Board Member

Consequential Questions:

1. What is my level of engagement as a board member during meetings? Between meetings? What prevents me from being more engaged?
   
2. How do my behaviors, actions, and reputation reflect on the institution on whose board I serve?
   

Source: Principles of Trusteeship: How to Become a Highly Effective Board Member for Colleges, Universities, and Foundations, AGB 2021

Consequential Questions:

1. What is the work of our board? How does it advance the institution’s focus and future?
2. How has higher education changed since I was a student? How has my institution changed in the last 10 years? How might it change in the next 10 years?
3. What experiences do I bring to board service? What experiences do other trustees bring? What perspectives are missing?
   
4. What has my board done to demonstrate a commitment to racial equity and social justice? How has my board educated itself on diversity and inclusion? What have I done personally?
   
5. What decision am I being asked to make in this situation? What is the appropriate level of board— and trustee— involvement?
   

Source: Principles of Trusteeship: How to Become a Highly Effective Board Member for Colleges, Universities, and Foundations, AGB 2021

Consequential Questions:

1. What knowledge, skills, and abilities do I have that could be useful to the administration? How do I share my expertise and experience without crossing the line into management?
   
2. What do constituents think of my institution? The board? How does the institution look from different points of view?
   
3. How open is my board to dissenting opinions? How are tensions among board members handled?

Source: Principles of Trusteeship: How to Become a Highly Effective Board Member for Colleges, Universities, and Foundations, AGB 2021