Blog Posts

June 18, 2019 - As the end of June approaches, it means that most 2019 state legislative sessions are coming to a close, if they haven’t already. Now is the perfect time for higher education governing boards to take a look at the issues …

June 17, 2019 - What are the student retention best practices we should use on our campus? I have consulted with more than 800 campuses, and this is one of the most frequent questions I hear. Often it’s posed as if retention best practices are …

June 04, 2019 - In 2017, AGB introduced The Guardians Initiative, an effort to engage college and university board members as advocates for the enduring societal value of higher education. Since its inception, presidents and trustees across the country have heard the call and …

May 16, 2019 - This blog post is provided by AGB's Sustaining Sponsor, Baker Tilly. It’s no secret that applying to a top college is difficult and competitive. Prospective students – and their families – are facing increasing pressure when it comes to gaining admission …

May 03, 2019 - Our experience has taught us that it is increasingly important to develop a thoughtful engagement strategy for the various constituents of your institution to ensure everyone is knowledgeable and aware of your investment objectives and understands the reasoning behind your …

March 22, 2019 - AGB recently published an “anatomy” of good governance, arguing that the right combination of board makeup, focus, and culture can go a long way toward ensuring success in the boardroom. Long experience has shown that the ability of a board …

March 07, 2019 - From new student demographics to dramatically different workforce needs to the advent of social media and tech-enabled learning—not to mention the cumulative effects of contemporary approaches to tuition pricing—the imperatives facing colleges and universities have seen tectonic shifts in the …

February 26, 2019 - Along with financial challenges, the importance of equitable educational outcomes predominates the concerns of leaders (providing targeted supports to improve graduation rates among underrepresented students; creating hiring programs to increase the number of women faculty in STEM departments; working to …

December 13, 2018 - Every investment committee should have a succession plan with three primary goals: preserving institutional memory, finding the best committee leadership, and welcoming new ideas. Preserving Institutional Memory: The ideal average tenure of committee members is 6-7 years, but exceptionally qualified members should …

November 30, 2018 - The work of public university foundations is being reimagined in exciting ways. At a time when state and federal subsidies to universities are waning and student price-sensitivity is rising, some promising, even inspirational foundations are expanding their realm beyond fund …