The Board of Trustees is the governing board of the public higher educational complex that spans the five boroughs and encompasses 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, the William E. Macaulay Honors College, the CUNY School of Medicine, the Graduate School and University Center, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, the CUNY School of Law, the CUNY School of Professional Studies, the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy, and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. The Board is composed of 17 Trustees; ten appointed by the Governor and five by the Mayor, both with State Senate advice and consent. One ex-officio Trustee is the chair of the University Student Senate. One ex-officio, non-voting Trustee is the chair of the University Faculty Senate. The Chair and the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

The Trustees appointed by the Mayor must be New York City residents and include at least one alumnus of an educational unit in The City University. The Trustees appointed by the Governor shall include at least one resident of each of the five boroughs of New York City and must include at least two alumni of an educational unit of The City University, including at least one alumnus of a community college.

New appointments will be for the unexpired period of the Trustee being replaced; reappointments will be for a period of seven years. No salary. Board meetings are generally held on the fourth Monday of the month. There are generally no regular meetings in March, July, August and September. Each year, a public hearing is held in each of the five boroughs on matters of university-wide interest.