Welcome to the University Governance Structures website.
Since the first colleges were founded in the United States, higher education institutions have grown dramatically in size and ambition as they have served more and more students. But as they have grown, they have faced challenges and criticism. How should those invested in the success of America’s colleges and universities navigate these challenges and identify opportunities? Initially, we might distinguish four pillars of higher education:
- the Purpose of higher education institutions;
- the Governance structure best suited to fulfill such Purpose;
- the Public Trust measures needed to secure such Purpose and Governance Structure; and
- the External Orders affecting the first three.
In light of the new forms and practices emerging to deliver higher education, University Governance Structures serves the information needs of the following audiences:
- the trustees, regents, and others who govern the boards of higher education;
- administrators and academics of colleges and research universities and equivalent foundations, research institutes and public policy think tanks addressing the education needs of the 18-26 year old generation;
- the individuals at higher education institutions at all levels, from community colleges to technical institutes, both public and independent, non-profit and for-profit;
- public officials – at both the Federal and State level;
- the parents and others paying students’ tuitions;
- the taxpayers covering the balance of the budgets of most all such institutions;
- and the general public.
Currently in development, it will incorporate the reporting of its companion Online News Digest, Paideia Times, that covers current higher education news and developments. In time, it may also welcome contributions from scholars and interested members of the public.
For further information about University Governance Structures and Paideia Times, see The Idea of the University: Constituted and Emerging Orders in Higher Education: Reconsidering the Idea of the University.
