AGB in the News
Harvard, BU trustee conflicts are cited
The Boston Globe, May 1, 2012
"Richard Legon - president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the industry group for trustees - said such conflicts are not something that can always be avoided or that need to be fully avoided. The key is adhering to a policy to address them and taking transparency seriously."
The Boston Globe, May 1, 2012
"Richard Legon - president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the industry group for trustees - said such conflicts are not something that can always be avoided or that need to be fully avoided. The key is adhering to a policy to address them and taking transparency seriously."
Political maneuvering over Poly is deja vu
The Tampa Tribune, April 29, 2012
"The Legislature's action 'undermines the authority, the stature of the Board of Governors,' Novak said from Washington, where he works with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. And here's the problem with that. 'Resources get dispersed on competing activities,' Novak said. 'Needs of certain segments of the population get ignored, resources are spent on activities they shouldn't be spent on.' In short, precious funding is wasted."
The Tampa Tribune, April 29, 2012
"The Legislature's action 'undermines the authority, the stature of the Board of Governors,' Novak said from Washington, where he works with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. And here's the problem with that. 'Resources get dispersed on competing activities,' Novak said. 'Needs of certain segments of the population get ignored, resources are spent on activities they shouldn't be spent on.' In short, precious funding is wasted."
College Leaders Resist Pull to Stray From Mission
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 23, 2012
"Indeed, the voices calling for colleges to prepare students for employment, or to stimulate stagnant economies with research breakthroughs, are often louder than those suggesting higher education is really about building better human beings, several panelists and attendees posited at the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities 2012 National Conference on Trusteeship."
The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 23, 2012
"Indeed, the voices calling for colleges to prepare students for employment, or to stimulate stagnant economies with research breakthroughs, are often louder than those suggesting higher education is really about building better human beings, several panelists and attendees posited at the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities 2012 National Conference on Trusteeship."
A Core Question
Inside HigherEd, April 3, 2012
"One of the key recommendations in 'Effective Governing Boards,' a publication by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, is that 'An effective board, even when sharply divided, speaks with one voice.'"
Inside HigherEd, April 3, 2012
"One of the key recommendations in 'Effective Governing Boards,' a publication by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, is that 'An effective board, even when sharply divided, speaks with one voice.'"
Sharing Governance
Inside HigherEd, March 16, 2012
"Bahls said he spent significant time after the confrontations over the first plan reading publications by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and other research about shared governance. He also distributed readings to trustees to get them thinking about getting faculty involved in governance. 'I resolved this time around for the strategic plan to be a joint product of faculty and board,' he said."
Inside HigherEd, March 16, 2012
"Bahls said he spent significant time after the confrontations over the first plan reading publications by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and other research about shared governance. He also distributed readings to trustees to get them thinking about getting faculty involved in governance. 'I resolved this time around for the strategic plan to be a joint product of faculty and board,' he said."
A Pre-Presidential Initiative
Inside HigherEd, March 5, 2012
"The two noted that at an institute held by the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities to teach board chairs and presidents about working together, they were already working as more of a team than pairs that had been together longer. ... 'Without a doubt, the process created a uniqueness among us in terms of the board chair and president relationship,' Faura said."
Inside HigherEd, March 5, 2012
"The two noted that at an institute held by the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities to teach board chairs and presidents about working together, they were already working as more of a team than pairs that had been together longer. ... 'Without a doubt, the process created a uniqueness among us in terms of the board chair and president relationship,' Faura said."
Sviggum disputes University of Minnesota regents panel's finding of conflict of interest
St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 2, 2012
"Richard Novak, a vice president at the national Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, said the relationship between university governing boards and state politics can be complex: In about a dozen states, governors or state legislators sit on those boards. In any case, he said, it would be tough to recover from a confrontation over conflict-of-interest questions. 'Especially if the vote is unanimous that (Sviggum) should step down, it's going to be awkward and difficult for the board to function cohesively, at least at first,' Novak said."
St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 2, 2012
"Richard Novak, a vice president at the national Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, said the relationship between university governing boards and state politics can be complex: In about a dozen states, governors or state legislators sit on those boards. In any case, he said, it would be tough to recover from a confrontation over conflict-of-interest questions. 'Especially if the vote is unanimous that (Sviggum) should step down, it's going to be awkward and difficult for the board to function cohesively, at least at first,' Novak said."
A Boss Without a Boss
Inside HigherEd, February 21, 2012
"The typical term for a member of an independent college or university’s board of trustees is four years, according to a survey by the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities, and 64 percent of private universities have a policy limiting the number of consecutive terms a member can serve."
Inside HigherEd, February 21, 2012
"The typical term for a member of an independent college or university’s board of trustees is four years, according to a survey by the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities, and 64 percent of private universities have a policy limiting the number of consecutive terms a member can serve."
UM President Shalala's role on two boards prompts questions of conflict
The Miami Herald, February 13, 2012
"According to a 2010 national survey performed by the association, about 30 percent of college leaders serve on at least one corporate board. But the percentage of respondents who said they’ve been invited to serve on a trustee’s own board was much less: 6.2 percent. 'It's very hard to leave that relationship at the door,' Merrill Schwartz, the association's director of research, said in explaining why such overlap is a bad idea. 'It’s not just a compensation decision. There are decisions that come up before a board that may be controversial, on strategies, directions, goals.'"
The Miami Herald, February 13, 2012
"According to a 2010 national survey performed by the association, about 30 percent of college leaders serve on at least one corporate board. But the percentage of respondents who said they’ve been invited to serve on a trustee’s own board was much less: 6.2 percent. 'It's very hard to leave that relationship at the door,' Merrill Schwartz, the association's director of research, said in explaining why such overlap is a bad idea. 'It’s not just a compensation decision. There are decisions that come up before a board that may be controversial, on strategies, directions, goals.'"
College degree remains a good investment
The San Antonio Express, February 7, 2012
"The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) reported that colleges and universities awarded $33 billion in grant aid in 2009-10....Recent estimates by Sandy Baum for AGB found roughly two-thirds of bachelor's degree recipients borrow to fund their education, typically graduating with $20,000 to $25,000 in debt."
The San Antonio Express, February 7, 2012
"The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) reported that colleges and universities awarded $33 billion in grant aid in 2009-10....Recent estimates by Sandy Baum for AGB found roughly two-thirds of bachelor's degree recipients borrow to fund their education, typically graduating with $20,000 to $25,000 in debt."
The Failure of Trusteeship at Penn State
The Huffington Post, January 12, 2012
"When I became a trustee the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges sent trustees throughout our country a copy of Golding's book, which has a forward by William H. Gates, Sr. ... I cannot help but wonder if President Spanier or his board of trustees read the following: '(The board and the president) should be able to ask any questions, with neither side feeling threatened or intimidated. It doesn't always work that way, but it should.' And, 'The conduct of all activities by all persons representing the corporation in any way, at any time, must be right and proper.'"
The Huffington Post, January 12, 2012
"When I became a trustee the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges sent trustees throughout our country a copy of Golding's book, which has a forward by William H. Gates, Sr. ... I cannot help but wonder if President Spanier or his board of trustees read the following: '(The board and the president) should be able to ask any questions, with neither side feeling threatened or intimidated. It doesn't always work that way, but it should.' And, 'The conduct of all activities by all persons representing the corporation in any way, at any time, must be right and proper.'"
Major Mergers in Georgia
Inside HigherEd, January 6, 2012
"'It's very easy to underestimate the differences in cultures' between two colleges,' said Ellen Chaffee, a former college president and senior fellow with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. She said merely proposing a merger 'creates new problems.''
Inside HigherEd, January 6, 2012
"'It's very easy to underestimate the differences in cultures' between two colleges,' said Ellen Chaffee, a former college president and senior fellow with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. She said merely proposing a merger 'creates new problems.''
Trustees Take a Pass
Inside HigherEd, December 15, 2011
"Richard Novak, senior vice president for the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, which represents more than 34,000 trustees across the country, said the structure of the report -- pitting the opinions of two groups of trustees against one another, portraying one group as a dejected minority -- obscures what is really going on in board rooms."
Inside HigherEd, December 15, 2011
"Richard Novak, senior vice president for the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, which represents more than 34,000 trustees across the country, said the structure of the report -- pitting the opinions of two groups of trustees against one another, portraying one group as a dejected minority -- obscures what is really going on in board rooms."
Colleges Strengthen Oversight Plans in Response to Sex-Abuse Allegations
The Chronicle of Higher Education, December 5, 2011
"Governing boards are also asking for guidance on asserting their leadership during crises, and looking for better ways to monitor their own performance in university oversight, said Richard D. Legon, president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges."
The Chronicle of Higher Education, December 5, 2011
"Governing boards are also asking for guidance on asserting their leadership during crises, and looking for better ways to monitor their own performance in university oversight, said Richard D. Legon, president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges."
UT System has history of dust-ups concerning investment disclosure
The Austin American-Statesman, November 23, 2011
"'I would urge the regents and their legal counsel to say, 'Look, we didn't do anything unlawful, but in the spirit of openness, let's revisit our conflict of interest principles and perhaps revise them so there isn't any controversy or doubt in the future,' said Richard Novak, senior vice president of programs and research at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges."
The Austin American-Statesman, November 23, 2011
"'I would urge the regents and their legal counsel to say, 'Look, we didn't do anything unlawful, but in the spirit of openness, let's revisit our conflict of interest principles and perhaps revise them so there isn't any controversy or doubt in the future,' said Richard Novak, senior vice president of programs and research at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges."
