What will we (AME's) do if Edward Waters College loses its appeal? See today's AP article below. QED

Edward Waters president credited with turnaround resigns in scandal

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jimmy Jenkins, who was credited with turning around Edward Waters College, increasing its enrollment and it standards, resigned Monday after a plagiarism scandal cost the school its accreditation.

The executive committee of the Board of Trustees accepted the resignation Monday afternoon. The full board will meet Tuesday to consider the resignation and may appoint an interim president of the historically black college.

The college was accused of submitting a self-study to its accreditation group that had largely been plagiarized from Alabama A&M University. Any college that deliberately provides inaccurate information risks losing its accreditation, according to the policies of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Edward Waters is appealing the ruling will present the case Tuesday, Feb. 22, in Atlanta.

Since then, alumni have complained about Jenkins' leadership, and Board of Trustees Chairman McKinley Young said he would recommend that the board put Jenkins on a one-year probation.

Officials said the college failed to act with integrity and its administration was incompetent.

Jenkins came to Edward Waters in 1997 from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, where he spent 13 years as chancellor.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2005

Answers

Why wasn't action taken on Jenkins when the allegations of plagerism first arose? It makes it appear that EWC lacks integrity. I pray this does not cost them accreditation. What's wrong with the Board, a one year probation is nothing.

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2005

I'm a graduate of Temple University. However my heart goes out to all historically black schools, especially AME Schools. At this place in time it seems as the only thing we can do is pray.

Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2005

Harold -

When the plaigarism scadal erupted last year at EWC, the "company line" was to point the accusatory finger at a mid-level manager who was responsible for that section of the application package. The mid- level mananger was subsequently terminated from his position. President Jenkins did not assume full responsibility. The latest decision (Jenkins' resignation) can be interpreted as a preemptive manuever by EWC to signal that the school is embracing responsibility (integrity) by removing the President. It's a risky strategy and it doesn't improve the likelihood that the Feb. 22 appeal will be overturned. The bottom line is this - What do we do if EWC's appeal is rejected? QED

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2005

What will the AME Church do now? I keep asking this question but no one seems willing to offer a response. See the article below. QED

"News4Jax.com Appeal Denied: Edward Waters College Loses Accreditation

POSTED: 1:26 pm EST February 28, 2005 UPDATED: 5:35 pm EST February 28, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has denied Edward Waters College's appeal of the loss of its accreditation, Channel 4 has learned.

School officials learned late Friday the appeal was denied, the college's public relations firm said Monday. The school has filed a federal lawsuit challenging that decision.

"Edward Waters College remains accredited until they've exhausted all legal avenues," Maria Coppola, of the McCormick Agency, said Monday.

A hearing on the suit was held Monday afternoon, and a federal judge is now considering whether there are any legal measures available to the college to challenge SCAC's ruling. Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

"The college doesn't step away from the fact that a mistake was made and that there was not adequate oversight in that one instance," the college's legal counsel, Mike Freed, said.

Last Tuesday, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton and Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings joined school officials in arguing that loss of accreditation was too harsh a punishment for submitting a plagiarized document to the oversight group last year. The mistake was blamed on a college vice president who is no longer at the school.

EWC officials have not returned calls Monday, but had previously warned that loss of accreditation, and the subsequent loss of federal tuition assistance for students. An estimated 90 percent of the college's students receive financial aid.

The uncertainty about the school's future had already caused the second semester enrollment to drop from about 1,300 students to 900.

EWC President Jimmy Jenkins resigned last month, saying he wanted to give the private Jacksonville college its best shot at successfully appealing the decision to revoke its accreditation.

Edward Waters College, established in 1866 to educate the descendants of blacks newly emancipated from slavery, is a private four-year liberal arts co-educational residential institution, committed to Christian principles which emphasize high moral and spiritual values, as a result of its close affiliation with, and support from, the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The college offers baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences and other career-based professional fields."

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2005

Sigh...

Prayer is such a glib answer. Prayer works, but money works better. Integrity works better. Responsibility and Accountability work better. Stewardship works better.

I would like to see an independent audit of the distribution of Conference Claims. EWC did not run out of money like MBC did, but we need to know just how much money is in that fund. Then, we use that money to hire a responsible, accountable, GODLY team to govern the college.

My votes for some of the members? Rev. Dr. Spain, Rev Dr. Fugh, and the Bishop, Bill and Harold.

Next,

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2005