Monrovia, Liberia: The University of Liberia (UL) has taken decisive disciplinary action following the release of a long-awaited report investigating academic fraud, including the highly publicized “Dorr Cooper incident.” In a formal statement on Monday, UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan confirmed that eight employees have been dismissed, one suspended through 2025, and two cleared of involvement after a thorough four-month investigation into coordinated academic misconduct.

The probe, led by a Special Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud, uncovered “definitive” evidence of collusion among staff from multiple departments, including the Department of Public Administration (PADM), the Office of Enrollment Services (OES), and the Office of Information Technology (OIT). President Maparyan described the findings as a serious breach of academic integrity.

“Academic fraud is the antithesis of academic integrity and the enemy of academic excellence,” Dr. Maparyan stated. “On my watch, the University of Liberia will be restored to academic integrity and academic excellence.”

Among the report’s most prominent cases was the “Dorr Cooper incident,” which reportedly involved falsification of academic records. Although details remain limited due to privacy considerations, the case helped catalyze broader scrutiny into UL’s academic systems.

In March of this year, the University of Liberia declared Commerce Inspector General Dorr Cooper persona non grata, effectively banning him from all university activities after an internal investigation found him guilty of academic fraud.

The decision followed a comprehensive probe by a Special Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud, which concluded that Cooper had never been officially enrolled at the institution. According to the committee’s findings, Cooper allegedly paid $10,000 to several university staff members in exchange for a fraudulent undergraduate degree in Public Administration.

The report also revealed that Cooper went as far as impersonating a deceased student to illegally obtain academic credentials—a revelation that has drawn widespread condemnation and reinforced calls for institutional reform at UL.

As the result of the situation, the UL President with immediate effect has announced several institutional reforms aimed at preventing future misconduct.

The measures include the establishment of a Special Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud which will now serve permanently as the Committee to Investigate Academic Fraud (CIAF).

The others are the planned launch of a UL Whistle-blower Platform (ULWP) to enable anonymous or confidential reporting of suspected academic fraud by students, faculty, staff, and alumni. A complete overhaul of the Office of Enrollment Services (OES) will be implemented.

Madam Maparyan also announced the reformation of policies for employees and students related to academic integrity supported by awareness and training programs.

“These measures are not just corrective—they are transformative,” Dr. Maparyan emphasized. “Impunity will not be an option. From this day forward, the University of Liberia is instituting a zero-tolerance policy for academic fraud.”

The announcement marks a turning point for Liberia’s flagship public university as it seeks to strengthen its credibility and academic standards in the face of public scrutiny. The administration’s swift action signals a renewed commitment to transparency and accountability within the country’s higher education sector.