Blog Posts

August 25, 2025 - Higher education governing boards are uniquely positioned to champion research work by incorporating marketing and communications into their strategy.

August 13, 2025 - At its core, a fiduciary relationship is built on confidence and trust. Board members of colleges, universities, foundations, and systems are fiduciaries of their organizations. This means that governing boards are stewards responsible not only for tangible assets such as …

August 06, 2025 - You are viewing the Institution and Systems version of this CEO Update. An Institutionally Related Foundation version is also available. As new trustees participate in onboarding and orientation processes this month, I want to underscore the importance of fiduciary duty as …

July 31, 2025 - Higher education institutions have faced a barrage of disruptions over the recent years: a global pandemic, inflationary pressures, macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical and trade tensions, and policy uncertainty stemming from our nation’s capital. These disruptions have had a direct impact on organizational …

July 28, 2025 - Over the next decade, the number of traditional college-age students—primarily high school graduates—who are expected to enroll in higher education institutions is projected to decline. This “enrollment cliff” is the culmination of long-term demographic trends that are now coming to …

July 15, 2025 - *Editor’s Note: This blog post is adapted from Michael F. Middaugh, The Board’s Role in Accreditation (Washington, D.C.: AGB, 2007), 6-11. Middaugh provides some timeless advice for higher education board members with respect to planning, assessing student-learning outcomes, and promoting …

July 10, 2025 - You are viewing the Institution and Systems version of this CEO Update. An Institutionally Related Foundation version is also available. As America celebrates Independence Day this month, we are reminded of the enduring ideals that define our nation—freedom, opportunity, and the …

July 09, 2025 - At the AGB Council of Board Professionals convening in June, AGB consultant and senior fellow Ellen Chaffee engaged the council in a discussion centering on, “What is good governance, now?” The conversation referenced AGB’s Govern NOW initiative, supported by the …

June 27, 2025 - Welcoming new trustees to a college, university, foundation, or system board is a pivotal moment—one that can shape the effectiveness and engagement of board members for years to come. A board orientation program should be more than a formality. Board …

June 23, 2025 - In this highly disruptive and uncertain period for higher education, though governing boards and the senior leadership of colleges and universities might be fulfilling their roles conscientiously, their efforts may not be enough to ensure the long-term viability of their …