LANSING (AP) — As Michigan voters look at their ballot in November they will have the unique option to elect three university governance boards. As the only state to put public university leadership roles on a statewide ballot, controversial leadership has been in the spotlight in recent years.

Public universities’ decisions are center stage nationally due to the growing number of coronavirus cases on campuses, but in Michigan, leadership during scandals has also caused discussion at the universities and in the Legislature about possible changes to the status quo.

Changing the methods of selection to these boards, for example, erupted from the outcry over the Michigan State University Board of Trustees’ handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal in which the former MSU and USA Gymnastics doctor sexually abused hundreds of girls and young women. The board faced criticism for its callousness at times and for lack of cooperation with the Michigan Attorney General’s office’s investigation into the abuse.

The process of electing these boards is partisan — candidates for the three boards are selected through party conventions who run for eight-year terms. The rest of Michigan’s 12 public universities use the common method of gubernatorial appointments for their boards.

MSU, University of Michigan and Wayne State University all have two seats up for election in November.

The line of accountability is much clearer when the governor appoints these seats and when done well, the board will have a large range of skills, rather than “simply throwing it up to the political charisma and clout of the people running for those offices,” said Michael Poliakoff, American Council of Trustees and Alumni president.

“It’s not an exercise in getting to wear funny academic regalia at commencement, or sitting in the president’s box at a football game,” Poliakoff said. “What the public looks to them to do is to be the guardians of their interest in keeping tuition low, in ensuring campus safety and ensuring academic excellence and upholding the free exchange of ideas. These are their core missions.”

University governance boards are accountable to oversee the institution, said Henry Stoever, president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. The board oversees the president, who is responsible for executing the strategy of which the board has approved.

In 2018, the state House introduced a package of bills to create a constitutional amendment to switch all public universities to gubernatorial appointment, but it didn’t advance.

Michigan may benefit from using elections for three of it’s flagship universities, said Thomas Ivacko, executive director of the University of Michigan’s Center for Local, State and Urban Policy.

“I think things are going off the rails with the hyper-partisan nature of politics at the state level and across the nation,” Ivacko said. “Things are really starting to filter down and impact colleges and university boards and I think to an extent that we avoid that here in Michigan.”

Critics of the MSU trustees have called on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to intervene to meet the changing responsibilities of the roles.

Stoever said the roles haven’t changed, but nationally missteps are highlighting the pitfalls of boards.

The importance of governing boards has significantly increased because the business model of higher education is being disrupted, not only by the pandemic, Stoever said.

University board candidates

Two seats on three Michigan university boards are on the Nov. 3 ballot. Michigan voters will choose who steers the state’s three flagship universities: Michigan State University, University of Michigan and Wayne State University.

MICHIGAN STATE

Democrats

Brian Mosallam, a former MSU football player, has served on the board since 2013. He is the only incumbent running. Trustee Joel Ferguson, who has served on the board since the 1980s, did not seek reelection.

Dr. Rema Vassar is a former teacher and administrator, and a parent of an MSU student.

Republicans

Pat O’Keefe is founder and CEO of O’Keefe & Associates Consulting.

Tonya Schuitmaker is a former Republican state House representative and senator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business from MSU in 1990.

UNIVERSITY

OF MICHIGAN

Democrats

Mark Bernstein is running for reelection, having served on the board since 2013. Bernstein is a Michigan graduate and an attorney.

Dr. Shauna Diggs is an incumbent and graduate who started at the same time as Bernstein. She is the first physician to serve on the board and is chair of the board of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation.

Republicans

Carl Meyers is a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and graduate of Michigan’s School of Business in 1979. He is a vice president at a Dearborn financial services firm.

Sarah Hubbard is a Michigan graduate who has spent her career as a lobbyist and conservative legislative staffer.

WAYNE STATE

Democrats

Shirley Stancato was appointed to the board in 2019 after serving as president of New Detroit Inc. for almost two decades. She is a WSU graduate who serves on several community boards such as Teach for America Detroit and The Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Eva Garza Dewaelsche is a Wayne State graduate who is the president of SER Metro-Detroit Jobs for Progress, which provides resources and training to improve employment in Detroit.

Republicans

Terri Lynn Land is a former Michigan Secretary of State.

Don Gates is a veteran who earned an MBA in information management from WSU in 1997.