AGB President & CEO Update: A Call to Action (Foundation)

You are viewing the Institutionally Related Foundation version of this CEO Update. An Institution and Systems version is also available.

While I was not a scout, I have three Eagle Scout sons, and I do ascribe to the adage “be prepared.” In that vein, as we prepare for a new legislative session unfolding in an evolving, unpredictable, and in some ways unprecedented legislative and political climate, the importance of engaging with our state and federal representatives before new policies are implemented cannot be overstated. In this new paradigm, effective and well-constructed advocacy will be critical to ensure that the voices of higher education leaders are heard and actively considered, and that our collective expertise informs the decision-making process. Simply put, this is not a time to retreat but to lean in and actively participate in shaping the future of higher education.

Across the many sessions, debriefs, and discussions I have recently attended and participated in, varying perspectives have been offered on what higher education initiatives may take precedence in the upcoming legislative cycle. Will we, in fact, see the demise of the Department of Education? Will accreditation oversight shift to state legislatures? What is in store on the immigration front, endowment taxes, DEI, or free expression? And the list goes on. While opinions differ regarding the particulars, there is unanimity on one essential point: Like it or not, change is coming and for the higher education community, this is the time for action.

Now is not the time to hunker down in the bunker and ride out the storm. Instead, as a higher education community, we must step up to our place at the table, contribute to agenda setting, fully participate in robust debates and discussions, and develop solutions. This is as true in Washington, DC, as it is at the state level and in institutional boardrooms. Active engagement is not optional; it is a necessity.

Why It Matters

Having just returned from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Presidents Institute in Austin and engaged with AGB members at our Institute for Board Chairs and Presidents in Scottsdale, I have observed a palpable tension across higher education between the desire to address immediate campus challenges and the broader need for external engagement. Similarly, during a three-hour seminar I co-presented for admissions directors at the annual College Board Colloquium, it became clear that many institutions hope to weather the next four years by focusing inward. At the AGB Foundation Leadership Forum last week, a host of executive orders made it clear that higher education leaders would need to do more than cultivate their own gardens.

While the instinct to focus squarely on the campus is understandable, I suggest it is ill-advised and risks leaving higher education unprepared for the significant changes that will emerge. If we focus inward, isolating ourselves from the inevitable swirl of external change that is afoot, when we do raise our individual and collective heads, we are bound to face a radically transformed higher education landscape—a landscape shaped without our input or guidance. To avoid such a calamity, we must maintain a dual focus: addressing on-campus priorities while actively participating in setting and discussing the state and federal agenda.

Looking Ahead

How can we ensure this vigilance and attention? As we navigate the coming months, I encourage you to:

1. Stay Informed and Engaged with State Representatives: Keep abreast of legislative developments at both the federal and state levels. Understanding the nuances of proposed changes will help us advocate effectively. Build relationships with policymakers and provide input before decisions are made. Advocacy at the state level is at least as critical as at the federal level.
2. Collaborate and Advocate: Seek opportunities to join solution-driven discussions with policymakers, peers, and stakeholders. By sharing your experiences and insights, you amplify the impact of our collective advocacy.
3. Balance Internal and External Focus: Focus on how you can contribute to solutions, not just for your institution but for the broader higher education community. Together, we can navigate these challenges with resilience and vision. While campus challenges demand attention, do not lose sight of the broader context.
4. Engage with Purpose: Active engagement beyond your institution will help ensure that higher education’s future reflects our shared values and priorities. Participation in forums such as the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is more important than ever. These platforms offer opportunities to collaborate with peers, engage policymakers, and share innovative solutions. By joining these efforts, we ensure that higher education leaders not only are informed but also are driving the conversation and influencing outcomes and contribute to shaping the policy landscape.
5. Leverage Your Boards: College, university, and foundation boards can be compelling advocates on behalf of higher education. Boards reflect the communities and industries that are served by your institution and are philanthropic investors who understand and can make the case for higher education as an engine of opportunity for all students and a driver of American innovation and economic prosperity.
   Go Deeper

Looking for more to equip you for what is coming?

• Read this FAQ guide on board advocacy to understand how board members can play a role in advocacy efforts.
  • Learn how board members can be effective higher education advocates.
  • Understand how boards organize and initiate their advocacy efforts.
  • Better understand the role of foundation and/or alumni boards in advocacy.
  • Learn more about the important issues which a board member should advocate.
  • Understand what board members should do to make good advocates and what they should avoid.
  • Learn how common member advocacy is.
  • Explore some examples of board members engaging in advocacy on behalf of their institutions, foundations, or higher education broadly.
  • Understand how board independence is important in relation to your institution’s advocacy efforts.
• Listen to this Trusteeship podcast on board independence and its importance during this period when boards and institutions are the subject of increased scrutiny from lawmakers. Board independence doesn’t just mean political independence.
  • It refers to the autonomy and freedom of a governing board to comply with its fiduciary obligations to hold fast to the mission, vision, and values of its institution.
  • It ensures the board serves the best interests of the institution, without undue influence from external parties or internal factions.
  • It reflects freedom from all forms of undue influence and pressure, whether from donors, alumni, supporters of our athletics programs or, yes, politicians and policymakers.It is fundamental to effective governance in higher education, as it ensures that trustees can act as fiduciaries.
• Refer to Lessons for University Leadership in Public Communication from the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement on the need for college and university representatives to defend themselves and their institution’s policies where attacks against higher education speech policies are regularly launched across the political spectrum. Those lessons include:
  • Developing long-term strategies to communicate the value of higher education to all potential stakeholders for both internal (faculty, staff, students, alumni, boards) and external (e.g., citizens, legislators, media) audiences.
  • Assessing the rhetorical landscape when proposed legislation is aimed at higher education policy and practices.
  • Analyzing communication variables to determine how best to respond to the rhetorical situation.

Celebrating Excellence in Governance

Recently, AGB was proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership.

The 2025 recipients represent a diverse pool of nominations, spanning public and private four-year institutions, two-year colleges, and institutionally related foundations. This year’s honorees are:

• Metropolitan State University of Denver Board of Trustees
• Northern Arizona University Foundation Board of Directors
• Notre Dame of Maryland University Board of Trustees
• Tennessee Technological University Foundation Board
• University of Tulsa Board of Trustees

These visionary boards have navigated complex challenges, fostered innovation, and strengthened institutional impact, setting a high standard for leadership across the sector. Please join us in celebrating their transformative contributions to higher education.

Let us commit to shaping the future of higher education, not from the sidelines but as active participants. Our voices matter, and the time to engage is now. Together, we can navigate these challenges and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more influential.

Fram