Proposed Arizona bill would abolish Board of Regents

PHOENIX — A bill making its way through the Arizona Legislature would seek to abolish the Arizona Board of Regents and replace it with a different governing body.

State Rep. Mark Finchem (R-Tucson) said the proposal would create an elected board to oversee state universities.

“A governance board, which is supposed to be a board to be closer and more critical of the presidents and their staff and the work that they do,” said Finchem.

Finchem said his bill would give more power to lawmakers and the governor.

“Essentially creates a board of trustees that are elected officials responsive to the voters input,” Finchem said.

The governor would be charged with appointing four people from the business sector and three members from the academic arena. Other board members would include the governor and legislative members from both parties.

This new board of university trustees would deal with tuition rates and student debts. The regents’ budget and staff would be eliminated.

Finchem said he drafted the bill at the request of constituents who told him the regents have stepped outside their authority over universities

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