CCC paid more than $70K for investigation into Nwankwo

Clovis Community College paid investigators $71,392 to look into allegations against its former president. That’s according to records obtained by The Eastern New Mexico News via New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act.

College trustees hired Cuddy & McCarthy law firm to investigate alleged misconduct after they received letters and resolutions of “no confidence” against Charles Nwankwo by three college employee groups.

Nwankwo resigned on Feb. 6 after trustees placed him on paid administrative leave on Aug. 3.

Among expenses, the law firm billed the college for about 300 hours it spent interviewing dozens of college employees and others as part of its investigation. Nwankwo and his attorney were interviewed for 1.6 hours on Oct. 27, the records show.

The college has declined to release a copy of the investigative report, citing attorney-client privilege. The documents released to The News show Nwankwo has also not received a copy of the report.

In addition to costs related to the investigation, CCC provided a copy of the resignation letter Nwankwo signed, which included terms of the resignation.

As part of the agreement:

• CCC will pay Nwankwo his regular salary of $185,000 through Feb. 17, 2024, the end of his current contract.

• Nwankwo will receive continuation of health insurance benefits through Feb. 17, 2024, unless he receives another job before then.

• Trustees agreed to pay Nwankwo an unspecified amount of accrued leave he had earned.

• Nwankwo, who had been provided a residence as part of his employment with CCC, will vacate the home no later than March 15 of this year.

• Nwankwo agreed not to sue the college as a result of his employment, the investigation or the severance of the employment relationship.

• Trustees and Nwankwo agreed they would not make disparaging comments against the other.

• Trustees provided Nwankwo with a statement summarizing his three years at CCC, thanking him for his service and listing some of the college’s achievements under Nwankwo’s leadership.

n In the event a prospective employer contacts CCC to perform a reference check, the college will provide the written statement summarizing his time at CCC and “no other information.”

The employee groups who made allegations against Nwankwo said he “engaged in threatening, verbally abusive, and retaliatory behaviors towards a tenured employee,” but specifics were not provided.

Allegations also included, “The campus climate is not one in which employees feel safe, respected and free from retaliation.”

Nwankwo and trustees have repeatedly declined to discuss allegations against the former president.

Trustees in January 2022 voted 4-0 to extend Nwankwo’s contract to February 2024.

Nwankwo was hired as CCC’s fifth president in October 2019 and he arrived on campus in February 2020.

Robin Jones, CCC’s executive vice president of academic affairs and an employee of the college for 25 years, has been acting president since Nwankwo was placed on leave.

Trustees have not announced plans for finding Nwankwo’s successor.