Guv to get hire, fire power over key higher ed. officials

SALT LAKE CITY — On a close 39-34 vote, the Utah House gave final legislative approval to a bill to give the governor direct authority in the hiring and firing of the state's Commissioner of Higher Education or the president of the Utah College of Applied Technology.

SB39's co-sponsor, Rep. Bill Wright, R-Holden, defended the proposal, saying it would help spur the development of online, "non-bricks-and-mortar" options in the state's system of higher education, helping students who "fall between the cracks."

"I think the point is that we need cooperation … to get cooperation between these 'silos,'" Wright said.

The bill provides that the Commissioner or the UCAT president may be terminated either by their respective boards, or by the governor "after consultation with the board."

The Board of Regents would have to obtain approval from the governor and the consent of the Senate to appoint a Commissioner of Higher Education, according to the bill, and the UCAT Board of Trustees would have to do follow the same procedure to appoint a president.

But the arrangement would cause "undue political pressure" on the Commissioner of Higher Education, who needs insulation from politics to remain independent, argued Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Holladay.

The governor already appoints members of the Board of Regents, who now appoint the Commissioner, she noted.

"I don't see we have a problem," Arent said. "I don't see we have a need for this bill at this time."

Wright argued that the two boards would still be in the loop, interviewing, selecting and presenting a candidate for those positions to the governor.

SB39 now heads to the governor for final approval.

E-mail: lbrubaker@desnews.com