The Community College of Philadelphia’s board of trustees voted to not renew president Donald Guy Generals’ contract and placed him on administrative leave at a meeting Thursday morning.
In an email, the CCP confirmed 13 out of 15 members on the board (with the other two being absent) voted unanimously not to renew Generals’ contract, which is up in June.
The vote included no public comment from the board, though several attendees questioned the lack of transparency.
The statement adds the decision and “related deliberations” were made based on “the bylaws of the College.” Despite attendee concerns, the statement emphasized these decisions were made “with a high degree of transparency and consideration.”
According to the Inquirer, Generals reported the board of trustees told him in December that they did not plan to renew his contract.
Generals has been CCP’s president for nearly 11 years. He told the Inquirer his latest evaluation was “above average” and that he had no issues noted other than “some vague interpersonal issues with some board members.”
While Generals early years at CCP had some rocky contract negotiations and pushback from faculty about lack of prior leadership experience, he has led the college through the pandemic, overseen the college during the development of new buildings and programs, and had enrollment increase during his tenure.
Generals has also been president throughout union negotiations. Most recently, the college and union reached a tentative deal hours before a strike was supposed to commence last month.
The tentative agreement includes significant wage increases, more staffing, smaller class sizes and free transportation for students, according to the union’s release.
The CCP statement said the school was “deeply grateful” for Generals’ service and that there is a plan for transition to new leadership and an interim president.
Generals’ potential departure is the latest in a run of college president turnover in Philly the past few years.
- The University of Pennsylvania’s President Liz Magill stepped down in late 2023 following criticism of her congressional testimony about how Ivy League schools handle anti-Israel protests and antisemitic incidents.
- Former Drexel University President John Fry moved to become Temple University’s new president, after the school’s acting president, JoAnne A. Epps, died suddenly in September 2023 after collapsing during a memorial service.
- The former UArts president Kerry Walk resigned days after the school had announced its closure.
- In May 2022, Mark C. Reed left St. Joseph’s University after seven years to lead the Loyola University Chicago.
