The decision comes in the wake of a four-month probe conducted by a Special Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud.
Monrovia – In a move to restore credibility and academic integrity, the President of the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Layli Maparyan, has dismissed eight employees following the findings of a months-long investigation into coordinated academic fraud across key departments.
By Willie Tokpah
The decision comes in the wake of a four-month probe conducted by a Special Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud, which uncovered systemic misconduct involving staff from the Department of Public Administration (PADM), the Office of Enrollment Services (OES), and the Office of Information Technology (OIT).
“Academic fraud is the antithesis of academic integrity and the enemy of academic excellence,” Dr. Maparyan said in a statement on Monday. “On my watch, the University of Liberia will be restored to academic integrity and academic excellence.”
In addition to the dismissals, one staff member has been suspended until the end of 2025, while two others were exonerated due to insufficient evidence. Although the investigation referenced the controversial “Dorr Cooper Incident,” no detailed findings regarding Cooper’s role were released.
The UL president also announced a package of sweeping reforms designed to institutionalize accountability and prevent future abuse. Among the reforms is the transformation of the ad-hoc investigative committee into a permanent body called the Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud (CIAF).
She also announced the launch of the UL Whistleblower Platform (ULWP), which will allow students, faculty, alumni, and stakeholders to confidentially report fraud or misconduct.
Additionally, the Office of Enrollment Services (OES), identified as a hub of fraud-related activity, will undergo a complete structural reorganization.
University-wide policies on academic fraud will also be revised, and an awareness campaign will be launched to educate stakeholders on the importance of academic honesty.
“These measures will allow academic integrity to prevail and academic fraud to perish,” Dr. Maparyan declared, reaffirming her administration’s zero-tolerance stance.
The announcement has stirred both support and scrutiny, with some hailing the decisive action as a long-overdue effort to address corruption, while others await evidence that the reforms will be fully enforced in an institution historically plagued by issues of transparency.
“People who commit academic fraud or engage in academic misconduct at the University of Liberia will be held accountable. Impunity will not be an option,” Dr. Maparyan warned.
The crackdown marks one of the most significant reform initiatives at the University of Liberia in recent memory, signaling a new chapter in the fight against academic corruption.
