SUAKOKO, Bong – Cuttington University’s Board of Trustees has reinstated Herman Browne as president of the university, amid calls from faculty and some students that Browne should be dismissed.

The announcement that Browne would resume his post was contained in a press statement signed by Jonathan Hart, president of Cuttington University’ Board of Trustees.

The board said it decided on August 17 after it “discussed the report received from the Special Committee established to investigative events leading to the May 16 disturbance on the university’s Suakoko campus.”

The board, however, made six recommendations, accommodating Browne’s return at Cuttington:

1. The board endorsed the recommendations of the Special Committee that Hermon B. Browne be reinstated in his position as university president.
2. Before the university opens for the academic semester, board representatives will meet with Browne, the faculty, and students in a forum that provides a detailed explanation of the decision to retain Browne.
3. The board has requested the president to complete and submit within two weeks, administrative and operational assessment to establish the challenges so that the Board can have a clear understanding of the state of affairs of the university.
4. The board accepts in full, the recommendations of the Special Committee and unreservedly thanks the committee for their efforts.
5. The board instructs all parties and organizations, specifically the Cuttington University Faculty Association, to desist from any other public statements and pronouncements while the board is still dealing with matters
6. The board is committed to academic development and progress at Cuttington

Brown was suspended in May indefinitely by the board following protests by students of the university.

Limited electricity supply for students and faculty members, unfavorable living conditions, as well as delays in salary payment to lecturers and other staff, were among the issues that triggered sporadic student protests on the main campus of the university in May this year.

Meanwhile, the president of the Cuttington University Faculty Association, Lepolu Torlon, told The Bush Chicken Sunday that the faculty association will officially respond to the board’s decision in the coming days.

The president of the Cuttington University Faculty Association, Lepolu Torlon. Photo: Moses Bailey

“We are having [a] staff meeting tomorrow; our official position on the board’s decision will be made known Wednesday or Thursday, following our meeting,” Torlon said.

In another development, sources from Cuttington have hinted that some key members of the administration of the university have resigned.

The university’s vice president for academic affairs, Anthony Siakor; and vice president for admissions and records, Lovette Tucker, both resigned recently.

The vice president for student affairs, Raymond Da-boi, also left the country recently for studies in the U.S. while the comptroller, Kelfa Jembell, is considering tendering in his resignation, according to the sources.

Featured photo courtesy of the Executive Mansion