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Trusteeship Articles By Topic: The Presidency

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.

Succession Planning: The Time Has Come
September/October 2010

Succession planning should not be a one-time event. Plans should be reviewed regularly, with special attention to institutional goals and leadership needs that may have changed.

What Do Boards Need to Know about Presidential Housing and the IRS Form 990?
September/October 2010

Colleges and universities have a long history and culture of providing a residence, often located on campus, for the president. The value of this benefit, whether taxable or nontaxable, must now be disclosed in Form 990.

Increasing the Odds for Successful Presidential Searches
Theodore Marchese
September/October 2010

If done well, in addition to generating a pool of highly competent and interested candidates, the institution can use this public announcement as a positive marketing strategy -- informing the greater education community of the quality of your institution, its programs, and faculty.

Setting the Diversity Agenda, Achieving Goals
Kevin P. Reilly
September/October 2009

Most experts agree that in the coming decades millions more Americans must attain a college credential if we are to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Given our nation's evolving demographic makeup, many more of these educated American workers will come from diverse backgrounds and populations not well represented on college campuses today.

Presidential Transition Teams: Fostering a Collaborative Transition Process
Richard B. Artman and Mark Franz
July/August 2009

So you've hired a new president, now what? Whether hiring a sitting president or one beginning a first presidency, the board of trustees should be keenly interested in ensuring that the new president's first months in office flow as smoothly as possible. Increasing attention has been paid in recent years to the idea of using a transition team to assist the new president, and our experience--as a newly hired president and as the leader of his presidential transition team--leads us to strongly endorse this approach.

Should Presidents Receive Performance Bonuses?
July/August 2008

Performance or retention bonuses for college presidents are increasingly common. In the 2007 edition of its survey series The American College President, the American Council on Education said that “merit-based salary increases” were reported by more than a third of the 2,100 college and university presidents surveyed. These “bonuses” are sometimes based on quantitative metrics such as enrollment increases, improved graduation rates, or fund-raising successes...[but] bonuses for college presidents are a bad idea for several reasons.

Should Presidents Receive Performance Bonuses?
Charles W. Quatt and Brian H. Vogel
July/August 2008

Robert H. Atwell says that the introduction of bonuses, usually limited to the president, works against the best traditions of academe.

To Whom Does a President Turn?
May/June 2010

Does the board have a responsibility to stand up for the institution’s president in difficult times and to make sure the president is doing well personally?

The President as Mentor
Graham B. Spanier
May/June 2010

One of the greatest satisfactions in academe is to witness the success of those whom we mentor. While this is most easily understood when it comes to students, it is important for trustees to understand that mentoring faculty leaders and administrators is also a very important part of a president’s job.

Bridging the Leadership Gap: 6 Megatrends Impacting our Next Generation of Presidents
Bryan E. Carlson and George J. Matthews
May/June 2008

Is higher education on the verge of a leadership gap? In our work with scores of colleges and universities, we see a confluence of challenges-megatrends, if you will-that promise to make the already difficult work of leading a college considerably more demanding.

The Education of a Freshman President
Thomas Kunkel
March/April 2010

As a freshman president at St. Norbert College, Thomas Kunkel learned that college presidents must juggle many roles—and that which ones and when are often entirely out of the president’s control.

The Changing Roles of Presidential Spouses
Lawrence S. Bacow and Adele Fleet Bacow
March/April 2008

People are very curious about the life of a presidential family. What is it like to live on campus? How many events do you host? Do you ever get any time off? We love our life, although it is a busy one. In a typical year, we host over 100 events at our home and entertain more than 9,000 guests.

Getting Presidential Compensation Right
Merrill Schwartz
November/December 2011

The full board should approve, and every board member should be informed of, the president’s compensation and benefits package.

The Changing Demands of Presidential Leadership
Stanley O. Ikenberry
November/December 2010

With rapid advances in digital communication, a prolonged economic downturn, and other challenges, the role of the presidnt has evolved. The stakes of presidential leadership are higher, and the board's responsibility to nurture presidents has grown as well.