According to the Times Free Press, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has a plan that would create independent boards “for the University of Memphis and other four-year universities in the Tennessee Board of Regents system.”

The plan falls under Haslam’s “Drive to 55” goal that would increase the number of adults in Tennessee with “some form of post-high school credential” by 23 percent, to a total of 55 percent.

Just under a third of the state’s adults currently possess a college degree or vocational program certificate.

This move may not impact the University of Tennessee as the governor has yet to state if his new plan will include the University of Tennessee system.

Other portions of Haslam’s plan include the creation of a task force to come up with the best ways to work out the plan details.

Because the governor doesn’t have political or legislative autonomy, his plan will have to be approved by the state legislature when they return for session in January.

So far, there has been no indication as to how the legislature will vote, but judging by reaction from some Republican lawmakers, Gov. Haslam’s plan has been met with glee by those on the right side.

This plan is ambitious on the surface but may lack details of what’s needed to push more adults to obtain a post-secondary education. Giving some of the state’s universities its own boards and governing power is great and allows for singularity, but it doesn’t show how doing so would push more adults towards a college education.