The majority of Marshall University’s Faculty Senate says it has no confidence in leadership of Marshall President Stephen Kopp.
The results of the vote were released Wednesday morning and 290 professors voted in favor of the “no confidence” motion and 107 against it. Twenty-three other professors abstained. The vote is non-binding. There were 745 faculty members eligible to vote.
Kopp came under fire recently in connection with budget decisions. He swept some academic financial accounts without letting faculty know first. Kopp later apologized and Marshall’s Board of Governors tabled plans to change the budgeting process at the school.
Marshall BOG Chairman Dr. Joseph Touma sent out a mass email to the campus community Wednesday morning expressing confidence in Kopp.
“On behalf of the vast majority of the Marshall University Board of Governors, I wish to express the board’s overwhelming support for President Stephen J. Kopp,” the letter said.
Touma said Kopp, in fact, is trying to do better.
“He got the message and he understands it,” said Touma. “He’s taking very serious steps to remedy these situations.”
Touma went on to say in the letter that Kopp has exceeded the goals set out by the BOG and the “board also believes that he is the right person to keep our great university moving in the right direction.”
Touma is calling for an atmosphere that fosters constructive dialogue on campus. He said he wants change.
“What happened, happened and we need to learn from the mistakes and start a new page,” said Touma. “And work together.”
Touma is confident the organization will be better through this ordeal.
Kopp also put out a statement:
“I am pleased to have the overwhelming support of the Board of Governors and trust that, working together with faculty, staff and students, we will continue down our proven path of success.
“During the past few weeks, I have received an outpouring of affirmations and expressions of support from across the entire university community and our extended family of Marshall Sons and Daughters. It has been very gratifying and encouraging and I personally thank those who have taken the time to express themselves.
“I respect the views of the faculty who have shared their opinion in this fashion; however, the budget challenges we set out to address remain and I do not see additional public funding on the horizon. We have much work to do in the coming days and months to ensure Marshall continues its progress with even more limited public resources.
“I am extremely proud to lead this great institution and I want everyone to know that, while we have tremendous challenges ahead, they present an opportunity to find even more ways for us to work together.”