MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The President of the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Layli Maparyan, has reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, social inclusion, and institutional reform, as she announced the results of the July 2025 Entrance Examination and outlined transformative initiatives shaping the institution’s future.
Speaking on Monday, August 18, 2025, at the UL’s Capitol Hill Campus, Dr. Maparyan described the entrance exam turnout as a reflection of UL’s growing reputation and reach. A total of 13,130 candidates registered for the exam, with 12,516 showing up—an impressive turnout rate of over 95 percent. Of those, 2,807 candidates passed, representing 28.32 percent of test takers. The gender breakdown of successful candidates was nearly equal, with 1,415 females and 1,392 males earning admission. However, 9,299 candidates failed to meet the required threshold, and 410 were disqualified due to incorrect shading of identification numbers.
At the David Strass Sinjay Technical and Vocational College in Grand Cape Mount County, 221 candidates registered, and 188 sat the exam. Only 25 passed, while 85 failed and 74 were placed in remedial programs. Disqualification due to shading errors affected a small percentage of candidates there as well.
Dr. Maparyan emphasized that the entrance examination is designed to identify students ready for collegiate-level coursework, requiring a minimum score of 70 percent in English or above, and 60 percent or above in mathematics. She also highlighted UL’s recent eight-week vacation school, which targeted junior and senior high school students who needed to make up for missed courses. This initiative was part of UL’s broader strategy to ensure students meet graduation requirements on time.
In addition to announcing the results, Dr. Maparyan provided updates on admissions and registration. Submission of requirements for readmission, second-degree applications, and transfers is currently underway, and registration for the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year officially began on August 18.
The UL President then turned to a series of strategic initiatives that are reshaping the university, noting that UL is actively tackling academic fraud through a Standing Committee on Academic Fraud, which was established in April and is currently investigating cases of misconduct. A transition team is also working to reform the Office of Enrollment Services, reviewing procedures and analyzing processes for improvement.
In June, UL launched the Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, known as OGEWE, in response to the 2023 National Commission on Higher Education’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy. This office is tasked with promoting gender equality across UL’s campuses, ensuring compliance with national legislation, strengthening safeguarding policies, and overseeing gender-related data and messaging.
Dr. Maparyan also celebrated a historic milestone in disability inclusion. In July, UL administered its first entrance exam for visually impaired students, made possible by the Resource Center for Disability Services and Support and Alternative Learning, in collaboration with the Liberia Unipod. The exam included braille versions and visibility-enhancing software. A week-long disability awareness workshop followed in August, spanning UL’s Capitol Hill, Fendell, and Straz-Sinjay campuses.
Another major initiative involved mobilizing UL’s PhD and terminal degree-holding faculty. On August 7, the university hosted a retreat for over fifty of its approximately one hundred thirty-five PhD faculty members. The retreat focused on advancing research and innovation, revamping the study leave program, and contributing to UL’s strategic goals. Discussions centered around the President’s “Five E’s”—education, effectiveness, efficiency, excellence, and ethics—and the role of faculty in upholding these values.
Meanwhile, Dr. Maparyan added that UL is on the move, with bold reforms and inclusive strategies positioning the University for a future of excellence. From entrance exam innovations to faculty mobilization, UL is laying the groundwork for a more equitable, effective, and academically vibrant institution.