MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia University's faculty senate today voted overwhelmingly for the ouster of university President Michael Garrison, after a debate in which the executive was rebuked for what one faculty member called a "serious academic crime" in the Heather Bresch M.B.A. controversy.

The nonbinding resolution, which asks WVU's Board of Governors to require that Mr. Garrison resign if he does not voluntarily step down, passed by a vote of 77-19. Two other resolutions that sought milder sanctions failed to earn a majority.

Action by the senate comes two weeks after an investigative panel concluded that the university had no basis for awarding a master's of business administration degree retroactively to Ms. Bresch, Mylan Inc.'s chief operating officer. Ms. Bresch is the daughter of West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin and a close friend and former business associate of Mr. Garrison.

The panel's report triggered the resignations of Provost Gerald Lang and business school Dean R. Stephen Sears from their administrative posts. Both intend to continue teaching at WVU.

The senate meeting, which lasted about two hours, was marked by several impassioned speeches by faculty members who said they were upset by political decisions that they said damaged the university's academic integrity.

Faculty members also raised concerns about how alumni, donors and students are responding to the controversy.

"Alumni are enraged. Donors are closing their checkbooks. Students are threatening to disrupt commencement exercises," said Boyd Edwards, a physics professor.

Sophia Blaydes, a senate member who represents retired faculty, raised the issue of Mr. Garrison's academic record.

"The prerogative of the faculty was subverted by fraud," she told the senate. "I consider this a serious academic crime."