MIAMI, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2002) –
In a unanimous vote, the Florida International University Board
of Trustees today staked out formal opposition to a proposed state
constitutional amendment that would restore a defunct governance
system for Florida’s public universities.
The Trustees voiced concern that the Ballot Issue 11 – the
so-called “Graham Amendment,” after its principal
backer, U.S. Sen. Bob Graham -- would scuttle significant headway
made under the current governance system, put in place 1 1/2 years
ago, and that FIU would suffer, perhaps more so than most of Florida’s
other public universities.
“A change back to the old, ineffective system would impose
a layer of people upon this university and others who are out
of touch with local needs,” said Trustee Adolfo Henriques
following the meeting. “We’ve been down that road,
and it was not a good one for our students and the community FIU
serves.”
Among the advantages cited by Trustees of the current governance
system:
_ Local control. The Trustee system puts governance of each public
university in the hands of 13 board members, usually local civic,
business and education leaders. The Regents system placed all
of Florida’s 11 public universities under the control of
a single, 14-member board.
_ Familiarity With Local Needs. Because the Trustee boards are
generally local in nature, they tend to be more in-touch with
local needs. In the final incarnation of the Board of Regents,
for instance, only one member was from Miami. All of FIU’s
current Trustees reside in Miami and have a strong familiarity
with the institution.
_ Efficient, Responsive. From approval of new academic programs
to authorization of contracts, Trustees react to issues important
to the university faster than the Board of Regents ever did. At
the Board’s May meeting, for instance, rapid approval was
given to three new high-tech degree programs in Engineering that
are in particularly high demand. Approval would have taken at
least months and perhaps more than a year under the Regents system.
_ Favoritism. The Regents system was often accused of favoring
older, established universities against the newer, fast-growing
urban universities that provide education to the bulk of Florida’s
public university students. The Trustees system enables all to
compete on a level playing field for funding and other key considerations.
“The Board of Trustees has been a boon for FIU, and it’s
a system that needs to be preserved and strengthened,” said
Board Chairman Armando Codina. “That’s why we support
a ‘no’ vote this November on Issue 11.”
The proposed amendment
will be the subject of a Faculty Senate-sponsored debate on Thurs.,
Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. in the FIU-University Park Graham Center Ballroom.
Speaking in favor of the amendment will be Robin Gibson, former
chairman of
the Board of Regents and counsel to U.S. Senator Bob Graham. Speaking
in
opposition to the amendment will be Henriques, treasurer of FIU’s
Board of
Trustees and former member of the Board of Regents.
There will be a live webcast of the debate at www.fiu.edu.
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