HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 95

(By Delegates Fleischauer, Beach, Marshall, Shook,

Fragale, Moye, Caputo, Rodighiero, Eldridge,
Andes, Manchin, Lawrence and Canterbury)


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study a higher education merit screening advisory committee to make recommendations to the Governor for appointments to the governing boards of state universities, colleges and community colleges.

Whereas, The aim of appointments to governing boards of state universities, colleges and community colleges should be to place the most able, experienced and deserving citizens on the public boards of higher education; and
Whereas, State universities, colleges and community colleges are ultimately owned by the state's citizens, and these institutions serve broad social, cultural and economic purposes that have long-term effects on the citizenry's quality of life; and
Whereas, It is vital that those responsible for university governance be as independent of political ideologies or partisan interests as possible; and
Whereas, A mechanism for recruiting and screening candidates for appointments to governing boards of state universities, colleges and community colleges would help ensure that only the most talented, energetic, committed individuals are appointed to the boards of public higher education; and
Whereas, There is a need for a coordinated approach for finding qualified applicants, given that there are twenty governing boards for higher education institutions, each of which may have differing needs, constituencies and geographical considerations; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study a higher education merit screening advisory committee to make recommendations to the Governor for appointments to the governing boards of state universities, colleges and community colleges; and, be it
Further Resolved, That The Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2010, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.