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There is a battle underway in Tallahassee over who controls the state university system. State lawmakers are unhappy the Board of Governors is attempting to raise tuition without their approval. As Whitney Ray tells us, lawmakers have fast tracked a bill that could change the university system’s governance for the third time in less than a decade, and weaken the Board of Governors.

Hear it here: Board of Governors on the Chopping Block

In yet another attempt to keep the University System’s Board of Governors off the cutting room floor, Chancellor Mark Rosenberg pleaded his case to an education council. His attempt failed. Council members approved a resolution that would cut the Board of Governors from 17 to 6 and take away some of its authority.

“It will reduce the accountability of our universities,” said Rosenberg. “We’ll return to an earlier era, where we go back to university verses university.”

In 2002 voters approved an amendment that created the Board of Governors. The idea was to give the board independence from the Legislature, but once the board starting to raise tuition, lawmakers got mad. A lawsuit is currently underway to sort out how much control the board really has. Rep. Joe Pickens says he doesn’t want to wait for the courts.

“The fact that we are in court, trying to decide what the people intended, I think is the best reason of all to go back to the people and get the clarity from them. As apposed to going to a court of law and hoping it turns out okay,” said Pickens.

The Board’s Vice Chair said what lawmakers ought to be focusing on is the students.

“This is about students. It’s not about us. It’s not about administrators. It’s also about faculty because they have to teach those students. Really it’s about giving a quality education to the most number of students that we can,” said Sheila McDevitt the Board of Governors Vice Chair.

If there is a change, it would be the third time in a decade the university’s leadership has changed. What happens with the resolution next is up to Speaker Marco Rubio, who could choose to put the bill on the house floor or take it to another committee.