Edward Waters College Reaffirmation Process Causes Its Board of
Trustees to Meet in Emergency Session
The Board of Trustees Fully Supports Dr. Jenkins and Commends him for
Significant Contributions to the College
STUART, Fla., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ --
The Edward Waters College Board of
Trustees announced today, that they deliver a vote of 100% confidence in
President Jimmy Jenkins. Furthermore, the Board of Trustees firmly believes in
the leadership of Dr. Jenkins and looks to him to pave the way for the
successful future of the college.
The Board of Trustees called an emergency meeting pursuant to the recent
allegation that Edward Waters College copied its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
from Alabama A&M University, which was to be submitted to the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for its reaffirmation of
accreditation. The Board learned that for the past two years, Edward Waters
College has been in the process of rigorously preparing for the accreditation
visit of the SACS committee. As part of the process, consultants were engaged
to assist and work with faculty, administration, and others in the exploration,
design and development of plans and programs aimed at assisting students of all
backgrounds to cope with the challenges of higher education. Edward Waters
College also reviewed several other institutions of higher education, in an
effort to gain insights into best practices in addressing particular QEP.
This process is especially unique since Edward Waters College is an open
enrollment academic institution focusing on African American students. Unlike
many academic institutions in Jacksonville and around the country, which have
different admission standards, the Edward Waters mission is to provide an
opportunity to all students desiring a college education, even to those
students who may not be accepted by other Ivy League institutions of higher
learning.
Edward Waters College assessed documents from several institutions, which
provided a format suitable and appropriate to the institutional mission. The
draft, which included Alabama A&M's name, was placed on the Internet for
exposure to the faculty and administration with the intent that it be used as a
baseline reference for review and comment. The document was intended to serve
as a "test fit" corresponding to our aims, aspirations and programs for the
college. The document that was made available to the news media (Florida Times
Union) was an initial draft and not the draft sent to the SACS committee for
review and critique.
As a result of poor coordination and collaboration between consultants, faculty
and administration, verbatim draft information found its way into the final
draft sent to SACS. As such, the Board of Trustees and the administration is
committed to and has set in motion a process of reevaluation and modification
of the QEP documents. It is the expectation to incorporate the best practices
of peer institutions and the best ideas available within the realm of Edward
Waters College. A joint committee is being formed consisting of faculty,
administration and members of the Board of Trustees, to craft a new document to
be presented for approval by the SACS committee, as well as to the Board of
Trustees.
It should be pointed out that during this situation, President Jimmy Jenkins
has fully informed the Board of Trustees of all details relating to this issue
including all historical information beginning two years ago at the outset of
activities in the preparation for the accreditation team visit. Furthermore,
the Board unanimously gave a vote of confidence to Dr. Jenkins and committed
their full support to the development of an effective quality enhancement
program ultimately leading to reaffirmation of accreditation.
The Board also reviewed the following accomplishments of Dr. Jenkins as
President of Edward Waters College:
* Student enrollment has doubled since the fall of 1998 compared to the
fall of 1997
* Dr. Jenkins has been instrumental in paying more than $1 million in back
compensation
* Took the initiative to pay the IRS $250,000, owed by Edward Waters
College
* Renovated the music building at a cost of $75,000
* Completely refurbished Morris-Cone dorm at a cost of $600,000, made
possible by an anonymous donor
* Purchased a new automobile unit to maximize the student recruitment
campaign
* Liquidated more than 50% of vendor indebtedness
* Upgraded Kings Road property giving new life to the campus
* Stocked the library in the Centennial Building with new books
* Secured satisfactory nod of approval by SACS
* Secured assistance for public relations financial support of more than
$100,000 and a projected amount of $1 million in in-kind services
* Received reaffirmation from the U.S. Department of Education for the
student financial aid program
* Implemented a more profound system to produce fiduciary responsibility
* Staffed business office with qualified personnel to improve efficiency
* Placed experienced administrators in key positions to update critical
need in college administration
* Reduced default rate from a high of 26.5% to 6%, which is a singularly
tremendous accomplishment. Edward Waters College has one of the lowest
default rates for Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the
country.
* The retention rate for freshman and new students is one of the highest
in the history of the college under the present administration.
* Classroom buildings have been modernized, labs have been refurbished and
Salter's Hall has been transformed into an honor's dorm to facilitate
and encourage academic excellence at Edward Waters College.
* The college now has in place an endowment plan supported by the Board of
Trustees to match funds donated by corporations and other entities.
* The campus has been given a new look and the presence of security
personnel is now in place.
* Dr. Jenkins has requested support from the Board of Trustees and
administration to go the extra mile to take its rightful place as we
make a quantum leap into the 21st century.
The Board of Trustees at Edward Waters College feels that Dr. Jenkins has
brought a new level of integrity and confidence to the college. More business
and corporate leaders are proud to be associated with Edward Waters College and
are increasingly making contributions to the college. Dr. Jenkins has an
exceptional track record and we give him our full support.
Edward Waters College Board of Trustees 2004:
Bishop McKinley Young, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Bishop, 11th District
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Doug Milne Esq., Attorney at Law, Milne, Beardsley & McCorbey
Dr. Orrin Mitchell, Orthodontist
Willie Gary, Esq., Attorney at Law, Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney,
Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, P. L.
Laura Z. Rose, Retired Principal
Rev. Rudolph McKissick , Sr., Pastor, Bethel Baptist Institutional Church
Emanuel Fleming, Student Government Association President
Leroy Kennon, Presiding Elder, A.M.E. Church
Walter M. Lee, III, President, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
Kimblin E. NeSmith, EWC Faculty
Ralph Wilson, Presiding Elder, A.M.E. Church
Dr. John Green
Ted Pappas, Principal, PBV Architecture, Inc.
Charles Jackson, President, Jackson Enterprises
William E. Simms, President, Gourmet Food Services
Charles Spenser, Executive Vice-President, South Atlantic, Gulf Course
District,
International Longshoremen's Association
Dr. Albert Thweatt, CEO, Alrod Enterprises
Dr. J. Leander Byrd, Presiding Elder, A.M.E. Church, Pensacola District
Bishop Samuel L. Green Sr., A.M.E. Church
Rev. Jimmie Keel, Mt. Olive A.M.E Church
Jimmie Scott, SCD Consulting
Carlton Jones, CEO, Renaissance Design Build Group of Jacksonville, Inc.
DATASOURCE: The Edward Waters College Board of Trustees
CONTACT: Bishop McKinley Young, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, +1-
904-355-8262