University College Cork president Prof Gerry Wrixon suffered a rebuff yesterday when senior academic staff voted by almost two to one not to support his planned extension of his term of office later this year beyond the usual retirement age of 65.
Last December, it emerged that the Minister for Finance, Mr Cowen, was prepared to approve a five-year contract extension for Prof Wrixon. Under the Universities Act, a president can hold office for 10 years but not if he reaches the age of 65 first.
But yesterday, members of the Academic Council - the body representing professorial and senior academics - voted in a secret ballot by 60 votes to 31, with two abstentions, to recommend to the board of governors that they not extend Prof Wrixon's term of office.
The board is legally obliged to consult with the Academic Council on the move but it is not obliged to heed its recommendation. The matter is expected to be raised at the board's next meeting in March.
Last month, an attempt to remove Prof Des Clarke, an outspoken critic of Prof Wrixon's style of presidency, from the board was aborted when Prof Wrixon asked the proposers of the motion to withdraw it at a board meeting. The board had voted in December to "formally dissociate itself" from statements made by Prof Clarke about the Victoria Lodge student accommodation development.