Graduates of the University of the Virgin Islands who go on to post-graduate work are almost twice as likely to earn their doctorate than the national average, UVI President David Hall said Saturday.

Hall’s remarks came during the college’s regular board of trustees meeting on the St. Croix campus, and they were just one of the highlights of the three-hour gathering. He also reported a substantial donation and plans for building on both campuses, and the board took action on a variety of issues.

Hall told the board that a study by the National Science Foundation tracked the success rate of college graduates working on post-grad degrees. The national average for white students earning their doctorates in 10 years is 56 percent, Hall said. For black students nationwide the success rate is 43 percent.

For UVI graduates who go for an advanced degree, the rate of those earning a doctorate in 10 years is 90 percent, he said.

“I’m just very, very proud of that average,” Hall said. “It says that UVI is a quality institution that prepares students in a way other institutions cannot.”

The board responded to the news with smiles and applause.

Calling it “shout it from the mountaintop” news, board member Jennifer Nugent-Hill said the university needs to make the study’s results known to every high school, middle school and even elementary school in the territory. It’s the sort of information students and their parents need when deciding on college.

“We should see our best and brightest … coming to UVI,” she said.

Even bigger applause broke out around the conference table when Hall, after discussing the university’s building plans, announced a major donation from one of the trustees.

The university’s top two priorities for new construction on the St. Thomas campus are a new residence hall and a new science building. The science building will allow all the science programs to be consolidated in one place, freeing space in existing buildings for the College of Social Sciences, whose programs are new scattered.

On St. Croix, the priorities are an academic building which would let the school eliminate double occupancy and provide more classroom space, and a multi-purpose facility that would include an indoor athletic facility.

The combined cost of those four buildings would be $34.9 million, Hall said.

“I know that’s a large figure,” he said, suggesting that a variety of sources, including federal and bonding will be employed to meet the price tag. He added, “We believe we can identify donors willing to contribute.”

“That’s why I’m psyched. I’m thrilled to announce that the science building on the St. Thomas campus will be named the William Sussman Building,” Hall said.

Sussman, a member of the board of trustees, is donating $1 million for the building, Hall announced. The report brought a gasp and then a round of applause from the other board members.

Only last month Sussman offered a $100,000 matching grant challenge in which he would match donations by alumni and businesses who hadn’t given to the university since 2008.

In other action, the board of trustees:

• Approved a policy allowing the university to present honorary degrees. According to Hall, such degrees provide students with role models to emulate and raise the profile of the school.
• Re-elected Alexander Moorhead as chairman of the board of trustees, and Henry Smock as vice chairman. The election was by unanimous voice vote.
• Approved a slight revision of the 2011 operating budget. In March the board approved creation of a master’s degree program in psychology. Assuming 30 students, the new program will create an increase in fees and tuition of $175,200 and additional expenses of $149,050.