Cooper is reinstated at SC State

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Cooper is reinstated at SC State

By Glenn Burkins – July 1, 2010

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Trustees at SC State University on Thursday reversed themselves and voted to reinstate George E. Cooper as school president.

Just over two weeks ago, trustees at the Orangeburg, S.C., school voted 7 to 4 not to renew Cooper’s contract. But with the arrival on Thursday of two new board members – Anderson, S.C., attorney Robert L. Waldrep Jr. and alumna Patricia Lott -- the board’s previous decision to remove Cooper was reversed by an 8 to 5 vote.

The board also voted to revoke the appointment of Judge Merl Code as interim president.

In a statement following the vote, Cooper thanked the board for its “vote of confidence.”

“As President, I do not take this vote lightly as we reaffirm our mission as a land grant university and meet our highest goal--the educational needs of our students, who choose to attend SC State University,” he said.

(Cooper’s complete statement is printed below.)

Cooper has been SC State’s president for nearly two years. Trustees fired his predecessor, Andrew Hugine, in December 2007, citing “management problems.”

During the new fiscal year, Cooper will focus on “increasing student enrollment, maintaining a rapport with state government, and enhancing the overall mission and vision of the University,” the school said in an email sent to reporters and others.

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REMARKS PRESENTED ON JULY 1, 2010
By President George E. Cooper
Reaffirmation as President of SC State University

Good Morning!

Thank you Chairman Pinson.

I would like to thank Chairman Pinson and the members of the SC State University Board of Trustees who recently took a vote of confidence which allows me to continue as President of this great university. As President, I do not take this vote lightly as we reaffirm our mission as a land grant university and meet our highest goal --the educational needs of our students, who choose to attend SC State University.

At SC State University “Students are First.”I want you to know that I will work with the Board to stay focused on priorities and open lines of communication that will improve our work as a Board and Administration. This is even more critical as we focus on the needs of this institution, particularly in these tough economic times. Our mission is even more critical as we focus on priority issues such as student access, success and completion.

I would also like to thank the alumni, students, faculty, parents and other stakeholders throughout the country for your prayers for the university and words of encouragement over the past two weeks. You have let me know how much you value our history and tradition and the bright future that awaits us as a partner in the diverse system of higher education in South Carolina.

I would like to publically acknowledge my wife Diane, our daughters and our families for their unwavering love and support for me and their commitment to this university.

I know that these are emotional times for everyone, but know that as we come together to face challenges, we open new opportunities for SC State University. I am committed to meeting these challenges as President.

Our critical needs now are to stabilize our budget as we seek increased revenue streams and find ways to increase fund-raising from alumni and the public and private sectors. It is critical that we build upon traditional partners and identify new partners willing to invest in our university. As a State assisted university, we must also cultivate stronger relationships with the State Legislature in reaffirming our importance in developing educational, social and economic capital through our business enterprise.

It will take renewed efforts by the Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty, Alumni, friends and me to open doors that allow us to gain additional and sustained funding.

As president I will operate in a transparent manner. I will make every effort to work with the Chairman, full Board of Trustees and the university community to move forward in making decisions that allow the university to operate in an effective and efficient manner - to turn challenges into opportunities.

Thank you.