Research On The Characteristics Of Governing Boards Of American Universities

Nowadays America undoubtedly occupies the top place of the world in the field of higher education. Considered as the significant and distinctive characteristic of American higher education, the managing mode of governing boards shows thriving vitality and extraordinary managing capacity. Today when the higher education of China is in deep reflection and reform is in brewing, it would be of a great enlightenment for us to focus on how and in what circumstances American governing boards are running.Based on an exploration on the history of the development of American governing boards,this study makes an analysis on the characteristics of governing boards of American universities as well as the external conditions for them to form and run smoothly. In the end, suggestions on managing reforms in Chinese universities are frankly put forward.This thesis consists of five parts:Part One is Introduction,which briefly introduces the background and significance of selecting this topic; synthetically states the general research condition in this field home and abroad; clearly illustrates train thoughts of the research and main methods adopted by this thesis.Part Two firstly defines what is"governing boards of American universities", then summarizes the classification of them, and takes a retrospect on the development of the governing boards of American universities.Part Three deeply analyzes the characteristics of governing boards of American universities from the aspects of their constitution,orientation,running mechanism,decision-making mechanism and legal guarantee.Part Four elaborates the external environment from the aspects of system environment,democratic circumstances,civic society and American culture.Part Five is epilogue, in which suggestions on governing reforms in Chinese universities are frankly put forward.