UAB faculty senate votes no confidence in president Ray Watts

UAB held its vote of no confidence against president Ray Watts on Thursday and both resolutions against him passed.

From Al.com:

The senators, who represent each of the university's colleges, passed two resolutions by a wide margin. The resolution of no confidence in Watts expresses the faculty's concern over shared governance and an open decision-making process.

"Recent decisions by President Ray Watts were exercised in a manner that demonstrates no respect for, or commitment to, shared governance," the resolution says.

The vote was held by UAB's faculty senate and is largely symbolic. Though it's obviously not a positive sign for the Board of Trustees that many members of the UAB faculty don't have confidence in the president.

According to the senate chair, there was "well over a two-thirds majority on both resolutions."

A decision that's a big factor in the votes? The disbanding of the football team. UAB folded its football program, along with other sports, at the end of the 2014 season. The Blazers improved to 6-6 and bowl eligibility under coach Bill Clark, who was voted the 2014 Conference USA coach of the year.

However, Watts said the money needed in the near future to run the football team was too high to justify the program's continuance. He said the school would need to invest $49 million over five years.

The resolution surrounding athletics asks for a "a comprehensive analysis of UAB Athletics that is transparent and includes consideration of campus-wide impact for discontinuation of any athletic program."

Watts has previously said he regretted the way the decision to cut football was handled.

Many UAB players have found spots at other schools. Leading rusher Jordan Howard is going to Indiana and Cody Clements, the team's starting quarterback, is playing at South Alabama. Without the football program, UAB's standing in Conference USA in other sports is jeopardized.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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