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Why this matters.
Strong Governance Is Essential to Higher Education's Future
The quality of governance directly impacts institutional stability, presidential leadership, strategic execution, and public trust. However, a recent AGB member pulse survey found that 43% of trustees are not fully confident in their own or their board’s understanding of fiduciary responsibilities and governance boundaries.
When governance is weak:
- Strategic priorities can shift abruptly.
- Presidential leadership becomes more difficult and less sustainable.
- Institutional reputation can suffer.
- Boards can become distracted from mission-focused stewardship.
When governance is strong:
- Leadership thrives.
- Institutions maintain strategic continuity.
- Public confidence grows.
- Mission stewardship is undermined
- Boards remain focused on long-term mission success.
The future of higher education depends on governing boards recommitting to their fiduciary responsibilities and governing in ways that support institutional resilience, autonomy, and student success.
Two initiatives, one mission.
While each initiative serves a distinct purpose, together they provide a comprehensive framework for strengthening governance across higher education.
 |
 |
|---|---|
| Provides practical tools and guidance for governing boards. | Provides policy recommendations and governance reforms. |
| Helps boards strengthen fiduciary governance and mission stewardship. | Strengthens trustee preparedness and governance effectiveness. |
| Supports board independence and institutional autonomy. | Creates governance conditions that enable boards to succeed. |
| Focuses on governance practice. | Focuses on governance policy. |
Together, these initiatives help ensure governing boards are prepared, mission-focused, fiduciary-minded, and equipped to navigate an increasingly complex environment.
Govern NOW helps governing boards strengthen the practices that support effective governance.
The initiative provides practical guidance, resources, and tools that help boards:
- Safeguard board independence
- Strengthen fiduciary governance
- Preserve institutional autonomy
- Protect mission stewardship
- Resist undue influence
- Govern with clarity and confidence
Govern NOW equips boards to meet today’s challenges while remaining focused on their long-term responsibilities to the institutions they serve.
The Govern with Integrity initiative is a national, nonpartisan effort to strengthen governance quality, stability, and effectiveness at the state, system, and institutional levels.
The initiative advances governance through practical policy recommendations that support:
Stronger trustee selection criteria
Modernized trustee orientation and continuing education
Fiduciary certification standards Â
Improved nomination and appointment processes
Role-specific training for board chairs
These recommendations help ensure boards are prepared to steward institutions through an increasingly complex environment while remaining focused on mission, accountability, and long-term success.