The boards that govern Colorado’s universities and colleges ideally should reflect the diversity of our state and our schools. Unfortunately, they’ve been stacked with Republicans, as if no one else was paying taxes or attending state schools.
In years past, under Democratic governors, they were mostly stacked the other way.
The Colorado School of Mines board has seven Republican members and no Democrats. The Colorado State University board has eight Republicans and one Democrat. The Metropolitan State College board has eight Republicans and one Democrat.
Fortunately, the partisan approach to these college board appointments is about to change, and we welcome the gust of fresh air.
A law passed by the legislature this spring requires political diversity on the governor-appointed boards, resulting in some major shifts. From now on, no more than a simple majority can be from the same party.
For example, the terms of three Republicans on the Metro State board – including its chairman, GOP rainmaker Bruce Benson – expire next year. Colorado’s new governor, even if he is a Republican, will have to replace them with Democrats.
The bill would affect all colleges, including community colleges, except the University of Colorado, which has an elected Board of Regents.
Cynics say Gov. Bill Owens signed the bill because he’s worried a Democratic governor would do as he did and stack the deck. The governor, however, believes it’s “simply good public policy” to have more equal representation on these boards, his spokesman said, and we applaud the legislature for delivering a bill that will serve the state well.
Though we’re certain that board members have served with the best of intentions and efforts, college boards should not exclude wide swaths of state talent for reasons of political allegiance or ideology. Our boards must be pragmatic and broad-based groups committed to public education that will develop tomorrow’s leaders.
