BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -

The UAB School of Nursing has written a letter to the university Faculty Senate asking for a vote of no confidence against UAB President Dr. Ray Watts.

While the students acknowledge that the decisions made as part of the strategic plan may be fiscally correct, they criticize Watts for the way in which he applied the plan.

They ask for better transparency in handling matters that affect the university as a whole as well as the city of Birmingham.

"The lack of vision, honesty, and communication resulted in a lack of respect and trust in our President. We need a leader that values the opinions of the students he leads. We want a leader who hears the voices of the students and community, and fights for us. We are afraid Dr. Watts failed us in that," students write.

As the university moves forward, the students said they want a leader who will consider all parts - from undergraduate programs to athletics to on-campus housing.

A nursing student we spoke with said she thinks the fact that the letter came from students in the nursing program might give the plea a leg to stand on.

"I believe that the school of nursing is very prestigious, people look up to nursing students. It's a competitive program so the fact that we see something we want to change speaks a lot to the university," Kyndal Cheng said.

To the Faculty Senators and Alternate Senators for the UAB School of Nursing:

We are writing to you as a UAB Nursing students, Blazer fans, and advocates for the University.

See the article here:
UAB School of Nursing students asks for vote of no confidence against Watts