A majority of Baylor University faculty who voted in a nonbinding referendum on the leadership of President Robert Sloan say he should be dismissed.
Of the 490 votes cast, 85 percent were against retaining Sloan as president. Sloan has been under fire from many regents, faculty and alumni for his long-range plan for the Baptist-affiliated school in Waco, Texas, and for the debt incurred to implement that plan.
Sloan's supporters already have pointed out those faculty members voting for the president to be fired still are less than half of the faculty. Results posted on the faculty senate's website showed 59 percent of 838 eligible faculty voted.
A little more than a year ago, Baylor University regents voted 31-4 to affirm Sloan. But by May, his support on the board had eroded to the point that he retained his job by one vote. A motion to ask for his resignation failed in an 18-17 secret-ballot vote.
In September, the regents voted to postpone indefinitely a call for Sloan's resignation. At the same time, they unanimously rejected the faculty senate's call for a facultywide referendum on Sloan's presidency. The faculty senate proceeded with the vote anyway.
The next scheduled board of regents meeting is Feb. 4.
Associated Baptist Press