Collaborative Governance: The Role of University Centers, Institutes and Programs

Abstract: For almost four decades, universities have played a significant role in developing the field of collaborative governance in the United States, including the establishment of centers that contribute to teaching and training, research and scholarship, and practice. In this article, we describe the evolution of university-based collaborative governance in the United States; summarize results and key findings from a survey of centers, identify a typology of centers; describe how these centers have adapted to fit the states and regions where they operate; present two centers as examples; and make observations about the future of collaborative governance at universities.

Keywords: collaborative governance, universities, public policy, conflict resolution, conflict management