The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees, during a special meeting held virtually on Wednesday, Sept. 2, unanimously approved a series of financial, policy and governance measures designed to strengthen institutional oversight, accountability and long-term planning.
The Board also received confirmation that UVI submitted its Show Cause Report to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) on Sept. 1. UVI remains accredited while the Commission reviews the University’s response regarding Standard VI, Planning, Resources and Institutional Improvement, and Standard VII, Governance, Leadership and Administration.
“I’m happy to report that our Show Cause Report was successfully submitted yesterday afternoon to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education,” said UVI President Dr. Safiya George. “Huge thanks to our Show Cause Steering Committee, as well as several members of our writing team, for collaboratively working on that, and thanks, of course, to the Board for collaborating with us and ensuring that both of those standards were comprehensively addressed.”
The Board unanimously approved the Show Cause report and the contingency teach-out plan. The University will continue preparing for MSCHE’s evaluation visit on Sept. 24 and the visiting team’s report-out on Sept. 25.
Financial Planning and Audit Progress
The Board unanimously ratified a comprehensive 10-year financial planning model developed by UVI’s Office of Administration and Finance. The model allows the University to assess its financial outlook under varying assumptions and will support long-range decision-making, budgeting and financial sustainability.
President George also reported that UVI is current on its Government of the Virgin Islands allotments and has received a reappropriated allotment that lapsed in September 2025. The University also received $2.3 million in Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program funding to support eligible students from the spring and summer terms and Fall 2026.
“The VI Legislature and the Government of the Virgin Islands stand behind and beside UVI in full support of its academic and economic mission for the Territory and its sustainability for the future,” she said. “The UVI community is sincerely grateful."
The Board received an update on the Fiscal Year 2022 audit, which is expected to be completed by the end of October 2026. The Fiscal Year 2023, 2024 and 2025 audits will be completed sequentially thereafter.
“Our audit team continues to work nights and weekends, around the clock, to make sure that the audit remains a priority,” President George said. “They’re working well beyond 40 hours to try to make sure that we stay on schedule and that this gets completed. We know it’s top of mind for all of us.”
The University’s external auditor reported significant improvement in the submission of information and progress toward bringing the audits current.
The Board also received an update on health insurance costs. Medical premiums are projected to rise by 7 percent and dental premiums by 6 percent beginning in October, resulting in an estimated $400,000 increase in annual employer costs to the University.
Updated University Policies
The Board unanimously ratified the University’s new Policy on Policies, establishing a consistent framework for developing, reviewing, approving, publishing and maintaining institutional policies. The policy formalizes shared-governance participation, provides safeguards for expedited and interim actions when necessary, and establishes a centralized policy repository and review schedule. The board is expected to review a new Shared Governance Policy, currently being developed in collaboration with UVI stakeholders, at their meeting in March 2027.
Trustees also unanimously ratified revised human resources and financial policies. The human resources updates address areas including outside employment, smoking and vaping, children in the workplace, emergency compensation, annual and administrative leave, bereavement leave, compensatory time, military and military-family leave, and the use of University mail.
Revisions to financial policies clarify procurement authority, bidding requirements, conflicts of interest, moving and relocation expenses, and the disposition of surplus property. The small-purchase threshold was increased from $2,500 to $10,000 to more closely approach federal thresholds that were just raised from $10,000 to $15,000 earlier this year in 2026 and to streamline routine purchasing while maintaining applicable internal controls and federal and territorial requirements.
The Board further approved an institutional artificial intelligence policy that provides an ethical-use framework for faculty, staff and students. Developed through a committee of faculty, staff and students, the policy addresses transparency in academic work and provides a foundation for units to develop more specific AI procedures.
“I think it’s a very positive step forward for UVI in the face of where we are globally with the importance of AI and the importance of AI to academia, research and improving operational efficiency,” President George said.
Trustees also unanimously approved a Disability Student Services Policy, which serves as an umbrella policy outlining support and accommodations available to students with disabilities and aligns the University’s practices with applicable federal requirements.
Stronger Board Governance and Oversight
As part of its continuing governance work, the Board unanimously ratified charters for its Executive, Governance, Audit, and Finance and Budget committees. The charters define each committee’s purpose, authority, responsibilities, reporting structure and relationship to University leadership.
“The Board’s unanimous approval of these committee charters marked a significant step forward in strengthening UVI’s governance framework,” said UVI Board Chair Henry C. Smock. “By clearly defining each committee’s authority, responsibilities and accountability, we reinforced the Board’s capacity to provide effective oversight, support the University’s long-term financial sustainability and advance its accreditation priorities.”
The Executive Committee Charter includes oversight responsibilities related to accreditation compliance, financial sustainability, leadership accountability, governance effectiveness and significant institutional risks. The Audit Committee Charter strengthens oversight of external and internal audits, financial reporting and internal controls, while the Finance and Budget Committee Charter establishes responsibilities for annual and multiyear financial planning, liquidity, investments, tuition and fees, auxiliary enterprises and major financial risks.
The Board also unanimously approved an amendment to its bylaws removing the UVI president’s designation as ex officio secretary to the Board. Under the amendment, the Board secretary will be elected annually along with the chair and vice chair.
University Counsel Attorney Thomas Griffith also reviewed executive-session requirements under the Virgin Islands Sunshine Act, including standards governing permissible topics, voting records and public reporting.
Following the public portion of the meeting, the Board entered executive session to consider the Aug. 11, 2026, executive-session minutes and personnel matters. Upon returning to the public session, Chairman Smock reported that the trustees unanimously approved the executive-session minutes but took no votes on the personnel matters discussed.
The Board also welcomed Dr. Paul Fleming as the St. Croix faculty trustee and Angelina Esprit, a St. Croix psychology major, as the student trustee for the 2026–2027 term.
