UL Gears Up for Centennial Celebration

Authority of the University of Liberia says the institution has made tremendous strive in enhancing student’s education growth since 1866.

According to the University of Liberia, the progress made since its inception as a college cannot be overly emphasized and must be acknowledged by the institution’s authority on ground.

UL Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. William Ezra Allen told newsmen at his Fendall office recently that strives made since its graduation in 1866 to 2019 will be recognized through a centennial celebration.

In view of this, UL said it will celebrate a centennial graduation in December, 2019 to mark the 100th commencement ceremonies since its establishment as Liberia College.

“The college was founded in 1862 and began classes in 1863. During the 1866 graduation, the college put out one student James Henry Elvans compared to 2018, we put out 3,000 students, you can see how far we have come since 1966,” Dr. Allen narrated.

Dr. Allen said the centennial graduation is expected to be celebrated under the theme, “Memory Preservation and the way forward.”

Activities marking the celebration were launched on Monday, March 11, 2019 by UL President Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks at the University of Liberia auditorium on Capitol Hill and will be held on a monthly basis thereafter.

Dr. Allen noted that during the launch, students of the University of Liberia reenacted (dramatized) the 1866 graduation of the university that put out only one student.

At the same time, special presentations are expected to be made in April and May of this year as part of activities leading to the December Centennial Graduation Commemoration.

Expected to celebrate its 100th graduation, Dr. Allen noted that UL is still faced with the challenge of owning its own printing press, which ‘stalls work’ at the institution.

“There are several projects, and one is a printing press. University of Liberia wants to establish a printing press. Our diplomats and documents are printed outside the university campus,” Dr. Allen asserted.

“We don’t have the equipment and we believe that a printing press will solve most of those problems, so we want a printing press.”

Aside from printing press, Dr. Allen has recognized the need to improve infrastructure development at the university that will commensurate with the growing student’s populace.

“We are registering students for our entrance exam and the number I saw is 4,000 plus and with two examination a year, we will need more classrooms, we will need more faculty, more desk and buses to transport students,” he maintained.

However, reviewing these situations according to Dr. Allen is highly important to UL, adding that those who are to pass the exam need to be accommodated.

Already according to him, faculty members are being trained in different capacities, while a mobile lab and preclinical dormitory have being dedicated as part of activities leading to strengthening the institution.

He furthered revealed that the University of Liberia is looking at reviewing circumstances leading to running a trimester in competing with top universities around the world in the next seven year.

“While we are celebrating, we realize that there are areas we need to strengthened and we will be strengthened as we go about. As it stands now, we have two of our students in the United States doing Masters in some branches of Computer program while another is a lady doing Master in Mining Engineering at South Dakota University and five other students studying in Africa.” Dr. Allen averred.

Meanwhile, Dr. Allen wants faculty members and students join the University of Liberia in celebrating its centennial graduation.