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Trusteeship Articles By Topic: Leadership and Strategy

Whose University? The Decline of the Commonwealth and What That Means for Higher Education
September/October 2011

America is experiencing the chipping away, if not the outright decline, of the notion of the public good. A new compact between public higher-education institutions and their states is needed.

Rethinking Public Universities for Today's Challenges
Kevin P. Reilly
September/October 2011

All across the country, declining state support for public universities is prompting reassessments of traditional partnerships, while also presenting an opportunity to re-examine what it is that we as universities do, how we do it, and why we do it.

Boards Must Be Catalysts for Collaboration
Lyn Trodahl Chynoweth
September/October 2011

The role of higher education in securing the future of the nation has never been greater. How can board prepare young people for an increasingly unpredictable future? Collaboration among academic instituions is one essential way to start.

Leadership in Governance: The View from AGB's Current and Former Board Chairs
September/October 2010

A conversation with AGB's chair, Jim Weaver, and past chair, Cynthia Baldwin.

When "Good Enough" Is Not Good Enough
September/October 2009

Achieving high performance in tough times is the most serious challenge facing presidents and trustees during this recession, when the temptation may be to substitute "getting by" for truly outstanding governance.

A Call to Public Purpose
September/October 2009

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.

Defining the Board's Role in Crisis Communications
Patricia Hayes and Teresa Valerio Parrot
September/October 2009

Having worked together as chair of the Board of Regents and assistant secretary of the University of Colorado during times of public controversy, we are often asked what advice we can share from our work in the trenches. 

What Presidents Need From Boards in Uncertain Times
September/October 2009

The steep economic recession, coupled with increased national expectations and demand for higher education, poses serious challenges for board and presidential leadership. A special panel at AGB's recent National Conference on Trusteeship, moderated by AGB President Richard Legon, examined those challenges. The following Q&A is excerpted from the discussion.

Keeping Faith with Your Educational Mission
Alecia A. DeCoudreaux
September/October 2009

Boards and institutional leaders must carefully evaluate programs, plans, and promises based on today's realities and tomorrow's best estimates.

Responding to Today's Challenges: Is Governance Up to the Task?
July/August 2011

How can boards be of the most value as they sit at the intersection of institutional aspirations and society's needs? At AGB's National Conference on Trusteeship, Ray Suarez, senior correspondent at the PBS NewsHour, led a special panel that examined many of the key issues.

Will Your Institution Pass the Financial-Responsibility Test?
July/August 2011

Each year, the Department of Education tests the financial ability of colleges to administer federal student-aid programs. It has made the results widely available over the past two years, and if last year is a precedent, the 2010 fiscal year data will be coming out in August. Boards should understand how the test is constructed and how their institution can best respond.

Boards and Strategic Planning
David W. Miles
July/August 2011

Even in the best of times, a clear focus is required to prevent urgent day-to-day issues from distracting an institution from long term strategic priorities. Without a strategic plan, supported by key constituents, moving your institution forward becomes a losing battle.

The Gremlins of Governance
Richard Chait
July/August 2009

A Trusteeship Q&A with Richard Chait, research professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He kicked off the recent AGB National Conference on Trusteeship with a plenary speech about the "Gremlins of Governance," three major challenges that face college and university governing boards today--in the areas of board structure, planning, and trustee selection.

A Stay-Rich View of the New Global Economy
May/June 2011

The global economy is undergoing significant structural changes. What are the implications for a college or university's long-term planning, investment strategies, and many other strategic issues of concern to boards? Experts from AGB's Foundation Leadership Forum weigh in.

How Boards and Presidents Influence Credit Ratings
Karen Kedem
May/June 2011

Especially in an environment of limited resources, the ways that colleges are governed and managed are major determinants of their credit ratings. What specific factors does a leading provider of such ratings look for in a board and its operations?