AGB Board Outlines Principles for Board Engagement in Overseeing Educational Quality

Los Angeles, CA, April 4, 2011: The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) today released a formal statement urging college and university governing boards to oversee the educational quality of their institutions more effectively.

In calling for increased board awareness of and engagement in those issues that impact quality, the new AGB statement offers seven specific principles to help guide board oversight of quality and student success. Application of the AGB principles will vary across institutions, but the statement provides some common practices for boards to consider, ranging from charging the president and chief academic officer with collecting and sharing data about student learning outcomes, and approving and monitoring the financial resources committed to supporting a high-quality educational experience, to developing an understanding of the institution’s programs and the connection between the programs and outside-of-the classroom educational experiences.

“This statement clarifies a long-standing area of board responsibility,” said AGB President Richard D. Legon.  “It provides a clear road map for boards and institution administrators as, together, they address the critically important issue of educational quality.”

In addition to the principles, the statement provides guidance to presidents and chief academic officers and offers an illustrative charge for the academic affairs committee.

While encouraging boards to see this part of their strategic oversight as essential to their overall responsibilities, the statement clearly counsels boards to respect the academic prerogative of faculty and institution academic leadership.  “The AGB Board Statement isn’t a call for boards to assume a level of engagement in academics that intrudes on the faculty’s traditional and essential roles, but is a reminder about board accountability,” said Jim Weaver, AGB board chair and former chair of the board of Gettysburg College. “There’s no ducking that essential board responsibility.”

“There is a growing demand for greater accountability from higher education boards, ranging from how high tuition is to how much students know when they graduate.  It was clear from our research that boards aren’t always appropriately engaged in ensuring quality,” said Susan Whealler Johnston, AGB executive vice president, who wrote the survey report, “How Boards Oversee Educational Quality: A Report on a Survey on Boards and the Assessment of Student Learning,” published in September 2010. “Boards need to understand that this is part of what is expected of them by the public, by parents, funders, and by students.”

"This engagement is important for the entire board and all of its committees," said R. Barbara 'Bobby' Gitenstein, president of The College of New Jersey. "Educational quality is central to the strategic direction of the institution and should inform board work in many areas, especially during times of fiscal constraint. Board engagement in educational quality will enable a more strategic approach to funding the institution's priorities. I appreciate the guidance this statement provides for me, my provost, and the board."

To access the statement and AGB's report, “How Boards Oversee Educational Quality: A Report on a Survey on Boards and the Assessment of Student Learning,” visit AGB's Web site. The statement and report are both part of AGB’s project, Governance for Student Success, supported by Lumina Foundation.

The “AGB Statement on Board Responsibility for the Oversight of Educational Quality” was formally approved by AGB’s Board of Directors on March 17 and was released at the 2011 AGB National Conference on Trusteeship.  It is the eighth policy statement issued by the AGB Board of Directors since 1998.

For 90 years, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) has had one mission: to strengthen and protect this country’s unique form of institutional governance through its research, services, and advocacy. Serving more than 1,200 member boards and 36,000 individuals, AGB is the only national organization providing university and college presidents, board chairs, trustees, and board professionals of both public and private institutions with resources that enhance their effectiveness. In accordance with its mission, AGB has developed programs and services that strengthen the partnership between the president and governing board; provide guidance to regents and trustees; identify issues that affect tomorrow’s decision making; and foster cooperation among all constituencies in higher education. For more information, visit www.agb.org.