Former Bethune-Cookman University Employee Claims Racial Discrimination Against White Staff: A Controversial Allegation

The former chair of the nursing school at Bethune-Cookman University, Sameh Ghareeb, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the university of discrimination. He claims that the school refused to hire white nursing faculty, which he says contributed to his dismissal.

Ghareeb, who rose through the ranks to become chair, was making $100,000 a year before he lost his position last year. In his lawsuit, he quotes the Dean of the College of Nursing, alleging that she stated, “We’re going to hire faculty in nursing, but they won’t be white because white instructors will not understand Black students.” Ghareeb also claims that his recommendations for hiring a qualified white instructor were ignored in favor of candidates with little experience.

Another point he raised involves favoritism, claiming the Dean nominated Black faculty for awards while disregarding his nominations for white faculty. Ghareeb, originally from Jordan and a naturalized U.S. citizen, alleges that the Dean retaliated against him by falsely reporting to HR that he couldn’t work in the U.S., which led to his contract not being renewed.

The conflict between Ghareeb and the Dean escalated in 2023 when the nursing school mistakenly administered the wrong exam to students. While faculty wanted to void the results, the Dean decided to uphold them, which Ghareeb believed unfairly affected students’ grades.

In addition to exam issues, Ghareeb expressed concern over the school’s poor student retention, noting a loss rate of 44% to 78% after the first semester. He attributed this to strict policies, such as requiring an 80% minimum passing grade and making ATI exams high-stakes.

As tensions rose, both Ghareeb and the Dean reported each other to HR. After he filed a formal complaint, Ghareeb was informed his contract would not be renewed, leading to severe anxiety and depression.

The case highlights ongoing issues in academic hiring practices. A recent report shows that diversity in hiring still struggles in many institutions. The conversation around equitable hiring practices continues to evolve, with many experts advocating for truly inclusive and transparent processes.

For more details on workplace discrimination, visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

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