NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday released his administration’s 42-bill agenda for this year’s legislative session that includes an effort to restructure higher education governance that led to the early retirement of the chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents schools.
The Republican governor wants to give more autonomy to the six four-year colleges to allow the Regents system to focus more on promoting graduation rates from the state’s two-year community and technical colleges.
Chancellor John Morgan earlier this month described the plan as “unworkable” in announcing retirement a year earlier than planned. Morgan said the changes would hurt would hurt oversight and accountability efforts.
But Haslam’s proposal is popular among lawmakers who would be able to tout more local control over regional schools in their home districts. Though one hang-up could develop over Haslam’s proposal to appoint all of the 12 members for each six school boards, which would control budgets, tuition and the selection of college presidents.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, has said lawmakers should have at least some say who serves on the boards of Austin Peay in Clarksville, East Tennessee in Johnson City, Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee State in Nashville and the University of Memphis.