The South Carolina State University Faculty Senate passed a resolution 18-2 stating it has no confidence in South Carolina State President Dr. James E. Clark, The Times and Democrat reported.
Criticisms include alleged failure to implement an effective enrollment-management plan – leading to low enrollment – COVID-19 safety concerns and financial issues.
Staten said, “The faculty does not take any pleasure in having this vote. It’s the reality that we’re dealing with right now. When President Clark and his administration took over during the fall of 2016, we had 2,648 students, full-time equivalents, and today we have 1,748 full-time equivalent students. That means we’ve lost close to 1,000 students under the current administration’s leadership.”
Faculty Senate President Dr. David Staten said he understands five university trustees plan to ask for a special board meeting to hear Faculty Senate concerns, The Times and Democrat reported.
According to a March 15 statement from board Chairman Rodney Jenkins and Clark, the school has implemented safety methods such as social distancing, CDC sanitation guidelines and face coverings, and is planning for a “full return to normal operations in the fall semester with more on-site classes.”
Clark made another statement March 19, citing the school’s progress over the past five years, including no longer being at risk for losing accreditation, new facilities, student admittance now trending up and a greater than $80 million positive financial impact.
