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Daytona Beach, FL – Bethune-Cookman University’s President has some additional job security.
Dr. Edison O. Jackson’s contract was extended by 2 years during a meeting of the BCU Board of Trustees earlier this month.
He’s now under contract until June 2018, according to an email sent to the media on Friday by BCU Board of Trustees Chairman Joe Petrock.
“President Jackson will continue to lead this great institution and further progress its status as one of the top research institutions in the nation,” Petrock added. “President Jackson has made some undeniable strides since taking office in 2013.”
Petrock credited Jackson with pushing BCU’s endowment to over $54 million, thanks largely to what he called “record high participation” from donors.
“The campus is transforming with several new construction and renovation projects, including the College of Liberal Arts Building and new state-of-the-art residence halls,” Petrock stated. “While many [schools] are losing students, BCU is maintaining healthy enrollment with a total of 3,831 students currently enrolled.”
BCU has expanded its academic programs since Jackson officially took over in March 2013, now offering more than 40 degrees and programs while earning the State of Florida’s first certification from the United States Distance Learning Association.
The school has seen its stature rise compared to other historically black colleges and universities since Jackson stepped into office, with College Choice ranking BCU #3 for students seeking an HBCU experience and the White House Initiative on HBCU’s ranking BCU #10 for applicants in the nation.
BCU also jumped up 8 spots to #23 in the latest US News and World Report rankings for best HBCU’s.
This move comes after over 800 BCU alums signed a Change.org petition criticizing the school for giving Florida Governor Rick Scott a leadership award. Scott accepted that award in person last Wednesday during a gala at Daytona Beach’s Ocean Center that raised over $2 million dollars for the university.
Some of those who signed the petition – including its organizer – protested in person during the event, arguing that the Republican hasn’t done much for the African-American community since coming to office.
BCU officials say Scott was instrumental in the school getting over $15 million dollars in the past 3 years.
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Dr. Edison Jackson (photo courtesy BCU)
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.
