University College Cork president Gerry Wrixon has received the backing of the college's governing body for an extension of his term of office beyond the usual retirement age of 65.
College governors voted yesterday by 25 to nine in favour of an amendment to the university's statutes, allowing Prof Wrixon to remain in his role until 2009.
Under the Universities Act, a president can hold office for 10 years but not if he or she reaches the age of 65 first.
Last December it emerged that Minister for Finance Brian Cowen was prepared to approve what is in effect a five-year extension for Prof Wrixon.
Yesterday's vote means that, subject to the approval of Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin, as well as the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the way is now clear for Prof Wrixon to continue in his post.
Previously Ms Hanafin had indicated that she would not object to such a move, although the HEA still has to reconsider the amended statute approved yesterday.
Last month senior academic staff on UCC's academic council voted by a margin of almost two to one not to support the planned extension of his term of office.
However, the governing body, while legally obliged to consult the council, is not obliged to heed its recommendations.
The college governors at yesterday's meeting, which was described as tense but relatively good-tempered, voted in a secret ballot, after a proposal for such a ballot from UCC students union president Frank Milling was approved.
Sources at the college have indicated that a legal challenge to the amendment to the college's statutes was likely.
One described the decision to approve the contract extension as leading "to many more months and possibly years of division and internal strife".
However, a spokesman for UCC yesterday said it was unaware of any legal challenge to the decision of the governing body, and did not know what the basis could be for such a challenge.
Prof Wrixon was unavailable for comment.