MONROVIA – The United Methodist University (UMU) has suspended Mr. Cyrus Johnson, a part-time lecturer and Coordinator of Peace Studies in the College of Liberal Arts, following allegations that he solicited money from students in exchange for grades. The suspension comes as the university initiates an investigation into the matter, which has sparked widespread concern over academic integrity.
In an official letter dated September 16, 2025, and signed by Prof. San Toga Steviom, Chairman of the Department of Social Sciences, Johnson was informed that he was suspended from all teaching activities until the conclusion of the investigation. The letter emphasized the administration’s grave concern over the potential damage to the university’s reputation and called on Johnson to fully cooperate with the ongoing probe. Copies of the communication were sent to the Human Resource Department, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The controversy erupted following a report by the Verity Newspaper and a leaked audio recording posted on social media, in which Johnson is allegedly heard soliciting payment from students for grades. The publication and viral audio prompted immediate reactions from the UMU community.
The United Methodist University Alumni Association expressed outrage over the allegations in a press release issued on September 15, 2025. Signed by Secretary General Emmett P. Coker and approved by President Dioh Cox Podee, the release condemned the alleged behavior as a “fundamental betrayal” of academic principles and a “violent assault on the core values of integrity and ethics” expected of university faculty. The association described the act as more than a minor infraction, warning that exploiting student vulnerability for personal gain undermines the very purpose of education.
The Alumni Association has made two key demands. First, they called for the immediate and public suspension of Johnson from all duties, including his role as Coordinator of Peace Studies, until a full investigation is completed. Second, they urged the university to conduct a “swift, credible, and impartial investigation,” with the findings made public to restore confidence in UMU’s academic integrity. “We expect the University to act now with the courage and moral clarity that this moment demands. Uphold our motto. Be a ‘Light to the World’ by casting out the darkness of corruption within our own walls,” the release stated.
The UMU administration has yet to release a timeline for the investigation, but the suspension signals the university’s commitment to addressing allegations of corruption and protecting its institutional reputation.
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