The University of the Virgin Islands is a co-ed, publicly-funded land-grant institution located in the United States Virgin Islands, a U.S. territory about 1,100 miles southeast of Miami and 40 miles east of Puerto Rico. UVI was founded as the College of the Virgin Islands in 1962 and its liberal arts curriculum is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1986, it became one of the 117 U.S. historically black colleges and universities. The institution also changed its name in 1986 -- to the University of the Virgin Islands -- to reflect the growth and diversification of its academic curricula, research programs and regional community services. UVI is committed to advancing scholarship, fostering human development and promoting democratic values. Its primary mission is to provide intellectual and educational leaders and leadership -- and to improve the quality of life -- in the territory, Eastern Caribbean region and beyond.