By Langston Joe Wilson/LINA Maryland County Correspondent
Tubman University (TU) has identified student transportation and housing, faculty recruitment and accommodation, and the expansion of academic infrastructure as key priorities under its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
According to a university release, TU President Dr. Olu Menjay outlined the institution’s priorities while defending the university’s proposed budget during Executive Budget Hearings in Monrovia.
Dr. Menjay disclosed that approximately 98 percent of the university’s students commute to campus daily, making improved transportation services and expanded student housing essential to academic success and student welfare.
He said the acquisition of additional buses and the construction of residential facilities would significantly improve access to education and provide a more conducive learning environment.
The university president also highlighted TU’s growing role in graduate education, describing the establishment of its Graduate School and introduction of master’s degree programs as major milestones.
According to Dr. Menjay, Tubman University remains the only higher education institution outside Monrovia offering master’s degree programs, thereby expanding access to advanced education in the country.
Among the programs highlighted was the Master of Science in Construction Management, which he described as the first of its kind in Liberia.
He noted that the program is intended to produce skilled professionals capable of contributing to the country’s post-war reconstruction and infrastructure development efforts.
Dr. Menjay further stressed the need for increased budgetary support to recruit and retain qualified faculty members as the university continues to broaden its academic offerings.
He identified faculty housing as a critical requirement for attracting highly qualified professionals to southeastern Liberia and ensuring the effective delivery of academic programs.
The TU President also called for sustained investment in classrooms, academic facilities and other infrastructure needed to support the institution’s expanding student population.
For his part, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan described Tubman University as a “national university located in the Southeast,” emphasizing the need for increased national attention and support.
Minister Ngafuan referenced his recent visit to the institution as keynote speaker during TU’s 17th Anniversary Celebration, noting that the visit provided firsthand insight into the university’s progress and outstanding needs.
He stressed that the institution plays a vital role in advancing higher education and human resource development across southeastern Liberia.
Although the release did not specify the total amount of the proposed FY2027 budget, the presentation comes amid continued growth in student enrolment and academic programs, placing increased demands on transportation, accommodation, faculty recruitment and infrastructure.
The university is seeking increased government investment to strengthen student services, expand residential facilities, attract and retain qualified faculty and improve infrastructure in furtherance of its national higher education mandate.