Concerned Oakwoodites Demands Corrective Action to Save University
by Pamela Maize Harris | 7 November 2024 |
In a live YouTube meeting Monday evening, October 28, Concerned Oakwoodites (CO) demanded answers to persistent problems, including Oakwood University’s financial crisis; serious management problems such as declining enrollment and income; lack of response to questions (an October 17 formal letter to the board was ignored); unpaid vendors (including such important things as Wi-Fi); sale of valuable farmland; and an ineffective board.
Pointing to alarming trends, leaders of CO reminded meeting participants that “the board has a legal and ethical responsibility” to assure Oakwood’s viability, and “the board has failed.” Only one year out of the last seven fiscal years has operated without a loss, with the last four showing heavy losses.
CO said that only a complete change to amend the constitution and by-laws will correct the board problem, a change which includes downsizing the number of members. This reconstitution of the board would also mean cutting the number of members who are denominational employees. (Of the 39 members with voice and vote, 23 are denominational employees.)
CO says the board needs to be more diverse to include members with experience in higher education and fundraising. Further, the board needs a broader representation of stakeholders, CO asserts.
In addition, CO wants robust board orientation sessions and ongoing professional board training that includes an atmosphere of “trust but verify.” A healthy board, CO asserts, encourages questions and transparency. Instead, the attitude now seems to be that “asking questions can be the kiss of death.”
Interim president
Oakwood’s board says Pollard’s transition is slated to begin July 1, 2025. But CO requested that current-president Pollard step into a personal leave of absence December 31, 2024, to prepare for the transition into his new position. CO believed an interim president and team will facilitate and smooth the transition. CO has released a petition requesting that the interim president and administrative team begin January 1, 2025, maintaining that that was urgent for Oakwood University’s future success.
“Healing needs to happen. Hard decisions need to be made regarding stability, faculty, vendors, students, and finances,” said Joseph Booth III, one of the CO leaders.
FaithSearch Partners, a Christian search firm for health care and higher education leaders, said it could not comment on whether or not FaithSearch will conduct the presidential search, although CO believes Oakwood’s board has talked to them informally.
Audited financial report
CPA Kia Gamble and Joseph Booth made a detailed presentation of the 2023 audited report of income and expenses, noting numerous concerns, including farm income, liabilities, accounts receivable, and net assets, with numerous detailed charts and graphs. (It has had 6,000 views since Monday.) Gamble and Booth emphasized that all the facts in the financial report are public record and available online.
Deloitte, a research and strategy firm with a specialty in higher education, had been retained to do a thorough study of Oakwood University. (It is believed that the North American Division (NAD) paid for the Deloitte study. Board chair and NAD president Alex Bryant has not responded to Adventist Today’s requests for an interview.) At its board meeting last week, Oakwood’s board heard preliminary data, but the full report will come at the December board meeting.
Concerned Oakwoodites believe the Deloitte report will confirm their observations that the University is in dangerous financial decline. Its leaders have requested to be included in the presentation of Deloitte’s December report to the board.
Presidential search
Concerned Oakwoodites expressed disappointment for the selection process used when selecting president Pollard—“We don’t want it to happen again.” CO is forming four committees to provide representation for parents, students, alumni, and faculty. Chairs for these are already at work recruiting members.
CO requested that stakeholders be made aware of the stages of the search process. It is believed that FaithSearch will do the initial search and vetting of applicants, passing those names to the board’s search committee, who will then submit one or more names to the Oakwood University Board. (One concern that may explain why a contract has not been signed with FaithSearch is the lack of diversity at that firm.)
Oakwood is one of the gems of the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), say current faculty. With its many successes, distinguished alumni and faculty, and niche in higher education and Adventist education, Oakwood University’s difficulties are deeply concerning.
Pamela Maize Harris is retired from teaching journalism at Southern Adventist University. She is Adventist Today’s Editor for Investigative Reporting.
