By Ashan R. Hampton
JACKSONVILLE, FL - In the wake of a plagiarism scandal that cost the college its accreditation, Jimmy Jenkins has resigned as president of Edward Waters College (EWC). Retired Bethune-Cookman President of twenty-nine years, Oswald Bronson Sr., 77, is serving as interim president.
Last December, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges voted to revoke EWC’s accreditation after discovering that officials at the college had plagiarized large portions of its “Quality Enhancement Plan” from one previously submitted by Alabama A&M University. The commission cited EWC for failure to comply with standards of integrity and for employing incompetent leadership, but allowed for an appeal in late February. Along with Jenkins, Maritza Yarbrough, EWC’s accreditation liaison, also resigned.
Jenkins felt that his resignation would give the college a better chance of winning its appeal for continuance of its accreditation. In a farewell address to the college, Jenkins concluded by urging the college to persevere and to support the new leadership. “I loved this job and I love my EWC family. My request is that you support the next president just as you supported me because by supporting him, you are supporting the college.”
Most supporters and witnesses for the college felt that the revocation decision was too harsh, and that a one-year probation would have been a more suitable penalty.
As reported by the Florida Times-Union, Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings defended the college as a character witness during the hearing, and read a letter of support from Governor Jeb Bush who was out of the country at the time. Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton also enthusiastically backed EWC’s appeal.
Following the presentation, Jennings reportedly offered the following comments, “The plagiarism is not anything we condone or anything we accept. But as an institution, they deserve the chance to move forward. Again, who are we punishing if they lose accreditation? We’re punishing the students, who might not have any other options to get an education.”
Unfortunately the influence of EWC’s high-powered advocates was not enough to convince the commission to allow the college to remain fully accredited. In fact, the appeals panel voted unanimously to uphold the revocation.
This decision comes as a death sentence to EWC since unaccredited institutions are ineligible to receive or process student financial aid. Over half of the students at EWC rely on financial aid dollars to cover educational expenses. Furthermore, without proper accreditation, the college’s degrees and programs will largely be rendered invalid, and it becomes ineligible for membership with the United Negro College Fund, as a historically black college.
However, officials at EWC have taken further legal action to retain its accreditation status by filing a lawsuit against SACS for violating its rights to due process. The college feels the commission was biased in its decision, and did not allow the college enough time to adequately understand and defend against the charges.
Days before its annual December meeting in Georgia, the Commission on Colleges summoned President Jimmy Jenkins and other EWC officials to Atlanta to explain the plagiarism. On behalf of the college, President Jenkins admitted to the plagiarism, but justified it as more of a glitch in departmental communication versus an outright attempt to deceive the accreditation commission. Evidently, while cutting and pasting certain passages from the report that was posted on the university’s website, someone at EWC forgot to replace a reference to Alabama A&M University with the college’s own information. The faux pas was discovered after EWC posted its enhancement plan to the faculty intranet.
The case escalated when the local media revealed this offense to the public and commission officials.
To provide a formal response to the allegations, the college released a statement November 3rd after an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees. The college insisted that the version of the report that was posted on the faculty website for review, and that fell into the hands of the FloridaTimes-Union, was simply a draft that was to be used as “a baseline reference for review and comment.”
Now, in a lawsuit that has been filed with the federal court in Florida, EWC accuses SACS of conspiracy to unfairly strip the college of its accreditation. The college also filed for a temporary restraining order against the SACS ruling, which will enable it to retain accreditation while the case is being reviewed.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan heard testimony from both sides to determine the merit of the case. EWC’s legal representative, Michael Freed, along with reinforcements from Washington’s United Negro College Fund defense team, charged that SACS disproportionately closes historically black colleges. Freed also argued that the organization made errors in their own investigation process of the college. Interim President Bronson did not attend the hearing.
To add even more fuel to the college’s fires of public humiliation, former Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs Daniel Ezugo Anekwu, and Emma Okari Brooks, formerly of academic affairs, were arrested and charged with defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture by submitting fraudulent claims in a black farmer discrimination settlement. It is alleged he falsely claimed members of his family, his wife, mother-in-law, and another relative, were black farmers, in an effort to obtain awards worth $50,000 each. Anekwu is of African descent. No additional information has been obtained regarding the basis of his claim. He was not available for comment.
Anekwu surrendered to the FBI late last week. He resigned his position without incident at EWC, which reportedly paid him an annual salary of $96,300. According to local media reports, Anekwu faces up to 25 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted and Brooks faces 50 years and a $2.25 million fine.
“The college was shocked and disappointed to learn of alleged criminal wrongdoing by Mr. Anekwu,” said EWC attorney, Michael Freed.
Although these charges are unrelated to the plagiarism lawsuit, these recent developments do not bode well for an institution that is trying to defend the integrity and competency of its leadership.
So far, the federal judge has made no decision on any aspect of EWC’s complaint. However, the college’s survival hinges upon a decision in its favor. A ruling is expected soon.
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