Statewide review of new academic programs in now a fairly common phenomenon, but serious review of existing programs is a much rarer practice. Now that economic conditions threaten to leave many programs stranded, we face the uncomfortable fact that institutions are very sensitive to questions raised about the legitimacy of existing programs. Even…

Recommendations are made for faculty participation in state-level governance decisions: formal faculty input into all state-level boards, a systemwide senate for each consolidated governing board, serious discussion of the relationships between state government and higher education in the state, and faculty specialized participation on ad hoc…

Issues pertinent to evaluation of statewide boards of higher education are considered, and the cases of South Carolina and several other states are covered. Evaluation is seen as a form of accountability. Reasons why better, more formal evaluation of statewide boards will be important to a wide range of constituencies--such as trends toward…

Ten categories and subcategories of governance type for state higher education institutions in the United States are outlined. Historical and legal precedent for the two major components of these governance types (coordinating and governing boards) are examined and the appropriateness and conflicts in their roles are discussed. (MSE)

The primary role of the states in jurisdiction over postsecondary education is reviewed, along with the evolution of state higher education systems, the state planning function concerning institutional role and mission assignments, and state board practices in planning for diversity. (MSE)