Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska has called on Jim Hayes, a member of the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents, to resign after he was indicted this month on federal charges of theft and money laundering. Governor Palin, however, stopped short of taking steps to remove Mr. Hayes from the 11-member board. Mr. Hayes also could be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.

Sharon Leighow, a spokeswoman for the Republican governor, told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, a local newspaper, that Mr. Hayes “has left a dark cloud” over the university. “The governor wants that cloud lifted,” she said, “and hopes he will step down for the benefit of the University of Alaska.”

Mr. Hayes, who did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment, and his wife, Chris, are accused of using $450,000 in federal grants to pay off credit-card debt and for personal purchases, including a plasma-screen television.