The resolution passed in a split 6-2 vote, with Trustees Rema Vassar and Dennis Denno voting no. 

Denno said he had "serious concerns" about removing an opportunity for stakeholders to address the board. Vassar agreed, adding that she would like to wait to "shape (the board’s) agenda" until two newly-elected trustees join the board in January.

While board meetings are the standard way the public can address MSU leadership, the resolution insists the move is not an attempt to limit engagement with the board. The resolution also calls for the president and board secretary to "explore alternative forums where issues, concerns, and feedback … can be addressed" outside the formal meetings.

Ideas for such forums will be recommended at or before the board’s next meeting. 

Toward the beginning of the next academic year, MSU also will hold an "in-person stakeholder engagement forum" where there will be "broader and richer" opportunities for the community to engage with university leadership, according to the resolution. 

Trustee-elect Mike Balow, who will be joining the board next month, said he doesn’t like that MSU is voting to decrease opportunities for stakeholder engagement without a clearly defined alternative in place. Balow specifically campaigned on holding board meetings more frequently and increasing transparency on the board.

"I mean c’mon, let’s be real," Balow said. "There’s six meetings per year. How limited is that in terms of giving a chance for people who feel like they’ve been ignored to speak?"