If students are to follow the examples set by faculty and administration, then students' long fight to attain a voice in the University administration will likely end soon. Last Monday, the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, the faculty's governing body, rejected a motion that would begin the process of placing a faculty member on the University Board of Regents. The idea of having faculty representation on the board has been discussed for the past two years but no progress has been made. With one of next week's Michigan Student Assembly elections' main issues focusing on the attainment of a student regent, SACUA has set a glaringly poor example. Faculty and student representation on the board of regents is long overdue.
Twenty-two universities nationwide have faculty members on their governing body - the University should follow suit. The proposed motion would only create an ex-officio position for a faculty representative, thus not granting voting privileges. But faculty involvement with the board could reduce miscommunication or misunderstandings. Having faculty representation on the board also could aid in administration matters. While University President Lee Bollinger is touted as faculty-friendly, gaining a place at the table could only further enhance relations between the regents and the faculty. Presently, for a SACUA member to gain a seat, one must ask permission from Bollinger at every regent's meeting. Faculty members deserve to be treated as participants in the University's business, not merely as spectators.
While the advantages seem staggering, disadvantages do exist. A faculty representative might only represent himself or herself and not the entire faculty. Pressures from department heads or colleagues could present opportunities for misrepresentation. But this can be easily overcome. If a SACUA member was given an ex-officio position, behavior could be monitored by an oversight committee and occurrences of distrust would likely be curbed.
Perhaps the biggest problem facing the faculty, and possibly delaying the approval of such a post, is the lack of current interaction between the faculty and the regents. If the faculty feels strongly about representation on the board, this should be shown through an increased level of participation. The faculty has not pursued all forms of participation presently available to them so receiving a position on the board could prove embarrassing. The current level of faculty interaction must increase.
The regents constitute a governing body that makes decisions that affect everyone at the University. Faculty and students are probably the most effected by the issues discussed and decided upon by the board, but they still hold no representation. While the ideas of faculty and students are usually addressed, no member of the board is at the table solely to represent the desires of faculty or students.
A student or faculty regent could decrease miscommunication, aid in administrative affairs, and represent key issues affecting those who work and live most closely with the University. SACUA has not acted in the faculty's best interest. In this case, students should not follow their example.
03-13-98
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