WILLMAR -- The faculty of Ridgewater College has said through a vote Thursday that it has no confidence in the leadership of President Douglas Allen.
According to a news release from the faculty union, the vote was passed overwhelmingly. No vote tally was provided in the release. Ridgewater has campuses in Willmar and Hutchinson.
“The outstanding faculty of Ridgewater College remains committed to excellence. Because Ridgewater College is an important community and regional asset, it deserves the best possible leadership," Sam Nelson, president of Minnesota State College Faculty-Ridgewater, said in the release. "We're not getting that from President Allen."
Nelson said the decision to take the vote Thursday evening followed numerous efforts over the past eight years to change the campus climate. He said the faculty finally concluded that Allen's management style jeopardizes the health and future of the college.
"The decision to take a vote of no confidence was not taken lightly," Nelson said. "It was the result of careful deliberation following numerous good faith attempts to achieve a collaborative working relationship with President Allen, all of which have failed."
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On Thursday, Allen said he was always willing to work with the faculty and had held listening sessions a week ago that he thought had been productive.
This story will be updated as more information is available.
