A private university governing board is the broad term for the governing body of a private college or university. These governing entities come in many shapes and sizes and may be called a myriad of names such as councils, boards of trustees, or syndicates, among other terms. All higher education institutions, private or not, have some type of decision-making body of this fashion. While some campuses may reimburse their trustees for select expenses, members of college and university boards are considered volunteers. This entry discusses the responsibilities of private university governing boards, appointment of board members and the composition of boards, and research.