ST. CROIX - In August, the University of the Virgin Islands' new president hit the ground running to make improvements for the territory's sole public collegiate institution.

On Saturday, as the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees held its third meeting this year, David Hall addressed the body for the first time since he became president this summer.

In his report, Hall explained a set of initiatives to improve the university's performance on several levels, which included clarifying the terms of enrolled students, improving UVI's standing with the U.S. Department of Education and partnering with local school districts to improve K-12 curriculum and retention. The board is taking notice.

"I've been pleased and I noticed the board shared my satisfaction," Alex Moorhead, UVI Board of Trustees chair, said.

In just a short time, Hall's head-on, problem-solving approach seems to have positive effect. Previously, students who failed to pay tuition slipped through the cracks and were not dropped from the roster. They continued with classes and had access to the school's resources. In a personalized letter to students, Hall informed them that persistent delinquent fees would no longer be tolerated. The letter implored them to pay up or risk being purged from the university roster. This action had not been taken before.

"If we were going to be more strict, we needed to let the students know that," he said. "I felt a personal letter from me saying we want you to stay but you can't if you haven't paid was needed."

Fifty to 60 students paid or made arrangements to pay their arrears, he said. More than 130 others were purged for non-payment. Some students were later reinstated because of a compelling circumstance, Hall said. He did not disclose a dollar amount associated with the recouped debts.

While under Hall's leadership, UVI has shed the "Heightened Cash Monitoring" status deemed by the U.S. Department of Education. The school received this designation in 2005 and it meant the university had to pay out financial aid dollars to students from its own coffers before recouping it from the Department of Education.

The university then had to relay how many students and credit hours it paid out to financial aid recipients back to the Department of Education to recoup the money. Without the designation, the school can now go directly to federal education officials for financial aid money without dipping into its accounts.

"Some of that work was done before I got here," he said. "It improves how we operate."

Hall also wants the university to partner with public and private K-12 administrations to improve education throughout the territory. Hall has developed a task force to better prepare teachers the university trains for the workforce, as well as incoming students, for the collegiate experience. One of the goals is to improve retention and graduation rates, especially among black males, he said. The improvements he has planned for UVI are just getting under way.

"In the first three months, I feel comfortable that we are heading in the right direction," Hall said. "It's only three months. It's going to take time, I feel."

The board also:

- Approved March 6, 2010, for Hall's inauguration.

- Approved $12,000 for the renovation of the president's residence and guest house.

- Disbanded the Ad Hoc Hotel Committee and tabled the building project. Trustees said there will be a better time to consider the project. Board Vice Chairman Henry Smock said if they wait out the volatile financial markets, they may have a better pick of bid proposals from which to choose.

"We can think about what kind of proposal we want," he said. "It could be anything from a small UVI guest house or a five-star hotel. By no means, is this the end of the project, just a timeout to consider it."

The board will look to Hall's advice on whether and when the project should be revisited.

- Approved a measure enabling them to post policies and meeting actions on the university's website.

- Received a briefing on the university's fall 2009 goals:

The university fell short of its target of 2,700 enrolled students by 98 with a fall 2009 enrollment total of 2,602. However, the institution enrolled 225 more full-time students than the fall 2008 semester. It was an increase of more than 10 percent.

- Received an update on the Tech Park from past and current executive directors, Malcolm Kirwan and David Zumwalt, respectively. Trustee S. Donald Sussman said he did not think the Tech Park's association was beneficial for the university. Kirwan reassured the board that the Tech Park could be a funding source for the school. Trustee chairman Alex Moorhead echoed the sentiment when he said that the Tech Park does not receive funding from UVI.

- Contact reporter Ailene Torres at 774-8772 ext. 304 or e-mail atorres@dailynews.vi.