MONROVIA – The University of Liberia (UL) Board of Trustees’ Investigative Committee, chaired by Rep. Thomas Romeo Quioh, has formally declared Student Izetta Jones Howe, ID 107921, as the official and undisputed Dux of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Class of 2024/25.
The announcement comes after a comprehensive investigation into a dispute surrounding the selection of the Valedictorian of Liberia’s premier law school. The Committee’s findings revealed discrepancies in grade calculations and lapses in adherence to University policies.
The report, submitted by the Investigative Committee, indicated that both the Office of Enrollment Services (OES) and Law School candidates failed to follow the University-approved Student Handbook, resulting in inaccurate computation of students’ grade-point averages.
Additionally, the Committee noted that the Law School had not consistently utilized the University’s ePortal system for grade entry and academic record management. The ePortal lacked sufficient data to verify or generate official academic records for students graduating with honors.
Using the officially published University Student Handbook and reviewing all relevant academic records, the Committee recalculated the grade-point averages of all candidates. The process confirmed that Izetta Jones Howe achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.6471, earning the distinction of Magna Cum Laude.
The Committee emphasized that Howe’s recognition as Dux reflects strict adherence to merit-based standards, ensuring fairness and procedural integrity within the law school. The student’s total-grade points, cumulative GPA, and total credits completed were documented in the Committee’s official tables.
Beyond resolving the Dux dispute, the Committee issued a series of forward-looking recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional accountability and transparency. These measures are intended to uphold the credibility of the University’s academic processes.
The report recommends that OES staff enhance their data management skills, and that all incoming personnel be equipped with the necessary competencies to prevent similar issues in the future.
Furthermore, the Committee instructed that all graduate and professional schools must adhere to the UL Academic Calendar and utilize the ePortal for submitting grades and managing academic records, ensuring that sufficient data exists to verify student information.
The report also calls for the comprehensive dissemination of candidate admission lists across all academic programs to the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of the President, the Center for Testing and Evaluation, and relevant departments. This measure ensures department heads are aware of the number of incoming students.
The Committee stressed that the grading framework approved by the Faculty Senate on January 18, 2022, should be incorporated into the Student Handbook, published on the ePortal, and made accessible to all students to guarantee clarity and transparency.
Additionally, the report mandates that all entrance, placement, and aptitude exams for Graduate and Professional Schools be conducted by the University of Liberia Center for Testing and Evaluation. This approach prevents conflicts of interest and ensures equal opportunity for all candidates.
All admissions procedures for both undergraduate and graduate programs are now directed to be handled centrally by the OES, guaranteeing proper record-keeping, transparency, and organized management of student admissions.
The Committee’s report was submitted and endorsed by its members, including Hon. Thomas Romeo Quioh as Chair, Ms. Nyamah Dunbar as Co-Chair, Dr. Jaso M. Jallah, Mr. Richard Falla, and Mr. Nathaniel Kevin, ensuring institutional authority and credibility in the final determination of the law school’s Valedictorian.
