UVI Voice

Following last semester’s initiation of a shuttle service on St. Thomas which transported students between the upper and lower areas of the campus, students are now displeased with apparent changes in the shuttle’s hours of operation.                               

This semester’s hours of operation are 7:50am to 7:30pm compared to last semester’s 7:45 am to 9pm.  The bus departs the lower campus bus stop at 10 minutes before every hour and 25 minutes after every hour.  Extra runs are made during the peak hours of 10am and 12 noon.                                                  

According to communications major Nakisha Boasman, the change places a burden on her as she moves from one class to the next.  “It’s a real pain, especially when you are trying to get to a class on time.  The old schedule worked much better in my opinion,” she said.

In an interview with Associate Campus Administrator for Operations LilyMae Durante who also holds the post of Acting Campus Executive Administrator for Student Affairs and Operations (St. Thomas), significant circumstances contributed to the change in service hours. 

These circumstances included the expenses incurred for the bus’s maintenance and fuel; the frequent stops causing expedited wear and tear of the bus and the relocation of last semester’s commuting students at the Beachcomber Hotel to on-campus residence halls.

Durante added that last semester was the trial period for the shuttle service as her department concentrated heavily on data gathering and observation. Realizing the disadvantage that the change in service hours may have on some students, Durante spoke of her department’s commitment to providing efficient service to the student population. 

“We need to look at the different schedules.  We are flexible and hopefully at the end of this semester there would be more consistency in scheduling.  We may not meet the needs of all but we try to provide for most,” Durante said.  She added that students should share any issues that they may experience regarding the service with the Security department as well as with her office.

When asked if the shuttle was costing UVI too much Durante responded: “It is at no cost to students at present, so it is costing UVI.  We are looking at whether or not it would be a sustained service.” 

She also made an appeal to students to administer care to the bus and respect the drivers.  “We ask students to be cognizant and help us maintain the bus.  Be courteous to the drivers and each other and comply with schedule and designated bus stops.

“We ask for their understanding and cooperation as we seek to provide an efficient level of service with the limited funds we have,” she said.

According to Durante, there was need to regulate the service hours to a maximum of 12 hours daily.  She added that, although the service hours have been reduced, the level of service has improved. 

Communication major April Glasgow does not agree however.  “It’s sad that with the increase in tuition and other fees, that it seems that UVI has decreased in service.  The shuttle now defeats its own purpose; it’s like a statue or landmark, staying in a stationary position for way too long.  It’s supposed to move and move more often,” Glasgow said.

The bus currently makes trips to the UVI CELL department, the Marine Science area, and the Faculty East Residence Halls.  Persons are able to request these specialized trips by calling the Security department. 

When the bus departs the bus stop on the lower campus, it travels to the library making stops at the Security department and the entrance to the bookstore parking lot.  After leaving the bus stop in the vicinity of the library, it stops at the bookstore and East Residence Halls entrances respectively before arriving at the lower campus bus stop.

Students continue to express concerns about the revised shuttle hours which according to them are unreasonable and not beneficial to students.

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