Given the relatively few positions on the governing boards of public colleges and universities, every trusteeship is important. Along with the respect appropriately afforded trustees and regents comes special obligations, responsibilities, and high expectations from many sources. How boards can cope with the expectations and ambiguities inherent in academic trusteeship within an inherently "political" environment is a continuing challenge. This checklist presents a list of best practices for public-sector governing boards, which these boards can use to gauge their own practices. It is arranged based on the following themes: (1) raising the bar; (2) leadership; (3) board meetings and committee structure; and (4) other initiatives.