Our Guiding Principles

The development of VISION 2012 began with an examination of UVI's guiding principles - our mission, vision, and core values. We designed an inclusive process with broad institutional, alumni, and community representation to help refine and retool these statements to reflect the changing world.

Mission

The University of the Virgin Islands is a learner-centered institution dedicated to the success of its students and committed to enhancing the lives of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean through excellent teaching, innovative research, and responsive community service.

Vision

The University of the Virgin Islands will be an exceptional U.S. institution of higher education in the Caribbean dedicated to student success, committed to excellence, and pledged to enhancing the social and economic transformation of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Core Values

Integral to UVI's strength, our core values embody the principles, ideals, and beliefs of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees. They form the foundation for all that we do.

• Students First
• Learning and Scholarship
• Excellence
• Teamwork
• Collegiality and Shared Governance
• Inclusiveness of Ideas
• Principled Leadership
• Support of Our Community
• Effective Use of Technology
• Equitable Reward System

How Far We've Traveled

The development of VISION 2012 has made UVI more collaborative than at any time in its history. More than 400 people - faculty, staff, students, community partners - participated in discussions leading to its completion. "We designed and implemented an inclusive, interactive strategic planning process," says President LaVerne E. Ragster, Ph.D. "We focused on a vision of UVI with a future all stakeholders could contribute to freely."

The Structure of VISION 2012

The Plan is built around four strategic areas of focus:

• Educational Excellence
• Institutional Improvement
• Financial Sustainability
• Community Engagement

Within each area of focus are strategic goals. For each goal there are operational objectives and measures of accomplishment that we will use as benchmarks during the course of the Plan period. Our successes will be built upon successful completion of measurable results.

"During the planning process, the community affirmed our vital role in the Territory's social and economic growth. VISION 2012 provides a framework for collaborating with community leaders to address pressing issues: academic programs for working professionals, programs that match emerging careers and access to distance learning."

Ilene Garner, Director, Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Center (CELL)