Cox College board deliberated for months before firing president

But the resignations, which included Academic Dean Veronica Conners, came after eight months of careful investigation and analysis, according to Dona Elkins, chairwoman of the college’s board of trustees.

“It was a very arduous process,” Elkins said.

A routine external audit raised questions in December about the college’s financial management. That led its 15-member board to launch an internal audit and form three committees to review the findings.

The internal audit wrapped up in April, but questions remained. Examination continued through August, concluding when the board decided unanimously that Weekes and Conners had to go.

Elkins wouldn’t release specifics of the audits, saying only that the board found fault with the “general procedural picture.”

(Click here to read the memorandum addressing changes in leadership that the Cox College Board of Trustees sent to the school’s faculty, staff and students.)

Weekes became Cox College president in 2001. Under her guidance, enrollment increased to 609 students from 235 students, and tuition revenues grew to $4.91 million from $1.75 million.

Elkins called Weekes a visionary who accomplished much during her tenure, but Elkins said Weekes and Conners were ill-equipped to manage financial aspects of the growth. She also said employee turnover was too high under Weekes – above CoxHealth’s systemwide turnover rate – but CoxHealth officials could not produce the specific rate.

The audits didn’t reveal missing money or criminal activity, Elkins said.

“Growth is a challenge, whether it’s to a college or to a business,” Elkins said. “We determined that things were not quite as tight as they should have been.”

Elkins said the timing of the News-Leader article was curious.

“We did not know of that article until we picked up our papers that morning,” she said. “I believe that was self-orchestrated. It was unfortunate timing, because we already knew where we were going.”

Elkins didn’t know if Weekes was working elsewhere. Neither Weekes nor Conners could be reached for comment, and four board members contacted by Springfield Business Journal declined comment.

Transition

The board appointed a six-member transition team the day after the resignations. Rita Gurian, vice president of support services for CoxHealth, heads the team, which includes two board members – Robin Vogt and Sue Rollins – and three people who already worked at the college – Karen Hazen, Kristen Williams and Charlotte Ward.

“There was not a beat missed,” Elkins said.

The board will appoint an interim president and begin a national search for a permanent president within the next two months.

Elkins expects the new president to be in place by summer so he or she can be involved in the $55 million overhaul of CoxHealth’s north campus, which includes the college.

Meanwhile, Gurian said any programs that were under development would continue as scheduled, such as adding a health science degree. The transition team has divvied up tasks that Weekes and Conners previously handled.

“We’re not holding back from moving ahead,” Gurian said.