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Almost 74 percent of the IUP faculty who voted expressed no confidence against President Lawrence K. Pettit, and 63 percent who voted expressed no confidence against Provost Mark J. Staszkiewicz.
The two-day polling, held by the faculty union (APSCUF), occurred Nov. 28 and 29 in the Ackerman Hall lobby. More than 77 percent (639 of 827 faculty members) voted during polling. The faculty voted 460 to 164 against Pettit and 401 to 232 against Staszkiewicz.
"I'm not terribly surprised," said Pettit. "It's a difficult time for the university right now. Everyone is very stretched; people are exhausted and frustrated. I'm not concerned with how this will affect me. I'm concerned about how it will affect the university. We have to focus on where we go from here, and I have to hear and act on the message the faculty sent. These are going to be some very difficult times."
Mark Staszkiewicz was unable to respond to the vote because he is on a university business trip to New Mexico.
According to a news release sent out by APSCUF, this vote follows a period of charges, denials and countercharges between faculty leaders and the administration over the issues of shared governance, curricular irregularities, classroom safety and failure to honor agreements.
"The overwhelming vote of no confidence, coupled with the very large faculty turnout shows that this vote completely represents the sentiment of this very patient faculty," said faculty union President Patricia Heilman. "No one is happy about the vote, but I was happy with the good voter turnout. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and fix what is wrong here."
According to APSCUF any future action regarding Pettit and Staszkiewicz is now referred to the IUP Council of Trustees, the State System of Higher Education Chancellor, Dr. Judy G. Hample and the SSHE Board of governors.
"My intent is to set up a meeting with the president, provost and University Senate on Monday to discuss how we are going to repair things," Heilman said.
The vote does not mean the president or the provost will lose their jobs. It is a statement expressed by the faculty.
Members of the APSCUF Nominations and Elections Committee, comprising Gian Pagnucci, Michael Willaimson and Muhammad Numan, counted the votes.
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