Monrovia – Since its formal opening in August 1978, the William V. S. Tubman University (TU) has operated on a set of professional standards: faculty and staff recruitments, integrity and academic excellence among others.

Report by Danesius Marteh, Danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

The recent dismissal of Roland T. Barnes, Associate Vice President for facilities and campus operations following reports that he allegedly received a US$60,000 kickback from GBECCO, which was awarded a contract to renovate the engineering building, speaks volumes about goes on at TU. 

A faculty at TU is expected to have at least a master’s degree while prospective students must complete several procedures, including a successful pass in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams, transfer requirements and a successful pass in the placement exams.

Quantity versus quality

But Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, who became TU second President on July 1, 2016, has opted for quantity over quality.

He has a background in journalism and academia and replaced Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell, who had run the university since 2009.

Under Dr. Wonkeryor, several students have reportedly been admitted outside of the laid-down admission processes. Prominent among them are his niece, who lives with him on campus and the ‘step-daughter’ of associate Vice President for academic support serVices, Dr. Dee Nyamieh Walker, who supervises the admissions office.

The students were admitted and issued identification numbers for academic year 2016/2017.

When this issue was raised by some students and staff, acting admissions director Groba Williams reportedly told them that the “mandate came from the top” and was intended to increase the students to justify for more funding.

But in an exclusive interview, Dr. Wonkeryor said a condition was created to allow high school graduates, who didn’t successfully pass WAEC exams or the entrance exams, to enroll under a provisional arrangement. 

“Similarly with my niece that everyone is talking about, she is a graduate of a very competent high school in Nimba County. She took the West African Examinations Council exams and she has to do one or two re-sitter [tests]. I brought her to the university.

“The fundamental question is do you want me to allow her to be sitting home, cooking and washing for me without going to university.

And there are other students in her category in other parts of the geo-political region of this great country.

“So I said, Mr. Associate Vice President for Admissions, I would like for you to revisit that policy to see if you people can allow students, like my niece in that category, for them to be matriculated on conditions.

They must take the university’s exams and if they pass then you can allow them to matriculate. [They are] allowed to take or audit courses and that’s what my niece is doing.

“She is not a full-fledged students but she takes assignments, quizzes and everything. Her grades are kept.

If she passes the entrance exams, which she just took and completes her West African Examinations Council exams, the university can matriculate her. And that is applicable to other students. And we call that provisional admission and I think this is a great policy,” he said.

For his part, Dr. Walker said his step-daughter, Nyandii Lahai, who graduated from AME Zion High School about four years ago, met all requirements.

“My daughter went through the regular process for admissions. She is a high school graduate. She got a WAEC [certificate]; she took the placement test and passed and she matriculated,” he explained.  

Salary increment

With just two months in office of a 12-month probationary period, Dr. Wonkeryor justified the board of trustees’ decision to increase his salary from US$7,800 to US$10,000.

He said he was being underpaid despite his very extraordinary qualification.

“I have written 12 books. I have taught at a respectable university [Temple University] for 12 consecutive years. I have also served as Vice President and provost for Cuttington University before this position.

“Besides that, I worked in the Liberian government in the 1980s as manager for the Liberia Broadcasting System. It means that I am qualified enough to be compensated well for my qualification standard. Moreover, if you compared my salary with my peers at other universities, I was underpaid.

“So the question, which begs answer, is why pays Dr. Wonkeryor US$7,800 when the outgoing President was earning US$10,500 or US$10,600 plus a car and residence assigned to her and we are both PHD holders and qualified? Isn’t that a semblance of discrimination?

Isn’t that a semblance of marginalization? Let’s be realistic because this is a democratic society,” he stressed.

Controversial search for VPA

Some staffers of TU, who spoke to this reporter anonymously, accused Dr. Wonkeryor of “unilaterally” recruiting Dr. Walker to take over as Vice President for administration.

But Wonkeryor said a search committee was appointed with the adVice and consent of his cabinet.

Others appointed on the committee, according to him, include Vice President for academic affairs, Dr. Elizabeth Q. Enanoria-Carbajosa; Vice President for students’ affairs, Rev. Dr. Anthony G. Dioh; assistant Vice President for human resource, Aryee Kotatee Williams, Jr. and faulty senate President, Professor Isaac George.

“Those are all qualified Liberians. So how could some say Dr. Wonkeryor is blatantly and exoterically attempting to appoint or select Dr. Walker?

When we did this, the search committee sent out a call for application to all Liberians but I limited the search to only be internal.

“The reason why I wanted this to be internal is that within the confines of the university are qualified Liberians.”

“And my goal is to Liberianize top positions at the university. We have respectable numbers of competent international scholars in our university, who are located in top positions at our university.

“But my counterargument is while I appreciate their holistic contribution to our educational project, I think qualified Liberians have that enviable right to contribute towards formulating and implementing academic policies that would positively affect Liberians in general.

It is based on these conditions that I limited the search to Liberians because we have so many PHDs,” he added. 

Since being rebranded in 2009, TU has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, ranging from a generator scandal and kickbacks to salary bonanza and controversial appointment.  

However, Dr. Wonkeryor paid tribute to Dr. Russell, describing her as one of the brilliant and effective administrators he has ever seen and vowed to judiciously implement her five-year and 10-year plans, including oil palm planting for extra finances, graduate programs in the sciences and additional housing units for faculty among others.

 Monrovia – The recent appointment of Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeyor as President of Tubman University in Maryland County by President Sirleaf seems not to be going down well with some Marylanders who are contending that Dr. Wonkeyor is  not worthy of the post because he doesn’t hail from the South-East.

Dr. Wonkeyor replaces outgoing President Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell who is set to be retired soon. Dr. Russell is the first President of the university. Dr. Wonkeyor currently serves as Vice President and Provost of Cuttington University.

However, some Marylanders in Monrovia believe that a south-easterner who is qualified should have been preferred over Dr. Wonkeyor as President of the University.

Gbalee Gray, a former employee of Tubman University, is head of a group called “Tubman University Interest Group.” He alleges that Dr. Wonkeyor was handpicked by the outgoing President, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell. He maintains that it is a breach of protocol.

‘Besmearing Operation’

But the University Authority has characterized the assertion as a besmear operation to taint the character of Dr. Russell and the hard work she has done at the university.

TU Assistant Professor of Finance & administration at the College of Management, Robert F. Neal II, described the argument of the Marylanders as lazy.

At a news conference Tuesday in Paynesville, Mr. Neal said if the President follows the assertion of the Marylanders and withdraws the appointment of Dr. Wonkeryor,  it means that the President will be creating just a single job for Marylanders and allowing other Marylanders elsewhere to lose job.

“Are the Marylanders telling me that only Marylanders or people from Southeast should be appointed at TU? If that happens, it means that other Marylanders residing in different counties are not supposed to be appointed in higher positions.

What will happen when the people of Bong County say only a son from the county should be President at Cuttington? So what if Cape Mount says the same, or the people of Bassa say the same, let the people of Maryland stop that bad politics they’re preaching,” he noted.

“Sticking to a principle of operation of the University which has to do with “decisions and actions on the basis of data and evidence”, the Administration of the University provided the Liberian Public with the facts which contradict and dismiss assertions of Mr. Gray, Mr. Theoway and their counterparts.

“For a brief insight into the search process, the Board of TU established a search committee that included a broad spectrum of representatives from higher education institutions, TC-TU Alumni Association, TU Faculty Senate, NCHE, the local Harper Community, larger Liberian community, TU Foundation Board and selected Board of Trustees members; the Search Committee reviewed several candidates including their application materials and their interview performance following which a detailed assessment report of the candidates, including a shortlist of the best candidates was forwarded to the Board of Trustees; the Board of Trustees reviewed the Search Committee’s report and concurred with same by forwarding a recommendation containing more than one candidate through Board Chair- Dr. Emmet A. Dennis to the President of the Republic of Liberia and Visitor to the University; the Visitor reviewed the Board’s recommendation and forwarded the selected candidate (by nomination), in this case Dr. Wonkeryor to the Board for ratification and appointment; the Board then ratified the President’s choice and appointed Dr. Wonkeryor as President of Tubman University, effective July 1, 2016.

“The process was clearly articulated in Article IV, Section 2 of the Charter which states that “the President of the University shall be appointed by the Board upon the nomination of the Visitor of the University.”

Neal says Marylanders should give Dr. Wonkeryor a chance to perform the new task given him by the President of Liberia.

It is reported that some Marylanders are planning a protest action to oppose the appointment of Dr. Wonkeryor during the pending graduation ceremony of the school next month.

The William V. S. Tubman University, commonly known as Tubman University, is a public university located in Harper, Maryland County, Liberia. The university is named after William V.S. Tubman, the 19th President of Liberia.

Founded in 1978 as the William V. S. Tubman College of Technology, the school originally offered associate’s degrees in architecture, civil engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and mechanical engineering.

TU was also one of the main schools in Liberia to produce secondary school teachers. In 1990, the college was accredited to offer Bachelor of Science degrees in those fields, but soon closed following the outbreak of the First Liberian Civil War.

The school remained closed through the 1990s and the end of the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. Enrolment numbers show 264 students and a faculty of 28 in 1999.

In 2008, the college was reopened by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell appointed that year as the first female President of the university.

In April 2009, Sirleaf signed a bill elevating Tubman to university status, and the newly renamed and renovated university opened in September 2009. The school’s enrolment stood at 288 at that time, of which 219 were males and 69 were females.

Edwin G. Genoway, Jr – edwin.genoway@frontpageonline.com

Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 received a six-man high-powered delegation from the World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU) at her Foreign Ministry Office in Monrovia where they presented a check of US$100,000 towards the implementation of the multi-purpose Student Service Center at Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County.

According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf welcomed the WLCU delegation and thanked them for their many support to various sectors of the Liberian society.

She particularly thanked the community for their support to the development of the educational sector and the empowerment of young people through scholarships and other initiatives.

President Sirleaf also called upon the World Lebanese Cultural Union to pay attention and give consideration to the situation in West Point by supporting efforts aimed at bringing relief and comfort to citizens victimized sea erosion.

President Sirleaf concluded by requesting the President of Tubman University, Dr. Davis-Russell to give a brief historical account of TU and point out the current situation of the University.

For his part, the President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union, Mr. Ezzat N. Eid presented a check in the amount of US$100,000 to Tubman University as WLCU contribution in support of on-going projects of the University.

An additional US$30,000 was donated by Mr. Chawki Kadouh, General Manager of K & K Trading Corp as his personal contrition to the University.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ezzat N. Eid has told President Sirleaf and the authorities of Tubman University that the Community stands ready to support projects earmarked by the Government of Liberia once called upon.

“Our Community will always stand with the government in supporting programs and initiatives aimed at aiding the development of young people in Liberia. Our only request is that we should always be called upon as a Community and not individuals”, he pointed out.

Commenting on issues affecting the Lebanese Community, Mr. Eid informed President Sirleaf that the acquisition of Permanent Residency remains a major obstacle for members of the community and appealed to the Government of Liberia to review and address the situation.

“The constant renewal of visas for persons who have lived in Liberia for over 30 years due to the difficulty in obtaining Permanent Residency is actually hampering our activities and investment in and out of Liberia”, he emphasized.

President Sirleaf was joined at the meeting by the President of Tubman University, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell and the Chairman of TU’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Emmet Dennis, Information Minister, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Minister of State Without Portfolio Sylvester Grigbsy, amongst others.

Members of the WLCU delegation included its President, Ezzart Eid, Mr. Chawki Kadouh, Mr. NajibTannous, Issam Jundi, Mr. Doni Fayad and Mr. Tony Hajj.

Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has launched the William V.S. Tubman University “Capital Fund Raiser,” and generously donated US$10,000.00 in support of a modern Students Service Center of the university while heaping praises on outgoing President, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell for putting quality system in place for young people in the country in search of learning opportunities.

According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf led scores of senior government officials, including Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Cabinet Ministers, Deputies and their Assistants, as well as Managing Directors of Public Corporations and Autonomous Agencies.

Also gracing the fund raiser included the private sector, and citizens from Maryland County were at the Monrovia City Hall on Friday, May 13th, 2016 to raise funds for the Student Service Center.

Speaking during the Capital Fund Raiser, the Liberian leader said her support to the project is informed by – the need to afford young people in that part of the country the opportunity to acquire quality university education; the need to set an example for the kind of high quality education that affords students the opportunity to prepare themselves adequately for the future; and to honor someone who deserves to be honored.

President Sirleaf said it takes a time for special kind of person with special loyalty and commitment, courage, dedication and patriotism to do what the university’s outgoing President, Dr. Elizabeth Davies Russell has done by leaving her prestigious job, family and luxury of good life in the United States of America to return home to give back to her birth place, home and country, worth honoring and recognitions.

President Sirleaf indicated that the personal commitment and dedication of Dr. Elizabeth Davies Russell and her staffers, coupled with their professional expertise, which has brought about nothing less than high standard quality education pursuance at the William V. S. Tubman University, as the “BEST” in the country for now, worth recognition.

The Liberian leader however expressed disquiet over the absence of members of the Maryland County Legislative Caucus from the fund raiser who according to her are to directly benefit from acquiring high quality education at the institution.

Earlier, Dr. Elizabeth Davies Russell said the object of raising funds for the construction of the Student Services Building is to provide a state of the art multi-purposed facility that would serve academic, recreational and resource learning environment for a modern university.