Denmark Tech president suspended
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff Writer Tuesday, July 14, 20094 comment(s) | Default | Large
Denmark Technical College President Dr. John Waddell has been suspended without pay in the wake of an audit of the college. The audit’s findings have been turned over to the State Law Enforcement Division.
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Walter Tobin Jr. will take over as acting president.
Denmark Tech Area Commission Chairman James Hayes said a State Board of Technical and Comprehensive Education audit was requested in June because, “We as commissioners were a little concerned about what we saw and heard during our routine meetings.”
State board spokesperson Kelly Steinhilper said, “We found some administrative irregularities.”
Steinhilper said her agency conducts audits frequently. But she says this is the first time in recent memory that a SBTCE audit was turned over to SLED.
Hayes said the commission reviewed the audit yesterday and decided to suspend Waddell, who has been president since 2007.
“We thought it was very appropriate to relieve him of his duties as this investigation goes forward,” Hayes said.
A message left for Waddell wasn’t immediately returned.
Neither Hayes nor Steinhilper would comment on what the audit actually revealed, citing a possible SLED investigation.
Hayes did speak highly of Tobin.
“We know of his work and what’s he done in the past. He’s qualified. He’s capable and he’s willing to help us out,” he said.
S.C. Technical College System President Dr. Barry W. Russell said, “Our priority is to ensure continued educational opportunities for the students of Denmark Technical College along with maintaining the integrity of the system.
“We will work with Dr. Walt Tobin Jr., acting president of Denmark Technical College, and the Area Commission to make certain this transition is as seamless as possible.”
Waddell was tapped by commission in February 2007 to replace the retiring Dr. Joann R.G. Boyd-Scotland, who led the college for 13 years.
He was previously the president of Allen University in Columbia. In addition, Waddell was appointed to the White House Board of Advisors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 2002.
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.
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Chris' Cloths wrote on Jul 14, 2009 7:37 PM:
rump wrote on Jul 14, 2009 1:31 PM:
bosshogg wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:19 PM:
rump wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:19 AM: