Five of the 12 University of Minnesota Board of Regents positions will come up for appointment by the Legislature next year.
The Board of Regents oversee the University and appoints the university president and approves major policies.
A 24-member Regent Candidate Advisory Council, headed by Rochester Mayor Ardelle Brede, is already accepting applications for the positions, says the Rochester Post Bulletin.
The council will interview candidates for the five seats, which are from the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th Congressional Districts, then recommend two to four finalists for each slot to a joint legislative committee.
In the 3rd District, a successor for the late Donald Larson will serve until 2017. The other positions are for six-year terms, ending in 2021.
In the 1st District, Mayo Clinic Dr. Patricia Simmons has already said she won’t seek a third term on the Board.
The story quotes DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski of Winona, who’s also on the advisory council, saying that there’s been a history of politics — by both parties —in the regent selections, but that he hopes it will ease this time.
He said he’ll ask applicants about their understanding of the university’s budget and how they stand on a tuition freeze.
