HLSCC Moves to Build Student Housing
The H Lavity Stoutt Community College has secured government funding to design its first purpose-built student dormitory, signalling a move toward becoming a fully residential institution. Officials say the Recovery and Development Agency will manage the request-for-proposals process and a design is expected before year-end, with detailed costing and construction timelines to follow.
H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) has taken a concrete step toward becoming a residential tertiary institution after government funding was allocated for the design of the college’s first purpose-built student dormitory. Education Minister Sharie de Castro announced the development during the launch of Education Month, calling it part of a broader transformation of the territory’s national college and a sign of government commitment to expanding opportunities for future generations.
Richard Georges told reporters that the college and the Ministry of Education have engaged the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) to advance the request-for-proposals (RFP) process for the dormitory design. Georges said, should be completed before the end of the year, after which officials will move to detailed costing and set clearer timelines for construction and occupancy.
While the new dormitory is in the planning stages, HLSCC has already increased its housing capacity by acquiring a residential apartment building at Paraquita Bay. Georges said the property will provide interim housing for visiting faculty, Fulbright scholars and international partners, and will support academic programmes and short professional courses while the permanent dormitory project advances.
Officials also highlighted a marked increase in the college’s financial position in recent years. Net assets grew from $11.6 million in 2019 to $33.8 million, a 191 percent rise, which education leaders cite as helping to fund expansion and capital projects. For BVI residents, student housing at HLSCC could broaden access to tertiary education for students from outer islands and families who currently face daily commutes or relocation challenges.
A residential campus may also help HLSCC attract regional and international students and visiting academics, strengthen faculty recruitment, and support workforce-development programmes that feed local employment needs. The RDA-managed RFP and design phase will be closely watched by the community for details on capacity, location, cost and the timeline for construction.
Officials say they will provide updates as the design is finalised and costing is completed, with the next public milestones expected later this year. The dormitory plan forms part of what education officials call a new frontier for HLSCC — expanding both academic offerings and the college’s physical footprint to position the institution as a more comprehensive hub for tertiary education in the Virgin Islands.
Primary source: BVI News