Why not simply use "university"? or "college" or even "institutions of higher education". All that works in the US. "Faculty" works for Canada as well, but you're right, it's better to avoid it in the strict US context. In the US, the primary meaning of it is university professors.

"administrative" or "governing bodies" would work, too.


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Note added at 1 hr (2011-08-01 14:08:52 GMT)
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Ok, I see. Then use "departmental management" for Fakultätswerwaltung and "university administration" for Universitätsverwaltung.

"Successful operation of an educational institution requires competent administrators. Education administrators provide instructional leadership and manage the day-to-day activities in schools, preschools, day care centers, and colleges and universities. They also direct the educational programs of businesses, correctional institutions, museums, and job training and community service organizations".
I changed "administration" to "administrators" to allow for the above term, which is a familiar one in US English and should convey the German meaning just fine.
I understand you don't want to repeat the term, but since it does repeat itself in the original German as well, it wouldn't be a stretch at all to just call it "faculty administrations".

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Note added at 7 hrs (2011-08-01 19:47:52 GMT)
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Sorry, in rereading your source text, you'd have to use "administrations", not "administrators".