Recently, the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis at the University of Southern California conducted a national study of public higher education governing board performance. 130 board members, presidents, coordinating board officials, governors, legislators, and education department staff were interviewed about ways to improve performance in order to find out what factors allow public higher education governing boards to perform effectively. Survey results indicate that there are seven elements of effective or high-performing public boards: (1) leadership in advancing the board's agenda; (2) board culture; (3) board education; (4) external relations; (5) relationships; (6) evaluation; and (7) structure. While three of these elements are important to private higher education boards--structure, relationships, and education--the other four, though similar to those in the private sector, take on a different meaning in the public arena. This article discusses these characteristically public-sector elements.