The University of Michigan is governed by an eight-member Board of Regents. Candidates for the board are elected for staggered terms in statewide November elections. Every two years two Regents are elected to eight-year terms. In the event that a Regent cannot fulfill his or her elected term, the governor fills the board vacancy by appointment (Article VIII, Section 5, Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963).

The Regents appoint the president, who serves as an ex officio member of the board, and they establish general policies, oversee the budget, and approve the appointments of some instructional and administrative staff, including all tenured faculty.

The Regents, who serve without financial compensation, meet according to the schedule posted on their website, usually on the third Thursday of the month. Meeting agendas are prepared by the Office of the Vice President and Secretary of the University in consultation with the chair of the board and the president. Meeting agendas are available online and in the Office of the Vice President and Secretary of the University on the Monday before each meeting.

The public comments session is an important part of each monthly meeting. The Office of the Vice President and Secretary of the University schedules speakers for the public comments session. Speakers can sign up for public comments on the Regents’ website or by sending an email to <[email protected]>.

Although faculty and staff members may communicate in writing with the Regents at any time, communications regarding academic matters should generally go through the dean or director of the unit to which the staff member belongs or through the chancellors, president, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, or other executive officers. The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) traditionally reports to the Regents at least once a year. See handbook section 4.D.3 “Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA).”

All formal meetings of the Board of Regents are open to the public. Regents’ committee meetings (Finance Committee, Audit and Investment Committee and Personnel and Compensation Committee) are held in informal session.

The Regents website provides more information, including the names of current Regents, terms of service, and biographical sketches.