Monrovia, Liberia – Eight university staff members have been fired by Dr. Layli Maparyan, president of the University of Liberia, after a four-month inquiry into widespread academic fraud, which included a well-known instance involving Commerce Inspector General Dorr Cooper.
“Coordinated acts of academic fraud” involving employees of the Department of Public Administration, the Office of Enrollment Services, and the Office of Information Technology were confirmed by the final report of a Special Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud, according to a statement released by Dr. Maparyan from her Capitol Hill office.
According to Dr. Maparyan, academic fraud is the opponent of academic brilliance and the antithesis of academic honesty. Since academic integrity is the foundation of academic achievement, the University of Liberia is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for academic fraud as of right now.
Two employees were exonerated owing to inadequate evidence, and one employee has been suspended till the end of the year in addition to the eight terminations.
In order to rebuild public confidence and stop such situations in the future, the institution has also announced extensive adjustments. Among the crucial actions are: The conversion of the investigative body into a permanent Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud (CIAF). The launch of the UL Whistleblower Platform (ULWP), allowing anonymous or confidential reports of misconduct. A comprehensive restructuring of the Office of Enrollment Services. Strengthening policies related to academic integrity for both students and staff, accompanied by education and awareness initiatives.
According to Dr. Maparyan, these steps will enable academic integrity to triumph and academic fraud to be eradicated. The infamous “Dorr Cooper Incident” has garnered a lot of public attention and turned into a defining issue for Dr. Maparyan’s early administration.
Mr. Cooper was deemed persona non grata and expelled from the institution prior to her appointment after an internal inquiry found that he had committed academic fraud.
Norris Tweh, UL Vice President for University Relations, stated on a local radio station that Mr. Cooper made a fraudulent claim to be a student and a graduate of the university. According to Mr. Tweh, an investigation revealed that Cooper was never formally enrolled at UL.
The committee’s findings said that Cooper had illegally obtained a bachelor’s degree in public administration by paying $10,000 to university staff. The commerce inspector allegedly used a fictitious student to get academic qualifications, according to the investigation.
