The trustees of Presbyterian-related Knoxville College in Tennessee have fired President Barbara R. Hatton, alleging that she has managed the school “by creating fear and intimidation.” The decision, effective immediately, was reached on August 8, during a special board meeting in Knoxville.
“It was a very sad day for Knoxville College and a very sad day for Dr. Hatton,” said Beneva Bibbs, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s associate for racial-ethnic schools and colleges.
Hatton’s firing didn’t please everyone. Four trustees, none of whom attended the meeting, resigned. They had informed the other trustees by fax that they planned to quit if Hatton was fired.
Hatton’s dismissal comes as the 130- year-old historically black college faces serious financial problems and declining enrollment. Enrollment peaked several years ago at nearly 1,000 students, but recently has fallen as low as 130.
Hatton was hired in 1997, shortly after the school lost its accreditation. She promised to get the institution’s financial problems under control, but the troubles continued.
“The board felt it was time to move in a new direction, to give the college the best opportunity to move forward,” board Chairman Ronald E. Damper told the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Damper said that fund-raising and enrollment, as well as regaining accreditation, are Knoxville College’s primary focuses right now.
He expressed confidence that the school will weather its current problems.
Robert H. Harvey, a former Knoxville College dean and acting president, will lead an interim management committee while a presidential search is conducted.
Knoxville College was hit with accusations of financial mismanagement in May, when several faculty members filed a lawsuit seeking back pay. Some said they hadn’t been paid regularly since June 2004. In another lawsuit filed in May, more than 100 students claimed that the college owed them money for jobs worked on campus in 2003.
Faculty members and students sent letters to the board of trustees this spring, asking them to fire Hatton, but the board announced in May that it was standing behind her. The trustees’ attitude clearly had changed before the meeting August 8. A letter of termination from the board of trustees listed nine grounds for Hatton’s firing.
The dismissal reportedly has left faculty members who are party to the lawsuit optimistic that the case may be resolved soon. A mediation session between school officials and the faculty members was scheduled for Aug. 10, according to Richard Duncan, the Knoxville attorney who represents the faculty.
“We’re approaching the negotiations in good faith, and now that Barbara Hatton is no longer president, we think that Knoxville College is approaching them in good faith,” Duncan told the Presbyterian News Service. “We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to resolve these problems.”
The school’s alumni association announced on Aug. 9 that it has launched a $1 million fund-raising drive. The institution also receives money from the PC(USA)’s annual Christmas Joy Offering, which supports the seven Presbyterian- related racial-ethnic schools and colleges. Bibbs said the college’s 2005 allocation from the offering was $289,454, of which $100,000 was repaid to the church in $25,000 increments for outstanding loans.
