Senate's Second Public University Trustee Symposium Highlights Importance of Leadership

The heart of a college is its students, but the backbone is its board of trustees.

Trustees lead their universities and our next generation towards success. This responsibility is tremendous and not without countless challenges.

The Senate hosted the second Public University Trustee Symposium this week, bringing dozens of board members from multiple institutions to the Statehouse Atrium. Leaders learned more about the present issues facing academia, most notably promoting intellectual diversity and institutional neutrality.

State Senator Jerry Cirino, Chair of the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee, curated an excellent agenda. The symposium opened with remarks by him and Senator Rob McColley on the mission of trustees, specifically in establishing an environment on campus that welcomes vigorous debate on all topics from all viewpoints.

Senate President Matt Huffman also discussed the partnerships trustees and universities have with their legislators to keep higher education focused on students developing critical thinking and other skills they need for life.

Watch these remarks here.

Following the symposium, Senator Cirino met members of the Statehouse press, who asked about his work upholding intellectual diversity in Senate Bill 83. He’s continuing to push House leadership for a floor vote. Watch the press gaggle here.

Next week in On the Record, we will have Part II of our Trustee Symposium coverage, including a panel on institutional neutrality featuring The Ohio State University President Ted Carter.