The vote will be symbolic, according to Robert LaDuca, an at-large member of the Steering Committee, which functions as faculty liaison to the board.

"Fac Senate has no legal power over the board," LaDuca wrote in an email. "Just moral weight."

Faculty Senate is composed of representatives from every college on campus, in addition to the Steering Committee and others. It advises and makes recommendations to the administration on behalf of MSU faculty, according to its academic governance page. 

The president, the provost, representatives from the Associated Students of Michigan State University, the Council of Graduate Students and others have voice at meetings, but do not vote. 

The Steering Committee released a statement prior to the appointment of Interim President John Engler threatening a vote of no confidence if Engler was approved. Following Engler's appointment, the committee called for the vote.

The committee objected to Engler's lack of experience in academic administration. A major source of grief was the perception that the board ignored the suggestions of faculty and student liaisons when choosing Engler. 

Faculty and students recommended the board choose a candidate with experience combating sexual abuse, ideally a woman.

If Faculty Senate votes no confidence, they will join Residence Halls Association, or RHA, in calling for the board's collective resignation.