HLSCC takes steps to build housing for students, staff

The H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) has moved closer to becoming a fully residential institution, with government funding now allocated for the design of its first purpose-built student dormitory.

The announcement was made during a conference to mark the start of Education Month, where Education Minister Sharie de Castro described the development as part of a broader transformation of the territory’s national college.

She said the investment signals the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for future generations.

During the question-and-answer segment of the press conference, HLSCC President Dr. Richard Georges explained that the ministry and the college have engaged the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) to advance the request for proposals (RFP) process for the dormitory’s design, which will be followed by detailed costing.  He expressed confidence that the design phase will be completed before the end of the year, at which point clearer timelines for construction and eventual occupancy can be provided.

In the meantime, Minister de Castro also highlighted that the college has seen tremendous growth in its assets in recent times, with net assets having grown from $11.6 million in 2019 to $33.8 million — a 191 per cent increase. With that growth, the HLSCC acquired a residential apartment building at Paraquita Bay, to create housing for visiting faculty, Fulbright scholars and international partners.

Dr Georges explained that the recently acquired apartment building will serve as an intervening solution to provide housing support for academic programmes and short professional courses while plans for the dormitory advance.

According to Minister de Castro, the developments signal what education officials describe as a new frontier for HLSCC — one that aims to expand both its academic offerings and its physical footprint, positioning the institution as a more comprehensive hub for tertiary education in the Virgin Islands.