CPI Higher Education Policy & Governance Flashcards

What is 'shared governance' in higher education institutions?

Answer: A model in which faculty, administrators, and trustees each have defined roles in institutional decision-making

Shared governance distributes authority so that faculty lead academic matters, administrators manage operations, and trustees set strategic direction.

Which federal law protects the privacy of student educational records in the United States?

Answer: FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

FERPA grants students the right to access their own educational records and restricts institutions from disclosing those records without consent.

What is the primary purpose of a faculty senate at a college or university?

Answer: To represent faculty interests and share in governance of academic policies

A faculty senate is the principal vehicle through which faculty exercise shared governance, particularly over curriculum, academic standards, and faculty affairs.

What does Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibit?

Answer: Sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance

Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in all federally funded education programs, covering areas such as athletics, admissions, and sexual harassment policies.

What is the role of a Board of Trustees at a public college or university?

Answer: To provide fiduciary oversight and set broad institutional policy and strategic direction

Boards of Trustees hold ultimate legal authority over the institution, appointing the president, approving budgets, and ensuring mission alignment.

What is the purpose of an institution's mission statement?

Answer: To articulate the college's core purpose, values, and the communities it serves

A mission statement defines why the institution exists, who it serves, and the values that guide its decisions and programs.