ABSTRACT
Looking from the outside in, higher education in the United States appears to be a paradox, wrapped in ambiguity, and influenced by shifting, sometimes contradictory internal and external social and economic forces and educational philosophies. Unlike most of the world, in the United States there is no national higher education authority that determines mission,sets policy, promulgates standards, dictates organizational structure, or allocates resources. For public institutions those functions are primarily fulfilled by the states. A variety of board structures govern higher education, ranging from a single state board for all institutions, within the state to separate boards for individual colleges and universities to boards for categories of institutions, such as research universities, regional colleges,and community colleges. For private institutions those responsibilities are discharged bygoverning boards of private citizens who mayor may not be affiliated with a sponsoring organization such as a religious entity.
