The Sussex County Community College Board of Trustees held a special board meeting on January 17, 2025, at which they mutually decided that Dr. Jon Connolly would step down from his role as President of the College. In a shared commitment to the institution’s mission, Dr. Connolly will continue to serve the College community as an Associate Professor of Environmental and Biological Science.
Jon Connolly has been the President of Sussex County Community College for the past nine years and is credited with stabilizing a once-struggling institution. Upon his arrival, the College had a budget deficit of four million, which led to concerns by the College’s accrediting body.
Within 3 years, he was able to stabilize the institution and earned full reaccreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education with no required improvement actions. He collaborated with the Board and College staff to launch the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, establishing a clear and consistent direction for the College’s future.
Under Dr. Connolly’s leadership, several major initiatives have been accomplished, most notably establishing the McGuire Technical Education Center and the wide array of technical occupation programs. The Center has received awards from the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and the Sussex County Economic Development Partnership.
Dr. Connolly has also spearheaded many projects throughout his leadership, driving advancements across the campus:
As a biologist at heart, Dr. Connolly’s true passion lies in the classroom and laboratory. Serving as the Lead Faculty for the Environmental Studies program, he has taught environmental studies courses at the College since 2021. Dr. Connolly holds degrees in Biology and Forest Science from Yale University and the University of Maine.
The College’s Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Cory Homer as Interim President, succeeding Dr. Connolly. With over a decade of dedicated service to the College, Dr. Homer has held roles including Vice President of Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness and Lead Faculty for the psychology program. He has also contributed significantly to Middle States Accreditation processes for numerous institutions.
A Statement from the Board of Trustees:
At a special meeting of the Sussex County Community College Board of Trustees, held on Friday January 17th, 2025, the Board and the president, Dr. Jon Connolly, negotiated and entered into a mutual separation agreement. The final agreement signed by the Board and Dr. Connolly accepts Dr. Connolly’s resignation as President and retains his current position of Associate Professor of Environmental and Biological Science. It further grants him full time tenured faculty status.
Acting as fiduciaries, the Board did not come to this decision lightly. The Board considered not only Dr. Connolly’s qualifications as a professor but the effect granting tenure in this situation had on the overall health and well-being of the college.
The Board considered:
1. Academic qualifications and justification for tenure
2. Peer reviews, observations and recommendations by colleagues and review boards
3. Impact on the current tenure process
4. Impact on current faculty
5. Financial impact to the college
6. Current need to increase faculty within the STEM program
7. Impact on future Boards
8. Views the community may have on the Board’s decision
The board concluded in a 7-4 majority that the institution would be best served by granting tenure to Dr. Connolly and accepting his full resignation. The decision to grant Dr. Connolly Tenure did not come without significant debate and discussion among Board members. The Board found Dr. Connolly to be sufficiently qualified under the current standards for academic tenure and in fact his resume would suggest he is overqualified for the position he will be holding. The majority decision of the Board also reflects the Boards desire to protect the college, and future boards, from a protracted struggle. Ultimately, the decision to grant tenure puts to rest any ongoing acrimony regarding the terms negotiated by this board and allows the interim president and future boards to move ahead freely with initiatives that are essential to the success of the institution. It is essential that the Board set both the interim, and future president, up for success and leave them in a position to move the institution into a new era of post-secondary education unencumbered by incomplete or open-ended decisions rendered by past boards.
In addition, the Board Voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Cory Homer the current Vice President of Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness as Interim President. The Board will proceed with establishing a search committee in accordance with Board policy at an upcoming meeting. The Board is confident in the skill and dedication of Dr. Homer to adequately carry the College through this transitional period.
The Board understands that not everyone will agree with our decision, however we can assure the public we did not reach it without significant debate and are confident we have acted faithfully and in the best interest of the institution and the Sussex County community at large.