The Board of Regents’ days of governing NIU might be drawing to a close shortly. It’s about time.

A new bill to be introduced by State Sen. Patrick Welch, D-Peru, to separate NIU from the Regency governing system has earned support from State Rep. John Countryman, R-DeKalb, as well as some NIU faculty and students, proving the growing level of dissatisfaction with the board.

Bumbling their way through continuous embarrassments, resulting from unjustified administrative salary increases, poor selections of university leaders and inappropriate messages sent to legislators, the Regents have given Welch’s bill “plenty of ammunition” for success.

The time is long overdue for NIU to take action and hold the Regents responsible for their actions. Fighting for such a bill is the only way for students, faculty and the public to ensure that their money is properly managed and that their best interests are served.

The Regents, who govern NIU and two other state universities, have proven their increasing ineptitude time and time again through the mismanagement of higher education’s state dollars and lack of consideration for Regency universities’ concerns.

It is in the best interest of both NIU and the public to disband the ineffective and inefficient governing body and to establish a better governing board for NIU.

At the very least, a separate governing board would listen to the people it governs. At best, Welch’s bill could unlock NIU’s future.