By Jamesetta D Williams
University of Liberia (UL) President Dr. Layli Marpayan has warned that continued conflicts between the university administration and faculty members could undermine the institution’s reputation and discourage development partners from providing needed support.
Dr. Marpayan made the statement Monday during an appearance on OK FM, where she appealed to faculty members who have disengaged from activities on the university’s campuses to return to work while ongoing concerns are addressed through dialogue.
According to the UL President, prolonged disagreements between faculty members and the administration could have consequences beyond the university, particularly as development partners assess the institution’s stability and ability to effectively manage external support.
She urged faculty members to put aside their personal grievances and resume their responsibilities, arguing that students should not be made to bear the consequences of disputes between employees and university administrators.
Dr. Marpayan said abandoning academic responsibilities could negatively affect thousands of young Liberians seeking higher education and undermine their efforts to complete their studies on time.
She further warned that continued controversies at the state-run university could contribute to a negative perception of Liberia, particularly among international partners and institutions interested in supporting education and national development.
Meanwhile, Dr. Marpayan outlined several reforms she said are part of her vision for transforming the University of Liberia and addressing longstanding concerns about delays in students completing their academic programs.
She said the university has introduced a trimester system and vacation school as part of efforts to ensure students complete their courses within a reasonable timeframe and reduce delays in academic progression.
Dr. Marpayan also disclosed plans to overhaul the university’s curriculum, with the aim of making it more digitally responsive and aligned with developments taking place at universities around the world.
According to her, curriculum reform is necessary to ensure that students graduating from Liberia’s premier public university are equipped with knowledge and skills relevant to the demands of a rapidly changing global environment.
The UL President also renewed her call for increased budgetary support to the university, arguing that additional funding would enable the institution to implement more of its planned reforms.
She maintained that with adequate financial support, the University of Liberia could make significant progress in improving its academic programs, infrastructure and overall operations.
Dr. Marpayan’s comments come amid reported tensions between the university administration and faculty members, with the disputes raising concerns about the potential impact on academic activities and students.
As the administration continues to push for reforms, the university leadership faces the challenge of balancing faculty concerns with the need to maintain academic activities and restore confidence among students, faculty, government and development partners.
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