Posted Monday, October 28, 2002 by Webmaster

By Bob Gough
Herald-Whig Assistant News Editor

The Rev. Eugene R. Kole resigned as president of Quincy University today as the school announced numerous changes in its curriculum.

In a prepared statement, Kole said, “it’s time to bring in a new leader to implement” the curriculum changes. That plan calls for phasing out several majors that have not been a primary choice of many students or that have proven to be a financial drain on the university.

Patricia Laytham, executive vice president and vice president for enrollment management, will serve as interim president. The university will begin a search for a permanent replacement for Kole in the next few weeks.

The resignation, which is effective immediately, also comes after the Board of Trustees learned of inconsistencies in Kole’s academic credentials.

“Any questions about his degrees did not impact his ability to do the job,” said Ralph Oakley, chairman of the QU board. “However, there were questions about his degrees of which we were made aware of, and I think he felt — and I think we as a board felt — the best course of action was to have new leadership.”

The Herald-Whig has learned that Kole did not earn a master of science degree in counseling from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1979 and did not earn a master of arts degree in psychology and counseling from La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1985.

Registrars confirmed that Kole never attended LaSalle University in Philadelphia, and that he took summer classes at Canisius College in 1972 and 1973 but never returned and did not earn a degree.

Kole instead received a master of arts degree in psychology and counseling from LaSalle University in Mandeville, La., a distance learning school founded in 1986.

The school was never recognized by any college accrediting agency before it was reorganized in 1997 under the name of Orion College after the founder of the school pleaded guilty to fraud in 1996 and was sentenced to prison.

Degrees from Canisius and LaSalle University in Philadelphia were listed in his biography when Kole was named QU’s 20th president in May 1997. The degree information has appeared in subsequent QU publications in the past five years.

Oakley said the board of trustees learned in May that Kole did not receive a degree from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. He said the board learned about the lack of a degree from Canisius within the past 10 days.

Kole’s contract runs through May 2004. Oakley would not say if Kole will be paid all or part of what remains on that contract. Oakley said Kole was not asked to resign.

The registrar at Canisius College said Kole enrolled in summer classes in 1972 and 1973 under the name of Eugene Kolodiezj. The registrar said Kole contacted the school in March 1978 to ask that his last name be changed to Kole on his transcripts.

Officials at Drew University in Madison, N.J., confirmed that Kole earned a doctorate from the school in 1989.

The office of the Franciscan province in Ellicott City, Md., said Kole earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Mass., in 1970. The Albany, N.Y., diocese of the Catholic Church said Kole earned a master’s degree in divinity from St. Anthony-on-Hudson Theological Seminary in 1981. Kole’s personal biography provided by QU indicates he received his degree from St. Anthony-on-Hudson in 1979.

Those two schools are now closed.

Kole began serving as QU’s 20th president in June 1997. The most notable accomplishments during his tenure were development of partnerships with community organizations and the successful $15 million Goal 2000 fund-raising drive.

The centerpiece of that fund-raising drive was the construction of an $8.7 million health and fitness center near 18th and Oak.

In his inaugural address in October 1997, Kole said he hoped QU’s enrollment would increase to 3,000 students, the number of faculty members would double and new buildings for the arts, athletics and science would be ready by 2005.

Enrollment this year is 17 students less than Kole’s first year at QU.
Laytham said she looks forward to helping Quincy University continue to fulfill its mission for the next few months.

“I am also fortunate that we have a very experienced, dedicated, and talented team of administrators,” Laytham said.

Oakley said the board was pleased Laytham was willing to take on the job.

“She will do an excellent job of continuing to move Quincy University forward,” Oakley said.






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