It's back: Bickering over university governance

Here's evidence this spring's political battle over university governance is far from done.

The Board of Governors next week will consider new rules strengthening its oversight of individual universities, whose day to day operations are supposed to fall to trustees.

One regulation calls for university boards of trustees to get the BOG's OK before acquiring real property for instructional or research purposes.

Another gives the BOG more involvement in the selection and evaluation of a university president.

FSU trustee Jim Smith, former secretary of state (left), says that far exceeds the BOG's governing role.

Smith has written to Carolyn Roberts, chairman of the BOG, asking her to delay any decision on the proposals.

"These revisions reflect an unreasonable and needless micromanagement and interference with several of the university board's most important powers and duties," Smith wrote. "By becoming involved in the evaluation of the president, the Board of Governors blurs the lines of authority between the board(s) of trustees and the Board of Governors."

- Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler, higher education reporter