University of Western States is incorporated by the state of Oregon as a private, non-profit organization and governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. The board is vested with all duties and responsibilities of governing the university. Its primary responsibilities are:

• Appoint and regularly evaluate the performance of the university president.
• Sustain and advance the mission, major goals, vision, traditions, values and reputation of the university.
• Approve the annual university budget.
• Approve board-level university policies.
• Ensure the overall fiscal stability of the university.

The UWS Board of Trustees is comprised of between nine and twenty-one members, who serve a maximum of four three-year terms.