Michigan Senate would rather see next governor appoint new Trustees
Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s two nominations to the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees are under the magnifying glass of the state Senate.
Granholm attempted in March to fill two term-limited seats — those of Trustee Gail Torreano and Trustee Stephanie Comai — but state officials are not about to accept the choices without further questioning.
Senators say they would rather see the next governor make the decisions since Granholm’s term ends in December.
We applaud the Michigan Senate for stepping up and approaching the nominations with caution.
A university’s board of trustees is extremely influential, dictating all major decisions.
From tuition rates to budget cuts to holding the university president accountable, no action goes into motion without the approval of the board.
To simply accept any nomination made by Granholm without a second guess would be irresponsible on the part of the Senate.
Keeping students in mind is crucial to improving the economic climate of this state.
Granholm appointed Ronald C. Edmonds and Kevin F. Kelley to the board.
The Senate would rather see the nominations made after the next governor is elected; it has nothing to do with the nominees’ lack of qualifications.
This logic makes perfect sense.
Why would students and lawmakers want trustees that weren’t appointed by a current governor?
Decisions made for the university would be more cohesive with current events in Michigan if the nominations were made after the gubernatorial election this fall.
Granholm’s nominations seem rushed, as if she’s trying to make choices for the simple sake of ensuring her say over who steps into the positions.
We can’t recall a time in the recent past when decisions on trustees were made this far in advance.
In fact, Granholm chose replacements for former trustees John Kulhavi and Jeffrey Caponigro in January 2009, almost a full month after their terms ended the previous December.
The next governor will need to take an extensive look at higher education funding, as it will continue to be an ongoing issue of concern.
It will take years for the state’s economy to emerge from the tangle it is currently in.
At the very least, the next governor should have a say in the people he will work with in leadership positions of the state’s public institutions.
CMU needs leaders interested in students getting the best education possible while making budget cuts that won’t lower academic standards.
The Senate should continue to be on guard and carefully think through the nomination process.
The board affects thousands of students who will eventually graduate and pour their talent into our economy.
Proceed wisely, and approve trustees that will keep students as a primary concern.
