AGB President & CEO Update: Strengthening Board Leadership and Rebuilding Trust (Foundation)

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

This month, AGB is focused on a challenge that sits at the center of higher education’s future: strengthening public trust through effective governance and strong board leadership. As institutions navigate increasing scrutiny around value, affordability, accountability, and institutional integrity, governing boards must be prepared to lead with clarity, transparency, and purpose.

That work begins with new board member orientation and ongoing trustee education.

Why Board Orientation Matters More Than Ever

Boards today are operating in an environment marked by heightened political pressure, financial uncertainty, and growing public skepticism about higher education. Trustees are being asked to navigate increasingly complex issues while remaining grounded in fiduciary responsibility, institutional mission, and long-term stewardship.

Effective board orientation and continuing education are not optional. They are foundational to effective governance.

Recent research reinforces this urgent need for training on fiduciary duty and board roles and responsibilities. A survey of governing board members in Utah earlier this year found that most trustees didn’t know that their role includes overseeing their president and monitoring institutional spending.

At the national level, a recent AGB survey found that 43 percent of trustees are not fully confident in their own or their board’s understanding of fiduciary responsibilities and governance boundaries. The survey also revealed that most respondents believe trustee education and orientation are essential to strengthening institutional governance and restoring public trust in higher education.

These findings align with what we hear consistently from institutional leaders across the country: boards perform best when trustees clearly understand their fiduciary obligations, governance responsibilities, and appropriate role and boundaries in supporting institutional mission.

Rebuilding Trust Through Governance

Higher education continues to face significant challenges in public confidence stemming from concerns about cost, value, transparency, accountability, and institutional responsiveness.

New reports from the Strada Education Foundation and Yale University examine the drivers of declining public trust and the role institutions must play in rebuilding confidence.

As part of this effort, AGB joined 17 other higher education organizations in endorsing five Student-Centered Enrollment Management Principles designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, and trust. The principles specifically address:

Access and affordability.
Tuition and cost transparency.
Aid and scholarship lifecycle sustainability.
Value and strong return on investment.
Use of personal information.

Rebuilding trust is not solely the responsibility of presidents and senior leaders. Governing boards play a vital role in ensuring institutional practices align with mission, demonstrate accountability, and serve students and the public effectively.

AGB Resources to Support Your Board

AGB offers a range of resources to help boards strengthen orientation, governance effectiveness, and institutional leadership:

Board Member Orientation Resources—Comprehensive onboarding and continuing education aligned with fiduciary responsibilities and governance best practices.
Support for Each Board Role—Resources to help each board member understand their role on the board in order to lead effectively.
How to Govern for Institutional Autonomy—Practical guidance, diagnostic tools, checklists, and governance strategies grounded in fiduciary duty and mission-centered leadership.
Board Assessment Resources—Tools and frameworks to strengthen board performance, clarify roles, and improve alignment.
Engaging Governing Board Members as Strategic Advocates—Tools and resources for board members to advocate not only for their institution but for the strength and sustainability of the higher education ecosystem.

We encourage you to take full advantage of these resources as you prepare your board to lead with integrity, accountability, and confidence.

Leadership at a Defining Moment

Higher education is navigating one of the most consequential governance environments in decades. Governing boards that fully understand their fiduciary role and responsibility, remain grounded in mission, are committed to transparency, and are focused on long-term stewardship will be best positioned to strengthen public confidence and institutional resilience while rebuilding trust across higher education.