Michigan House Proposal to Change University Board Appointments Fails
In a recent development, a proposal aimed at altering the process of appointing board members for Michigan’s “Big Three” public universities faced a setback in the state House. The proposal, which sought to grant the governor the authority to appoint board members instead of the current system involving public elections, did not garner enough support to advance to the August ballot.
Currently, board members are nominated at party conventions before being elected by the public. The proposed change necessitates an amendment to the state constitution, which mandates voter approval.
The initiative was put forth to address concerns regarding board-level dysfunction at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and former governors John Engler and Jim Blanchard, all alumni of MSU, endorsed the concept.
Despite a close margin of 52 votes in favor and 54 opposed, the proposal fell short of the required two-thirds majority of 74 votes to proceed to the ballot. Notably, only one Democrat supported placing the question on the ballot.
House Minority Leader Ranjiv Puree criticized Speaker Matt Hall for rushing the vote without prior notice or negotiation, leading to six Republicans voting against it. Puree expressed confusion over the decision-making process, highlighting the failure to secure support even from within the majority party.
The proposed reform would have necessitated the removal of all current members from the U of M, WSU, and MSU boards. Governor Whitmer would have appointed a majority of the new members on her last day in office, with the remaining vacancies filled by her successor on January 1.
Speaker Hall expressed a desire to expedite the proposal’s journey to the Senate for potential inclusion on the November ballot. He also hinted at plans to negotiate a more comprehensive approach that would involve abolishing an elected state board of education.
