Dr. Smith, a Bahamian, is the outgoing president of Ramapo College in Mahwah New Jersey, about 30 miles from New York City. He was that institution’s third president, assuming office on July 1, 2001.
Dr Smith is expected to take up his new position in September, after having reportedly signed a contract that includes several perks.
The Guardian first got wind of Dr Higgs’ departure in mid-March when a major COB staff restructuring exercise was announced. However, acting Council Secretary Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, who said it was premature to speak on the subject, dismissed the news at that time.
Directly contacted by The Guardian, Dr. Higgs neither confirmed nor denied the report, saying only that, “Well there is some restructuring going on but I won’t comment on it any further.”
Another source close to the situation said however, “Well the word is out, because somebody told me Higgs didn’t get it and I was shocked. I was hoping that he would have gotten it but I guess most people felt that he could not take the college to university status.”
Psychology, ecology degrees
Dr Smith has an extensive background in academics and social programmes, holding a Bachelors degree in psychology with a minor in ecology from St. John’s University in Minnesota. He also holds a Masters in clinical psychology from Fisk University in Tennessee, a Masters with an emphasis on international development from Harvard University and a doctorate in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University.
Dr Smith has served as a senior psychologist with the Bahamas’ Ministry of Education, in addition to holding several positions at Hampton University, including: Vice president for planning and dean of the Graduate College; vice president for administrative services and director of strategic planning; vice president for student affairs and academic dean; dean of students; assistant professor; and director of the Academic Support and Assessment Centre. He was also the programme coordinator at the Harvard Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.
‘From a distance’
In a recent conversation with the Guardian, chairman of the college council, Franklyn Wilson said he was not certain exactly when the staff restructuring exercise would be completed, but noted that “More was happening at COB than could be perceived from a distance.”
He said that on taking office the council was highly concerned over the problems it found at the institution, adding that the level of collegiality and trust were not at a level to facilitate COB’s transition to university status.
Tensions
Mr Wilson said he was also concerned over other events at the college including the behaviour of the president of the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB), Dr Earle Johnson, a member of the college council who had complained to the media that senior COB staff members were stifling the promotion of a senior lecturer.
Labour tensions at the 30-year old institution reached a boiling point in March when UTEB said the administration showed “disrespect” for its industrial agreement, by : drastically reducing gratuity benefits for contracted faculty members; disregarding overtime pay; refusing to grant faculty members study leave and a total disregard for the process of the appointment of chairpersons for the various schools.
By MINDELL SMALL,Guardian Staff Reporter
