We the undersigned are concerned as alumni and friends of Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, regarding the recent upheaval within the Board of Trustees and the resignation of Dr. Akande.
We are signing in support of the members of the Board who have resigned or submitted a call for answers regarding the actions in this situation.
Our love for our alma mater is great. We are greatly concerned that the actions of the Board, especially the chairman, have negatively impacted not only the image of the college but also the recovery and stability at a critical juncture in Westminster's history. The future of small institutions of higher learning is very much at a crossroads. The optics of this situation have alienated alumni and friends of Westminster. Westminster cannot survive the alienation of her alumni. This is a grave and critical matter.
This is the time to put petty ego and self interest aside for the benefit and security of Westminster. The board is not a gathering of old friends who do not answer to others. Your duty is to Westminster and her students and alumni.
Specifically:
We want the issue raised regarding the personal conflict between the chairman and President Akande, as well a the glaringly questionable request of the chairman to use his position to give personal favors to his associates instead of an alumni or representative of Westminster at the Cardinals game this previous season.
Also, we request full clarity regarding the differences if any between the contract of prior Presidents and President Akande.
We demand a full and explicit explanation of the outlined procedures that are involved in due process of removing a Westminster president under the Board's governance.
What were the reasons stated for the call to remove President Akande? What metrics were used to examine his performance? What other factors impacted those metrics?
We expect full transparency in this event and demand the resignation of the chairman if he is not willing to be transparent and address our concerns.
Updates
August 22, 2017
I have been hearing from alumni across the country who are just as frustrated by the board's silence as I am. Please email your local representative on the Board of Trustees today to demand they answer for the chairman's conduct. We are currently organizing a meeting to present these concerns directly to the leadership team.
August 22, 2017
The momentum behind this call for transparency confirms that the alumni community refuses to be ignored. Direct your energy now by emailing your local board representative to demand the full audit mentioned in our petition.
16 Comments
As a donor and alumni I am sick of the secrets. We deserve to know why he was forced out and the board better start talking soon.
The Board of Goverance must be diligent to provide full transparency to the alumni, students, Dr. Akande, and the community. The resignation of the chairman must be considered.
Thank you for doing this. From what I'd read in the Fulton Sun about President Akande, I'd been very impressed by him & his leadership & I'd hoped to Meet him.
Westminster Class of '17. Worked closely with Dr. Akande and do not appreciate the lack of transparency and disrespect shown by the Board towards Akande and Alumni.
Class of 2010. I don't want to see my institution downgraded. While we all support Dr. Perry and are happy for her, the community deserves to be informed as to how this happened.
Concerned alumna with a niece currently attending Westmo. Transparency please.
Class of '14
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We the undersigned are concerned as alumni and friends of Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, regarding the recent upheaval within the Board of Trustees and the resignation of Dr. Akande.
We are signing in support of the members of the Board who have resigned or submitted a call for answers regarding the actions in this situation.
Our love for our alma mater is great. We are greatly concerned that the actions of the Board, especially the chairman, have negatively impacted not only the image of the college but also the recovery and stability at a critical juncture in Westminster's history. The future of small institutions of higher learning is very much at a crossroads. The optics of this situation have alienated alumni and friends of Westminster. Westminster cannot survive the alienation of her alumni. This is a grave and critical matter.
This is the time to put petty ego and self interest aside for the benefit and security of Westminster. The board is not a gathering of old friends who do not answer to others. Your duty is to Westminster and her students and alumni.
Specifically:
We want the issue raised regarding the personal conflict between the chairman and President Akande, as well a the glaringly questionable request of the chairman to use his position to give personal favors to his associates instead of an alumni or representative of Westminster at the Cardinals game this previous season.
Also, we request full clarity regarding the differences if any between the contract of prior Presidents and President Akande.
We demand a full and explicit explanation of the outlined procedures that are involved in due process of removing a Westminster president under the Board's governance.
What were the reasons stated for the call to remove President Akande? What metrics were used to examine his performance? What other factors impacted those metrics?
We expect full transparency in this event and demand the resignation of the chairman if he is not willing to be transparent and address our concerns.
Updates
August 22, 2017
I have been hearing from alumni across the country who are just as frustrated by the board's silence as I am. Please email your local representative on the Board of Trustees today to demand they answer for the chairman's conduct. We are currently organizing a meeting to present these concerns directly to the leadership team.
August 22, 2017
The momentum behind this call for transparency confirms that the alumni community refuses to be ignored. Direct your energy now by emailing your local board representative to demand the full audit mentioned in our petition.
16 Comments
Class of 98. This is embarrassing for the college. Board needs to step down if they cant be honest with us.
As a donor and alumni I am sick of the secrets. We deserve to know why he was forced out and the board better start talking soon.
The Board of Goverance must be diligent to provide full transparency to the alumni, students, Dr. Akande, and the community. The resignation of the chairman must be considered.
Thank you for doing this. From what I'd read in the Fulton Sun about President Akande, I'd been very impressed by him & his leadership & I'd hoped to Meet him.
Westminster Class of '17. Worked closely with Dr. Akande and do not appreciate the lack of transparency and disrespect shown by the Board towards Akande and Alumni.
Class of 2010. I don't want to see my institution downgraded. While we all support Dr. Perry and are happy for her, the community deserves to be informed as to how this happened.
Concerned alumna with a niece currently attending Westmo. Transparency please.
Class of '14
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Class of 98. This is embarrassing for the college. Board needs to step down if they cant be honest with us.