Final answer:
Public university boards of trustees play a critical role in governance, making key policy decisions, and ensuring the institution's autonomy and alignment with students' and stakeholders' needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the purposes of public university boards of trustees is to oversee and ensure the proper governance of the institution. The board is responsible for substantial policy decisions affecting the university, including tuition increases, class cuts, and modifications to student conduct policies. They function similarly to a board of directors in a corporation, elected to be the first line of governance and to provide oversight for top executives. In educational settings, these boards may also handle issues such as government funding for facilities, distribution of student grants, loans, work-study opportunities, and influence laws and court decisions related to research, admissions, and gender equality in sports. The historical case Dartmouth College v. Woodward highlights the importance of such boards in maintaining independence from excessive government interference in educational institutions.