Hundreds of incoming freshmen, transfer students and faculty will be welcomed to the University of the Virgin Islands by President David Hall at 9 a.m. Friday in a videoconferenced convocation at all three campuses for the new school year.

Throughout the week, more than 450 incoming students busied themselves with orientation activities, which began Monday. The process is designed to introduce students into the academic and social environment that college offers. Activities during the week included placement testing, movement into campus residential housing, and class enrollment.

Thursday afternoon, activity around the St. Croix campus was sparse, but a few students wandered in and out of the dorms looking rested and ready to saturate themselves in the warm sun.

Megan Holt, a transfer student from Texas A&M University, was leaving the dorms to catch a taxi to explore St. Croix. She came here as a junior and is getting her degree in marine biology and plans to spend one semester on St. Croix and one on St. Thomas.

“This is a beautiful place, and I’ve had such a warm reception – everyone has been so nice to me,” she said with a southern drawl.

St. Croix resident and incoming freshman Shakirah Ritter was enjoying the air conditioned room inside the Delta M. Jackson Dorsch Residence Hall. She said she is excited to start classes, and had a great time during orientation.

“My favorite part was meeting all the exchange students from different places, it was nice meeting new faces,” she said.

Fall semester classes for the 2011-2012 school year will begin Monday at UVI on St. Thomas, St. Croix and the new St. John Academic Center. The videoconferenced session will be available in the following rooms:

St. Thomas: ACC 142-1B and 146-1A; B-110, VC 101 (CELL), T-101
St. Croix: EC-401 and EC-713
St. John: St. John Academic Center- Room 103