NASHVILLE – The prospect of Deputy Gov. John Morgan becoming the next chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents isn’t going down well with the Republican chairman of the state Senate Education Committee.
“After reading reports that there is only one applicant under review for Chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, I am writing to ask that you conduct an expanded search for this top position in higher education in our state,” Education Committee Chairman Delores Gresham, R-Somerville, wrote in her letter to the 18 Board of Regents members.
She said the “person chosen to lead Tennessee’s higher education system should be steeped in scholarship and must lead by example. The board should also look at applicants with senior managerial experience in public education.”
The Board of Regents institutions include six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26 technology centers.
A Board of Regents search committee last week unanimously recommended Morgan, a Democrat and former state comptroller, to head the higher education governing system. The full board is expected to act Friday.
Howard Roddy, a regent from Chattanooga, said he hopes any lawmakers critical of the nominee will speak up before the vote. Although Morgan has extensive experience in state government and was closely involved in crafting the most recent higher education reform legislation, Roddy said he has yet to make up his mind about the candidate.
“We would certainly consider a state senator’s or legislator’s comments,” he said.
The State Board of Regents recently changed requirements so the head of the State Board of Regents or University of Tennessee Board no longer must hold doctorates. Under the board’s new guidelines, an applicant is only required to have a a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree from a community college or technological center.
Morgan was the only candidate interviewed among six applicants. He was also the lone Tennessee applicant and the only candidate without a doctoral degree.
Morgan said his involvement in the new requirements motivated him to seek the position.
“I’ve been interested in education, education policy for years and years,” Morgan said. “What we started … I believe is something that, if well executed, can be really transformative in Tennessee.”
Gresham said having someone knowledgeable and experience in higher education issues and management is “even more important,” given recently enacted education reforms, including a plan to push Tennessee students to obtain advanced degrees
Gresham is the second Republican lawmaker to criticize the change in standards.
Sen. Ken Yager, R-Harriman, recently wrote Regents’ officials to question the change.
“How can the chancellor be expected to speak for higher education and pass on academic decisions without the requisite academic background?” he asked. “The Tennessee Board of Regents may become the only higher education system in the United States requiring neither an advanced nor terminal degree for its chief academic officer.”