Rethinking public higher education governing boards performance: Results of a national study of governing boards in the United States

This study examines performance among public higher education boards, describing the results from a national study. The research questions that framed the study were: What are the elements of high performance/effectiveness in public higher education governing boards? How does performance among public higher education boards compare to the research on effectiveness among private high education boards, non-profit, and corporate boards? After a review of the extant literature/research on board performance, the results of the study (six major themes: board agenda/leadership, influential individuals, structure, relationship, culture, and external relations) are presented. Next, a model for creating high-performing boards is described before the implications for improving board performance and areas of future research are discussed.