Elected or Appointed? The Debate Over Selecting Michigan’s University Boards

What university boards do

Every public university is governed by a board. At the University of Michigan, Michigan State, and Wayne State, that board hires and evaluates the president, sets tuition and approves the budget, oversees strategy, and is accountable for how the institution is governed. Board members serve as fiduciaries, with duties of care and loyalty to the institution and its public mission.

What’s being proposed

State Sen. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, introduced a resolution in the Michigan Senate this spring to change how those members are chosen, moving from statewide election to gubernatorial appointment.