Proposal could change makeup of College Board
By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Oct. 27, 2003
Mississippi voters will have a chance next week to ratify or reject a state constitutional amendment that would revise the way members are chosen for the state College Board.
All members would be appointed to nine-year terms from the state's Supreme Court districts. Members now serve for 12 years representing the court districts, 1944 congressional districts or the state at-large.
State lawmakers gave initial approval to the amendment during the 2002 Legislature. While many lawmakers support the measure, some current College Board members say they have concerns.
Board responsibilities
The College Board, more formally called the Board of Trustees for the State Institutions of Higher Learning, oversees and sets policy for Mississippi's eight public universities.
The Mississippi Constitution now calls for the governor to appoint College Board members, who are then confirmed or rejected by the state Senate. The 12 members serve staggered 12-year terms.
One member is appointed from each of the seven congressional districts as they existed in 1944. One member comes each of the three Supreme Court districts and two are appointed from the state at-large.
Because terms are staggered, a governor has a chance during his four-year term to name four people to the College Board. The terms were designed to protect higher education from political control.
If voters ratify the proposed constitutional amendment, College Board members would serve shorter terms with four people representing the Southern, Central and Northern Supreme Court districts.
Lauderdale County is in the Central District.
East Mississippi
Crawford said the College Board agreed its districts should be updated, and members worked hard with the Legislature to keep the terms an adequate length.
Crawford said the current College Board districts ensures that East Mississippi will be represented because one of the 12 members represents the old 5th Congressional District.
Crawford was appointed to represent that district, which includes Lauderdale County and nine other East Mississippi counties.
Crawford said that losing a board member from the old 5th District may not benefit Lauderdale County, which is home to Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.
Other concerns
Ricki R. Garrett of Clinton represents the 7th Congressional District and has served on the board since 1992. Garrett said she also has concerns about the proposed amendment.
Garrett said she doesn't believe the amendment will accomplish what many believe it will, and she believes 12-year terms gives a lot of stability and continuity to the College Board.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Here is a look at a proposed state constitutional amendment to revamp the 12-member state College Board. The amendment will appear on the Nov. 4 election ballot.
Current districts: The governor now appoints
members to serve staggered terms representing the state
at-large, state Supreme Court districts or congressional
districts as they were drawn in 1944.
Proposed districts: The
governor would appoint all 12 board members to staggered terms representing the three state Supreme Court districts; each district would have four board members.
Proposed terms: If the
governor's appointments are confirmed by the state Senate, members would serve nine-year terms on the College Board rather than the 12-year terms they now serve.
