UNL Faculty Senate overwhelmingly passes vote of no confidence against Chancellor Bennett

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Faculty Senate overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Rodney Bennett at an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

The group voted 60-14 — with three abstentions — in favor of a resolution expressing no confidence in Bennett’s leadership.

SEE ALSO: ‘Unhappy campers’: UNL faculty planning no-confidence vote against Chancellor Bennett

The vote comes just over a week after Bennett submitted his final plan to cut $27.5 million from UNL’s budget.

The plan includes eliminating four academic programs.

SEE ALSO: ‘Our voices weren’t heard’: Faculty outcry grows as UNL faces $27.5 million in budget cuts

UNL American Association of University Professors president, Sarah Zuckerman, released a statement following the vote.

“Today’s vote of no confidence is a historic moment for the University of Nebraska. The faculty has made clear that this Chancellor does not have what it takes to lead our flagship institution. For the first time, we are delivering a united message to the Regents: we will not accept a lack of transparency, the exclusion of faculty from decision-making, or the erosion of our university’s 156-year-old mission to educate Nebraska’s students.

 This university deserves a leader who prioritizes our core teaching mission for all Nebraskans. We hope President Gold and the Regents understand that we expect our leaders to protect our academic mission and to listen to those closest to its heart—our faculty and students.”

SEE ALSO: UNL professors hold town hall to discuss potential impacts of imminent $27.5 million budget cuts

Channel 8 reached out to Bennett’s office for comment: “The chancellor doesn’t have a comment at this time.”

This vote was purely symbolic, meaning it won’t force Bennett out of his role as Chancellor.

But it does send a strong message that many faculty members no longer believe he can effectively lead.

SEE ALSO: ‘Difficult decisions’: NU Board of Regents hear from staff on proposed department cuts