IPFW Senate votes to keep Wartell

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - In a special university session, the Indiana University-Purdue University Senate voted in favor of allowing Chancellor Michael Wartell to stay on with the school for another two years Monday.

The resolution passed with a 39-2 vote. Out of 57 eligible voters, 41 showed.

On Friday, Purdue University announced the formation of a search committee to find the next chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

According to Purdue University, the school's retirement policy requires university executives and staff in high policy-making positions to retire by the end of the fiscal year in which they turn 65 if they have been employed in their current positions for two years immediately before retirement and qualify for the minimum retirement benefit specified by federal law.

Under the current policy, Wartell's retirement would be effective July 1, 2012.

The only faculty senator to speak for or against the resolution was Anne Argast, professor of geosciences, who said she agrees that Wartell is a good leader who has many accomplishments, but in her opinion, it is time for a change.

Now that the resolution has passed, it will be sent to the Purdue president and Board of Trustees to be considered while the school forms the search committee. The Trustees are expected to meet Friday in West Lafayette.

Wartell asked for the two-year extension in order to see IPFW's 50th anniversary and the completion of several unfinished projects under his leadership.