politics
Investigation Finds Inappropriate Relationship Between Cape Cod Community College President and Student
An external investigation determined that John Cox, former president of Cape Cod Community College, had an unprofessional relationship with a 23-year-old female student. The report detailed excessive communications and benefits provided to the student but found no sexual harassment. Cox retired in March 2026 following the investigation.
Apr 15, 8:23 AM·3m read1 source
The Boston GlobeAudio version
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John Cox served as president of Cape Cod Community College from 2012 until his retirement in mid-March 2026. An external investigation commissioned by the college examined his interactions with a 23-year-old female student. The investigation, conducted by an outside law firm, concluded that Cox had an unprofessional relationship with the student, whom he sought to mentor.
The relationship was not sexual, according to the report. Cox sent the student messages at various hours, left gifts at her apartment and car, and used college funds to create business and networking opportunities for her and her romantic partner. The report documented 2,500 text messages, about 200 emails, and 17 handwritten letters exchanged between December 2024 and June 2025.
Cox also communicated with the student's mother, grandparents, and romantic partner, who was another student at the college. He recommended a $4,000 welding scholarship for the student from the college's Educational Foundation. Additionally, Cox spent more than 10 hours assisting with the student's former employer's worker's compensation claim.
The student's romantic partner helped open and run an espresso bar at the college's Plymouth campus, with college expenses including $10,000 for an espresso machine and $5,000 for the partner's services. Cox facilitated the introduction of beehives to the West Barnstable and Plymouth campuses, an interest of the student, at a cost of about $3,950 in startup funds.
Cox visited the student in the hospital after she sought his recommendations for a local emergency room, entering her room without prior notification while she was in partial dress and substantial pain.
mid-2025, after about six months of messaging, the student informed Cox that she needed to take a step back to focus on her mental health and studies.
