CHE’s Finan: Time to decide best governance for SC higher education

I am encouraged that legislators are expanding the conversation about higher education beyond the traditional topics of tuition costs, student debt and accessibility to focus on a macro issue: how higher education should be governed and regulated, and what type of organization should have that responsibility.

The states are almost equally divided between having coordinating boards and boards of regents to govern higher education. The level of authority varies widely, as some states opt for strong, regulatory bodies with broad powers to hire and fire presidents, close schools, regulate tuition and provide financial oversight, and others work through a coordinating body with little enforcement or regulatory authority. Our state long ago chose the latter. South Carolina’s Commission on Higher Education serves as a coordinating body with limited authority for the approval of academic programs, facilities and licensing of nonpublic post-secondary education. Financial oversight, tuition rates and other governance issues are decided by local boards of trustees, which are appointed by our legislators for our state’s 33 public colleges.

The Commission on Higher Education has an excellent, dedicated, professional staff and a body of commissioners who perform a myriad of functions that will need to be conducted regardless of the type of governing model. It has a state-funded budget of $3.7 million and 24 full-time, state-funded staff. A body with true oversight and regulatory power will require larger and centralized staffing and budgets. However, a regulatory body that has been vested with the proper scope and authority ultimately would save our state money and significantly increase efficiencies.

What is right for South Carolina? I have no preference. It is time, however, to decide whether or not our current system is meeting the needs of the state. South Carolina’s tuition costs are some of the highest in the Southeast, and graduation rates remain problematic. I am confident our legislators and educators can work together to ensure our governance structure is able to provide the necessary level of accountability and regulatory enforcement to make higher education more efficient and productive.

This is an important issue, and we should continue the conversation and come to a consensus on whether South Carolina needs a strong, centralized regulatory authority as either a board of regents or a coordinating board. Codify this decision in law so that whichever form is chosen has the power to make a difference. The time has come to ensure the future of higher education in our state. We owe this to our citizens.

Chairman

S.C. Commission on Higher Education

Columbia

This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "CHE’s Finan: Time to decide best governance for SC higher education."