Monrovia – The Interim Management Team (IMT) at the University of Liberia (UL) has announced that preparations for the 104th Commencement Convocation are well underway, with the event scheduled to take place at the Fendall Campus between September 9 and 21, 2024. The main Joint Convocation will be held on September 20, 2024, in keeping with the University’s tradition.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) – [email protected]
Speaking during his first media engagement since assuming office in June, Acting UL President Prof. Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh revealed that the Board of Trustees will invite the University’s Visitor to preside over the ceremony and confer a distinguished Honorary Degree.
“We have also invited His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, former Senator and Governor of Imo State, Nigeria, to serve as the Commencement Speaker,” Dr. Conteh said, describing Okorocha as a close friend of Liberia whose Rochas Foundation supports the education of orphans and underprivileged children across Africa, including Liberia.
Dr. Conteh, flanked by members of the UL Cabinet during the press conference, also announced that the Search Committee tasked with selecting a new UL President is nearing completion of its work. The shortlisted candidates will soon be forwarded to the UL Board of Trustees, who will, in turn, submit the names to the University’s Visitor, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., for a final decision.
Addressing concerns raised by faculty, staff, and students, Dr. Conteh said the UL Interim Management Team is working closely with the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning, State, and Public Works to ensure the timely execution of the remaining portion of the University’s $37 million budget for the fiscal year.
“As a result of these collaborations, faculty and staff salaries are up to date, and adjunct faculty salaries have been paid,” Dr. Conteh added. He explained that efforts are underway to regularize the payroll for adjunct faculty, and discussions are ongoing with the University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA) to address salary disparities.
In response to recent incidents of violence on the UL Capitol Hill campus that have disrupted classes and led to injuries, Dr. Conteh disclosed that corrective measures are being implemented, including enforcement of the Student Handbook’s regulations and organizing a counseling retreat for students at the Fendall Campus.
The Ministry of Public Works is also assisting the University with a comprehensive assessment of its four campuses to ensure essential facilities are in place for the upcoming academic year. “We have been touring campus facilities to gather firsthand information about the condition of the physical plant,” Dr. Conteh said.
Regarding the ongoing audit at the University, Dr. Conteh revealed that an initial meeting was held with Liberia’s Auditor General, Mr. P. Garswa Jackson, to discuss the auditing process. The comprehensive audit, based on the University’s financial statements, is expected to begin in early September and conclude by the end of the month.
As part of the University’s ongoing reforms, the Interim Management Team is assessing UL’s digital resources, internet connectivity, and technology-enabled learning tools. Dr. Conteh announced that the University is negotiating with private Liberian firms to provide internet services across all campuses before the next academic term begins.
In terms of partnerships, Dr. Conteh highlighted efforts to strengthen collaborations with universities in Africa, India, Nigeria, and the United States to enhance faculty capacity-building and training programs. He pointed to a new Online Master’s Program (OMS) in computer science and engineering, developed in partnership with Georgia Tech University, as a key initiative.
“This collaboration stems from President Boakai’s recent visit to the United States, where he engaged leaders of the Consortium of United States Universities to mobilize resources for higher education in Liberia,” Dr. Conteh explained.
Additionally, UL is partnering with the Nigerian Technical Assistance Corps (TAC) to recruit 35 professors for various graduate programs starting in September 2024. Dr. Conteh also mentioned ongoing collaborations with UNDP, iCampus, and Orange Liberia, which recently resulted in the launch of the University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the Lake View site on the Fendall Campus.
He further announced that UL is preparing to launch doctoral programs in biomedical sciences and education for the first time in the institution’s history, with plans to seek accreditation from the Association of African Universities and other education and science-based institutions in the United States.
