In an historic move, the University Board of Regents revised their bylaws yesterday to include a chair, vice chair and committees, despite concerns about the timing and political motivations behind the proposal.

Although Regents Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich) and Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) opposed the change, the other six members of the board voted in favor of the proposal.

Regent Larry Deitch (D-Bingham Farms) was elected as chair of the committee. A vice chair will be voted on at a later time.

"I believe the devil remains in the details," McGowan said.

Previously, the board operated without an official internal structure. The chair of the board will now help set the agenda, appoint other regents to committees and head meetings when the president is absent.

"I believe, in short, this is a good governance move," said Regent Martin Taylor (D-Grosse Pointe Farms). "It"s really the norm."

While Maynard did not say she was opposed to the idea of the change, she was concerned about its effects on the University during a transition stage.

"From my point of view, we would be better served if there were no amendments to our bylaws until we have a new permanent president," Maynard said.

Maynard introduced an alternate to the proposal originally introduced at last month"s regents meeting by Regent David Brandon (R-Ann Arbor) because she said other regents are unwilling to wait for a new president.

Maynard"s proposal called for a year-long rotating chair position. The approved proposal gives the chair a two-year elected term.

"This process assures a non-partisan selection of a chairperson each year," Maynard said. "It takes away any board in-fighting on who will be chair and frees us to focus on issues of higher education."

Supporters of the approved proposal do not believe it has any political motivations or will reorganize the board"s distribution of power.

"As I look at it now, this does not shift any power. I think this will put us in a better position. I do not think this will lead us into micromanaging the University that is the last thing I want to do," Taylor said.

Supporters of the proposal hope that the new committee structure will enable the regents to delegate responsibility in a more effective manner.

But Maynard said she believes the committee structure will alienate the regents from the public and other board members.

"This is not a private corporation. This is a public institution where the power to run the University and its board meetings is granted to the president," Maynard said.

Instead, Maynard said she would like to wait until there is further input and discussion about the needs of the board.

Michigan Student Assembly president Matt Nolan said he is in favor of the regents" new committees as long as it would strengthen communication between students and the board.

The new bylaws also allow for board members to participate via telephone or video conference during their monthly regents meetings. In the past, at least five regents had to be physically present.