The board establishes minimum standards and leaves to each institution the prerogative to establish higher standards. Applications for admission should be addressed to the institutions. Public service and continuing education consist of nondegree activities, primarily, and special types of college degree credit courses. The nondegree activities include short courses, seminars, conferences, and consultative and advisory services in many areas of interest. Typical college degree credit courses are those offered through extension center programs and teacher education consortiums.
Research encompasses scholarly investigations conducted for discovery and application of knowledge.
The research investigations cover matters related to the educational objectives of the institutions and to general social needs. The policies of the Board of Regents provide a high degree of autonomy for each institution. The executive head of each institution is the president, whose election is recommended by the chancellor and approved by the board.