Ever wonder how tuition costs are determined or how important decisions on campus are made? The Board of Regents, Eastern Michigan University’s governing body, is responsible for key operations at EMU, many of which may affect students’ lives.
Here’s what students should know about the regents and what they do at EMU.
How are regents appointed?
There are eight regents on the board, including a chairperson and vice chair. Regents are appointed by the Michigan governor and serve eight-year terms, as set by the State of Michigan Constitution. The candidates selected by the governor must also be approved by the Michigan Senate.
Most recently, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed two new regents, Sean Gray and Jenita Moore, who began their terms this year.
There are no explicit term limits imposed on the regents. Regent terms are staggered with no more than two expiring in the same year, according to Michigan’s Constitution.
What do the regents do?
Michigan’s Constitution grants the board “general supervision of the institution and the control and direction of all expenditures from the institution’s funds.” Additionally, the regents also have the power to elect the university’s president.
The regents make decisions on campus, ranging from policies to the cost of tuition. The regents appoint or remove personnel, make decisions about academic programs, approve contracts and budgets, confer degrees, vote on capital projects and make other decisions about the day-to-day operations of the university.
EMU policies, from the student code of conduct to the college’s mission statement, are approved by the Board of Regents.
Additionally, the regents sit on board committees: the Finance and Investment Committee, the Educational Policies Committee, the Faculty Affairs Committee, the Student Affairs Committee, the Athletic Affairs Committee, the Personnel and Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee. Regents can also serve on the EMU Foundation Board of Trustees and the Eagle Administrative Services Board.
Who are the regents at EMU?
There are eight regents on the board. Nathan Ford is the board chairman and was appointed by Gov. Whitmer in December 2020. His current term expires in December 2028. Marques Thomey, vice chairman of the board, was appointed by Whitmer in February 2023. His current term expires in December 2030.
Sean Gray was appointed by Whitmer in December 2024. His current term expires in December 2032. Michael Hawkes was first appointed in February 2011 by former Gov. Rick Snyder and then reappointed. His current term expires in December 2026.
Jessie Kimbrough was appointed by Whitmer in December 2020. Her current term expires in December 2028. Jenita Moore was appointed by Whitmer in December 2024. Her current term expires in December 2032.
Chad Newton was appointed by Whitmer in March 2021 to fill the remainder of former regent Rich Baird’s term. That term ends in December 2026. Anupam Chugh Sidhu was appointed by Whitmer in March 2023. Her current term expires in December 2030.
How to attend a meeting
The EMU Board of Regents meets a minimum of four times a year, according to the board’s bylaws. As a public body, the Board of Regents are bound by Michigan’s Open Meeting Act. That means whenever a quorum, or a majority of appointed regents, meets, the meeting must be open to the public, with proper notice provided.
In some cases, the Board of Regents may hold closed sessions. Closed sessions are allowed for a public body to discuss certain sensitive matters, such as dismissal or suspension of an employee or negotiations of a collective bargaining agreement, according to Michigan law. However, decisions must be made during an open session.
The EMU board typically meets every other month. The next Board of Regents meeting—and the first one of the fall semester—will be on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at 2 p.m. The meeting will be held in Welch Hall, room 201. The meeting will also be live streamed on EMU’s YouTube channel.
How to make a public comment
Anyone who wishes to address the board with a public comment must fill out the “Request to Address the Board of Regents” form located on the EMU Board of Regents website and submit it at least 24 hours before the meeting begins. Additionally, the form can be submitted to the vice president and secretary of the board at room 207 in Welch Hall.
The number of speakers allowed to make public comments at a meeting is limited to the first 10 individuals who sign up. Public comments occur during the “communications” portion of the meeting agenda, which is limited to 30 minutes. Each person will be allowed to speak for three minutes.
Call 734-487-2410 for questions about dates, times and locations of meetings.
