Advancing Public Perceptions of Higher Education
AGB, one of the three organizing associations behind the Discover the Next campaign, participated in a panel discussion on, “Perceptions of Higher Education: What It All Means, and What Are We Prepared to Do About It?” held at the University of Washington earlier this year. The event brought together leaders from the higher education sector, including ACE President Ted Mitchell, CASE President and CEO Sue Cunningham, and AGB President and CEO Henry Stoever to discuss the public’s perception of higher education and how institutions can work together to improve it.
During the discussion, panelists recognized the need for colleges and universities to listen to the language the public uses about higher education and to focus on the goals that the public believes are important. Rather than simply talking louder, institutions need to listen to the concerns of the public and respond accordingly, sharing stories that meet their worries. This long-term commitment to building trust will require aligning institutional actions to
address public concerns.
The panelists also highlighted the positive aspects of higher education, including the fact that even individuals who say they do not trust universities “want their kids to go.” Moreover, trust remains high for hometown institutions, particularly community colleges.
Throughout the discussion, panelists provided practicable actions that institutions can take to meet societal needs and advance public appreciation of their value, such as smoothing the transfer of credit among institutions, making financial award letters easier to understand, strengthening academic advising, and introducing students to career advising early. Institutions need to recognize the public’s concerns and respond collectively to communicate higher education’s value more effectively.
The Discover the Next campaign is generously supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and addresses issues of trust in higher education by amplifying the positive impact of colleges and universities in their cities and regions. Through social media, op-eds, and related outreach, the campaign will expand the reach of members’ stories—about alumni
accomplishments, student life, research outcomes, and community engagement—to national media and columnists, legislators, the business community, and prospective students and families. To learn more, go to discoverthenext.org.
NEW PUBLICATION
Shared Governance for Agile Institutions: A Practical Guide for Universities and Colleges
Higher education governing boards, faculties, and administrative leaders must better align their efforts and goals so they can respond in a timely way to the rapid changes in the sector—particularly during a period of crisis and disruption, when the margins for error are smaller. While shared governance is one of higher education’s biggest strengths, it also can be one of its most fragile elements. Colleges and universities cannot move forward without all stakeholders being committed to creative, bold, and futureoriented solutions. Too often breakdowns in shared governance set institutions back in this regard.
Author Stephen C. Bahls shares how governance practices designed and implemented to align the board, administration, and faculty around institutional priorities can enable more effective and nimble decision-making. Moreover, better use of the mechanisms of shared governance can move colleges and universities toward a culture of collective responsibility in which the board, leadership, and faculty members work together to seek tomorrow’s opportunities.
This newly revised publication outlines how an ideal shared governance structure can position institutions to cultivate the capacity to address new challenges, adopt more agile implementation efforts, and effect more timely decision-making. An article in this issue of Trusteeship by Bahls highlights some of the key lessons from the new publication.
AGB Releases Top Public Policy Issues for 2023–2024
In May, AGB released the biennial list of top public policy issues for higher education boards on its website. The six issues highlighted—affordability and value; accountability and
regulation; judicial rulings; political intrusion; federal and state funding; and college athletics—capture some of the most dynamic and tumultuous policy areas college and university
trustees will face in external relations over the next two years. The analysis of these top public policy issues can be found in the Advocacy & Public Policy section of AGB.org, and each issue has follow-on questions for boards and AGB’s perspective.
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