Presently, I am senior (thank God) at the University of the Virgin Islands. Throughout my two years at this school I have seen some extremely weird stuff. Just to name a few, I'll list these experiences as they were/are significant.
1. First day in St. Thomas, instead of getting a dorm room-I got thrown into a hotel that cost over $3,000 for one semester (without meals might I add)
2. The hotel whose name I will keep disclosed was continuously dropping internet service and was encouraging students and other guest to pay an extra amount for a short period of their dial up internet service.
3. While at the hotel, the school's van often forgot students and the hotel, thus resulting in us walking and then spending money for Safaris. (Talk about Cruel treatment)
4. When asked for an explanation, we got, "Hotels in St. Thomas aren't cheap".. Did I miss something here??.. Wasn't I suppose to be in a dorm-not a hotel..
5. The Bookstore- oh the Bookstore... I think everyone knows about those ridiculous prices for textbook.. Can anyone say, "EBay.. Amazon"..
6. The Cafeteria is often an overstatement for this place where UVI's students eat. It's funny how the Cafeteria's food tastes much better when they are catering for the "Professional" staff at the business offices..
7. Why are these Air Conditioned rooms always experiencing difficulties?.. I had to sit in a 1hr 15 min class losing all the energy out of my hand just to stay cool.. sigh**
8. Technology fee at this school is another story- Why are we paying extra and the computers at the CAB are still "taking a month to load"... I took a class there and I had to arrive to class extra early to load my computer... What a hassle!!
9. If I don't see the nurse, never spoken to the nurse, don't even know where the nurse's office is.. Can I get my Health Fee back?.. Only a question!!
10. Why is the school really building a wellness center when they should be building more dorms??
At the end of this, I am still confused about much of my experiences at the University of the Virgin Islands. But hey, at least I'll have a lot of tales for my kids and grand kids....
Until next time my friends.. Be Calm, Stay Cool!!
I cant relate to 1-4 but I completely agree with 5,6,7 and 8.
ReplyDeleteFor 9, I've seen the nurse before so I cant expect a refund.
For 10, We all know that UVI is desperately in need of dorm rooms but the funds are not forthcoming. It just so happens that the school secured a grant for the wellness center so maybe they should be more proactive in seeking funding for dorms. I do think that the wellness center is a good idea though.
After reading your BLOG I dont think it was appropriately titled based on what you said.
THINGS THAT ARE WRONG WITH UVI is more like it. lol
As a parent of a student that was at the hotel which I will remain name less, I hsd to on numberous ocassion shuttle student from the hotel to UVI campuss, because there was no shuttele in place and the students was assurd that there was going to be one. I understand your pain. There are many things that I as a parent and a student as well do not understand what the heck is going on with UVI. I have two daughters that started out at UVI after graduation from High School and they are no longer students attending the University. Back to the hotel issue, I fell that if UVI is recruiting students from throughout the caribbean and abroad the students should be treated with respect in terms as to making sure they get a dorm and all the necessary preparations are in order, do you know how it feels when you have booked a reservation and you are confirmed amd when you get there, there is no room for you, students should be treated better. I have been at the cashiers office in line when a student and her father was waiting for a dorm room, that was paid for, but when she got on islands good thing she was accompanied by a parent, there was no room for her, guess what the father, daughter and suitcase was back on a flight next day to his/her country. I hope things get better for all student at UVI real soon, whether part or full time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything that you have listed above. UVI does not put the students first, instead they put their employees first which is unfair to us. Taking about employees many of the people employed by UVI are disrespectful and are inconsiderate to us the students. They have seemed to forgot that without us attending the school they would not have a job. Everyday I pray that things will get better and hopefully one day they will.
ReplyDeleteShare your comments with others. Share your comments with the administration, student affairs, everyone. Make your voice heard to improve the school.
ReplyDeleteMost of what you say is true. Just try to find the good out of coming here. Because when you move on into life alot of things you expect to be correct will not and you will just have to find the good in it and get through it. And your a senior so that means u did...so iz almost over.....plus i think uvi isn't that bad as u portray it...
ReplyDeleteLike Ms. Harris said, Complain to the ones that you need to complain to, I did already and wrote a letter to the President of the University and I ended my letter by saying that I don't expect to wait 3 weeks for an answer either. I also stated in my letter that I know where I can go to and someone will listen to me too. We as student need to get on the ball and do what we have to do as well, instead of complaining about it amoung ourselves. One of the reasons I never became a full time student is because I was turned off from the very first class I took at the University. May be in the near future I will contemplate on doing just that.
ReplyDeleteYou have raised some very good points about some issues we students face here at UVI. I think that is we students who make this college what it is. If it wasn't for us there would be no UVI. I agree with Professor Harris, our concerns need to be heard by the relevant persons so that some kind of action can be taken.
ReplyDeleteYou made some interesting points but I live at home so I'm not qiut familiar with every issue. Like Ms. Harris stated I believe that you should go straight to whom can slove those issues and make a complain because talking amongst each other solves nothing.
ReplyDeleteOnce again to all who have said voice our concerns, they have been voiced, written, sung, croaked and everything else. The past 3 SGA executives and the current one, have voiced these concerns and still nothing has come of it. It was evident it became overbearing that STAFU was formed by some anonymous students. The stand they made caught the attention of the "higher ups". Although I do not agree with the methods STAFU employed, they accomplished something, however it was short lived as after the "higher ups" called a meeting with the students nothing more was done. What else should the students do? The outgoing ones are we really going to advertise our university as a place one should send their kids? They should think about that.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to a lot of the issues that concern you and what you have been through. Some things at the school really do need to be addressed. i have my share of rough times but in all honesty i can't say my experience here was an absolute disaster, i mean the school has a lot going for it as well, i mean where else can you got to class on a beach...? some of the issues and wrongs we do experience have not been addressed and the thing is most students don't know their rights!! The school is here to serve the students and the students need to adamantly voice their opinions in a constructive and legal manner. I know the Student Body and Stafu have made attempts on behalf of students to express students frustration through their respective means, but I guess it will take a grand protest before some real action occurs. I must say the new president (Dr. Hall) in my opinion seems to be a breath of fresh air and a ray of hope and if we come together and stop being like crabs in a barrel and take our concerns to him he will do all in his power to remedy the situations that are feasible.... and in closing for everyone who complains about anything in life it is always refreshing to also bring a possible alternative or solution to the table as well.
ReplyDeleteUVI is not a PERFECT place, what is?? It is ran by people, and people are not PERFECT. If everyone that had a problem about something, voiced their opinion, sooooooo much more could be done. But all we do is complain and voice our displeasure to the folks that can't make a difference, we have become so accustomed to being complacent and lackadaisical that we don't even try to make a difference. I am sorry that you had such an awful experience, but try to find some good in the remainder of your UVI experience
ReplyDeleteTrincess, I truly sympathized you at this momment. I myself do not have positive things to say about U.V.I. I think this institution needs much improvement. I do agree with you in that U.V.I should build more dormitories, but I also believe that they should contruct more building for classes. I strongly agree that if more buildings are available for classes, we won't have to wait a long time for some of our classes. The lack of class vacancies is preventing us from having classes at an earlier time. On the other hand, it would not make sense to contruct more buildings for classes if we do not have suffecient professors; therefore U.V.I needs to hire more professors as well. I have so many things to say about U.V.I but if I have to mention it in this article, this article would be endless. I believe that this institution has the potential to do very well, but it will not progress by the students' huffs and puffs. Students must also take part in making this school a better place. After all, it is their money and time that is being used up at the university.
ReplyDeleteHey trincess, great article. All of the things you mentioned that you went through is ridiculous. UVI needs to do better than that. I like the fact that they are building a wellness center, but dorms are really needed and they should make more of an effort to build more dorms to accommodate the long list of students trying to live on campus.
ReplyDeleteLol You were dead on with your assessment. The college does need more dorms and im sorry your first impression was not a good one
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