IU Academic Community Rallies Against Governor’s Board of Trustees Takeover​; Vote For or Against Takes Place Thursday, April 24, 2025

Staff report

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A late addition to Indiana’s state budget has ignited controversy within the academic community, as it grants Governor Mike Braun complete authority over the Indiana University (IU) Board of Trustees. This shift eliminates the traditional alumni-elected positions, allowing the governor to appoint all nine members of the board. ​Indiana Capital Chronicle+3Axios+3Indiana Public Media+3

Previously, the IU Board comprised nine members: six appointed by the governor, including a student representative, and three elected by alumni. The new provision, introduced without public debate, removes the alumni-elected seats, consolidating appointment power solely with the governor. ​AxiosAxios+2Indiana Public Media+2X (formerly Twitter)+2

Critics argue this move undermines the university’s independence and diminishes stakeholder representation. Senator Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) labeled the change a “direct attack on the independence of one of our state’s premier public universities,” emphasizing that IU should serve the people of Indiana, not be subject to unilateral political control. ​Indiana Public Media

Mark Land, a trustee candidate and former IU administrator, expressed concern over the loss of diverse perspectives on the board. He noted that alumni trustees have historically provided valuable insights and that their removal could lead to a homogenized board lacking in varied viewpoints. ​Indiana Public Media+1Axios+1

Supporters of the change, including Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville), argue that low alumni participation in elections—approximately 2.5% of IU’s 790,000 alumni—justifies the shift to gubernatorial appointments. ​Indiana Public Media+1Axios+1

The academic community, including faculty, alumni, and students, is mobilizing to oppose the provision. Petitions are circulating, and calls for public discourse are growing louder, reflecting widespread concern over the potential implications for university governance and academic freedom.​

As the legislative session concludes, the final vote on the budget, including this contentious provision, is anticipated. Given the Republican supermajorities in both chambers, the budget is expected to pass, prompting ongoing debates about the future of higher education governance in Indiana.

The following was sent out Thursday afternoon in a call to action:

1. Call House and Senate leadership and House & Senate authors/sponsors expressing your alarm over these insertions.

• Senator Daniel Bray (President Pro Tempore)*: 317-232-9416
• Rep. Todd Huston (House Speaker): 317-232-9677
• Senator Ryan Mishler (Bill Sponsor): 317-232-9814
• Rep. Jeffrey Thompson (Bill Author): 317-232-9651

*  Note: Numbers are for each legislator’s staff.  You can leave a message with them.  If the Senate numbers don’t work, you may have to get there via the switchboard (317-232-9400).

2. Email all members of the House and Senate – email addresses to copy and paste attached.

They are hoping to finish all business of the IGA today. Votes in both chambers on the budget bill will probably start at 6:30 pm this evening.  PLEASE DO THESE THINGS RIGHT AWAY!“”

Link to sample letter: https://docs.proton.me/doc?mode=open-url&token=W1NKZQBN48#pX3Kk7Bf9MIM

Text:

Dear [insert name of governing official],

I am writing as a [insert your position] at Indiana University to express my extreme concern about language that has been inserted into the state’s budget bill regarding higher education. The work we do is vital to the economic and physical health of this state. We educate your doctors, lawyers, K-12 instructors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and many more productive, successful, contributing members of society.

Indiana University is also my workplace. To continue my work–which is challenging and constantly changing as the landscape of higher education in this country is being dramatically reshaped–I need basic resources such as space to do my work, stable and reasonable expectations for my performance, respect for state and federal laws, and accountability from the administrators who manage my work (just as they expect accountability from me).

Specifically, I am concerned about these sections of the budget bill:

Pages 181-183

Allows the Governor to immediately replace members of the Board of Trustees who were elected by alumni or the student body. This is targeted only at Indiana University. Why?

Page 184, lines 9-10

This revives language from SB 235 requiring instructors to post their syllabi online. It ignores state and federal laws regarding intellectual property, copyright, and the First Amendment.

Page 184, lines 13-20

This section micromanages the function of faculty governance bodies, disallowing votes from retired faculty members and mandating that they be “advisory only.” Universities are not corporations. Professors throughout the country expect to have some input into the day-to-day operations of their workplaces. This section is guaranteed to make it more difficult to hire and retain well-qualified faculty.

Pages 183-184

This section goes far beyond SEA 202, requiring all aspects of “productivity” for tenured faculty members to be constantly measured and monitored. Who will perform this labor? Administrators? The Board of Trustees? Why only tenured faculty?

Attempting to control every aspect of higher education is unfair, unethical, and violates protections guaranteed to individuals by the Indiana Constitution and US Constitution. Professors are Hoosiers too. Please show them the respect they deserve and strike these sections from the budget bill. Reserve them for debate during next year’s legislative session when both lawmakers and citizens can offer their thoughtful input.

Sincerely,

[insert your name and position]

ps – To be clear, I am writing to you as an individual citizen, not as a representative of Indiana University.

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