Thursday, 4:30 PM
UMass Boston faculty postpone no confidence vote
By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff
After two hours of spirited debate, faculty members at the University of Massachusetts at Boston today postponed a scheduled vote of no confidence in UMass President Jack M. Wilson and the board of trustees.
The resolution, spearheaded by teachers upset with plans to overhaul the state university system, was put off until the school’s June 4 faculty meeting.
The vote was scheduled after faculty and librarians at UMass-Amherst handed Wilson a stinging rebuke last week when they approved a no confidence measure by a tally of 214-1. The resolution has stoked the controversy surrounding Wilson and his plans to centralize the five-campus system.
UMass-Amherst professors have denounced Wilson and the trustees for discussing the plans in a private meeting and for failing to consult with faculty on the proposed reorganization, which would result in the departure of popular chancellor John Lombardi at the end of the next school year.
UMass-Boston faculty planned to vote on a similar no-confidence measure that would have expressed "particular concern about the illegitimate lack of consultation of faculty and other university constituencies in developing the Vision for One University plan," according to a copy of the resolution obtained by the Globe.
Vision for One University is Wilson's plan to consolidate leadership of the five campuses, creating a streamlined system in hope of boosting efficiency and collaboration and forging a more cohesive, powerful university.
UMass-Boston faculty leaders see the centralization as a threat to their school's independence and identity.
