Bob Kerrey, whose leadership as president of the New School has been called into question by faculty members, met with professors this morning in what his new blog called the “first step in establishing a new process to enhance shared governance of the university and open up lines of communication.”

The meeting was held almost a week after senior faculty members voted no confidence in Mr. Kerrey, a former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator who has led the university since 2001. That same day, the university’s governing board unanimously confirmed its support for Mr. Kerrey.

The senior faculty’s vote has since been endorsed by full-time faculty members, who voted, 269 to 8 (with 10 abstentions), in favor of the resolution passed by their senior colleagues, said James Miller, a professor of political science and a co-chair of the institution’s Faculty Senate.

Mr. Miller said that, during today’s meeting, five faculty members read prepared statements, at times sharply worded, that supported the outcome of votes conducted in their respective divisions of the New School. Mr. Kerrey “didn’t talk, he just listened” as the statements were read. At one point, Mr. Miller said, he apologized for making recent comments to the news media that drove an even deeper wedge between him and faculty members.

“I would say that he did as well as you could expect,” said Mr. Miller of Mr. Kerrey’s appearance before his detractors. Mr. Kerrey wrote in a post to his blog after the meeting that he “appreciated the frankness and openness of our faculty during today’s meeting.” —Audrey Williams June