The Xavier University Board of Trustees is the primary governance body at the university. As such, it has a broad array of responsibilities over policy making and implementation. The Xavier Board of Trustees was first established in 1840 with the institution of St. Xavier College. Until the appointment of lay persons to the Board in July, 1972, the Board of Trustees had been solely composed of members of the Society of Jesus.

Membership, authority, responsibilities of the Xavier Board of Trustees has evolved over the years. The Xavier University Board of Trustees' Code of Regulations (2011 revision) gives the following information: Article II: Membership of Board of Trustees: A. The Board of Trustees shall consist of that number of Trustees as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees, but which number shall not be less than 15 nor more than 50 persons, excluding Trustees Emeriti. At no time shall the number of Trustees who are also members of the Society of Jesus be less than 15% of the total number of Trustees. The President of Xavier University and the Rector of the Jesuit Community shall be an ex officio voting member of the Board of Trustees, and both shall be included among the number of Jesuit Trustees in determining if the minimum number of Jesuit Trustees is satisfied. The National Chair-University Trustee of the National Alumni Association shall also be an ex officio voting member of the Board of Trustees, and shall serve for a three-year term commencing with the meeting of the Board of Trustees following appointment as National Chair-University Trustee of the National Alumni Association. B. The Trustees shall be divided into three classes, each class consisting of one-third (as nearly as possible) of the total number of Trustees. Trustees shall ordinarily serve for three-year terms and be eligible for reelection to a maximum of 2 full consecutive terms. A person shall not be eligible for election to serve an additional term, unless such person is nominated by the Executive Committee and elected by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Trustees. The Trustees who serve as officers shall be exempt from this provision until at least 1 year has passed following completion of their term of office... Article III: Board Authority and Responsibilities: A. The Board of Trustees shall have the authority to exercise all powers of an Ohio non-profit corporation prescribed by law. The Trustees shall have general responsibility and authority for planning, executing and evaluating all general, academic and financial policies governing the operation of the University and shall be responsible for the University's financial health and welfare. The Board of Trustees shall exercise ultimate institutional authority as set forth in this Code of Regulations and in such other policy documents it deems to be appropriate. This Code of Regulations and other Board policy statements shall take precedence over all other institutional statements, documents and policies. B. The Board of Trustees shall have the authority to carry out all lawful functions that are permitted by this Code of Regulations or by the Articles of Incorporation. This authority, in consultation with the President, shall include but not be limited to these illustrative functions: 1. Determine and periodically review the University's mission and purposes. 2. Promote and maintain the commitment of the University to the Jesuit tradition. 3. Elect the President of the University, who shall be a member of the Society of Jesus, who shall be the executive and administrative head of the University in all its activities and divisions, and set appropriate terms of employment, including compensation. 4. Annually assess the President's performance based on mutually agreed-upon goals and other criteria. 5. Review and consider for approval proposed material changes in the University's academic programs and other major enterprises consistent with the University's mission, plans and financial resources. 6. Approve institutional policies bearing on faculty appointment, promotion, tenure and dismissal as well as personnel or antidiscrimination policies for other categories of employees. 7. Approve the annual budget and tuition and fees, regularly monitor the University's financial condition, and establish policy guidelines affecting all institutional assets, including investment in the physical plant. 8. Contribute financially to the University fund-raising goals, participate actively in strategies to secure sources of support, and authorize University officers to accept gifts or bequests subject to Board policy guidelines. 9. Authorize any debt financing and approve the securitization of loans. 10. Authorize the construction of new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings. 11. Authorize the purchase, sale and management of lands, buildings or major equipment. 12. Approve all earned and honorary degrees through the faculty and President, as they shall recommend. 13. Periodically undertake assessment of the Board's performance....Article VI: Meeting of the Trustees: A. The Board of Trustees shall have 4 regular meetings annually on such dates and at such places as it shall determine....Article VIII: Committees: A. The Board shall establish an Executive Committee...a Jesuit Identity Committee, a Finance Committee, and Audit Committee and such other standing and ad-hoc committees as it deems appropriate to the discharge of its responsibilities..." (Source: Xavier University Board of Trustees' Code of Regulations (Revised 12/2/2011)