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During last month’s National Conference on Trusteeship, I heard a recurring theme: The most effective, strategic governing boards focus on what matters most, for the future. To help you focus on the most consequential issues that will influence higher education over the next several years, AGB recently published Top Strategic Issues 2022–2023. Harnessing diverse experiences and insights from the leading minds in higher education, this report addresses the most pressing challenges affecting colleges, universities, and foundations.
Top Strategic Issues Facing Higher Education
The publication details five overarching topics currently confronting higher education:
- Ensuring institutional vitality
- Improving outcomes for students
- Strengthening civic education and democracy
- Grooming new higher education leaders
- Managing serious risks
Not every system will encounter these challenges in the same way, and not every board and leadership team will work to overcome them using the same strategies. As you know, boards can be most effective by asking the right questions and working collaboratively with their chief executives and leadership teams to assess how policies and practices will impact the future of their systems.
For a moment, I will focus on topic #2, “improving outcomes for students.” As you have heard me say, board oversight of student success is of top importance to AGB. We urge boards to think about issues that many in higher education have long ignored, such as student needs related to mental health, housing, food security, and more.
Historically, many boards and chief executives have focused their student success strategies on funding tuition costs, and sometimes room and board, for select students. As important as this financial support may be, it does not begin to address the root of the problem. Boards need to be aware that a growing portion of their current and prospective students need more, and different kinds of, support. Similarly, system leaders have the added task of determining if all their institutions need comparable kinds of assistance, or if the varying student bodies need different kinds of assistance from the system.
We have asked AGB’s advisory councils—made up of your peers—to suggest specific questions that boards should discuss with chief executives and their leadership teams related to student success outcomes. The suggested questions include:
- How does our system define student success?
- How do we measure student success?
- Who is responsible for ensuring student success outcomes?
- Does the budget appropriately prioritize resources to achieve our desired student success outcomes?
- If not, how might the administration reallocate resources to this purpose and how might the board help secure the necessary resources?
The other topics from Top Strategic Issues deserve equal reflection and consideration. The business models and value proposition of many institutions are challenged, and ultimately it will take a level of commitment and bravery to chart a path to sustainability. To offer some ideas, I encourage you to listen to the latest AGB Trusteeship Podcast episode, “Board Leadership in Uncertain Times.”
Questions for Board and Committee Chairs
- How can I help set the agenda to ensure ample time for discussion about our strategic priorities and the top strategic issues facing higher education?
- How can I help my fellow board members think strategically as described in AGB’s Principles of Trusteeship?
Questions for Board Members
- How can I help define my system’s strategic priorities?
- How should my board measure progress toward these outcomes?
Questions for Chief Executives and Leadership Teams
- What experts can I leverage to help my board meaningfully discuss and shape our strategic priorities?
- How can I help structure and complement our board meeting agendas to maximize strategic discussions and well-informed decisions?
I also want to point out the importance of boards addressing divestment. Although divestment has long been a topic for many institutions, it has new urgency today given Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, China’s continued focus on obtaining intellectual property from foreign entities, and ESG themes. Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, AGB will host a special webinar to discuss the questions boards should ask about divestment strategies on endowments. I hope you can participate to learn how institutions, systems, and foundations are more closely aligning their endowments’ investment strategies with their missions.
In closing, I’m excited to mention that over the next few months, AGB will be rolling out a suite of new member benefits to support your work and the work of your board. Please review AGB.org/NewMemberBenefits to learn more.
I look forward to your feedback regarding how we can support you and your board in facing challenges with even more confidence and acuity.
