MONROVIA: The University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA), has threatened another go-slow action if Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson, President of the University, fails to reverse the recent appointments of Dr. Lester Tenny and Clifford Young as VPAA and Dean for Business College respectively.
On August 7, 2023, the President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson, elevated the embattled Dean of the Business College, Dr. Lester Tenny, to the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).
He also by appointment replaced Dr. Tenny with Mr. Clifford Young as Dean for the Business College.
According to the ULFASA’s joint resolution, Mr. Young is unqualified to serve in such position as an individual, who holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration when the newly adopted policy on the merging of the Graduate Programs with the Colleges demands an academic PhD before serving in the said position.
But the UL President appears to be adamant amid a strong decision taken on Friday, July 21, 2023 in a General Assembly by the University of Liberia Faculty Association, declaring the now ex – Dean Dr. Tenny as a persona-non-granta to the association.
ULFA stressed that the decision against Dr. Tenny is due to his alleged continuous insults, bullying, intimidation and molestation of members of the Association, including the President of ULFA and other Executive Members but Dr. Tenny challenged the said decision, stating that he was neither appointed by ULFA nor is he a member.
However, the University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA) convened a joint Emergency General Assembly (GA) on Friday, August 25, 2023 on the Fendall Campus of the University of Liberia (UL).
The GA brought together over 1000 members of ULFA and ULSA who deliberated and voted on several points for the benefit of their welfare and for the smooth operations of the state-run institution.
In the GA, the ULFASA resolved and passed on key decisions to be implemented by the UL Board of Trustees (BoT) and the UL Administration.
The ULFASA wants the Board of Trustees prevail on the University of Liberia President, Dr. Nelson to announce the reversal of the appointments for the VPAA and Dean of the Business College within one week, as of August 25, 2023.
The Joint Resolution also called on the University Administration to ensure that the disparities of salaries among the University of Liberia Staff Association (ULSA) members be addressed immediately with appropriate steps considering individual staffs’ qualifications and tenures of service.
“That the entire amount deducted from ULFA/ULSA members that are outstanding for the Medical Insurance (including August 2023) should be fully transmitted/paid to the insurance company by the UL Administration not later than August 31, 2023,” the ULFASA joint resolution added.
The both leadership of ULFA and ULSA further agreed to engage the Vice President for Finance and Fiscal Affairs (VPFFA) and the Comptroller and hold them accountable to remit all arrears of the two associations dues not later than August 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, the ULFASA stressed that the failure of the Board of Trustees and the UL Authorities to implement these demands, it will lead to the discontinuance of the respective functions of all Faculties and Staff on all campuses of the University of Liberia.
