This case study synthesizes interview data with other sources to paint a descriptive picture of governance and related issues facing New York's higher education system. The study is based on documents gathered from public offices, higher education institutions and relevant publications. Interviews with state officials, education administrators, board members, faculty, and staff took place in October and December of 1995, with telephone followup in 1996. Few states can match the complexity of the environment of higher education in New York. Geographically, demographically, economically, and politically, the state is divided between New York City in the south and the rest of the state, upstate New York.
Every state has regional differences that influence the governance of higher education.
Back to top Demography New York, with 18.5 million people, is the third largest state in the nation. Over one-fourth of the state's population is minority and 23 percent of its households speak a language other than English at home. Unless otherwise noted, data are drawn from Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac 43, no. Differences between New York City and the rest of the state are important in understanding the environment in New York. As Table 2 shows, New York City is home to over 40 percent of the state's population and a majority of the state's ethnic minorities.