The Regents of the University of Michigan: Guardians of Governance and Fiscal Responsibility

The University of Michigan, a renowned public institution, operates under the guidance of its Board of Regents. This governing body plays a crucial role in ensuring the University's effective management and long-term success. Originally known as the Board of Trustees, the Board of Regents holds broad responsibilities, ranging from financial oversight to academic leadership.

Composition and Election

The Board of Regents comprises individuals elected to serve eight-year terms. Every two years, two regent positions become available, ensuring a continuous influx of new perspectives and expertise. Candidates are nominated at state party conventions and subsequently elected in statewide elections. Notably, regents are not subject to term limits, allowing experienced members to continue contributing their knowledge and guidance to the University. As of a meeting on January 18, 2006, Regent Julia Darlow (D-Ann Arbor) was present, having been elected to the board in November 2006.

Core Responsibilities

The Board of Regents' responsibilities are multifaceted, encompassing various aspects of University governance:

Fiscal Oversight

A primary responsibility of the board is to ensure that the University runs in a fiscally responsible manner. This involves overseeing the University's budget, financial planning, and resource allocation. The regents carefully review and approve the annual budget, ensuring that it aligns with the University's strategic goals and priorities. They also monitor the University's financial performance, making adjustments as needed to maintain financial stability and sustainability.

Infrastructure Development

The Board of Regents plays a crucial role in shaping the University's physical landscape. They are charged with approving construction projects valued at more than $1 million. This oversight ensures that new facilities and renovations align with the University's academic mission and provide a conducive environment for learning, research, and innovation.

Faculty and Leadership Appointments

The board exercises significant control over the appointment and promotion of University faculty, including the President. This responsibility reflects the board's commitment to attracting and retaining top talent, ensuring the University's continued academic excellence. Last year, the board approved giving President Coleman a 3 percent raise for her work in her first five-year term.

Policy and Regulations

The faculty of each school and college shall from time to time recommend to the board for approval such regulations as are not included within these bylaws and which are pertinent to its structure and major operating procedures, such as departmental organization, requirements for admission and graduation, and other educational matters, the determination of which is within the peculiar competence of the faculties of the several schools and colleges. Subject to the ultimate authority of the board, the faculty of each school and college is also vested with plenary powers to make rules and regulations concerning other matters such as grading regulations, class attendance, committee organization and related internal matters. Each faculty shall provide suitable instruction for the students enrolled in its school or college. Each faculty shall recommend to the board students under its jurisdiction who qualify for university degrees.

University-Wide Governance

The Board of Regents oversees various aspects of university governance, including:

Executive Officers: All executive officers of the university perform their duties under the general direction of the president.
Chancellors: The chancellors of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the University of Michigan-Flint are appointed on the recommendation of the president and, subject to the general direction of the president, serve as the chief executive officers of their respective campuses.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs: The provost and executive vice president for academic affairs is the chief academic and budget officer for the Ann Arbor campus.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer: The executive vice president and chief financial officer is the chief financial officer of the university.
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the University of Michigan Medical School: The executive vice president for medical affairs and dean of the University of Michigan Medical School serves as the chief executive officer of the entire academic medical center.
Vice Presidents: The university has several vice presidents overseeing various areas, including information technology, research, development, student life, and government relations.

Dismissal, Demotion, or Terminal Appointment of Faculty

A recommendation of dismissal, demotion, or terminal appointment may be made on the basis of demonstrated misconduct in teaching or research, substantial and manifest neglect of duty, and/or personal conduct that substantially impairs the individual’s fulfillment of institutional responsibilities; this includes acts involving moral turpitude or professional or scholarly misconduct. This recommendation must be supported by clear and convincing evidence, subject to the procedures contained in this Bylaw.

Proceedings that may result in a recommendation of dismissal, demotion, or terminal appointment may be initiated by the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs or by the executive authority (dean, director, or executive committee) of the school, college, or other unit (hereinafter called the administrative unit) in which the affected faculty member is employed.

Severance Pay

If the dismissal under Sec. 5.09 is for cause involving moral turpitude or scholarly or professional misconduct including intentional refusal, expressed or implied by conduct, to perform properly assigned academic duties, no severance will be paid and the faculty member’s compensation will end on the date that he or she receives written notice of dismissal. Faculty members with indeterminate tenure who are dismissed under Sec. 5.09 for reasons other than those listed above, such as program discontinuation, shall be entitled to severance pay following written notice of dismissal, and on the conditions described below.

Transparency and Accountability

The Board of Regents operates with a commitment to transparency and accountability. The board meets once a month to discuss University business. These public meetings are held once a month on Thursday afternoons in the Fleming Administration Building. The Michigan Student Assembly is given time during each of these meetings to ensure that the views of students are represented.

University Senate

The University Senate, consisting of faculty members, executive officers, deans, and other officers, is authorized to consider any subject pertaining to the interests of the University and make recommendations to the Board of Regents. The Senate Assembly serves as the legislative arm of the senate.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Regents and executive officers of the University of Michigan, and the senior officers of the University at Dearborn and at Flint, will at all times act in a manner consistent with their fiduciary responsibilities to the university and will exercise particular care that no detriment to the university results from conflicts between their interests and those of the university. If a regent or an executive/senior officer believes that he or she may have a conflict of interest, the regent or executive/senior officer will promptly and fully disclose the conflict to the secretary of the Board of Regents and should refrain from participating in any way in the matter to which the conflict relates until the conflict question has been resolved.

Board Meetings and Operations

The Board of Regents adheres to specific procedures for conducting its meetings and operations:

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Emergency Action: Emergency action may be taken by the board between meetings if and when any matter arises which, in the opinion of the president, or any three members of the board, requires official action by the board prior to the next meeting.
Special Meetings: Notice of special meetings will be given to each member of the board at least two days in advance and will state the purpose of the meeting.
Parliamentary Procedure: In the absence of specific provisions to the contrary, faculties, committees, boards, and other deliberative bodies within the university will follow the rules of parliamentary procedure prescribed in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th ed.
Board Leadership: The president of the university will preside at meetings of the board, without the right to vote. There will be a chair and vice chair of the board, each of whom will serve a one-year term commencing on July 1 of each year and ending on June 30 of the succeeding year.
Committees: The chair may establish ad hoc committees of the board, and the board will prescribe their duties and functions. There will be four standing committees of the Board of Regents: the Finance, Audit and Investment Committee; the Personnel, Compensation and Governance Committee; and others.
Agenda: The agenda for business will be prepared by the president, in consultation with the chair and vice chair of the board and the vice president and secretary of the university.
Minutes: Minutes of formal sessions of the Board of Regents will be kept by the vice president and secretary of the university and will be published in the Proceedings of the Board of Regents for the historical record.

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