Stanton University is a private, nonprofit, non-sectarian, coeducational university organized as a corporation under the laws of the state of California ?subject to any limitations contained in the general nonprofit corporation laws of the State. The University operates in compliance with the California Education Code, the California Code of Regulations and the California Laws and Regulations relating to the practice of Acupuncture ?under the authority of the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education and the California Acupuncture Board, respectively. The University is governed by an appointed Board of Trustees.

The President, under the general direction of the Board of Trustees, is the chief executive officer of the University, and under policies established by the Trustees has leadership and functional responsibilities for mission accomplishment, policy development, academic affairs, fiscal management, institutional planning and development, public relations, and other tasks, functions and responsibilities delegated to him by the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees represents the ultimate and inclusive authority within the University. Their authority is derived from the university's bylaws. The Board of Trustees is the primary policy-making body of the University. Within this context - A policy is a general rule or principle, or a statement of intent, or direction, that provides guidance to administrators in reaching decisions with respect to the particular matters entrusted to their care.

All policies of the University must be approved by the Board before they become official policies. The Board has promulgated bylaws delineating the policy-making process for policy issues that require Board approval. In certain areas, because of the routine nature of the matters, the Board delegates its policy-making authority to the President. However, final approval still resides with the Board. In some instances there are statutory requirements of formal action on certain issues due to provisions written into the university's original bylaws. These constraints limit the delegation of authority by the Board of Trustees on certain policy issues and responsibilities.