Monrovia – The University of Liberia  is under intense public scrutiny as the Student Unification Party calls for the immediate resignation of its president, Dr. Layli Maparyan, citing alleged corruption, financial mismanagement, academic confusion, and institutional decay.

By Willie N. Tokpah

At a press conference held on Thursday,  SUP’s Secretary-General Odecious Mulbah issued a scathing critique of the administration, describing Dr. Maparyan’s leadership as “grossly incompetent” and responsible for what he termed the university’s “total collapse.”

“UL is bleeding under Maparyan’s failed leadership,” Mulbah said.

“She has shown gross incompetence, ignored the plight of students and staff, and aligned with corrupt forces.”

Crumbling Infrastructure and Academic Confusion

SUP highlighted multiple campus-wide challenges, including dilapidated buildings, unusable restrooms, unreliable internet, and the absence of student transport.

The group also criticised the classification of the recent vacation school as a full semester, claiming that over 25,000 students were unfairly excluded due to limited course offerings.

 “This is academic dishonesty,” Mulbah asserted. “How can a vacation school become a semester? It makes no academic sense. Students are frustrated and uncertain about their future.”

SUP further raised concerns about the unresolved add-and-drop process, which they say leaves many students at risk of receiving no grades for completed courses.

Dismissals and Alleged Political Interference

The student movement also condemned the dismissal of eight UL employees earlier this year in connection with the controversial “Dorr Cooper Case.”

According to SUP, the administration concealed the full investigative report while extending one recommended suspension without justification.

The dismissed individuals include Arthur B. Sharpe, Thurston Lewis, Jonathan Kangar, Goffa K. Suah, Lawrence Seitua, Shadrach K. Pah, Remsee Deranamie, and Foday Jaleiba.

SUP alleged political interference and favouritism, particularly in the replacement of former Fiscal Affairs VP Isaac Gannet with Lester Tenny, who they claim colluded with the president to retroactively award himself $14,000.

Salary Delays and Alleged Enrichment

Perhaps the most damning charge involves salary delays. SUP claims lecturers have gone seven months without pay while alleging that Dr. Maparyan collects a monthly compensation package totalling US$15,000, well above Liberia’s legal salary ceiling for public officials.

“She travels abroad in the name of fundraising but brings back nothing. Instead, she and her allies enrich themselves while our lecturers go hungry,” Mulbah stated.

He further criticised the administration for securing only one reported external grant, US$10,000 for a women’s group in West Point, while failing to attract meaningful support for the university itself.

University Administration Responds

In response to these accusations, the University of Liberia has issued a formal statement through Vice President for University Relations, Cllr. Norris L. Tweah,  acknowledging ongoing challenges but defended its operations and leadership, emphasizing transparency and reform.

On Infrastructure and Budget, UL attributed its infrastructure woes to budget limitations, noting that 77–90% of its US$33.4 million budget goes to salaries and personnel costs, leaving little room for development.

The administration said a strategic plan is underway to address core needs, including internet, restrooms, electricity, and student buses, with support from a $50,000 UNDP planning grant.

“A participatory FY2026 budget has already been submitted to the government, and fundraising is being scaled up ahead of UL’s 75th anniversary in 2026,” Cllr. Tweah said in his response.  

On the Academic Calendar, UL clarified that the recent “Mini Vacation School” was never intended as a full semester but as a targeted academic session to help students, particularly seniors, make up for time lost due to previous disruptions.
Around 9,000 students participated in the vacation school.

The administration said this decision was communicated clearly through forums and social media.

The UL Administration defended the dismissal of the eight employees, stating that the actions followed a comprehensive, four-and-a-half-month investigation into academic fraud involving multiple departments.

“All individuals were afforded due process, and the decisions were based on committee recommendations,” UL noted.

 “President Maparyan reportedly acted within her authority, with minor adjustments made in the case of one suspension.”

At the same time, the UL administration acknowledged that some faculty, particularly part-timers, had experienced pay delays due to inherited arrears and budget constraints.

However, the university said it began settling 2024 obligations in January and completed them by April 2025.

Additionally, UL noted that efforts are now underway to pay all faculty for 2025 work, and a salary audit is in progress with assistance from the General Auditing Commission to resolve disparities and improve payroll systems.

“UL is committed to ensuring that faculty and staff are paid for every dime of work done,” the statement emphasised. “We are actively addressing financial gaps and working to improve both pay systems and academic services.”

While SUP insists that Dr. Maparyan’s presidency represents “one of the darkest chapters” in UL’s history, the university leadership maintains it is steadily implementing reform measures aimed at restoring credibility and improving service delivery.

With growing public attention on Liberia’s flagship university, the question now remains whether continued protests and mounting pressure from students will force administrative change, or if Dr. Maparyan will weather the storm and deliver on her promises of transformation.

Monrovia – The Administration of the University of Liberia (UL) has announced massive failures in the institution’s July 12, 2025, entrance and placement examinations.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972), websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

According to UL, out of 13,130 registered candidates, 9,299 (74.30%) failed, while 2,807 (28.32%) passed. A total of 614 candidates (4.68%) were absent, and 410 (3.28%) were disqualified for reasons including incorrect shading of answer sheets.

The report further shows that more female candidates passed the examination compared to males. 1,415 females (50.41%) were successful, against 1,392 males (49.59%).

At the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College in Grand Cape Mount County, 221 candidates registered. Of that number, 33 (14.93%) were absent, while 188 (85.07%) sat the exam. Among them, 25 candidates (13.30%) passed, 85 (45.21%) failed, 74 were required to rewrite, and 4 (2.13%) were disqualified for incorrect shading.

UL President, Dr. Layli Maparyan, described the outcome as both a challenge and an opportunity. She noted that the university witnessed an impressive increase in applications, which she said reflects the institution’s growing reputation.

She explained that the results represent both the Computer-Based and Paper-Based Examinations administered by the Center for Testing and Evaluation (CTE) from July 1–5, 2025, at centers in Montserrado County and Grand Cape Mount County.

Dr. Maparyan also highlighted efforts to improve disability access and inclusion. She disclosed that in July, the university’s Resource Center for Disability Services and Support and Alternative Learning (RCDSSAL), in collaboration with Liberia UniPOD, made history by administering the first-ever entrance exams for visually impaired candidates. This included the use of Braille and specialized computer software.

“The results of this exam will be released to the press as soon as they are available. Additionally, RCDSSAL conducted a weeklong series of awareness workshops on disability across the Capitol Hill, Fendall, and Straz-Sinje campuses,” she said.

She further revealed that UL is mobilizing its Ph.D. holders and terminal degree faculty in its quest to become a Ph.D.-centric university and secure a spot among the Top 300 universities in Africa, in line with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.

On academic integrity, Dr. Maparyan vowed to continue tackling fraud and other unlawful practices. She said an Academic Fraud Committee, established in April, has been actively investigating new cases, while a Transition Team is working to reform procedures at the Office of Enrollment Services.

University of Liberia, Fendell Campus– State-run University of Liberia’s newly inducted president, Dr. Layli Maparyan, Dr. highlighted several challenges facing the institution, including unpaid faculty and staff salaries, irregular academic schedules, and poor sanitation across campuses, raising health and environmental concerns.

By Jaheim Tumu-jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaomline.com

Dr. Maparyan has pledged to address these challenges during her tenure by prioritizing financial stability, ensuring a consistent academic calendar, and improving campus sanitation to create a conducive learning environment for everyone within the University community.

 Said Dr. Maparyan, “I want to move rapidly toward regularizing facility pay in terms of both tiny and amount, starting with research about why pay raises haven’t occurred in the past and what we can do to prevent similar instances in the future.”

Factors Leading to Unpaid Faculty Salaries and Irregular Academic Calendar

One major challenge at the University of Liberia is the issue of unpaid salaries and inconsistent academic schedules. Dr. Maparyan emphasized the urgent need to address the long-standing problem of cleaning up the payroll, which has been neglected for years.

 Previous presidents, including Dr Emmett Dennis, Dr Ophelia Inez Weeks, Dr Julius Sawolo Nelson, and President Al-Hassan Conteh, failed to implement reforms to resolve the ongoing salary issues faced by faculty and staff.

 These challenges have led the University of Liberia faculty and staff to halt teaching due to unpaid salaries for part-time lecturers and poor working conditions. Faculty members are concerned about the financial struggles affecting part-time staff and the negative impact on educational standards, urging past leaders to take immediate action.

 In protest of unpaid salaries, faculty and staff decided to remain outside the classroom, causing frustration among students when resolutions stalled. This led students to hold peaceful rallies demanding a return to classes, which sometimes escalated as police used excessive force to disperse the protests.

 Dr. Maparyan remarked, “I pledged to regularize UL’s academic calendar so as to be predictable and dependable year in and year out and coordinate with other institutions in Liberia and internationally. Students want to know when school will be starting and when it is ending as well as when commencement will be held.”

 “Students need to be able to plan, particularly where other opportunities are waiting, such as jobs, fellowships, and graduate studies. We can’t put UL’s student’s progress and peace of mind when the academic calendar is unpredictable, and I intend to fix this problem” she added.

 Dr. Maparyan aimed to eradicate the systemic abuses of the past, rebuild trust in the UL’s payroll, and remove numerous “ghost workers” whose names are fraudulently on the payroll—and many who are unqualified to teach the University.  Recognizing issues, she aimed to implement UL  reforms that would ensure trust in the system, and eliminate past abuses of corruption.

 “As part of this process, the payroll itself needs to be verified and cleaned up. Cleaning up payroll makes more money available. It is impossible to do your work if you are worrying whether you will be able to pay rent, afford your food, get transportation or pay your kid’s school fees. So it helps the entire campus to get things right,” she said.

 Addressing Poor Sanitation Across UL Campuses

 Educational institutions are evaluated based on factors like academic quality, faculty expertise, research output, and infrastructure. At the University of Liberia (UL), which has campuses at Capitol Bye Pass and Fendall, restroom conditions are poor. Subpar sanitation facilities raise significant concerns, particularly for women and girls who face increased health risks and often avoid using restrooms except in emergencies.

 Dr Maparyan said that she ensures safe and well-functioning bathrooms around campus, stressing the need to put sanitation supplies to support public health with the comfort and identity of the University community.

 According to a UNICEF report, poor sanitation is responsible for around 88% of deaths related to diarrhoea and diseases. A World Bank study estimates that poor sanitation costs Liberia $17.5 million annually, equating to $4.9 per person or 2% of the national GDP, with the greatest burden on the poorest populations according to a desk study carried out by The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP).   Improving sanitation at UL could alleviate some of these economic impacts and promote better health within the university community.

 She urges the University community, students, facility and staff to assist in keeping the environment healthy and beautiful by showing love and respect to the campuses.

 “I feel strongly about ensuring safe and well-functioning bathrooms around campus. I am putting sanitation supplies to support public health with the comfort and identity of the University community.  It is impossible to work or study when playing the card of nature. New bathrooms may not happen overnight, but I will begin working on it asap and keep it a high priority,” she said.

Monrovia—President Joseph Nyumah Boakai on January 4, named Dr. Layli Maparyan as the 16th President of the University of Liberia. This decision, approved by the University’s Board of Trustees, aligns with the institution’s Charter guidelines.

By: Yawah Y. Jaivey, yawahy.jaivey@frontpageafricaonline.com

In his letter of appointment, President Boakai highlighted Dr. Maparyan’s ability, integrity, and extensive experience, conveying his trust that she will exemplify these qualities in her service to both the University and the nation.

University of Liberia Staff Association Welcomes Dr. Maparyan’s Appointment

The University of Liberia Staff Association (ULSA) has warmly welcomed Dr. Maparyan as the new president. In a statement, ULSA expressed gratitude to President Boakai for his support during this transition and emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges identified by the administration.

“Dr. Maparyan is recognized as a distinguished academic with a robust portfolio of scholarship, and we are confident in her capacity to engage with our collective concerns in a manner that is both empathetic and analytical,” the association stated.

University of Liberia Alumni Association Welcomes Dr. Layli Maparyan as New President

Meanwhile, the University of Liberia Alumni Association has expressed its enthusiastic support for the appointment of Dr. Layli Maparyan as President of the University of Liberia. The association commended the recruitment process, stating that it aligns with best practices in academic leadership.

The Alumni Association applauded Dr. Maparyan’s expertise and expressed hope that her leadership will catalyze significant reforms aimed at enhancing both the academic environment and financial governance at the University.

In a statement, the association called for collaboration among faculty members, administrative staff, alumni, and the student body, urging them to welcome Dr. Maparyan and work together for the betterment of the institution.

“We envision the University as an academic environment that attracts qualified personnel with the necessary expertise,” the statement read. “We believe there should be no barriers to who can serve the university, especially when individuals possess the requisite qualifications and experience in academia.”

The Alumni Association emphasized that all stakeholders at the University should embrace Dr. Maparyan’s appointment as a pivotal moment for transformation and growth within the institution, marking a new chapter in its development.

Who’s Dr. Layli Maparyan?

Dr. Maparyan is a well-respected academic, currently holding the position of Executive Director at the Wellesley Centers for Women and serving as a Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA.

Dr. Maparyan holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Temple University, an M.S. in Psychology from Penn State University, and a cum laude undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Spelman College. Her impressive academic career includes roles as an Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at Georgia State University’s Women’s Studies Institute, as well as positions at the University of Georgia’s Department of Psychology and the Institute for African American Studies.

Ties to Liberia

Dr. Maparyan’s connection to Liberia dates back to her time in 2010 as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Liberia. She has received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Citizen Award for Service to the Liberian Community in 2009 and the Fulbright Specialist Program Award.

In accordance with Article IV, Section 1 of the University’s Charter, President Boakai nominated Dr. Maparyan on December 18, 2024. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved her nomination shortly thereafter.

Dr. Maparyan, who is married to a Liberian, Seboe Maparyan, is set to officially begin her role as President on January 10, 2025, coinciding with her induction ceremony.