West Liberty University Board Censures President W. Franklin Evans for Plagiarism
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WEST LIBERTY -- West Liberty University's board of governors formally censured President W. Franklin Evans amid accusations of plagiarism, and tasked the president with rebuilding trust with the university's employees.
The Board of Governors met in a special meeting Wednesday to discuss personnel. After meeting behind closed doors for an hour and 47 minutes, the board moved to censure Evans, indicating severe disapproval of his actions. Board chair Rich Lucas said the censure will remain on permanent record within the minutes of the board.
Lucas said the board had worked alongside the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, which provided "invaluable" guidance and experience, though the decision to reprimand Evans was their own. A formal resolution was passed through unanimous vote of the board. Two voting members, Michael Baker and Arlene Brantley, were absent.
Evans also would be tasked with crafting and publishing a formal policy for academic integrity, which would be applied to all WLU employees. This policy will be created in conjunction with the Faculty Senate. A committee, or potentially the entire board, would oversee the process and evaluate Evans' progress in the coming weeks.
"The public censure puts the world on notice that the board of governors is extremely dissatisfied with the event or events that led up to all of this work," Lucas said. "At this point, we really want to unify and move the campus forward. There is work yet to be done. There's a committee, and/or the full Board of Governors, that will be tasked with monitoring progress on the campus, outside of our normal duties."
Evans was accused of multiple instances of plagiarism over his term as president, which began at the start of the year. These include times he lifted quotes, without attribution, for speeches given on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a speech he gave on Juneteenth, and a convocation speech given on Sept. 15. Evans subsequently apologized in a letter to the university.
Evans said he was confident in the Board's action Wednesday, and optimistic that they had taken into consideration the perspectives of the numerous stakeholders of the university in making their action.
"We tried, and we did, listen to everybody. We had students, faculty, Faculty Senate, staff, alumni, West Liberty University Foundation, the board of governors itself, outside outreach, the higher ed policy commission," Lucas said. "The accumulation of information took time, the digesting of information took time. I'm very confident that we can move the university forward now; but there's still work."
Lucas said the Board received "a wide variety" of opinions among students and staff members. However, the diversity of opinions means that an overwhelming consensus couldn't be found, and that the board worked hard at taking all views into consideration.
Sean Ryan, who chairs the Faculty Senate, said he appreciated the seriousness with which the board treated the accusations against Evans.
"They have stated that they're going to be engaged in making sure we move forward, productively and professionally, and that is in line with what the Faculty Senate recommended," Ryan said after the meeting.
"Our policy committee is looking forward to working with Dr. Evans about writing a comprehensive policy to deal with any academic integrity issues, from any employee. I think that will help set the record straight on how we, as a campus, feel about it, and the steps we've taken to make sure it doesn't happen again. I think we have a good framework for moving forward."
Evans himself issued a statement, apologizing to the community and accepting the board's decision. Evans added he was looking to the future of the university.
"I acknowledge and certainly accept the decision that the Board of Governors has already made. I've expressed regret for the decisions I've made, and I'm taking this opportunity to once again apologize to the entire university community.
"… With that in mind, I am determined to move forward, and humbly ask for the West Liberty family to join me in doing so. ... There are decisions that I and the cabinet will make that will probably not be popular, but those are decisions that will be made in the best interest of the university."
Evans touted several programs at the Hilltop, as well as the creation of numerous partnerships with local businesses He concluded by saying that he wants to encourage open communication with the stakeholders of the university.
"I'm physically here on campus, and I will continue to avail myself to others. They can call me, they can drop by to see me, or come and see some of the amazing things happening here on the hilltop at West Liberty University," Evans said. "In fact, I see the dawning of an institution where everyone is valued, everyone is respected, everyone is appreciated for the uniqueness they bring to West Liberty University."
Last week, the university's Faculty Senate voted 14-1, with one abstention, to issue a vote of no confidence in Evans' leadership. The Board of Governors had voted in October by a 7-5 margin to retain Evans as president, subjecting him to unspecified disciplinary actions.
A survey among faculty taken in October indicated a trend of disapproval from among the faculty toward Evans' actions. 86% of respondents considered Evans' leadership "compromised," 73% would have given a vote of no confidence in Evans, and 60% of those who would have made the vote would also call for his resignation. Forty-five percent of respondents believed the issues could be resolved through punitive action. The survey was completed by 66 percent of the faculty and presented to the board by faculty representative Jason Metz.
A report from faculty also claimed that Evans' continued presence at the university constituted a double standard, and that the turmoil surrounding the plagiarism incident had affected the school's standing among prospective students and donors.