Public Universities and their Governance

Topic:

We will discuss these questions in general, and any specificity of your own university’s governance is welcome. However, for the purpose of a degree of commonality, let’s talk about this with a particular look at what happened at UVA two years ago (readings attached). The intention of our discussion is to not talk about UVA, but rather consider it a case of the broader seminar on the role of a public university.

Readings:

1. Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Statement on Board Responsibility for Institutional Governance: Link to Reading

2. Washington Post’s review of events of the Teresa Sullivan ousting incident: Link to Reading

3. New York Times’ op-ed: Link to Reading

4. Businessweek Commentary: Should Public Universities Behave like Private Universities?: Link to Reading

5. Establishment of the University of Virginia: Link to Reading

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the relationship between the state and a public university?

2. How does this relationship define, if at all, the university’s role and mission?

3. Given a resolved role, how then must the university structure its governance?

4. What does the structure of the board look like?

5. What responsibilities do the board members have, and what responsibilities do the university leadership have to the board members?