1. Taxonomy of higher education governance structures
Governing boards—coordinating boards—service agencies
Widely used in higher education scholarship and policy analysis over the last 25 years, particularly by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) and the Education Commission of the States (ECS)
Implementation differs across states; each state adapts the structures for its own purposes
Structures can be used in conjunction; for example, a number of states have system governing boards and service agencies

2. Questions to Guide Discussion
What is a governing board?
Direct authority over hiring the firing chief executives; granting degrees; resource allocation; operational decisions such as tuition setting, human resources, property management
Other states: University of North Carolina System
Where do you want governance to occur?
State level? If so, a state-level governing board for all public four-year institutions is one option
Campus level? If so, each public four-year institution should have its own governing board
Other level?
West Virginia precedents: West Virginia Board of Regents (1969—1989); University of West Virginia Board of Trustees and State College Board of Directors (1989— 2000)

3. Questions to Guide Discussion
What is a coordinating board?
In most cases, “power of persuasion” to encourage strategic planning, promote cooperation, reduce duplication, and align higher education with state goals; some authority over budget and program approval to back up this “power of persuasion”
Other states: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Do you want a coordinating board?
Governance and coordination do not have to be mutually exclusive but tension and confusion between coordinating board and governing boards is a recurring problem
What do you want to coordinate?
All public four-year institutions equally? (precedent: HEPC, 2000—2017)
Differential coordination? More for regional institutions, less for MU, WVU, and WVUSOM (precedent: HEPC, 2017—present)

4. Questions to Guide Discussion
What is a service agency?
Agency or office focused on providing specific services and technical assistance to institutions; little or no authority over operations
Other states: Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Do you want a service agency?
Service agencies can offer a menu of services and assistance from which institutions can choose
What services do you want to offer? Examples include but not limited to:
Data clearinghouse
Facilities planning
Legal services
Reciprocity agreements (e.g., SREB Academic Common Market)

5. Questions to Guide Discussion
What is constitutional autonomy?
Institutions are essentially separate branches of state government, subject to appropriation of funds by the State Legislature
Do you want institutions to have constitutional autonomy?
Example: Michigan
Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University are specifically enumerated in the Michigan Constitution and have publicly elected governing boards
Other public four-year institutions have boards appointed by the governor