CCP board removes president, voting not to renew contract and placing him on immediate paid leave
Donald Guy Generals was placed on paid leave by the Community College trustees. He said he was “stunned.”
With no public discussion, the Community College of Philadelphia board of trustees voted Thursday not to renew the contract of longtime president Donald Guy Generals and placed him on immediate paid administrative leave.
All 13 of 15 board members present for the public meeting, which was preceded by an executive session, voted in favor. Absent were Rob Dubow, the city’s director of finance, and State Rep. Morgan Cephas (D., Philadelphia).
Generals said that he was expecting the nonrenewal, but that being placed on leave was a surprise.
“I’m stunned,” said Generals, who noted that he plans to consult with his attorney. “I think it was retaliatory.”
The board in a statement said the college would appoint an interim president in the coming days, but did not say specifically why Generals was ousted.
“As always, the board’s sole priority is to ensure we are providing a superior educational experience for our students, serving as responsible stewards of college resources, and creating opportunities for all Philadelphians,” the statement said. “Please know that we have a plan to ensure that the transition to new leadership is as seamless as possible.”
The board thanked Generals for his service.
Generals, 69, has led the college for more than a decade, and his current contract is due to expire in June; the board’s vote keeps him on paid leave through that time. In an interview this week, Generals acknowledged the board was planning to not renew his contract and called the move “unjustified,” citing his record.
Board president Harold T. Epps earlier this week declined to comment through a spokesperson.
Ellyn Jo Waller, president of the college’s foundation board, its fundraising arm, said she resigned from the post Thursday in protest.
“I am shocked and appalled,” she said. “I can’t serve alongside a board that could act in this manner. I feel like that compromises my integrity. It’s reckless for the students. We have a graduation coming up. We don’t have a president. We have a gala coming up. We don’t have a president.”
The board in its statement said it acted “with a high degree of transparency and consideration.”
“That’s not correct,” Waller said. “I’m baffled.”
Several people spoke in support of Generals at Thursday’s meeting, calling him a “transformational leader” who helped the college excel.
Loraine Ballard Morrill, director of news and community affairs at iHeartMedia, called him “a tireless advocate” who “has opened the engines of equity and innovation and social change. … His legacy at Community College is one of hope, access, and excellence. He’s built bridges where there were once barriers.”
Before the vote, Andrea Sanders, an executive committee member of the college’s foundation board, asked the trustees for “a little bit of transparency,” saying she was aware only of Generals’ work.
“I am listening to hear why this is an issue, why his contract is up for nonrenewal,” she said. “… What is going on here?”
The board offered no explanation.
Generals, who has led the college since 2014, said earlier this week that the board told him in December of its intent not to renew his contract, even though he said he got an above-average evaluation with no problems noted other than some vague interpersonal issues with board members.
He touted his accomplishments, including the college’s progress in enrollment since the pandemic, fundraising, and recent settlement of contracts with the faculty and staff union — which avoided a strike. Union members this week voted by a 99% margin to approve the new contracts.
Generals contended on Wednesday that the board had held three meetings to discuss his contract without proper notice or disclosure in violation of the state’s sunshine law. The board in its statement Thursday said all deliberations were in compliance with the law.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has not responded to a request for comment through a spokesperson. The city provides funding for the college.
Under his contract, the board has to give Generals 60 days’ notice and a year’s pay if members vote to terminate him without cause, he said. Generals earned $278,100 last year and received a 5% increase in September.
Generals came to Philadelphia from Mercer County Community College in New Jersey, where he was vice president for academic affairs.
His early tenure was rocked by contentious contract negotiations with the faculty and staff union that dragged on for more than half of his first five years.
But he went on to lead the college through the pandemic — he noted that there were no layoffs during that time and that employees continued to get raises even though the college saw a drop in enrollment.
Since the pandemic, enrollment has rebounded to 12,400 credit students and 1,381 noncredit students this spring, the highest among community colleges in Pennsylvania, Generals said.
Generals said he was getting calls from people around the city, offering support.
“A lot of people are reaching out,” he said.