Regents ratify committee, board and commission appointments; oversight noted on student loan and Iowa College Aid roles

The Iowa Board of Regents on May 19 ratified appointments of regents to committees, boards and commissions as outlined in the docket memo and discussed the role of board committees in governance.

Regent Bates described the board as nine volunteer members with committee structures that provide focused governance for system operations. "In an operation of $7,800,000,000 including an academic medical center, the committee structure is the best way to go about our governance responsibility and ensure the 70,000 students we serve are given the best opportunity to succeed," Bates said.

The board moved to ratify the listed committee assignments; the motion was moved by Regent Hensley and seconded by Regent Jaden. A roll-call vote recorded yes votes from all members present and the motion carried.

During discussion, the board acknowledged an oversight on the appointments list: Regent Dunkel will be the board's representative on the Iowa Student Loan board. Regent Hensley said she received information that she is not eligible to serve on the Iowa College Aid Commission, citing a ruling from the attorney general issued in February 2009, and said she would forward the document for the board's consideration.

Board leadership reiterated that committees can meet at the discretion of their chairs to advise on topics within their purview but cannot make unilateral decisions that replace full board action; any committee recommendation requires full-board approval at a meeting.

The motion to ratify committee appointments passed by roll call. The board adjourned at the conclusion of business.