Capitol Hill Campus, December 30, 2024: As media institutions conduct their usual end-of-year evaluation of the Government of Liberia’s performance across various sectors, education has become a significant focal point. The University of Liberia plays an essential role in the education landscape of Liberia; therefore, developments concerning the university throughout the year tend to attract media attention as they assess the government’s performance against the national development agenda.

Towards this end, some media institutions have recently dedicated considerable airtime to highlighting perceived shortcomings, challenges, and issues within Liberia’s education sector, using the University of Liberia as a representative example. The University of Liberia has been central to some of the discussions held on the latest shows of these media entities.

While the University of Liberia welcomes these discussions aimed at reforms that would improve standard in public tertiary institutions, it is crucial to provide clarity, context, and factual information for public understanding and consumption.

This release aims to address the missing context and provide facts about the University of Liberia, informing and guiding ongoing conversations calling for more support for higher education and the need to reform the operational structure and framework of the University of Liberia.

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“University of Liberia Remains Closed for Almost/More Than a Year”

This statement, repeated many times during some of the broadcasts, is factually incorrect. Like critical institutions within the security and health sectors, the University of Liberia rarely closes. Although academic activities did not resume on November 18, 2024, as planned following the successful hosting of the 104th Commencement Convocation in September 2024, the academic calendar has been revised. Teaching and learning activities are now set to commence on Monday, January 13, 2025, after the inauguration of the new president on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Currently, the University of Liberia is on its Christmas/New Year break, a traditional annual practice that allows faculty, staff, and students to enjoy a well-deserved rest during the festive season.

It is important to note that the University is not closed. Even during this break, essential offices remain open with reduced staff working to ensure important services are delivered in preparation for the upcoming semester.

Recruitment of a New President

The Recruitment of a new president of the University of Liberia involves a global search. Contrary to what some discussants described as a narrow and local search and appointment by the Visitor of a new president of the UL, a UL Search Committee conducted a worldwide recruitment effort, interviewed more than 20 candidates who applied and shortlisted three distinguished individuals who the Search Committee presented in a report to the Visitor through the UL Board of Trustees for consideration.

In keeping with the Charter of the University of Liberia, the President of the Republic of Liberia and Visitor of the University of Liberia is expected to appoint one of these three individuals who will become the 16th President of the University of Liberia.

Tuition-Free Policy

The Tuition-Free Policy, now in its fifth year, was one of the most contentious issues during the course of the year, dividing opinions among students, academics, the media, among others.

One version surrounding the narrative about this policy is that the University of Liberia has been negatively impacted by the introduction of the Tuition-Free Policy, suggesting that students no longer value the education offered by the university.

This policy, which eliminates tuition fees, applies only to undergraduate students. Students in graduate and professional programs are still required to pay tuition.

It is important to recognize that since it resumed academic activities after a devastating civil war in the 1990s, the University of Liberia faces legacy issues that are being addressed gradually. These challenges are distinct from the circumstances that led to the implementation of the tuition-free policy a few years ago.

Renovation of the Four Campuses by the IMT

After fulfilling an important mandate, the Interim Management Team (IMT), led by Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, assessed the facilities of the various campuses and determined that critical face lifts were needed before the resumption of academic activities. The Board of Trustees requested, and the Visitor granted, an extension of the tenure for the Acting President and the IMT to implement these necessary improvements on the campuses. The IMT has collaborated with the Ministry of Public Works to finalize the assessment for the renovation of the four campuses of the University of Liberia. The report has been submitted to the Office of the Visitor for further action.

Resolution of Outstanding Issues with faculty

One of the ways of resolving issues at the University of Liberia has been through dialogue and the Acting President has held a series of meetings with all stakeholders since the inception of the Interim Management Team. The leadership of University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA) has been in negotiation with the UL Administration to find a path to resolution through active engagement.

As recently as Monday, December 30, 2024 a mediation meeting was held on Capitol Hill Campus. Representing the Visitor in this meeting, the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh, made an impassioned appeal to ULFA leadership for faculty to re-engage and return to class on the scheduled date for the start of the next semester. Min. Tweh assured ULFA that the Government of Liberia is aware of the issues and is working along with the UL Administration and the Board of Trustees to address them.

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Once again, the University of Liberia welcomes public discussions on increasing support for higher education, reforming practices, and improving standards at the nation’s largest public university. It is vital for those leading these discussions to be guided by facts and to provide context in their arguments.

The Department of University Relations remains open and available to the public for any information concerning the University of Liberia.

Signed:

Cllr. Norris Tweah

Vice President for University Relations

UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA