MONROVIA – Associate Prof. Dr. Josephus Gray, Dean of the Amos C Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Liberia has disclosed that the College has successfully integrated educational debate as a core part of its extra-curriculum and has planned to launch academic debate program which will have transformational effect on students. The debate will serve as a cornerstone for students to clearly and convincingly think and exchange ideas on particular subjects. The debate is intended to reawaken the academic spirit among learners and faculty members.
According to Dr. Gray, the College has put into action plans to professionally organize debate among the various departments in the College to help molds the way students think and communicate, and to engage respectfully with each other. Each debate will has its own unique qualities and will be tailored to a particular subject based on fhe College core value and focus. He indicated that the debate will further help students how to present their thoughts convincingly.
Dr. Gray reminded the students that “debate as an educational exercise is a crucial method for fostering critical thinking skills, communication and research, while at the same time its help students explore ideas, build persuasive arguments, and overall enhance students’ oral presentation.”
Regarding the benefits of debate, Dr. Gray explained that the unique academic exercise provides an exceptional opportunity for learners to engage one another in a positive exchange of ideas on various topics impacting human development and growth. “It’s so contribute significantly and offer a spectrum of benefits that extend far beyond the classroom.”
According to Dr. Gray, the Office of the Dean will establish a panel of professors who are to determine the topic, format, venue, number of participants and procedures for the success of the exercise. “The inaugural debate will take place before the end of April 2025″, Dr. Gray noted.
“Our College is on a new trajectory of quality teaching and learning backed by academic excellence and continue progress at the College depends on the effort and action of each student.”
The Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities (formerly Liberia College) has continued to evolve since 1862, when the Government of Liberia, 15 years after independence, authorized the establishment of a college.
ACS College maintains the current faculty of 276; 242(88%) males and 34(12%) females. Out of the total 276 faculty, 88 (32%) represents Part-time while 188(68%) are Full-time faculty. 47(17%) representing faculty with Bachelor’s degrees; 214 (78%) Master’s degrees and 15 (5%) doctorate degree holders, respectively; Four (1%) Professors, Seven (3%) Associate Professors, 19 (7%) Assistant Professors, 78 (28%) Instructors and 168 (61) Teaching Assistant, respectively and for the same period, the college offered 670 sections across the four campuses.
Dr. Gray has disclosed that the ACS College sets on new trajectory of research driven college where thesis and research works are given priority. He expressed appreciation to the Chairpersons, faculty and staffs of the College for their notable professional standards, strong commitment to academic quality and excellence in teaching, research, and service.
The ACS College has a very great prospects to be one of the best Colleges in the world after years of proven gains and visible tangibles in the Republic of Liberia and beyond Liberia’s borders. It’s growing, uplifting and presents opportunity for the people of Liberia in particular and West Africa in general. It’s also full environment with smart students, diligent staffs, dedicated faculty and esteemed professors with years of professional achievements.
The College has continued to confer Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degrees on its graduates every convocation, and is the first tertiary institution in the Republic to confer degree. It is important to note that the Amos C. Sawyer College leads in females’ enrollment and faculty with master’s degree and doctorate across the various Colleges, Professional Schools and Graduate Programs across the entire university.
The college has been successful in integrating research in all the degree granting departments, as one of the major requirements for completion. At Sawyer College, faculties pursue a full range of research interests related to their own academic disciplines, while the college has harmonized the various academic departments’ curricula and introduced standardized research methodology course across the college.
The best thing about College is attractive to students and every day a new learning takes place where students get to explore new areas of knowledge and activities as frequent activities like lecture-demonstration workshops, research, publications, panel discussions and one-on-one with guests and administrators. Above all, the ACS College commitment to excellence and unwavering support is making lasting impact on students ‘lives and future career.
Beyond that, the College is cherished by the community and students and leaving a cherish memories and lessons in the areas of boost earning potential, increase chances of future employment, expand students future opportunities for the job market, preparing students for the future and build new relationships, among others. Without doubts, the College stands out as the leader of tertiary education in Liberia and number one at UL.
Sawyer College has harmonized the various academic departments’ curricula and introduced standardized research methodology course across the College. Students who successfully passed the research course are advanced for Thesis writing as a special requirement for students to fulfill a-year Baccalaureate Degree Requirements to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree. The College has been successful in integrating research in all the degree granting departments, as a major requirement for graduation. At Liberia College, faculties pursue a full range of research interests related to their own academic disciplines.
Bulk of the graduates of the College since its formation in 1862, has made tremendous contributions and sequentially are rendering their invaluable services to the various communities and societies across the international sphere with obvious outputs. Some of the alumni of the College have served as president and vice presidents of the Republic of Liberia, ministers, senators, representatives, Ambassadors, Bishops, Legislators, foreign ministers, deputy ministers, commissioners, heads of public cooperation, standard-bearers of political parties, and religious leaders.
Indeed, others have fruitfully advanced to become Presidents, Vice Presidents, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairpersons of various departments of the University of Liberia. Currently, some of the graduates of the College are making tremendous contributions to the global society, and serving as engineers, pilots, lawyers, scientists, bankers, auditors, professors, managers, politicians, entrepreneurs, judges, military officers, law enforcement officers, policy-makers, media tycoons, and research fellows, along with other professional fields.
The College has a proud history of providing courses that help communities and individuals to grow and flourish, thus focusing on combining practical knowledge with quality learning and teaching. The College remains driven by its commitment to the Liberian society and is dedicated to quality education and human development.
Fortunately, the College has been driven by its commitment to society and provides quality programs and degrees in a flexible and supportive environment. At the college, high premium is placed on research, thesis defense and presentation, essay based final exams to evaluate students writing skills and critical thinking in shaping their learning outcomes and approach to critical issues and subjects.
At the distinguished ACS College, students receive a top-quality education and at the same time faculty and students are equally held in an orbit of high standard. The College remains committed to empowering its students with requisite knowledge and practical skills vital to achieving personal and professional success in the changing local and global communities.
The mission and vision of Amos C. Sawyer College are aligned with those of the University of Liberia. The vision is to transform the way that the world is understood, how knowledge is created, and how problems are approached and solved. The College was founded on an agenda of social responsibility to the Liberian Society and the world to provide educational access to the citizens and other nationals across the globe. The driving forces behind that agenda have become an integral part of the philosophy of the University of Liberia.
Graduates from the College earn degrees in English, French, Demography, Geography, Sociology, Criminology, Social Work, History, Political Science, Communication and Media Studies, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Chinese Language and Culture, as well as Fine and Performing Arts. The non-degree granting units are: Physical Education and Sports, Social Science, ROTC, Liberian Languages and Confucius Institute.
At the college, three certificate and diploma program are in place for capacity building and career development for others whom for particular reason might not want to pursue degree studies. The five programs are: (1) Joe W. Mulbah Center of Journalism and Public Relations (2) UL Center for Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing (3) Certificate in Statistics Program (CEST) and (4) Fine and Performing Arts diplomas and certificates program.
