U.L. Dismisses Eight Employees After Final Report Shows Commerce Inspector Dorr Cooper Involvement With Academic Fraud
April 30, 2025
Monrovia: The administration of the University of Liberia has dismissed eight employees of the University after final report shows commerce Inspector General Dorr Cooper’s involvement with academic fraud.
The report according UL’s President Dr Mapatan, is based on a four-month investigation of facts related to several instances of alleged academic fraud and misconduct at the University of Liberia referred to as the “Dorr Cooper Incident,” as well as other cases.
The report noted that coordinated acts of academic fraud occurred involving several UL employees from multiple units of the University, including the Department of Public Administration, the Office of Enrollment Services, and the Office of Information Technology according to Dr Mapatan.
Dr Mapatan said based on the report eight employees’ job will be terminated at the University of Liberia, effective immediately. She noted that one employee will be suspended until the end of 2025 while two employees will return to work because no conclusive evidence of their involvement was uncovered.
“Today, I received the final report of the special committee to Investigate academic fraud at the University of Liberia, Let me be clear academic fraud is the antithesis of academic integrity and the enemy of academic excellence, academic fraud undermines the university’s educational mission and destroys the university’s academic reputation, under my watch, the University of Liberia will be restored to academic integrity and academic excellence, and its educational mission will be freed from the shackles of academic misconduct and corrupt academic practices” The UL’s president said.
According to her “By addressing academic fraud and misconduct head-on and unflinchingly, we can elevate the university’s academic standards and reputation and create the excellent, effective, and ethical educational institution that Liberia’s students, faculty, and staff deserve”.
The UL president emphasized that people who commit academic fraud or engage in academic misconduct at the University of Liberia will be held accountable, noting that impunity will not be an option adding that going forward, the University of Liberia will institute a zero-tolerance policy for academic fraud, because academic integrity is ground zero for academic excellence”.
“Based on the report’s recommendations, the following measures will also be taken to deter and address academic fraud at UL, The Special Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud will become a standing committee known as the Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud. A UL Whistle-blower Platform will be established for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others to anonymously or confidentially report suspected incidences of academic fraud. The Office of Enrollment Services will be completely overhauled. And Employee and student policies related to academic fraud will be strengthened, with concomitant stakeholder awareness programming, Together, these measures will allow academic integrity to prevail and academic fraud to perish”.
Those dismissed are Mr. Arthur B. Sharpe, Chairman, Public Administration Department; Mr. Thurston Lewis, Instructor & Clearing Officer, Department of Public Administration; Mr. Goffa K. Suah, Coordinator & Teaching Assistant, Dean’s Representative on the Clearing Team, Public Administration Department; and Mr. W. Remsee Deranamie, Deputy Registrar, Office of Enrollment Services (OES).
Others dismissed are Mr. Shadrach K. H. Pah, Assistant Dean of Records & Registration, OES; Mr. Foday Jaleiba, Office Assistant to the Dean of Records, OES; and Mr. Jonathan Kangar, Support Specialist, Office of Information Technology (OIT).
The UL has also suspended Mr. Aaron B. Sengbe II, Associate Vice President & Registrar, OES. Meanwhile, the University has reinstated Ms. Mercy Koquoi, OES Data Entry Clerk, Business College; and Mr. Augustine Z. Garpi, OES Coordinator, Business College.
