MONROVIA – The Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Liberia, Associate Prof. Dr. Josephus Gbala-hinnih Moses Gray, hosted an engaging interactive session with student leaderships from various departments of the college on Friday. The event, held from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Thelma E. Duncan Sawyer Faculty Lounge in Fendall, provided a platform for open communication and information sharing between the dean and the students.
The session aimed to strengthen relationships within the academic community and provide student leaders the opportunity to voice their concerns, challenges, and issues impacting their learning experience at the university. Several students spoke out against the persistent violence that has plagued the university, urging Dean Gray to help unite the student leaderships across departments to form a unified ACS College Student Association. This collective body would act as the voice of the entire student population in the college, they suggested.
During the meeting, students presented their concerns and proposed suggestions for resolving the issues that affect their academic environment. Dr. Gray, in his brief remarks, shared key insights into the college’s current status, presenting data on full-time and part-time faculty members, as well as the number of degree holders across different levels, including doctorate, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees. He also highlighted the college’s academic collaborations and partnerships with sister institutions around the world, noting the progress made in sending 29 faculty and staff members abroad for advanced studies.
Dr. Gray praised the student leadership for the meeting and assured them that their concerns would be addressed as the administration continues to work toward promoting students’ success. He urged the students to collaborate with their counterparts from other colleges to support the ACS College’s bid for the presidency of the 105th Graduating Class, while also encouraging them to engage in thesis defenses, a major requirement for graduation.
In addressing the persistent student protests at the university, Dr. Gray expressed concern about the negative impact on the institution’s image, particularly in international circles. He challenged the students at ACS College to change the narrative by leading a campaign that promotes peaceful conflict resolution and discourages violent protests. He stressed the importance of cooperation among all students to create an academic environment conducive to quality learning, teaching, and research.
The students also requested Dr. Gray to introduce extracurricular activities, such as debates among student leaderships, and to facilitate regular interactions between the student body and the academic team of the college. In response, Dr. Gray affirmed his commitment to engaging with the students and emphasized that his office was always open to discussions.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with students expressing their appreciation for Dr. Gray’s leadership and his vision for the future of the college. They acknowledged the strides made in the areas of capacity building and career development and expressed optimism about the new trajectory the college is on under his guidance.
