By UVI President, Dr. Safiya George
Dear Students, Faculty & Staff,
As we begin the 2026–2027 academic year, I welcome our students, faculty, and staff back to the University of the Virgin Islands with a renewed sense of purpose, pride, and optimism. This is an important moment for our University; one that calls us to confront the challenges before us while remaining confident in who we are and what we can achieve together. We were reminded of that strength this summer when Forbes ranked UVI No. 5 among the nation’s public Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This national recognition belongs to all of us and affirms what we already know: UVI is a remarkable institution with an important mission, talented people, and a legacy worthy of our collective pride.
As I shared during my recent University Address, preserving UVI’s future requires more than responding to the needs of today.
We must continue strengthening our financial and institutional foundation, investing in student success, improving the student experience, expanding research and innovation, modernizing our systems, and building a culture of accountability and measurable action. And we must do this as One UVI—across our campuses, schools, divisions, and departments; recognizing that our individual contributions are interconnected and that the strength of this University ultimately depends upon our willingness to move forward together.
Our vision remains ambitious: to make UVI a Destination Education University; a place where students choose to learn, faculty and staff choose to build their careers, partners choose to invest, and our community takes pride in what we represent. Adversity does not diminish that vision; it strengthens our resolve to achieve it. As we begin this new academic year, let us carry forward the pride of what we have accomplished, the confidence of knowing what UVI can become, and the shared responsibility to make it happen. We are One UVI, and together, we will continue our G.R.A.N.D. Momentum.
With Care,
Dr. Safiya George
President, University of the Virgin Islands
