Q: How is your State University System's Board of Regents set up?

[Chiquitita]

In Georgia our governor appoints the Board of Regents and they seem to mainly do his, and the state legislature's, bidding. Is this how Boards of Regents work in other states? Has any state ever recently changed the way people become members of the Board of Regents? I'd appreciate any info people have!

[LibDemAlways]

1. California - Governor appoints 18 Regents who serve

12 year terms - generally big campaign contributers, lots of cronyism involved.

One s a student appointed by the other Regents for a term of one year.

Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of Assembly, Superintendent of Public Instruction, President and VP Of UC alumni associations and UC President also serve as "ex officio" members.

Current chair of Board of Regents is Sherry Lansing, formerly one of the most powerful women in Hollywood as a studio head.

As a UC parent faced with ever-rising tuition and fees, I can attest that they are a pretty useless bunch.

[bluestateguy]

2. Usually the student regent is some rich kid

The son or daughter of a wealthy campaign contributor to the governor. Some fraternity asshole or sorority princess, not like regular college students who worry about loans and paying the bills every day.

And then of course most states do not allow the student regent to vote anyway, but hey they get to go to some great cocktail parties and build up those connections.

[Chiquitita]

3. Thanks! sounds familiar...

Boards of Regents are really too powerful to be appointed by governors to my view. Ours are all captains of industry types, from socially prominent Georgia families. All white, except two, all men, except two. We don't have any student members and no one, NOT ONE! with a background in education!