Detroit — State Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, is among the lawmakers leading a bipartisan effort to overhaul how Michigan governs its three largest public universities. The push gained urgency this week after Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz resigned just days before his contract extension took effect.

Tate introduced a joint resolution in the House on May 21 alongside Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock. The proposal would replace statewide elections for university board members with governor appointments. It would also move attorney general and secretary of state nominations from party conventions to primary elections.

A broken system, by the numbers

Michigan is one of only three states that elects university trustees on partisan statewide ballots. The other two are South Dakota and Indiana.

Under the current system, voters elect eight members each to the boards of Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. The boards control university expenditures and hire presidents.

That system produced a chaotic two weeks at MSU:

  • On May 17, the board voted 5-3 to revise its ethics code, barring trustees from publicly dissenting from majority decisions
  • The same board voted to double Guskiewicz's salary to $2 million and extend his contract through 2031
  • On May 30, Guskiewicz announced he was leaving for Clemson University, accepting an offer of $1.21 million — roughly $790,000 less than MSU had just committed

"While I firmly believe we are all better when there is a diversity of viewpoints informing decisions, our ability to make meaningful progress is hampered when disagreements move from offering alternative perspectives into publicly undermining decisions and putting personal interests above the best interests of the university."

— Kevin Guskiewicz, in a campus-wide email announcing his departure

What the amendment would change

The proposed constitutional amendment, also backed by Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, would:

  1. Add a ninth member to each university board
  2. Limit boards to no more than five members from the same political party
  3. Require Michigan Senate approval for the governor's appointees
  4. Move attorney general and secretary of state nominations to primary elections starting in 2027

The amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Legislature and voter approval at the ballot box.

Bipartisan support — and a tight deadline

The proposal has drawn support from governors across the aisle. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former Gov. John Engler, a Republican, both back the change.

"The remedy is for the Legislature to put on the ballot an amendment to our constitution to allow the governor to appoint the members of the three major universities, like the governor does with the other 10."

— Former Gov. John Engler, R

Whitmer called Guskiewicz's departure "heartbreaking" and said the university's high turnover "undermines the strength of the university."

The timeline is narrow. The Legislature must pass the amendment by June 5 for it to appear on the August primary ballot. Lawmakers are currently in session for only one week before that deadline, as they are otherwise attending the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual conference on Mackinac Island.

House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, has not taken a public position on the proposal. Hall previously said the Republican-led House would pass fewer bills in 2026 than in 2025, when a historic low number of measures were signed into law.

Detroit's stakes

The proposal matters to Detroit in two ways.

Wayne State University, located in Detroit, is one of the three institutions affected by the amendment. Its Board of Governors is currently elected statewide, just like MSU and U of M.

Additionally, the Michigan Democratic Party convention was held in Detroit on April 19, where party members nominated MSU trustees Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay for re-election. Both are now seeking another term in November.

"I feel, and I think a lot of other people feel, that we're missing out on a lot of good possible candidates because they just don't want to step forward under this system."

— Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock

Skepticism remains

Not everyone is convinced the change would help. Paul Rozycki, a former political science professor at Mott Community College, said the overhaul might not change much in practice.

"I'm not sure it would change an awful lot because I think you'll see, a Democratic governor appoints Democrats. A Republican governor appoints Republicans."

— Paul Rozycki, former Mott Community College professor

Rozycki also noted that critics could argue removing elections reduces public oversight. He pointed out that many Michigan voters cast straight-ticket ballots, which currently influence university board outcomes.

The Legislature's next session begins this week. Whether the amendment clears the two-thirds threshold remains uncertain.

Tate, who represents Detroit's 1st Congressional District in the state House, said he introduced the resolution because the current system allows partisans to govern institutions that serve all Michiganders.

The deadline for the August ballot is June 5. If the amendment misses that mark, supporters say they would aim for the November general election instead.