Ousted South Carolina State University President Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr. says he will remain dedicated to his alma mater despite Tuesday's vote by trustees to not renew his contract.
"I love South Carolina State University, my alma mater. Nothing that has happened will change my love and support for SCSU," Hugine said Wednesday.
Calling Tuesday a dark day in the life of S.C. State, Hugine said the board's action continues the revolving door of presidents coming in and out of the university, a practice which the university must stop in order to continue its unprecedented growth.
University trustees voted seven to three during a telephone conference call Tuesday to not renew Hugine's contract, which expires in June 2008. They also decided to immediately place Hugine on administrative leave, with his last day scheduled to be Jan. 4, 2008.
Board Chairman Maurice Washington said the board's action was not the result of a witch hunt but was based on Hugine's performance on various audits. Washington also said that fellow board members were threatened that if they voted a certain way, their employers would be contacted and they would eventually be replaced as trustees.
Washington would not say who exactly threatened the trustees, but said the board felt intense pressure from Hugine supporters, causing them to move forward with his removal on Tuesday.
Both Hugine and Washington acknowledged the existence of an agreement which outlined the terms of Hugine's departure. Hugine was to announce his resignation by Dec. 15. In return, the board was to allow Hugine to remain for the duration of his contract.
Hugine described it as an amicable way for both parties to move forward.
During last Thursday's board meeting, alumni demanded trustees respond to rumors that Hugine was leaving. Washington said the board did not respond to questions to honor the agreement with Hugine.
Washington said neither party was allowed to mention the speculation regarding Hugine's presidency under the terms of the agreement.
Washington contends that the board honored the agreement by not addressing the rumors, which he said started because at least one trustee leaked executive session discussions about ousting Hugine. Washington said that leak started an underground movement to save Hugine's job.
Washington said that movement placed the board under assault and violated the spirit of the agreement, which prompted the board to go forward with the vote to not renew Hugine's contract.
The board said it did not renew Hugine's contract based on his most recent performance evaluation, as well as an academic review of S.C. State by the Education Commission of the States.
A press release from S.C. State issued Tuesday night said both documents are public record and could be obtained by contacting the Board of Trustees' office on campus. On Wednesday, however, the university refused to release Hugine's evaluation to The Times and Democrat, saying officials are not sure if it is a matter of public record.
The T&D did obtain a copy of the academic review by the Education Commission of the States dated May 29, 2007. Findings of the report include:
* Enrollment increases resulted in a greater number of students that were not prepared for the course work.
* Freshman retention rates began to decline.
* S.C. State had more students transfer out of the university.
* Four programs had provisional status because they did not meet state enrollment and completion standards.
* Nineteen of the 53 programs reviewed by the S.C. Commission on Higher Education did not meet state enrollment or completion standards for the period between fall 2000 and fall 2005.
Hugine's tenure began in 2003 and the report does not directly refer to him throughout the document's 51 pages.
Hugine said he does not believe the reasons given for his removal are valid.
He said that the board should look at the facts and examine the progress S.C. State has made during his tenure.
In 2003, the school had a $4.4 million deficit that has since turned into a $2 million surplus, Hugine said. He also said the number of accredited programs has increased by over 20 percent, construction has flourished on campus, enrollment is at an all-time high and the university received international recognition by hosting a Democratic presidential debate on April 26.
Washington said these achievements cannot be attributed to just one person, but are the result of a collective effort by the entire university, including the board of trustees.
He said that Hugine and his administration failed to adequately prepare an assessment report on the quality of the university's academic programs in 2005.
"They basically came back with nothing. It missed the mark by a long shot," Washington said. He said Hugine first made the presentation regarding the assessment of academic programs verbally and with a single-page report.
Washington said the second attempt to prepare an assessment report saw the board become more proactive by hiring outside counsel to monitor the process. He said the process also included staff, faculty, alumni and students.
The board chairman also addressed an allegation that he spoke with several state lawmakers and S.C. State National Alumni President Patricia Lott about garnering their support to oust Hugine on Nov. 6.
"That is absolutely not true and ludicrous," he said.
He said that he was asked by some members of the General Assembly to meet at a church in Bowman and they asked him to respond to the rumors. Washington said he responded to their questions as honestly as possible without breaking the confidential nature of what was discussed in the board's executive sessions.
Responding to rumors that Washington wanted Hugine out so he could assume the presidency, he said those rumors are false and were put out there to discredit the board.
"I'm quite content with my profession and being a member of the board. It never crossed my mind," Washington said.
He said that Hugine will be paid while under administrative leave until his scheduled departure from the presidency on Jan. 4, 2008. The board is meeting today to possibly name an interim president. Currently, Senior Vice President for Fiscal Affairs John Smalls is overseeing the duties of the president.
Hugine said he regrets not being able to preside over Saturday's commencement exercises. Many of the graduating students first came to the university when he became president.
"I was looking forward to granting them degrees and congratulating them for a job well done," he said.
As for the future, Hugine says he has not had time to consider any other employment.
"As of yesterday, I was president," he said. Hugine said he loves the field of education and helping young people, but will keep his options open.
On Wednesday, state Rep. Jerry Govan prefiled two bills for consideration by the General Assembly regarding college board members. Govan is an S.C. State alumnus and Hugine supporter.
The first bill would require public college trustees to wait four years after they leave a board before taking a job with the institutions they serve.
The other bill, which would require voter approval, would allow people from outside the state to serve on the boards of public colleges and universities.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.