Academic governance involves determining responsibilities for key academic issues like curriculum and standards. There is no single definition as models differ by institution. Authority generally lies with the relationships between the Board of Trustees (BOT) and Faculty Senate. In the US, the BOT and administration represent one voice, while the faculty senate represents the other. Governance is influenced by meeting needs of various stakeholders and institutional goals. Effective governance occurs when groups avoid operational details better left to others and there are clear lines of responsibility to avoid overlap. Complications can arise from tensions between autonomy and institutional interests as well as slow processes involving multiple committees.