The governance of Higher Education institutions

The governance of Higher Education institutions is different from that of K-12 schools. There are a variety of governance structures at various levels. For this week’s discussion, please be sure to read the following articles from your study:

Understanding, Responding to, and Influencing School Community: Principals’ Perspectives.
Thriving in the Midst of Liminality: Perspectives from Department Chairs in the USA.
After your reading, respond to the following:

Research and discuss two differences between the governance of Higher Education institutions and K-12 school divisions from an internal perspective. Be sure to support your discussion with information from our text, The American Education Policy Landscape, and additional resources as appropriate.

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1. Level of centralization

K-12 school divisions are typically more centralized than Higher Education institutions. This means that there is more decision-making power concentrated at the top, such as with the state board of education or the school district superintendent. In contrast, Higher Education institutions tend to have a more decentralized governance structure, with more decision-making power delegated to individual schools and departments

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This difference in centralization can be seen in the way that budgets are managed. In K-12 schools, the budget is typically set by the school district superintendent and then distributed to individual schools. In Higher Education institutions, the budget is typically set by the central administration, but individual schools and departments have more flexibility in how they spend their money.

Another example of this difference in centralization can be seen in the way that personnel decisions are made. In K-12 schools, the school district superintendent typically has the final say on who is hired and fired. In Higher Education institutions, the president of the university typically has the final say, but individual schools and departments have more say in hiring and firing decisions.

  1. Role of stakeholders

Another difference between the governance of Higher Education institutions and K-12 school divisions is the role of stakeholders. In K-12 schools, the primary stakeholders are parents, students, and teachers. In Higher Education institutions, the stakeholders are also faculty, staff, alumni, and donors.

This difference in the makeup of stakeholders can lead to different priorities in decision-making. In K-12 schools, the focus is often on meeting the needs of students and ensuring that they are prepared for college and career. In Higher Education institutions, the focus is also on meeting the needs of students, but there is also a need to balance those needs with the needs of faculty, staff, alumni, and donors.

For example, in K-12 schools, there may be pressure to raise test scores, even if that means sacrificing some of the creativity and innovation in the classroom. In Higher Education institutions, there may be pressure to increase enrollment, even if that means accepting students who are not academically prepared.

These are just two of the many differences between the governance of Higher Education institutions and K-12 school divisions. The specific governance structures of individual institutions will vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size and type of institution, the state in which it is located, and the history of the institution.

In addition to the two differences mentioned above, here are some other key differences between the governance of Higher Education institutions and K-12 school divisions:

  • The role of the government: The government plays a much larger role in the governance of K-12 schools than in the governance of Higher Education institutions. This is because K-12 schools are typically funded by the government, while Higher Education institutions are more reliant on tuition and donations.
  • The role of the faculty: Faculty play a more important role in the governance of Higher Education institutions than in the governance of K-12 schools. This is because faculty are responsible for setting academic standards and curriculum.
  • The role of the board of trustees: The board of trustees plays a more important role in the governance of private Higher Education institutions than in the governance of public K-12 schools. This is because private Higher Education institutions are not subject to the same level of government regulation as public K-12 schools.

The governance of Higher Education institutions and K-12 school divisions is a complex and ever-evolving topic. The specific governance structures of individual institutions will vary depending on a number of factors, but the two differences mentioned above are some of the most important.

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