Higher Education Governance Systems

Higher education governance systems consist of a multitiered approach to set and amend policy, determine strategy, and monitor performance for universities and colleges and state systems of public universities and colleges. Systems of governance include governmental bodies, buffer bodies that exist between government and institutions, boards of trustees or governing boards, and academic or [Page 707]faculty senates. Systems of governance span from the state to the institution, with different responsibilities and roles at each level. This system approach is comprehensive, which also means that it can find itself in conflict. The United States and some other systems adhere to the ideals and structures of shared governance, in which various stakeholders, such as faculty, administrators, and trustees, participate jointly in the governance of institutions.

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