UVI trustees back $92.5M spending plan and academic shake-up

The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Saturday to approve a $92.5 million budget for Fiscal Year 2027 and to begin a major restructuring of its academic programs, officials said in a statement.

The board also adopted four new governance policies aimed at strengthening institutional accountability and transparency. The moves are part of the university's response to a review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Under the "Academic Affairs Transformation Plan", UVI's leadership will develop a strategy that examines how the institution deploys faculty, which degree programs to offer, student enrollment trends, course demand, and the cost of running each program. Any changes must maintain student access, help learners finish degrees on time, keep courses available, and preserve accreditation standing. Faculty, student services, finance and enrollment staff will help shape the plan.

The budget totals $92.5 million, made up of $47.54 million in operating revenue, $43.63 million in restricted revenue, and $1.35 million for capital work. The spending plan includes $2.31 million in cost cuts to keep the university's finances stable.

The four new policies cover conflicts of interest and disclosure, how to nominate board officers, conduct standards for trustees, and board communications.

Capital projects approved include upgrades to water treatment systems at the Orville E. Kean campus on St. Thomas, a review of the water supply network, an assessment of the Melvin H. Evans Center, and a $75,000 innovation lounge funded by Home Depot. The board also greenlit repairs across all campuses for lighting, cooling systems, and sports courts.

President Safiya George said the university holds full accreditation and submitted a formal response to the Commission's follow-up concerns on October 12, asking to be removed from Show Cause status. The university was expected to present to the Commission on Monday, though no updates from that session were immediately released.