(CMR) Cayman Marl Road can now confirm that University College of the Cayman Island's President, Roy Bodden, will be departing from the university on 9 October when his contract ends.
A staff meeting was held this evening at 3:00 pm where he confirmed his final departure date. This comes after it was announced in mid November 2017 that he would be departing after serving for 10 years in the post.
The road to finding a replacement for Bodden has already been fraught with controversy after it was discovered that a finalist who had allegedly received an offer from the university later had it withdrawn due to an online sexting scandal. Since then there have been no official statements on the recruitment process. However, in light of today's announcement some suspect that UCCI Board of Governors may be making an announcement of their own soon regarding the presidency.
Prior to Bodden, UCCI employed Hassan Syed as President. Syed has since been disgraced and sent to jail for eight years after misappropriating more than $700,000 for his own personal use from the school. The school was most recently rocked by another scandal when it saw a head of department arrested and jailed in relation to child pornography matters.
Last year Board Chairman, Lemuel Hurlston, stated that the change was now necessary and:
“We need a candidate that's going to be able to take the university to the next level.”
The university's board has stated in an email to the Compass that despite this announcement being made during a staff meeting he will be staying on board until December:
“The search for a new President is still ongoing and President Bodden’s contract does not end until Dec. 31 2018. No transition details can be provided until such time as the Board is able to secure an agreement with a new President,”
His contract began in October 2009 and this now leaves staff confused by the conflicting information.
She also stated that that “the search will continue in 2019 if necessary and the Board has already taken initial steps to ensure that there is no disruption to the leadership of the University if the search has to be extended.”
In June, Livingston Smith was appointed to be the college’s first vice president and provost.
Board of Governors Chairman Anthony Ritch said at the time that the new position would allow the president to focus beyond the campus boundaries, such as fundraising cooperative programs with other universities, and accreditation.
At the time, Mr. Ritch also said at the time that he expects the new president to be announced by the beginning of the fall semester.
Bodden is a former politician, author and educator where he began his teaching career at George Town Primary. He had been quoted as previously saying his passion is as a educator and not politics and he had no intent to ever return to that political landscape.
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