FAQs

This guide helps boards and leaders understand risks to financial sustainability What is the governing board's responsibility for managing financial risks to the institution? The governing board of a college or university holds the ultimate fiduciary responsibility for managing financial …

This guide helps boards and leaders understand the proposition that colleges and universities should refrain from taking official positions on political or social issues that do not directly affect the core mission of the institution or have direct adverse effects …

This guide helps boards and leaders understand MOUs (Memoranda of Understaning) between public colleges and universities and affiliated foundations. What is a memorandum of understanding (MOU)? A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a formal agreement between two or more parties …

This guide helps boards and leaders understand risks to effective governance. What is the governing board’s responsibility for institutional governance? The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Statement on Board Responsibility for Institutional Governance (AGB, 2010) outlines eight …

This guide helps boards and leaders understand risks to the student experience. Why should boards care about risks to the student experience? The student experience is central to a higher education institution’s mission. As fiduciaries, board members must understand the …

These FAQs are based on a 2023 interview conducted by Nicole Wellmann Kraus, president and chief client officer at Strategic Investment Group, with Charles “Charley” Ellis, founder of Greenwich Associates and former chair of the Yale University Investment Committee.

This guide helps boards and leaders understand the importance of managing reputational risk. What is reputational risk? Reputational risk occurs when there is a significant gap or disconnect between stakeholder expectations and the decision-making of your …

Achieving Prosperity in a Challenging Environment Small and mid-sized private institutions, serving about 14 percent of the higher education market, continue to take the brunt of the systemic market challenges impacting higher education. Many private institutions are struggling with …

Growth Opportunities Higher education is a competitive, evolving environment. New business models will require diversified revenue sources, new programming, and technology. Institutions need to innovate to secure their future. There is unique opportunity for institutions, especially those with a …

This guide helps boards and leaders understand the importance of endowment management and presents the essential elements of doing so. Endowment management is an increasingly important aspect of the fiduciary duties of an investment committee member. The future of …