Proposed legislation would require local resident on university board of trustees

Jan. 31—State Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, plans to introduce a bill amendment that would require the governor to appoint a local resident to the board of trustees at Indiana's public universities.

The governor-appointed trustee would have to permanently reside in the county where the university is located.

If the amendment were to become law, one member of the Indiana State University board of trustees would have to live in Vigo County.

While ISU has had trustees from Vigo County in past years, the current board does not include a Vigo County resident. Trustee John Pratt is from Parke County.

Goode said he hopes to introduce the amendment to Senate Bill 202 today during a second reading of the bill in the Senate.

"This amendment seeks to strengthen the town/gown relationship by putting into statute the simple and straightforward requirement of having one governor-appointed trustee permanently residing in the county where the university is located," Goode said Wednesday.

He said local representation on the board of trustees "strengthens community outreach, communication and assists the university with keeping the finger on the pulse of the community."

It shows, "We're in this together. The success of the university equals the success of the community. I think that's very important," he said.

Goode previously was executive director of government relations and university communication at Indiana State University. For nearly 17 years, he served as the university's liaison to the General Assembly.

The amendment would apply to six of seven state-supported institutions, including Indiana University (Monroe County), Purdue University (Tippecanoe County), Indiana State University (Vigo County) and Ball State (Delaware County).

Under current law, the University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University are already required to have one board of trustee member from the respective counties (Vanderburgh and Knox).

Ivy Tech Community College would not be included. It has a statewide board of trustees with 15 members appointed by the governor; one trustee must reside in each of the college's fourteen regions.

Goode said he has discussed the amendment with Senate leaders and received a positive response. He believes "it's very good public policy."

From a local perspective, ISU "has been very well served by current and past trustees and we've been especially well served by trustees from Vigo County," he said.

Past members from Vigo County have included Rick Shagley, the late Don Smith, Norm Lowery, Ed Pease and Bob Baesler.

Local trustees have been appointed by both Republican and Democrat governors, Goode noted.

He praised the current board of trustees. "They are very good people, very dedicated and committed to higher education, and they love ISU," he said.

Goode added, "I also believe it's very important for Indiana State as well as every public university in Indiana to have at least one person from the county where the university is located."

SB 202 is described as "state educational institution matters."

Among those looking forward to such a change in state law is Vigo County Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard, who has spoken to Goode about the proposal.

"I think it's great and I'm happy to hear it. It sounds like it has broad support," he said. "I think it's important we have that voice from our community."

Indiana State University is one of Vigo County's largest employers.

"Everything that happens there is important to us," Clinkenbeard said. "When we lose the number of students we have [at ISU], that means jobs are lost and less people go to businesses and things like that."

Clinkenbeard added, "Indiana State's success is our success. It's a very important part of the community, for sure."

Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun also endorses the legislation.

Having a Vigo County resident on the ISU board of trustees "will definitely help progress the university and the community forward," he said.

Indiana State is a strong partner with the community, he said. "I'm always happy to support them and work with them and whomever the next president may be."

Sakbun said he's had a great working relationship with ISU President Deborah Curtis in his first month as mayor and looks forward to working with her through the end of her tenure June 30.

Goode is optimistic about the amendment, but SB 202 must still pass out of the full Senate and then it must go to the House for consideration.

"I think there is genuine interest in how can we continue to help strengthen universities and communities," Goode said.

If the proposal doesn't pass this year, "I'll come back and keep working on this," he said. "This is something very important to me."

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue