Abstract: In China’s higher education, the academic committee system has undergone three stages of development: budding, startup and establishment. For a long period of time, the academic power, which should have been exercised by the academic committee, has not been clearly separated from political power and executive power. Higher Education Act proposed the establishment of academic committee, stipulating the committee’s responsibility. As a result, the academic power has become more explicit than implicit. However, the academic power is still in the state of attachment. In future, it is quite necessary to strengthen the awareness of the nature and necessity of the academic power, and reinforce the building of the academic committee system in support of the construction of modern university system. In a long run, the status of the academic power should be independent, rather than being attached to other authorities. Regulations of Academic Committee in Universities issued by the Ministry of Education is undoubtedly a milestone, which means a shift of the academic committee from the period of system design into a new era of practical construction.

Key words: university governance, academic power, academic committee, system evolution