Blog Posts

October 28, 2020 - The upcoming presidential election on November 3 is a very significant election for a number of important reasons, including for higher education policy. As corporate and community leaders, board members are uniquely positioned to communicate the value proposition of the …

October 26, 2020 - With public health expenses soaring and tax revenues shrinking, state funding for universities is at least as imperiled as it was during the Great Recession. With unpredictable enrollment and rising technology and professional development costs, many universities have already initiated …

October 19, 2020 - AGB’s Council of Foundation Leaders convened in late September to discuss current and emerging issues spanning the effects of the pandemic; financial sustainability; strategic alignment; cyber risk oversight; campus activism; and justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JDE&I). With timely topics …

October 15, 2020 - AGB’s Council of Presidents recently gathered to discuss two essential topics: 1) institutionwide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives—and how boards can make a difference; and 2) lessons learned from the fall semester and implications for spring and beyond in …

October 12, 2020 - When institutions conduct searches for presidents or other senior leaders, building the right compensation package should be a primary concern. Compensation must be fair, defensible, and competitive to attract excellent candidates and stand up to scrutiny. Boards and hiring officers …

October 06, 2020 - During one of the most tumultuous periods of disruption, universities and colleges have been forced to confront multiple crises ranging from safeguarding the physical health of students and staff, to determining how to counterbalance ancillary budget losses, to measuring the …

With the fall semester underway for many institutions, I’m aware of the unprecedented challenges confronting your board, leadership team, faculty, and staff as you collaboratively address immediate short-term challenges. At the same time, although I know how significant these challenges are, …

September 28, 2020 - There is no doubt that strategic thinking is more important than ever, at an institutional level and for foundations and their boards. Such factors as the changing landscape of higher education; challenges for the foundation to “lean forward” in support …

September 09, 2020 - “I can lead with confidence when I know the board chair has my back,” observed one experienced chief executive. “But I’ll hesitate if I think my board members or the chair might second-guess the tough calls demanded by the current …

As your fall semester begins, the environment is clearly as challenging as expected. This is an overwhelming time for boards, leaders, faculty, staff, and students. The AGB team and I are here to support your board through this extremely demanding …