U.S. NETWORK FOR EDUCATION INFORMATION










Postsecondary Education

Public and private postsecondary institutions enjoy more autonomy and are more internally self-governing than are schools. Nevertheless, state governments exercise oversight and coordinating authority over higher education within their jurisdictions, issue corporate charters to institutions, regulate standards and quality to varying degrees, and may have regulatory authority over various aspects of the operation of public institutions (once again, depending on state law).

State Postsecondary Authorities

The State Higher Education Executive Officer Network (SHEEO) is the national network of the state postsecondary education officials who head state boards and postsecondary agencies. These persons are responsible for oversight of most academic institutions, especially those licensed to award bachelor's and higher degrees.

The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is the national association representing specialized boards of trustees that oversee public community colleges and 2-year associate degree programs. Not all states possess separate boards for community colleges; in some cases these institutions are governed by the same bodies that oversee other types of higher education.

EROD's Guide to State Higher Education Agencies provides links and contact information for most state agencies overseeing various types of higher education, including 4-year and 2-year institutions.

State Student Assistance Agencies

Both state and federal student financial assistance programs are required to be administered by public authorities that can account for the monies distributed as loans and grants and for the repayment of loans.

The National Association of State Student Grant-in-Aid Programs is the association representing state directors of state-based student financial assistance programs.

State Federal Loan Guaranty Agencies are the state agencies designated to guarantee federal student financial assistance loans distributed in each state.

State Institutional Organizations

American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the national association representing the public community colleges across the United States.

American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is the national association representing the designated state universities and many public 4-year colleges, including institutions that are state-related (independent institutions having some affiliation with the state system and receiving some support).

National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) is the national association representing all state institutions and multi-campus systems, including the institutions founded via the Morrill Acts to receive federal support via land grants and funds for agricultural education.