This booklet is a guide to the planning process for members of governing boards of institutions of higher education. Generally, it sees the role of the board in planning as ensuring that planning takes place and insisting that plans are used regularly for decision making. The publication discusses the following five specific tasks related to this general responsibility: (1) recognizing and promoting the usefulness of planning; (2) reviewing and approving a planning process for the institution; (3) holding the chief executive accountable for the planning function; (4) participating in certain steps in the planning process; and (5) using the institution's plans to make decisions, especially those that involve setting priorities and allocating resources. Also provided is a list of questions board members might consider in carrying out each of these areas of responsibility. (DB)