Gov. Cooper takes aim at UNC System governance; Creates commission on public colleges

Education

Gov. Cooper takes aim at UNC System governance; Creates commission on public colleges

吉彩网网站 | By Dave DeWitt

Published November 1, 2022 at 12:01 PM EDT

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper poses for a portrait at the Governor's mansion on Wed., Aug. 17, 2022. Cooper has been very vocal and public with his efforts to elect Democrats in this year鈥檚 mid-term elections. This follows the intensification in importance of state legislative races that occurred when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, and placed more emphasis on how state鈥檚 approach that issue, and its impact on the daily lives of residents. — File photo of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper posing for a portrait at the Governor's mansion on Wed., Aug. 17, 2022.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday that he is creating a bi-partisan commission to consider how appointments are made to the state鈥檚 higher education boards.

Cooper made Tuesday morning from the Governor鈥檚 Mansion in Raleigh, flanked by two former UNC System presidents who will co-chair the Commission on the Future of Public Universities in North Carolina. Margaret Spellings is a Republican who served as president from 2016 to 2019, and Tom Ross is a Democrat who led the system from 2011 to 2016.

Ross said he has 鈥減rofound鈥� respect for Spellings and is eager to work with the commission.

And while the commission will be bipartisan, it will have no power to make any changes, as that power rests solely with the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Gov Cooper is announcing a commission to make recommendations about "reforming" the appointment process for the board of governors and other system leaders. The BOG is appointed by the
— Liz Schlemmer (@LSchlemmer_吉彩网网站)

Cooper cited a lack of diversity on the UNC Board of Governors as one reason the advisory commission is necessary.

鈥淭he purpose of this commission is to preserve the undisputed excellence of our higher education system to advise on how we adjust a university governance system to ensure diversity of race, geography, gender and political thought,鈥� he said.

Cooper also called the UNC System a 鈥渢reasure鈥� and said it is the 鈥渆nvy of the nation.鈥�

Wow: Cooper is taking direct aim at UNC System governance. In exec order, he's establishing a commission to advise him on public universities.

*Co-chaired by Tom Ross and Margaret Spellings*

EO:
— Jason deBruyn (@jasondebruyn)

Currently, the 24-member Board of Governors includes just six women and four people of color.

When asked about timing, Cooper said he would like the commission to send any recommendations to the General Assembly within the next eight months, while members are still in session.

鈥淵ou鈥檇 have to be na茂ve to think the purpose of this 鈥榗ommission鈥� is to do anything other than recommend the Governor obtain partisan appointments to university boards,鈥� said Phil Berger, the Republican President Pro Tem of the Senate, in a statement. 鈥淕overnor Cooper rightly describes the UNC System as 鈥榯he state鈥檚 crown jewel.鈥� Our state鈥檚 constitution wisely places full responsibility for maintaining our 鈥榩ublic system of higher education鈥� in the General Assembly. Gov. Cooper鈥檚 latest autocratic attempt to enlarge his power and expand executive control is disappointing, but unsurprising considering his relentless assault on the separation of powers.鈥�

吉彩网网站鈥檚 Jeff Tiberii and Mitchell Northam contributed to this report.