 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
VETOED
ABOR; course approval; accounting system
Purpose
Authorizes the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) to delegate the authority to approve academic degrees or organizational units only to a public university president and prohibits a university president from further delegating that authority. Requires a public university to provide ABOR with access to the university's uniform accounting and reporting system.
Background
The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR to act as the governing body of Arizona's public university system and ABOR exercises the powers necessary for the effective governance and administration of the institutions under its control. ABOR may: 1) adopt, and authorize each public university to adopt regulations, policies, rules or measures that ABOR deems necessary; and 2) delegate in writing to ABOR's committees, university presidents or their designees or other entities under ABOR's control, any part of its authority for the administration and governance of Arizona's public universities. Any delegation of ABOR's authority may be rescinded by ABOR at any time in whole or in part. Subject to the powers and responsibilities of ABOR and university presidents, university faculty members must, through the faculty's elected representatives, share responsibility for academic educational activities and matters related to faculty personnel. Through the faculty's elected representatives, university faculty members participate in the university's governance and actively participate in the development of university policy (Ariz. Const. art. 11§ 5; A.R.S. §§ 15-1601 and 15-1626).
ABOR must develop a uniform accounting and reporting system in conjunction with the Auditor General and require each public university to comply with the uniform accounting and reporting system. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee must review the uniform accounting and reporting system before ABOR's final adoption.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Authorizes ABOR to delegate the authority to approve academic degrees or organizational units only to a public university president.
2. Prohibits a public university president from further delegating the president's authority to approve academic degrees or organizational units.
3. Requires ABOR and university presidents to consult, rather than share responsibility, with university faculty members, through the faculty's elected representatives, regarding academic and educational activities and faculty personnel matters.
4. Requires public university faculty members, through the faculty's representatives, to consult with ABOR and the university president regarding, rather than participate in:
a) the governance of the public university; and
b) the development of university policy.
5. Directs ABOR to require each public university to provide ABOR with access to the university's uniform accounting and reporting system for oversight and monitoring purposes.
6. Defines organizational unit as a department, center, institute, college or other academic unit of a university.
7. Makes technical and conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Governor's Veto Message
The Governor indicates in her veto message that faculty play a key role in the shared governance of a university's academic and research affairs and limiting their management participation has the potential to weaken the institution and limit the perspectives and expertise included in decision making.
House Action Senate Action
APPROP 2/14/24 DP 10-5-2-0 ED 3/20/24 DP 4-3-0
3rd Read 2/28/24 31-28-0-0-1 3rd Read 6/12/24 16-11-3
Vetoed by the Governor 6/21/24
Prepared by Senate Research
June 25, 2024
MH/LB/slp