The University of the Virgin Islands’ accreditation was recently reaffirmed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region, the university announced Thursday.
This reaffirmation came in the form of a favorable response to the university’s five-year mid-point report, required by Middle States when member institutions reach the half-way point in their ten-year cycle of reaffirmation of accreditation. In 2007, Middle States reaffirmed UVI’s accreditation through 2017, with recommendations for additional reports before the mid-point report. UVI has met all of the recommendations, according to the university.
The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2016-2017.
“This action of the commission demonstrates that we have been working on the right issues and making important progress,” UVI President David Hall said on receiving the news.“It allows us to focus on the 2016-2017 site visit."
Hall added he was impressed Middle States accepted the report with no further recommendations and did not require additional monitoring or progress reports.
“This only occurs when an institution has adequately addressed concerns and recommendations that were raised at the last site visit, and is operating in a manner that creates a high level of confidence in the minds of the members of the accrediting body,” Hall said.
“It means that UVI is operating in a sound and effective manner. The fact that our report was accepted without recommendations also indicates that our work in regards to assessment – especially student learning outcomes – is progressing in a significant manner,” hr added.
Hall thanked members of the UVI community for their work in getting UVI to this point.
“There are many individuals who allowed us to get to this place in such a short period of time and we must now build on this progress.”
UVI has been accredited by Middle States since 1971, according to the university.
