B-CU Immediate Past President Edison Jackson
Associated Press
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Bethune-Cookman University’s president is resigning before his contract ends following controversies involving school finances and inviting U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to commencement.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that the university’s board chairman announced Tuesday that Edison Jackson has retired.
The retirement follows a series in the newspaper about operating losses at the school, including mounting debt from the financing of a new dorm.
Jackson also was criticized for inviting DeVos to be a commencement speaker at the historically black university.
DeVos was criticized earlier this year when she said historically black colleges were pioneers of school choice. In fact, most historically black schools were founded to give African Americans educational opportunities they were denied because of discrimination.
A university spokeswoman didn’t respond to a call and email seeking comment.
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