Exploring Differences between Similarly Structured State Higher Education Governing Agencies

Overview & Synopsis

Research examining state higher education governing agencies often focuses on their centralization of authority and structure as key differentiating factors (e.g., consolidated governing agencies vs. coordinating boards vs. planning/regulatory agencies). The utility of the resulting typology has been widely used and contributes extensively to the body of literature framing the collective understanding of these organizations. Despite studies questioning whether these groupings offer adequate nuance across state contexts, limited research has sought to compare similarly structured state higher education governing agencies. Accordingly, this chapter examines the similarities and differences in roles and structures across three state higher education governing agencies (Idaho, Nevada, and Utah), which are similarly classified as consolidated governing agencies and maintain some similar characteristics given their regional proximity, while providing additional insight into the operation of higher education in the US Mountain West.