SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION D
August 24, 2023, Introduced by Senator RUNESTAD and referred to the Committee on
Government Operations.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending sections 5 and 6 of article VIII
and adding section 10 to article VIII, to prohibit state
universities from establishing or applying student admissions
preferences based on certain familial relationships.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, to prohibit state universities from
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establishing or applying student admissions preferences based on
certain familial relationships, is proposed, agreed to, and
submitted to the people of the state:
1 ARTICLE VIII
2 Sec. 5. The regents of the University of Michigan and their
3 successors in office shall constitute a body corporate known as the
4 Regents of the University of Michigan; the trustees of Michigan
5 State University and their successors in office shall constitute a
6 body corporate known as the Board of Trustees of Michigan State
7 University; the governors of Wayne State University and their
8 successors in office shall constitute a body corporate known as the
9 Board of Governors of Wayne State University. Each Subject to
10 section 10 of this article, each board shall have general
11 supervision of its institution and the control and direction of all
12 expenditures from the institution's funds. Each board shall, as
13 often as necessary, elect a president of the institution under its
14 supervision. He The president shall be the principal executive
15 officer of the institution, be ex-officio a member of the board
16 without the right to vote and preside at meetings of the board. The
17 board of each institution shall consist of eight members who shall
18 hold office for terms of eight years and who shall be elected as
19 provided by law. The governor shall fill board vacancies by
20 appointment. Each appointee shall hold office until a successor has
21 been nominated and elected as provided by law.
22 Sec. 6. Other institutions of higher education established by
23 law having authority to grant baccalaureate degrees shall each be
24 governed by a board of control which shall be a body corporate. The
25 Subject to section 10 of this article, the board shall have general
26 supervision of the institution and the control and direction of all
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1 expenditures from the institution's funds. It shall, as often as
2 necessary, elect a president of the institution under its
3 supervision. He The president shall be the principal executive
4 officer of the institution and be ex-officio a member of the board
5 without the right to vote. The board may elect one of its members
6 or may designate the president, to preside at board meetings. Each
7 board of control shall consist of eight members who shall hold
8 office for terms of eight years, not more than two of which shall
9 expire in the same year, and who shall be appointed by the governor
10 by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Vacancies shall
11 be filled in like manner.
12 Sec. 10. Beginning in the first academic year after the
13 effective date of this section, the board of an institution of
14 higher education described in section 5 or 6 of this article shall
15 not establish or apply any student admission standard under which
16 preference is given to an applicant on the basis of the applicant's
17 familial relationship to any alumni of the institution or any past
18 or present officers, agents, or employees of the institution.
19 Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be
20 submitted to the people of the state at the next general election
21 in the manner provided by law.
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