Update With Full Text of Vote: No Confidence: Teacher Education Faculty Senates Issue Vote Condemning Allen, Gibson, Regents Following Price Lab Decision

Updated with PDF of Full Text of No Confidence Motion at 11:57 a.m. Feb. 29

Updated with UNI's response at 6:32 p.m. Feb. 28

A joint session of the elementary and secondary teacher education faculty senates has issued a vote of no confidence in UNI President Ben Allen, Provost Gloria Gibson and the Iowa Board of Regents.

The full tex of the motion is attachted to this article as a PDF.

The move came one day after the to close effective June 30, at Allen's recommendation.

Price Lab, which serves as Iowa's Research and Development school, has 366 students enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade and assists with UNI's teacher training program, as well as with education faculty research.

“This motion expresses the high degree of impotence we all have in the current course of events."

There are 24 voting members of the teacher education faculty senates, of which 17 were present at the meeting. In a secret ballot after over an hour of discussion, 15 voted in favor of the motion, one voted against and one abstained. The teacher education faculty senates represent between 170 and 180 facutly members.

Melissa Heston, coordinator for elementary teacher education, said the move would send a signal and hopefully put pressure on the wider faculty senate to take action. She said a petition was circulating among tenured UNI faculty to call a meeting of the faculty to discuss UNI's budget cuts, not all of which have been announced yet.

"This vote conveys to the president we no longer believe he can lead us effectively. It's sort of like a non-binding recall vote," she said.

UNI spokesman James O'Connor responded via email to the decision.

"We find this action disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising," he said. "The decisions that were outlined and announced last week are understandably difficult for many people. UNI remains committed to being nationally known for innovative education, preparing students for success in a rapidly changing, globally competitive, and culturally diverse world."

Faculty member James Davis said he helped craft the motion and acknowledged its effect would be largely symbolic.

“This motion expresses the high degree of impotence we all have in the current course of events," he said "This might at least get some attention. This is less bang than I would like this to be capable of, but it’s what we have.”

Others who could not vote observed the meeting and participated in discussion, with 42 people total present.

The teacher education faculty senates had considered a similar resolution Friday but did not have enough of the faculty present to vote on the issue.

The Board of Regents office did not immediately return calls and emails asking for comment Tuesday.