By Lauren Beeman

The Quincy University faculty presented the Board of Trustees with a vote of no confidence in President Robert Gervasi on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. This vote indicates that QU faculty does not support Gervasi in his leadership role and cited the university’s current financial situation as the reason.

Delmer Mitchell, vice chairman of the Quincy University Board of Trustees responded to the faculty vote in a press release issued by the university.

“The Board of Trustees has received the resolution from the faculty and respects the concerns it raises in these challenging financial times. This situation is not uncommon as many colleges and universities are faced with similar scenarios in today’s rapidly changing higher education landscape. The board will discuss the faculty’s concerns at its upcoming meeting. At the same time, the board will continue to work with Dr. Gervasi and the executive leadership team to find ways to make prudent financial decisions to continue to move the university forward.”

This is the second time in university history the Quincy University faculty has issued a vote of no confidence against the president. The first time it happened in 2006, when QU faculty voted no confidence with President Sister Margaret Feldner. Faculty, at the time, cited decreasing enrollment as the reason for the vote.

Students returned from winter break in 2007 to find that Feldner was replaced by acting president, David Schatchtsiek. Gervasi was hired in June 2008 and made history as QU’s first lay president.

The results following the vote of no confidence have not yet been decided.  The Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet Saturday, October 15, 2016, when the matter will be discussed.

Matt Bergman, director of development, alumni and community relations for the university, said the faculty will receive an answer in the days following the board meeting.

“They (the Board of Trustees) will make a decision during the meeting and will respond to the faculty some time after the meeting is over,” Bergman said.

In the 2015 spring semester, Gervasi was one of four finalists for the position of president at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA. However, Gervasi withdrew his candidacy on May 12, 2015.