Bennett Receives Master’s Degree From Liberty University, Regrets ‘Misunderstanding’

ST. THOMAS — Acting Property and Procurement Commissioner Randolph Bennett, in a letter addressed to Senate President Neville James and the Committee on Rules and Judiciary Chairman Kenneth Gittens, expressed regret about what he calls a “misunderstanding” surrounding his master’s degree in professional counseling, and also to make known that Liberty University had conferred upon him his certificate after an agreement was reached to provide him with the diploma before the full Senate goes into session on Thursday.

That’s according to a press release Government House issued on Wednesday afternoon, which also came attached with a copy of the master’s degree, seen here, and the letter addressed to James and Gittens, found here.

“I would like to express my regret on the misunderstandings surrounding my master’s degree in professional counseling,” wrote Bennett. “A protocol was established for me to provide documentation prior to the full body session.”

There has been somewhat of a back-and-forth between Bennett and Gittens ever since it was discovered that, despite Bennett’s claim of only needing to “walk across the stage” to collect his degree from Liberty University, inquiries made to the higher learning institution revealed otherwise.

Acting Property and Procurement Commissioner Randolph Bennett will face the full Senate on Thursday where his fate as the head of Property and Procurement will be determined.

For Gittens, it was a show of dishonesty on the nominee’s part, forcing the senator, who had already voted to favorably send Bennett’s nomination to the full body, to question the acting Property and Procurement commissioner’s character.

“I was really taken aback during the confirmation hearing on Monday as a result of Mr. Bennett’s responses to questions about possessing a master’s degree,” Gittens said through a press release issued on July 15. “He had stated on his questionnaire that the degree was pending, but during his live testimony, under oath, he repeatedly said that he had already earned the degree — he even further stated that he just didn’t have the certificate because he had not walk across the stage.”

When Bennett tried to clarify his remarks in a followup to Gittens’ first statement on the matter, the second-term St. Croix Democrat pounced.

“I’m not certain why Mr. Bennett continues to defend his statements of having possessed such degree because we have already received information from Liberty University that he does not hold a master’s degree from their institution of higher learning. My office received an email letter from Mr. Bennett, which was copy furnished to all senators, dated July 15, 2015, where he attempted to explain his position again. It is my position, however, that the documents we have received are clear that he does not have a master’s degree. For him to continue defending his statement of having a Master’s is simply being deceptive,” Senator Gittens said.

He added: “Mr. Bennett contradicted himself several times, not only during testimony on July 13th but also in his letter addressed to me on July 15th. All I could truly say is – I’m disappointed. Disappointed because Mr. Bennett comes highly qualified according to his portfolio, but his character and credibility has been called into question and is shattered in my book. What else would he be evasive and not completely forthcoming about? The position he is tapped to fill requires transparency, accountability and fairness by someone who understands our procurement laws and has the ability to be truthful and make the right decisions.”

The latest letter that Bennett addressed to James and Gittens contained several documents, including a degree completion audit plan showing 100% completion, with a current masters of art degree in professional counseling (60 hr.). There was also a letter from Liberty expressing regret for their part in the delay in awarding the degree; diploma processing records; student account records; and a statement of good standing.

“It is my hope that the submittal of all of the documentation in question will satisfy the Rules and Judiciary Committee of the 31st Legislature, we need to be able to move forward and expedite the progress of the territory,” Bennett concluded.

Bennett’s fate as head of Property and Procurement, along with 10 other Governor Kenneth Mapp nominees, will be determined tomorrow when the full Senate meets for a session at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall.