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WSU regents debate one‑year vs. two‑year officer terms ahead of April elections
Summary
Members of the Washington State University Board of Regents discussed whether the board should retain a one‑year term for chair and vice chair or continue the two‑year practice that emerged during the COVID era. The board’s executive committee has proposed a slate to be voted on at the April meeting and invited self‑nominations.
Members of the Washington State University Board of Regents spent a portion of the March 6 committee meeting discussing the process for electing board officers and whether the chair’s term should default to one year or two.
The discussion, held in the Board’s Executive and Governance Committee, centered on the board’s bylaws and the operating practice that evolved during the COVID years. Under the bylaws the board holds elections after the first Wednesday in April each year; the vice chair traditionally succeeds automatically to the chair role after one year unless the board decides otherwise.
Regent Laura Powell and several colleagues said the two‑year operating practice that developed during the pandemic helped some officers manage the workload but can be taxing for regents who hold full‑time jobs. Other regents urged flexibility, saying a one‑year term should remain the default while allowing exceptions when continuity or particular skills justify a second year.
Committee members said the executive committee has discussed a slate to forward to the full board’s April meeting that would present the current vice chair as the candidate for chair and Regent Virginia Serna as the candidate for vice chair, while keeping the nomination process open to self‑nomination by other regents. The chair said members who wish to be considered should notify the executive committee before the April vote.
No formal vote occurred on March 6. The board’s election of officers is a scheduled action item for the full Board of Regents meeting in April.
