Dive Brief:
- Public university governing boards in several states — including North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, Washington, and South Dakota — have been criticized by lawmakers and judges over their decision-making and the level of transparency that goes with it.
- Inside Higher Ed reports there is less trust in board members as more people get involved in debates about college affordability and presidential pay.
- Lawmakers in Michigan and Washington are pushing for legal changes to require boards to conduct more of their meetings in public, a move that makes Thomas Harnisch, director of state relations for the American Association of Colleges and Universities, wonder if it will hurt the quality of discussions and lead to poorer decisions at these institutions.
Dive Insight:
The Illinois legislature recently passed two new laws that would limit governing boards’ freedom to negotiate presidential contracts. The laws came in response to a controversial and costly buyout for College of DuPage President Robert Breuder and the threat of another pricey agreement when University of Illinois Chancellor Phyllis Wise resigned.
The North Carolina legislature passed a law requiring the full board of governors of its public university system to consider at least three finalists for the system president position. The law was passed by the legislature but not signed by the governor in time for Margaret Spellings' appointment.
Meanwhile, a judge from Washington has ruled the state university’s governing board violated open meetings act regulations 24 times between 2012 and 2014. The increased scrutiny is real, and it could affect the future makeup of public boards — perhaps to the detriment of academia.