustee Jennifer Nugent Hill. “It is changing the entire state of education. I think this opens up a world of opportunity for us in the Virgin Islands and certainly as alumna of the University, I’m absolutely proud of us using technology to advance the teaching and education.”

“What this will allow us to do is open up a broader marketplace for the University both locally and internationally,” said UVI President David Hall.

The degrees to be offered online include:

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management Technology
Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Technology
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management Technology
Associate of Science in Computer and Electronic Engineering Technology
Associate of Science Applied Computing
Associate of Arts in Engineering Management Technology
Bachelor of Arts in Management
Master of Business Administration Degree
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
Bachelor of Arts in Financial Planning
Master of Arts in Leadership

UVI has been working toward this goal for several years. The University’s strategic plan, Pathways to Greatness, approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2012 with input from faculty, staff and students, required this institution to develop and offer online degrees. Also, Presidential Goals for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 included measures to work towards developing online degrees.

In February 2017 the Board approved of a service agreement with Level Playing Field to provide instructional course design, technology infrastructure and academic support for online courses and degrees. Additionally, through this partnership the University is jointly developing a campaign that will market the online degrees nationally. “Our focus in regards to marketing is trying to expand,” said President Hall. “We are going to focus a lot of our marketing energy to be in those markets where we are not getting students. We have to diversify our appeal and our approach.”

The Middle States Commission for Higher Education approved UVI’s request to offer online degrees in 2017. The University is authorized to offer online degrees in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, through its membership in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

Also during the meeting, the Board approved the minutes of the Oct. 21, regular session meeting. The Board moved into executive session to discuss three online degree programs, which included discussions on personnel matters.

While in executive session, the Board approved the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree programs to be offered online under the condition that any substantive academic concerns that faculty members with in that discipline have must be raised and addressed before the courses are made available to students in February 2018. The Board also approved the executive session meeting minutes for Oct. 21, 2017.

The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018.