What is a regent?

A Regent of the University of Michigan is one of eight elected officials who serve as the governing body for the university, overseeing the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, and the 500+ Michigan Medicine locations across the state.

Under Michigan’s constitution (Article VIII, Section 5), the Regents have “general supervision” of the institution and “the control and direction of all expenditures from the institution’s funds.”

The Board:

• Elects the University President.

• Manages the over $15 billion budget.

• Sets university-wide policies for Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint, and Michigan Medicine.

• Is elected statewide, so every Michigander has a say in who sits on this board.

In short, the Regents make decisions that affect tuition, campus policy, research funding, healthcare delivery (through Michigan Medicine), and more, often in ways that the average resident may not always notice.

“I bleed green & White, why should I care about the board of regents?”

The University of Michigan Board of Regents has a significant influence across the state that extends beyond the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses. The Regents:

• Operate one of the largest health systems in Michigan, which this year will see an estimated 4.5 million patients.

• Manage billions of taxpayer dollars.

• Oversee innovative and lifesaving research.

• Shapes the workforce of tomorrow.

• Influence local and state economies.

• Serves as a bulwark against the Trump Administration as they systematically attack and defund institutions of higher education.