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UW-Eau Claire Faculty Approves No-Confidence Vote On UW System Leadership

Faculty At 7 Other Campuses Held Similar Votes This Spring

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The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will likely be the last campus this spring to hold a vote of no-confidence in the Board of Regents and UW System President Ray Cross.

In an online vote of 227-98, faculty approved a resolution of no confidence in UW leaders’ commitment to the “Wisconsin Idea.” After making revisions to an earlier no-confidence resolution, UW-Eau Claire faculty changed the language to say they lost confidence in Cross’ and the regents’ commitment to the Wisconsin Idea.

University Senate Chair Mitch Freymiller said faculty members have made their voices heard.

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“There comes a point where frustration finally boils over and people have to come out and express that frustration and that’s what I see it as right there,” he said. “This resolution is an expression of the frustration of many members of our faculty over what has happened to public higher education over the past year, 18 months, whatever.”

Freymiller said faculty won’t take further action until after the November election.

Faculty on seven other campuses held votes earlier this spring after regents voted to change UW System tenure policies and passed similar resolutions.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos reaffirmed on Thursday his claim that tenure shouldn’t be a job for life. He cited records showing only six tenured Wisconsin faculty had been fired in the last 20 years.