The proposed bill, HB2735, seeks to amend the authority of the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) regarding the approval of academic degrees and organizational units at public universities. Under the new provisions, ABOR can only delegate this authority to a university president, who is prohibited from further delegating it. Additionally, the bill mandates that ABOR and university presidents must consult with faculty members through their elected representatives on academic and educational activities, rather than sharing responsibility or allowing faculty to participate in governance and policy development as previously stated.

Furthermore, the bill requires public universities to provide ABOR access to their uniform accounting and reporting systems for oversight and monitoring purposes. It also defines "organizational unit" to include various academic departments and centers within a university. Overall, the changes emphasize a more centralized decision-making process within the university governance structure, limiting faculty involvement in certain areas while enhancing ABOR's oversight capabilities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-1601, 15-1626
House Engrossed Version: 15-1601, 15-1626