If you’ve ever walked through the Diag in Ann Arbor or cheered at the Big House, you’ve probably seen the names. Tappan. Angell. Ruthven. We treat the presidents like the kings of the University of Michigan, but they aren't actually at the top of the food chain. That spot is reserved for eight people you might not even recognize if they bumped into you at Zingerman’s. The University of Michigan Board of Regents holds the keys to the entire kingdom, and honestly, their power is kind of staggering when you look at the math.
They oversee a multi-billion dollar budget. They decide how much tuition hits your bank account every fall. They even have the final say on who gets to lead the university. It’s a weirdly democratic setup for such a massive institution. Most prestigious private schools have self-appointing boards, but here in Michigan, we vote for these people in statewide elections. It's high-stakes politics hidden in plain sight.
The Raw Power of the Eight
So, what do they actually do? Everything. Well, everything that matters at a macro level. The University of Michigan Board of Regents is established by the Michigan Constitution, not just by some school charter. This gives them a level of autonomy that most state agencies would kill for. They are a "body corporate." In plain English, that means they are their own legal entity, capable of suing, being sued, and holding property independent of the state government in Lansing.
Think about the scale of the UM system. You’ve got the Ann Arbor campus, sure. But there’s also Flint and Dearborn. Then you have the Michigan Medicine health system, which is a behemoth in its own right. The Regents sit at the pinnacle of this entire structure. They meet once a month—usually on Thursdays—to hash out everything from new building approvals to tenure grants.
It’s not all just dry paperwork. These meetings can get incredibly heated. Because they are elected officials, the Regents are often the primary target for student and faculty activists. If there’s a protest about divestment or campus labor strikes, the Regents’ room at the Alexander G. Ruthven Building is where the real action happens. They have to sit there and listen to public comments, which is a fascinating exercise in transparency that you just don't get at Harvard or Stanford.
How the Election Game Works
Every two years, two seats on the board come up for election. They serve eight-year terms. It’s a long time. Because these are statewide races, they often get buried at the bottom of the ballot behind the Governor, the Senate, and local dogcatchers. Most people just vote down the party line without knowing much about the candidates.
This creates a strange dynamic. You end up with a board that reflects the partisan leaning of the state at that particular moment. Currently, the board has a heavy Democratic lean, which impacts how they approach things like DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives or union negotiations.
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- The Nomination Process: Candidates are usually picked at state party conventions. It’s a bit of an "inside baseball" game.
- The Campaign: You won’t see many TV ads for a Regent. They mostly piggyback on the larger state campaigns.
- The Work: Once they’re in, it’s a non-salaried position. They do it for the prestige, the influence, or a genuine love for the Blue.
Wait, did I mention they don't get paid? They get reimbursed for expenses, but there’s no paycheck. It’s basically the most high-pressure volunteer gig in the Midwest. You're managing a budget that rivals the GDP of some small countries, and you’re doing it for the "honor" of the position.
The President vs. The Board
There’s always a natural tension between the University President and the University of Michigan Board of Regents. The President is the face. The Regents are the boss. When Santa Ono was hired to replace Mark Schlissel, it was the Regents who ran the search, vetted the candidates, and signed the contract.
If a President loses the support of the board, they’re done. Period. We saw this play out in a very public, very messy way with the removal of Mark Schlissel in early 2022. The board acted with a level of decisiveness that caught a lot of people off guard, releasing a trove of emails that led to his termination. It was a stark reminder of who actually holds the leverage in Ann Arbor.
The Money Question: Investments and Endowments
One of the most controversial aspects of the Board’s job is the endowment. Michigan has one of the largest public university endowments in the world, often hovering around $17 billion or $18 billion depending on the market. Where that money goes is a constant source of friction.
Lately, the big debate has been around "socially responsible" investing. Should the university divest from fossil fuels? What about companies with ties to international conflicts? The Regents have to balance the ethical demands of the campus community with their "fiduciary duty." That’s a fancy way of saying their primary job is to make sure the university doesn't go broke and that the money grows for future generations. It’s a tightrope walk. Some Regents are more hawkish about returns, while others are more sensitive to the social impact of the university’s portfolio.
Why You Should Care (Even if You Aren't a Student)
You might think, "I graduated years ago," or "I don't even live in Michigan, why does this matter?" It matters because UM is a massive economic engine. The University of Michigan Board of Regents oversees an institution that is the state's largest employer. Their decisions on healthcare expansion or research funding ripple through the entire regional economy.
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Also, for the alums out there, the value of your degree is somewhat tied to the Board’s stewardship. If they let the university’s reputation slide or mishandle a major crisis, the "block M" loses a bit of its luster. They are the guardians of the brand.
Current Challenges and the 2026 Landscape
Looking ahead, the board is facing some massive hurdles. Enrollment cliffs are hitting universities across the country. While Ann Arbor is usually insulated from this because everyone wants to go there, the regional campuses in Flint and Dearborn are feeling the squeeze. The Regents have to decide how much to subsidize those campuses and how to keep them viable.
Then there’s the whole NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) situation in college sports. While the Regents don’t call the plays on the field, they oversee the Athletic Department. In an era where college sports is basically a professional industry, the board’s oversight of the budget and compliance is more critical than ever. They have to make sure Michigan stays competitive without selling its soul—or getting hit with NCAA violations.
How to Engage with the Board
If you actually want to influence what happens at the university, don't just complain on Reddit. You can actually show up. The University of Michigan Board of Regents meetings are open to the public under the Open Meetings Act.
- Public Comment: You can sign up to speak. You get a few minutes to look the Regents in the eye and tell them what you think.
- Watch the Livestream: If you can’t make it to Ann Arbor, they stream the meetings online. It’s a great way to see how the sausage is made.
- Vote: It sounds cliché, but the Regents’ races are often decided by thin margins because so many people skip that part of the ballot.
Actionable Steps for the Informed Citizen
If you're looking to keep tabs on the board or want to understand their impact better, start here:
1. Track the "Consent Agenda"
Most of the boring-but-important stuff—like multi-million dollar roof repairs or hiring new deans—is tucked into the consent agenda. It usually passes in one big vote. Reading these documents on the Regents' website will tell you more about the university’s priorities than any press release ever will.
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2. Follow the Money
Keep an eye on the Annual Report on Investments. It’s usually published in the fall. It’s a long read, but it shows exactly where the $18 billion is sitting. If you care about divestment or ethical spending, this is your primary source of data.
3. Check the "Red" and "Blue" Balance
Since they are elected, the political makeup changes. A board that is 6-2 in favor of one party will behave very differently than a 4-4 split board. Knowing the partisan lean helps you predict how they might vote on labor issues or tuition hikes.
4. Watch the Secretary of the University
The Secretary of the University is basically the gatekeeper for the Regents. If you need official records or want to understand the bylaws, their office is the place to go. They maintain the "Regents’ Proceedings," which is a historical record of every single decision the board has made since the 1800s. It's a goldmine for history buffs.
The University of Michigan Board of Regents isn't just a group of names on a masthead. They are the ultimate authority in a system that shapes the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Whether they are debating the nuances of the "Go Blue Guarantee" or deciding the future of Michigan Medicine, their fingerprints are all over the state's most important institution. Understanding how they work is the first step in actually having a say in how the university is run. Don't let the "volunteer" status fool you; this is one of the most powerful groups of eight people in the entire state of Michigan.
To stay updated on the latest decisions, you should regularly check the official University of Michigan Regents website for meeting schedules and agendas. If you are a Michigan resident, make it a point to research the candidates during the next election cycle rather than just voting by party. Real change at the university starts at the ballot box, long before a President is even hired. Awareness of their upcoming votes on tuition and capital projects can help you anticipate changes in the university's direction before they become headlines. Following the minutes of these meetings provides a transparent look into the administrative logic that governs the Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn communities.