The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees has voted to revise its Governing Regulations to move the authority to appoint deans from university administration to the board.

At the university’s BOT meeting on Tuesday, June 30, the BOT voted to “ensure dean appointments are approved by the Board of Trustees.”

The board does not yet have official authority over approval and requested to have the proposed changes read at its next meeting in September.

The change comes after the appointment of UK’s new dean of the J. David Rosenberg College of Law, Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, who was criticized by Gov. Andy Beshear for not being recommended by law school faculty.

Faculty expressed concerns that Van Tatenhove does not have enough academic credentials to receive tenure as dean, potentially raising issues with the American Bar Association’s accreditation standards for law schools.

UK Provost Robert DiPaola defended Van Tatenhove’s appointment at a committee meeting in April, stating financial and technological pressures placed the college in “extraordinary circumstances” and that Van Tatenhove has the executive skills to navigate how artificial intelligence is changing the legal profession and bring in financial support for the College of Law.

Van Tatenhove was appointed in March by university administration, meaning his appointment will not be affected by the changes to the Governing Regulations. The change made Tuesday brings approval power back to the Board of Trustees.

The revision still allows for the university president to manage the hiring process for deans, which includes “naming a selection committee, creating a position description, advertising the position, interviewing candidates, and naming a preferred candidate to be recommended.”