According to NIU’s student regent, interest in reorganizing Illinois’ “system of systems,” and the panel to study problems with university governing boards, is a positive development by the Illinois legislature.

“Not every state is organized the way we are,” Student Regent Bob Tisch said. “It is an overwhelming issue beyond the board.”

California’s two-tiered system of governing boards with separate boards for California State campuses and University of California campuses makes more sense for Illinois, Tisch said.

Tisch said he hopes to see the November panel hearings void of any political interference. “I think keeping politics out of it is important. The process should be very beneficial.”

When Tisch attends the Board of Regents meeting this week, he hopes to better understand what the board feels as a body before presenting opposition. Tisch attended his first Board of Regents meeting as student regent in July.

“I want to play it by ear,” Tisch said. “I think the delay is a legitimate attempt to calm things down on the campuses.”

The delay will allow the board to discuss the policy changes as an agenda information item this week at Illinois State University in Normal. The decision will be delayed until the October board meeting, which will be held at NIU.