Trusteeship Magazine

This issue of Trusteeship features a cover article by visionary leader Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University, on institutional innovation that embraces change in academic structures, practices, and operations so as to maximize social impact. Nicholas S. Zeppos takes us through Vanderbilt University’s creation of a strong, centralized financial structure. By more strategically allocating resources and reducing costs, institutions are more likely to reach their strategic education goals, according to John C. Cavanaugh and William H. Graves.

Trusteeship magazine starts out the new year with a bang, answering the question of why academic institutions should be doing annual and comprehensive periodic evaluations of their presidents. You'll want to read Rich Morrill's article, and his forthcoming book on presidential assessment, to be published this spring by AGB. The pitfalls and possibilities of closing academic programs, and what trustees need to know about it, are covered in depth by Peter Eckel.

This special issue of Trusteeship focuses on the national agenda seeking dramatically increased college graduation rates and how that goal will guide boards' engagement in setting institutions' strategic direction and priorities. We are especially pleased that U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and former Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles, along with a number of other distinguished leaders, have contributed thoughts to Trusteeship about the nation's higher-education priorities.

In this issue, Trusteeship covered a broad range of issues affecting higher education. Accountability and public confidence were front and center, as reflected in our cover story on how resources are used on campus and with what results. The economy continued to dominate, as well, with pieces examining legislation governing "underwater" endowments and the short-term actions and long-term perspectives required for handling the current economic crisis.

This issue of Trusteeship focuses on the human side on the current economic crisis. David Breneman's cover article explores how hard times may influence the behavior of students, staff, and faculty. Student aid and access and risk assessment during the recession are also. In addition, the topics of moving away from printed board materials and legal pitfalls in overseas ventures are examined.