Statement from HVCC Board Chair Neil Kelleher

June 25, 2024

During its June 25 meeting, Hudson Valley Community College’s Board of Trustees voted to terminate, with cause, its contract with Dr. Roger Ramsammy. Former Vice President for Student Affairs Louis Coplin remains officer in charge, at this time. Dr. Roger Ramsammy has served as president of Hudson Valley since July 2018.

As previously shared, the board placed Dr. Ramsammy on administrative leave at a special meeting on May 15 following a Human Resources complaint filed against him. The college remains unable to share specific details of that complaint due to the confidentiality and privacy requirements of ongoing personnel and legal matters.

However, members of our community must know that the college and its Board of Trustees follow clearly established policies and procedures for addressing any employee complaint, claim or allegation in a fair, thorough and expeditious manner.

I want to stress that the Board wishes to send a strong message that Hudson Valley does not tolerate inappropriate behavior by any or toward any member of the college community.

Louis Coplin recently retired from full-time service following more than 35 years of leadership at the college, and he has the full confidence of the board to lead the institution during this time of transition. I am grateful for his willingness to serve as officer in charge, despite his recent retirement.

Hudson Valley remains one of the nation’s premier colleges, and we are certainly well positioned to continue to expand programming and services throughout the region in the year ahead.

We look forward to working with the campus community as we commence a presidential search process. Additional information will be provided in the coming weeks.

At this time, we do not have additional public comment. Thank you for your continued dedication to the college and our students during this period.

Neil Kelleher, Chair, Hudson Valley Community College Board of Trustees