Josephine Cassar Feb 20, 2016:

I think Jethro has to decide according to the context-not much posted here-whether that part of the text is referring to the school head or the head of the board as we do not know from the little that was posted

writeaway Feb 19, 2016:

Principal is strictly a secondary/high school term. Never used for university level schools. I should add it's also used in primary/elementary schools in the US at least.

Katherine Rutter Feb 19, 2016:

Since a "haute école" refers to higher education I would be inclined to agree with "vice-chancellor", or "university president" for US readership. I don't know if "principal" is used at this level, but it makes me think of High school. I'd say president was likely to be the best bet

philgoddard Feb 18, 2016:

It partly depends on whether you're writing... for a European or US readership. Wikipedia says:
In most Commonwealth (or former Commonwealth) nations, the chancellor is usually a titular (ceremonial figurehead) non-resident head of the university. In such institutions, the chief executive of a university is the *vice-chancellor*, who may also carry a title such as the alternates listed above (such as *"president & vice-chancellor"*). The chancellor may serve as chairman of the governing body (the council or board of governors); if not, this duty is often held by a chairman who may be known as a pro-chancellor.

In many countries, the administrative and educational head of the university is known as the *president, principal or rector*. In the United States, the head of a university is most commonly a university president.