Community and technical college districts are governed by Governor-appointed boards of trustees. Each board of trustees is composed of five members appointed for terms of five years. A sixth student member may be selected.
Each regional university and the Evergreen State College is governed by Governor-appointed boards of trustees composed of eight members who serve for six years, except a student member who serves for one year. The regional universities are Western Washington University in Bellingham, Eastern Washington University in Cheney, and Central Washington University in Ellensburg.
The University of Washington and Washington State University are each governed by a Governor-appointed board of regents composed of 11 members who serve for six years, except a student member who serves for one year.
The boards of regents and the boards of trustees have duties and responsibilities set out in statute, including employing the presidents of their respective colleges or institutions.
Student and faculty regents of the governing boards of institutions of higher education may participate and vote on the initial selection and hiring of a presidential candidate.
The substitute bill removes the newly established process for hiring a president and instead allows a student and a faculty member of an institution's governing board to participate and vote on the initial selection and hiring of a presidential candidate.
(In support) The choice of a university president is important. This bill is greatly revised from how it was introduced. Assistant Attorneys General noticed problems with the original bill. The intent was for students and faculty to be able to participate in the presidential appointment process. This also includes the community and technical colleges and the regional institutions. This bill provides legal clarity on formal participation for students and faculty. Faculty regents are appointed to serve Washington like all other regents. Faculty regents should participate in the presidential appointment process. Faculty regents are experts in evaluating scholarly credentials, which presidential candidates must have. The president would gain legitimacy through faculty participation. Washington is committed to transparency and that should include the presidential search. Many leadership searches are an open process. There are a wide variety of processes to find university presidents across the state. This bill is a step toward transparency. All Washingtonians benefit from a leader they can believe in. It is a positive if someone does not want to apply due to transparency requirements. Police chiefs and supreme court justices are not elected in private and it should be the same for presidents.
(Opposed) None.
Representative Gerry Pollet, prime sponsor; Jacob Vigdor, University of Washington Faculty/COF; Sam Ligon, Eastern Washington University Faculty/COF; Gautham Reddy; Amy Hagopian, UW Chapter, American Association of University Professors; Bidisha Biswas, Council of Faculty, Faculty Legislative Rep for WWU; Collin Bannister, Associated Students of Washington State University ; Sienna Jarrard, Associated Students of the University of Washington Bothell; Joe Dacca, University of Washington; and Chris Mulick, Washington State University.