Chat with AGB Board BotMaster the duties of board committees.
Understand the purpose, responsibilities, and composition of higher education’s key board committees.
Is it time to reconsider your committee structure? Lisa Bagwell, Vice Chair, discusses how the Northern Arizona University Foundation revised its governance strategy to create a more streamlined approach. NAU Foundation is a recipient of the 2025 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership.
Resources for understanding committee charters for effective governance.
Learn the critical functions of committees.
Effective Committees→
Refer to leading practices for key board committees.
Academic Affairs Committee→
Ensure the institution’s or system’s principal purposes—teaching and learning—are met.
Audit Committee→
Oversee accountability, transparency, enterprise risk management, and effective operations.
Compensation Committee→
Secure top talent with salaries and benefits that are attractive, reasonable, and compliant.
Development/Advancement Committee→
Implement a well-designed, well-managed, and well-executed development program.
Executive Committee→
Advance good governance, institutional well-being, and board member engagement.
Facilities/Real Estate Committee→
Shape a functional, attractive, and well-maintained campus.
Finance Committee→
Protect and renew institution resources and help fulfill fiduciary responsibilities.
Governance Committee→
Orient and educate members of the board and optimize board performance.
Investment Committee→
Successfully manage endowment and other institutional capital assets.
Student Affairs Committee→
Serve the best interests of the most important constituents: the students.
Resources for understanding committee charters for effective governance.
Learn the critical functions of committees.
Effective Committees→
Refer to leading practices for key board committees.
Academic→
Ensure the institution’s or system’s principal purposes—teaching and learning—are met.
Audit→
Oversee accountability, transparency, enterprise risk management, and effective operations.
Compensation→
Secure top talent with salaries and benefits that are attractive, reasonable, and compliant.
Development/Advancement→
Implement a well-designed, well-managed, and well-executed development program.
Executive→
Advance good governance, institutional well-being, and board member engagement.
Facilities/Real Estate→
Shape a functional, attractive, and well-maintained campus.
Finance→
Protect and renew institution resources and help fulfill fiduciary responsibilities.
Governance→
Orient and educate members of the board and optimize board performance.
Investment→
Successfully manage endowment and other institutional capital assets.
Student Affairs→
Serve the best interests of the most important constituents—the students.