Florida has a dual structure system. The State University System is governed by the 17-member Florida Board of Governors, including 14 gubernatorial appointees (confirmed by Florida Senate for seven-year terms), plus the Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, Commissioner of Education, and Chair of the Florida Student Association. The Chancellor serves as the system’s chief executive.
The K-20 Education is governed by the Florida Board of Education (7 governor-appointed members) oversees kindergarten through higher education policy, with primary focus on K-20 education and community colleges.
System Scale: The State University System includes 12 public universities serving over 430,000 students, making it the nation’s second-largest public university system. Three universities hold “Preeminent” status: University of Florida, Florida State University, and University of South Florida.
