CLEVELAND, GA – [June 6, 2025] – The Board of Trustees met out of genuine concern Friday, June 6th on the campus of Truett McConnell University with broken hearts to address allegations of sexual abuse regarding Hayle Swinson, or any others. The meeting began with a devotion by Chairman Robby Foster, followed by a season of prayer. The Chairman brought three proposals which he presented to the trustees. After a healthy discussion, the three proposals were made into a recommendation.

The recommendations included that: 1) a third-party investigation be conducted by Richard Hyde with Phoenix Research LLC; 2) that President Dr. Emir Caner be placed on administrative leave until the investigation is completed; and 3) that Dr. John Yarbrough serve Truett McConnell University as acting president until a final determination can be made regarding the trustees’ ultimate decision on this matter. The Board of Trustees agreed unanimously.

We request that you continue to pray for the entire TMU family and all parties involved.

Truett McConnell University is a private Christian liberal arts and sciences university located in Cleveland, Georgia, and has been ranked by Best Value Schools as the #1 Christian College in Georgia. TMU offers 80+ different programs of study including baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The University boasts a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio while 100% of incoming students receive financial aid. For more information about Truett McConnell University, visit www.tmu.edu.

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