Albert resigns as conduct officer

Room 309 in Evans Hall will remain temporarily vacant after Tim Albert re- signed as Student Conduct Officer for the Office of Student Affairs andInstutional Relations during the summer break. Albert's resignation came after confirmed allegations of his relationship with a student in violation of a zero-tolerance policy that President George C. Wright and his administration have firmly and consistently expressed.

Wright said: "As president, I have no right to tell a faculty member that they are for- bidden to have relations with another faculty member, as long as the relationship doesn't promote a conflict of interest. However, when an administrator or any employee of the university has an intimate relationship with a student, not only does it promote a conflict of interest, but a notion of bad customer service as well."

University officials say Albert was involved with Rachael Madison, a May 2011 graduate of PVAMU with a degree in education.

His involvement with her was questioned during the fall 2010 semester, but an investigation by the Administrative Review Board found no substantial evidence.

However, as Madison spent the majority of her last semester at PVAMU student teaching, she began to show signs of pregnancy.

Months later, after the child was born, Madison's mother placed a call to Albert's office about the child, and ultimately put Albert's employment at risk.

Weeks later, Albert wrote an official letter of resignation which specifically addressed his actions in regards to the situation.

Wright said, "When I received the news of his resignation, I was disheartened. Officials of the A&M system were equally disoriented by this news as well. However, you must be held accountable for your actions, and in this case Mr. Albert was."