A bill making its way through the NC House committees right
now?HB 1884?is a blueprint for bad governance. The bill alters the composition of the Board of Directors
for the State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA), an independent
organization that oversees state financial aid. Currently, the board is
composed of seven members of the public, appointed by the governor. The bill
increases membership to nine: six members of the public, one CFO of a private
college, and the CFOs of both the UNC and university systems.
Supporters of the bill say the change is necessary to make
sure that the board continues to have members who understand higher education
finance.
But what it really does is to add board members who, by
virtue of their jobs, have a vested interest in the board?s decisions.
Furthermore, the CFOs, with their professional expertise and support staffs,
will be able to dominate the part-time members of the public on the board.
Instead of looking out for the public as an independent body, as intended, the
board will likely look out for the very organizations it should keep an eye on.
The UNC and NCCCS systems have been pushing for more scholarships in recent
years, and, if the bill becomes law, they will have de facto control of the
scholarship authority?a nice little power grab.
