January 20 � 21, 2004

 

ITEM 126-102-R0105����������������� A New Meeting Schedule for the Montana Board of Regents

 

THAT:�������������������������������������� The Board of Regents adopt a new meeting schedule that would result in the following changes:

(1)           the Board would continue to hold its traditional and customary meetings in the months of March, May, September and November; it would meet with the Board of Public Education, in January and July, as the Board of Education, to satisfy its constitutional mandate;

(2)           it would have a short meeting, in January or July, on an �as needed� basis, to complete any Board of Regents� work that cannot wait until the March or September meeting;

(3)           it will hold its annual Board retreat, in July, in conjunction with that month�s Board of Education meeting.

 

The new schedule will begin with the July 2005 meeting.

 

EXPLANATION:����������������������� The revised meeting schedule is proposed for several reasons, including the following:

a)             the new schedule will reduce the number of regular

Regent meetings from six to four, hopefully saving time and expense for everyone associated with the meetings;

b)             the new schedule will give staff in the Commissioner�s office, and on the campuses, more time to prepare for Regent meetings;

c)             the new schedule will make more efficient use of Regents� time, particularly with the focus on Board of Education meetings in January and July; under the current schedule, those meetings typically require additional travel for the Board to satisfy that obligation;

d)             the new schedule will also eliminate a separate trip for the Board�s annual retreat, and will move that important activity to the beginning of the planning year.

 

Members of the Board of Regents have been consulted about the meeting schedule change.� The proposal has also been distributed widely on the campuses of the Montana University System.� The academic officers in the System have been consulted carefully about the proposal, because the change could have the most impact on the program approval process.� The feedback from everyone has been supportive, and can probably be summarized in two phrases:� a) fewer meetings would be a real bonus; and b) they will try to work with whatever schedule is formally adopted by the Board.

 

The Academic & Student Affairs Committee of the Board has reviewed the proposal, and will make a recommendation to the full Board at this meeting.