The Constitution of the State of Michigan stipulates that the members of the governing board of Wayne State University and their successors in office constitute the Board of Governors of Wayne State University. The board consists of eight members, each elected by the people of the state of Michigan for eight-year terms. All vacancies that occur within the eight-year terms are filled through appointment by the governor of the state. Each appointee holds office until completion of the term and a successor has been nominated and elected in statewide elections. Members of the board serve without compensation.

The Board of Governors elects the president of the university, has general supervision of Wayne State University, and controls and directs  expenditures from university funds. It enacts bylaws and regulations for the conduct of its business and for the governance of the university. It sets tuition and policy for other fees and charges; determines the compensation to be paid for service; confers degrees; sets the policy for management of gifts, grants, bequests, agreements and contracts; and leases or disposes of property.

Michigan's constitutional system of independent, elected boards for its three largest public universities, coupled with gubernatorily appointed boards for its smaller public state universities, is different from most other states.  This governance model has helped Michigan develop and preserve one of the nation's finest systems of colleges and universities. Each governing board devotes itself to one university and is able to work carefully to develop the excellence of that institution. 

(See the Board of Governors Bylaws for information on meetings, committees and officers.)

Wayne University was established in 1933 as the Colleges of the City of Detroit under the supervision of the Detroit Board of Education and was renamed Wayne University in 1934. Wayne University was governed by the Detroit Board of Education, as were the separate colleges that were brought together to create the University.

Wayne was established as a state university by the 68th Legislature of the State of Michigan, when it enacted Public Act 183.  The Act was signed by the Governor on April 22, 1956.   A temporary board of 11 members was formed (listed below). Nine members were selected by public agencies, one was appointed by the governor, and the State Superintendant of Public Instruction was an ex-officio member. 

Members of the temporary board served until their successors were elected in the spring of 1959 to form a six-member body corporate to be known as the Board of Governors of Wayne State University, as provided in Act 183. Two board members were elected for two-year terms, two for four-year terms, and two for six-year terms.

The new State Constitution of 1963 provided for the first eight-member board, effective January 1964, and the first election for eight-year terms was held in November 1964, with members taking office in January 1965. The board continues to consist of members who are elected by the people of the state of Michigan for eight-year terms.

The following list provides the names and terms of office of those who served Wayne State University through election or appointment beginning in 1959, and the year their term of service concluded. Those with an asterisk (*) were appointed by the governor of Michigan.