The Board of Education is the governing body of Lane Community College and has primary authority for establishing policies governing the operation of the college and adopting the college’s annual budget.

The first board was elected on October 19, 1964, when the voters of Lane County approved the formation of the community college. The first board meeting was held on November 4, 1964. The board was originally called the Board of Directors from October 1964 to June 1966 when the name was changed to Board of Education. Lane Community College District was established and operates under the authority of Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) 341.

The board is composed of seven, non-paid members representing the Lane Community College District which includes most of Lane County as well as portions of Benton, Linn, and Douglas Counties. Each member is elected to a four-year term. The board elects two officers, a Chair, and a Vice-Chair.

The district is divided into seven zones: five geographical zones and two at-large zones. The geographical zones are: Zone 1: the western part of the district including Florence and Dune City; Zone 2: the northern part of the district including Coburg, Junction City, Harrisburg (Linn County), and Monroe (Benton County); Zone 3: the northeastern part of the district including Springfield, Thurston, and Marcola; Zone 4: the southern and eastern parts of the district including Creswell, Cottage Grove, Vida, Lowell, and Oakridge; and Zone 5: the central part of the district composed of the city of Eugene. Five members, representing the five geographical zones, are elected by the qualified voters of the entire district, but they must reside in zone from which they are elected. Two board members are elected at-large (Zones 6 and 7).

The duties and responsibilities of the board include: the college program and curriculum; community relations; budget making; appraisal and evaluation of the effectiveness of the college operation; college finances; and personnel including appointing the president, management, and contracted faculty.

As part of its budget making duties, the seven board members serve on the Budget Committee which also includes seven members appointed by the board. The Budget Committee presents the needs of the college to the public and assists in the adoption of the budget through the formal budget process.