In a rapid and unexpected turn of events, Morris Brown College reinstated its president just days after terminating him, prompting questions about how the decision was made and why it was undone.
According to a letter written by the college, “After careful review, the Board determined that Dr. James’ separation from the College did not comply with the procedural and contractual requirements outlined in his employment agreement.”
The Board of Trustees did not specify which procedural steps were bypassed in the termination process of James.
Dr. James has served as President of Morris Brown College for seven years, leading the institution through a reaccreditation period. James is also responsible for igniting the campaigns “The Resurgence” and “The Hard Reset.”
The leadership changes also come as the College approaches its accreditation reaffirmation review in the coming weeks.
The Board of Trustees also acknowledged that “this period has been disruptive and painful” for members of the community.
Reactions from the community
The rapid reversal and abrupt changes have raised questions about internal governance at the college. In a Facebook post following his termination, James received significant engagement within the community, receiving 6.1k reactions, 2.1k comments, and 1.1k shares. While many comments were in favor of James, not all reactions have been supportive.
One comment said, “I’m in disbelief. This seems counterintuitive. I hope that the board can provide concrete reasoning as to why this is occurring, and pray that the overall impact on the school and the student body’s success is not negative.”
While another stated, “Looking forward to hearing from the Board to get the other side of the story.”
On the other hand, a former board member is calling for his removal as President. In an interview with WSBTV, Jeffery Miller voted him in as president seven years ago.
“I still stand by my vote that he was the right person for that time. Now, it’s a different story,” Miller said.
So, what’s next?
James will return to his role as president. His contract is set to run through 2029.
The Board of Trustees said it is “committed to ensuring that appropriate processes exist for concerns to be raised safely, reviewed fairly, and addressed responsibly.”
