Speaking to one of the more knowledgeable audiences that he has faced, State Senator Doug Davis, chair of the Mississippi Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, laid out his proposal to change the state’s higher education governance structure.

The chair of the Universities and Community Colleges Budget Committee proposed three modifications:

• A board of trustees at each of Mississippi’s public universities.
• Local board input on tuition.
• A required legislative funding formula for the institutions.

The Universities and Colleges Committee held hearings for two days in September about institutional administration reform.

“As I began looking at our current system, it became clear there are times when our university leaders should speak with one voice, but there are times when each campus should discuss issues facing their individual colleges,” Davis said. “For that reason I am proposing legislation that if passed would be the most comprehensive education reform bill since the 1982 Education Reform Act.”

Davis’ plan calls for converting the current Institutions of Higher Learning Board to a Board of Governors. It would appoint three members to the local university board, with the remaining four appointed by the governor. Local board members would serve staggered five-year terms confirmed by the Senate.

“Such a board would give a sense of ownership to each campus,” Davis said.

Local boards would choose institutional leaders based on goals and visions set by interested parties for the given campus.

Secrecy in the current universities presidents search process has stimulated significant interest in more local autonomy. One reason given for the practice is to shield applicants from difficulties with their current employers.

 “I have never seen a process so divisive and so emotionally draining on all parties,” Davis said.

 “Raising tuition is a barrier for many in our state to receive a higher education degree,” said Davis. “In Mississippi, only about 20 percent of our adult population has a college degree and we need to work hard to increase that percentage.”

The vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee explained that the Legislature appropriates the money and the IHL Board allocates it.

Under Davis’ proposal, the Legislature would make allocations through its funding formula. Such a procedure is similar to the legislative funding formulas for the state’s K-through-12 and community and junior colleges systems.

“Those formulas provide a level of predictability to those systems that our colleges simply don’t have,” he said. “In implementing a legislative funding formula, I want to ensure Mississippians aren’t subsidizing non-residents. I don’t believe the student who comes from Houston, Tex. should be funded at the same level as the student from Houston, Miss.”

Davis asserts that his proposal isn’t radical. Of 16 Southern Regional Education Board states, 12 have higher education systems similar to his proposal.

“There is no perfect model by which to govern higher education, it’s just my job to make sure the system we are working under is the best one for the students who participate in our university system,” he said.

Several Rotarians who through the years have been university administrators raised questions about the politicization of the process. In particular, concern was expressed that individual board members could exercise too much control.

Davis countered that he feels the current system is very political.

Any higher education governance change requires a constitutional amendment ratified by Mississippi voters.  Legislation carrying out the changes would be detailed in the amendment.

Davis does not anticipate the proposal to pass in the next session. He is most interested in getting the matter discussed.