Haslam for UM governing board

Gov. Bill Haslam is working to make sure University of Memphis alumni, faculty and student represenatives make decisions about tuition and who will be the next university president.

Haslam is preparing a piece of legislation to present to the state asking to give The U of M its own governing board.

There are two governing boards for public universities in Tennessee: the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, which oversees UT's four main campuses and the Tennessee Board of Regents that manages The U of M and 45 other institutions, including 13 community colleges, 27 Tennessee Technology Centers and five state universities.

"In the state of Tennessee we have the State of Tennessee System consisting of all the Tennessee schools. Everyone else is thrown in the Tennessee Board of Regents," said Tyler DeWitt, Student Government Association president.  "Essentially, you have the same people governing Southwest (Community College) as you do governing a university with 23,000 students."

Governing boards are often made up of people who are directly involved with the schools they govern, including students.  

"The governing board from the TBR and the Tennessee System are made up of people from the government, universities and student representatives. If we have our own, I believe the same process would be followed," said Shirley Raines, U of M president.

Raines said The University would benefit from a board consisting of people who have an interest in their local university.  

"I think it would be helpful because it would get locals involved in their university. We welcome anything that promotes more support at the local level," Raines said.

Haslam's press secretary, David Smith, said the governor said it is only logical for The U of M to make its own decisions concerning the hiring or firing of The University president, fundraising and entering into agreements or alliances.

DeWitt lobbied to Haslam during his campaign in favor of The U of M having its own board.   

"When he was running for governor, I would ask him his opinion on The University having more autonomy from the Board. I asked him at least a dozen times. I'm very delighted he's making good on his promise," DeWitt said.

No legislation has been presented to TBR yet.

"We haven't seen an official plan. We've only seen what we've read in the newspapers," said Monica Greppin-Watts, communications director for the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Haslam has been developing the idea of The U of M having its own board since he first started campaigning in Memphis.

"At this point, he hasn't devised a plan. He thought it was a good idea. We've talked to him all the four times he's campaigned here, and he's met with our Board of Visitors," Raines said.

Haslam's press secretary said Haslam is still working to figure out how to give The U of M its own board in context with the rest of the TBR.

Haslam has proposed several different models to her and the Board of Visitors, Raines said.

"In one model, our board would report to the Board of Regents, the other model our board would be totally separate," Raines said.  

In order for either of these models to come into practice, it will take legislative action from Haslam.

"The governor does chair the Board of Regents and the Tennessee System, so it would take action from the governor for changes to take place," said Raines.