Why this matters: U.S. higher education is at a defining crossroad. The future of American higher education depends on how governing boards respond to this pivotal moment. The model of independent, mission-driven governance—long championed by AGB—has protected the diversity of thought, academic freedom, and innovation that made our institutions global exemplars.

But today, that legacy is under threat.

Across the country, trustees are facing mounting political pressures that challenge their core fiduciary duty: to govern in the best interest of their institution’s mission, not transient ideologies. When boards become instruments of partisanship, academic freedom erodes, public trust wanes, and the fundamental purpose of higher education is distorted.

This is not a theoretical debate—it’s an urgent call to action. Boards must lead with integrity, uphold institutional autonomy, and safeguard the intellectual freedom that fuels discovery and democracy. The choices made now will shape U.S. higher education for generations.

Governing boards are not neutral bystanders. They are stewards of a fragile but vital ideal: a university’s right to be a place of free inquiry. That ideal depends on their courage and clarity—now more than ever.

The Govern NOW initiative was created to raise awareness and provide actionable tools that empower fiduciary boards in upholding autonomy and safeguarding academic freedom and free speech—ensuring the quality and integrity of American higher education.