World · North America · 1 hr ago
Cornell faculty vote no confidence in university leadership
Cornell faculty voted no confidence in the university’s leadership.
A no-confidence vote expresses a lack of confidence in those leading an organization.
The vote concerns Cornell, but no further details about its scope were provided.
The information available does not say what prompted the vote.
It signals faculty dissatisfaction with leadership, though the reasons are not specified.
No next steps were given, so the vote’s consequences are not clear.
Cornell University’s faculty senate approved a no-confidence resolution in the university’s top leaders.
The resolution passed 75-50, with five senators abstaining and five not voting.
The vote followed debate over the administration’s response to a former student’s allegations of sexual assault at a fraternity party.
The university’s board of trustees said it fully supports President Michael Kotlikoff and his administration.
The resolution did not call for Kotlikoff to resign.
- Who
- Cornell University’s faculty senate.
- What
- It approved a resolution declaring no confidence in the university’s top leaders.
- When
- The results were released on Friday, 6 November 2026, after electronic voting that lasted more than a week.
- Where
- Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
- Why
- Faculty members debated whether university leaders properly handled a former student’s allegations and had done enough to curb sexual misconduct.
Cornell faculty members supporting the resolution
Cornell University’s board of trustees
Leadership response
Cornell faculty members supporting the resolution
Supporters said the administration had not acted forcefully enough on sexual misconduct and disciplinary processes.
Cornell University’s board of trustees
The board said Kotlikoff and his administration were the right leaders to address the issue.
A former student said she was given ketamine and raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house.
The former student filed a lawsuit against Cornell and seven former fraternity members.
The faculty senate released the results of its electronic no-confidence vote.
- Vote result
- 75-50
- Abstentions
- 5 faculty senators
- Not voting
- 5 faculty senators
- Lawsuit defendants
- Cornell University and 7 former Chi Phi members
- Resolution
- Did not call for Kotlikoff’s resignation
3 sources
What people are saying
The board fully supports President Kotlikoff and his administration as they continue to listen and act decisively in support of students
we are hopeful that this will be yet another step forward to educate and support the Cornell community by addressing the longstanding scourge of sexual assault on campus.