The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Faculty Senate on Tuesday passed a motion 55-4 that will ask faculty to vote on a “no confidence” resolution surrounding Chancellor Rodney Bennett’s leadership.
Tuesday’s Faculty Senate motion stated Chancellor Bennett has “eroded faculty trust, destabilized the university’s strategic direction, and jeopardized the institution’s standing within Nebraska and among its Big Ten peers” during his tenure.
If the “Resolution of No Confidence” passes in two weeks, a formal request for review of Bennett’s leadership will be passed to the Board of Regents and University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold. The motion also urges university leadership to – upon passage of the no confidence vote – remove Bennett from his position or negotiate his resignation. In that case, the Faculty Senate motion asks that the budget reduction process pause until an interim Chancellor is appointed.
Leading up to the vote in two weeks, faculty senate members will look to their departments and colleges for feedback.
UNL Faculty Senate President John Shrader said, “We really want the entire campus community to have input on this.”
With up to $27.5 million in budget cuts on the table, Bennett’s administration and faculty are at odds. University leadership’s proposed cuts claim to address a budget gap stemming from low state appropriations, reduced tuition revenue and rising administrative costs. Faculty have responded with concern, saying sweeping cuts and program eliminations could undermine the standing of Nebraska’s flagship university.
“I think it’s pretty clear that a lot of people on this campus are concerned about the leadership of the campus,” Shrader said.
Some faculty members also claim the metrics UNL used to justify cuts are inaccurate or arbitrary. An American Association of University Professors financial analysist reviewed UNL’s finances in late October and concluded the university was in “good financial health.” In response, a university statement said the report did not reflect the complex financial situation of higher education institutions.
The Faculty Senate motion cites “findings of executive failure,” alleging a lack of strategic and fiscal leadership, a significant number of missed meetings and lack of communication with faculty during the budget process.
The Faculty Senate votes on the no confidence resolution on Nov. 18. The Board of Regents vote on budget cuts is planned for Dec. 5.