MONROVIA — Students at the state-run University of Liberia may face further delays in returning to regular academic activities as the institution undertakes extensive renovation, modernization and beautification works across its campuses, with completion targeted for March 31, 2027.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan said the scale of the ongoing construction and rehabilitation projects makes it difficult to determine when normal academic activities can fully resume.
Speaking at a news conference at the university’s Capitol Hill campus in Monrovia, Dr. Maparyan said the administration was exploring alternative arrangements, including online classes supplemented by limited in-person instruction, while the renovation works continue.
However, the proposed arrangements may not accommodate all courses, potentially leaving some students waiting longer for the full resumption of regular academic activities.
She also disclosed that negotiations were ongoing with faculty and staff representatives to address outstanding issues affecting the university.
Online Classes Under Consideration
As the university works to address the disruptions, the proposed return to online learning is expected to provide a temporary avenue for some students to continue their studies.
Dr. Maparyan said the administration was considering a combination of virtual instruction and selected face-to-face classes during the interim period.
The arrangement, however, is not expected to cover every course, given the practical and logistical requirements of certain academic programs.
The administration has not established a definitive date for the full resumption of regular classes, leaving students uncertain about when normal academic activities will return.
December Graduation in Doubt
The ongoing renovation works have also cast doubt on the university’s anticipated December graduation ceremony.
Dr. Maparyan said holding the commencement ceremony as planned was unlikely, although the administration was working to ensure that students who have fulfilled all academic requirements would not be unnecessarily disadvantaged.
She said the university was considering issuing diplomas to eligible graduates outside the formal commencement ceremony, allowing them to pursue employment and other opportunities without waiting for the event to be rescheduled.
“By this, eligible graduates will have the opportunity to participate in the university’s official commencement ceremony when it is eventually held,” she said in response to a question.
The proposed arrangement is intended to separate the completion of students’ academic requirements from the timing of the university’s official graduation ceremony.
However, the administration has yet to announce a definitive date for the commencement ceremony.
A “Generational Transformation”
Despite the disruption, Dr. Maparyan described the ongoing Renovation, Modernization and Beautification (RMB) initiative as a major investment in the future of Liberia’s flagship public university.
The US$6.35 million initiative, spearheaded by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., who serves as the university’s Visitor and is an alumnus, is being implemented under the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The initiative aligns with the agenda’s emphasis on education and the administration’s stated ambition of positioning the University of Liberia among Africa’s top 300 universities.
Dr. Maparyan characterized the project as a generational undertaking intended to restore the university’s infrastructure, improve its learning environment and bring its facilities closer to contemporary international standards.
She said the initiative extends beyond cosmetic improvements, encompassing structural rehabilitation, upgraded academic facilities, accessibility, digital infrastructure and environmental sustainability.
What the RMB Initiative Entails
Dr. Maparyan explained that the program rests on three pillars: renovation, modernization and beautification.
Renovation involves rehabilitating existing structures that remain safe and functional while preserving their historical significance. The work also includes completing unfinished buildings, particularly at the Fendall campus, to expand the university’s available academic and administrative space.
Modernization focuses on upgrading facilities to meet current standards for safety, functionality and design. Planned improvements include electrical systems to support digitally enabled education, modern laboratories, disability access through universal design, and sustainable infrastructure incorporating renewable energy systems.
Beautification involves improving the overall appearance and conditions of the campuses through debris removal, landscaping, coordinated décor, mold remediation, climate control and better sanitation.
According to Dr. Maparyan, these interventions are intended to create a healthier and more conducive environment for teaching, learning and research while improving students’ well-being and academic performance.
Capitol Hill Set for a New Look
The UL president said the new designs were developed by Liberian architect Garmondyu Zogar of Forma Nova, building on years of technical drawings and assessments conducted by the Ministry of Public Works.
She said the designs would transform key university facilities while preserving their significance to the institution’s history.
Among the planned improvements is the reconstruction of the main entrance at the Capitol Hill campus into what she described as a more imposing, high-security entrance, alongside the construction of a new perimeter fence.
“Zogar has added a ‘wow factor’ to UL’s storied structures. As we speak, the main entrance of Capitol Hill Campus is being refashioned into a majestic new high-security entrance gate and an elegant new perimeter fence,” Dr. Maparyan said.
She added that the improvements were intended to project a renewed institutional identity, signaling that the university was moving toward a new phase of development.
Four Campuses Undergoing Rehabilitation
Dr. Maparyan said renovation work was underway on three buildings at the Capitol Hill campus: the Graduate School, the Business College, and the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and its annex.
The Academic Building at the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine campus in Congo Town is also undergoing renovation.
She identified Delta Architectural and Construction Company as the contractor implementing the projects currently underway.
Contractors have also been approved for projects at the Preclinical Campus in Fendall, the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College in Grand Cape Mount County, and the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at Capitol Hill.
The administration expects all projects to be completed by March 31, 2027.
According to Dr. Maparyan, implementation is being overseen by a technical working group involving the University of Liberia and the Ministry of Public Works, alongside the university’s Project Management Team.
The team is led by Engineer Mencer T. Powoe, with Deputy Engineer James M. Clemons. Male and female civil and electrical engineering students from UL are also participating as interns.
In addition to the major construction projects, the university is undertaking smaller but urgent repairs across all four campuses.
These include repairs to roofs, bathrooms and lighting systems, with particular attention to the Fendall campus.
Dr. Maparyan said the quick-impact interventions were being coordinated by Vice President for Administration Sehmah R. Jallah and Plant Operations Director Jeff Walker.
Balancing Construction With Academic Continuity
The renovation initiative presents the university with a challenge: improving its infrastructure while minimizing disruptions to students whose academic progress depends on the availability of classrooms, laboratories and other facilities.
Although the administration is exploring online instruction and alternative arrangements for eligible graduates, the extent to which these measures will sustain academic activities remains uncertain.
For students awaiting the resumption of regular classes, the March 31, 2027, construction deadline provides a target for the completion of the works, but it does not, by itself, establish a date for the full reopening of the university.
The administration’s immediate task is therefore twofold: completing the infrastructure projects and establishing workable arrangements to ensure that students can continue their education and obtain their academic qualifications without unnecessary delays.