SENATE MEMORIAL 91

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy M. Keller

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF NEW MEXICO'S STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

     WHEREAS, the current governance structure of state educational institutions, namely boards of regents, has been in place since statehood; and

     WHEREAS, there is a continuing debate across the country on whether state-level boards or institutional boards are more responsive to the needs of the state and its citizens; and

     WHEREAS, the debate includes whether governance structures should be more oriented to a business or corporate model or to a collegial model and how educational institutions should be held accountable to the public trust as well as to state policymakers and citizens; and

     WHEREAS, as the provision of higher education becomes increasingly more complex and the internal and external interrelationships of educational institutions become more interdependent, it is time for the state to look at the efficacy of the current governance structure and the utility of having an overarching state board to ensure that taxpayers are getting the best public post-secondary educational system;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the higher education department be requested to study the issues of governance of the state's public colleges and universities and to make recommendations to the legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include descriptions and analyses of the governance structures in other states, with a particular emphasis on those states that have statewide boards of regents; whether or not governance board members should be elected; the qualifications, including geographic distribution within the state, of governance board members; the need for better-coordinated statewide post-secondary educational planning and implementation; and the role of the higher education department, the higher education advisory board and stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, in any governance structure; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of higher education.

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