Questions for Boards

Recommended Resources

All Resources

Why this is important.

In today’s technology-driven world, higher education institutions cannot afford to be slow adopters of technology or resist technology-based challenges to the traditional classroom model of pedagogy. Institutions that successfully transitioned to online and hybrid-education environments during the COVID-19 pandemic relied on deeply interconnected technology to carry out their mission and many will continue to do so beyond the pandemic. There is no return to the status quo ante COVID-19. It is up to governing boards to ensure colleges and universities foster a culture that supports investments in technologies and leverages transformative technological opportunities.

Sources: Cyber Risk Oversight for Higher Education Boards: Key Principles and Practical Guidance for Foundation and Institution Board Members by AGB in partnership with ISA and AIG, AGB 2021
“After COVID-19: Driving Academic Transformation Through Public-Private Partnerships” AGB Blog Post by Michael B. Goldstein, April 29, 2021

Questions for boards.

Click below to reveal key questions for your board to consider:

Board Processes

Consequential Questions:

  1. What do we consider our most valuable assets and where do those assets reside? What additional layers of protection do we have for those assets?
  2. When was the last time our board discussed the ways we can increase our institution’s efficiency through smarter uses of technology?
  3. How has our board signaled to the campus community our commitment to support technological innovations that foster institutional change?
  4. Does our board keep current on new teaching and learning approaches in higher education and advances in information and instructional technologies that are critical to the higher education industry?

Sources:
Cyber Risk Oversight for Higher Education Boards: Key Principles and Practical Guidance for Foundation and Institution Board Members by AGB in partnership with ISA and AIG, AGB 2021
Top Strategic Issues for Boards 2020-2021 , AGB 2020

Board Engagement

Consequential Questions:

    1. Are our board members kept up to date on cutting-edge trends and technologies related to higher education and the institution?
    2. Is our board composed of individuals with diverse talents, skills, perspectives, and abilities— beyond just those related to providing financial support and raising money for our institution?
    3. Is the culture of our board supportive of technological innovation? Does our board have the right composition and committee structure to foster innovation?

Sources:
Cyber Risk Oversight for Higher Education Boards: Key Principles and Practical Guidance for Foundation and Institution Board Members by AGB in partnership with ISA and AIG, AGB 2021
Top Strategic Issues for Boards 2020-2021 , AGB 2020

Risk Management

Consequential Questions:

  1. Are we considering the cybersecurity aspects of our major business decisions, such as mergers and affiliations, partnerships, new program launches, etc., in a timely fashion?
  2. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our institution’s utilization of technology?
  3. Have our board and president discussed the need for patience, the potential for failure, and the risks involved in supporting technological innovation?

Sources:
Cyber Risk Oversight for Higher Education Boards: Key Principles and Practical Guidance for Foundation and Institution Board Members by AGB in partnership with ISA and AIG, AGB 2021
Top Strategic Issues for Boards 2020-2021 , AGB 2020

We carefully curated these staff-picked resources for you:

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Five Questions to Consider When Creating Your Digital Transformation Strategy

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Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education, Part 1

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Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education, Part 2

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Aligning and Governing AI to Leverage Resources and Enhance Results

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Stephen T. Golding

AI Will Impact Every Stage of the Fundraising Life Cycle

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All resources.

Blog Post
Paper and Digital: Creating a System for Every Trustee
June 24, 2024 - Recently, Laurel Zawodny, director of presidential development, board and external relations at Bowling Green State University, and Matt Maxwell, senior consultant at AGB OnBoard, teamed up to discuss the challenges of bringing paper and digital together—and how board professionals can …
Read Article
Podcast
Trusteeship Podcast Episode 45: Digital Transformation
Aired: May 23, 2024 Changing student expectations, technological advances, and the need for flexibility have been driving a digital transformation in higher education. To make the most of that transformation, colleges and universities—and the boards that oversee them—need to develop a …
Listen
Baker Tilly
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education, Part 2
Takeaways Higher education institutions must embrace a posture toward AI that makes sense for them given their goals and resources, but they should consider stretching to do more. At a minimum, there are AI risks that must be addressed immediately. AI models can …
Read Article
Webinar On Demand
Paper and Digital: Creating a System for Every Trustee
April 29, 2024 - Watch this Webinar On Demand, where AGB will introduce new illustrative memoranda of understanding and provide an overview of changing contexts impacting institution-foundation partnerships and MOUs, standard elements and principles of well-crafted MOUs, recommendations for developing or updating …
View Webinar
Blog Post
The Board’s Role in Managing Community Colleges’ Liability Risks
March 26, 2024 - As a trustee, your fiduciary duties to your college extend to the financial outcomes of lawsuits and settlements. In some cases, a community college trustee may even be personally liable for their college’s actions or negligence. At United Educators (UE), an …
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Blog Post
Mega Endowment FY 2023 Returns: Return to the Mean
March 07, 2024 - University endowment staffs breathed a sigh of relief in fiscal year 2023 as global investment markets bounced back from a gloomy 2022. Despite the good market news, however, many mega endowmentsi posted results that lagged behind smaller institutions. This represented …
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Blog Post
Rapid Evolution of Donor Experience Drives Giving Revenue
March 05, 2024 - As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of nonprofit fundraising, it's crucial to stay on top of the latest trends and technologies, especially when it comes to building major and planned gift pipelines. This is true even in the best of fundraising …
Read Article
Blog Post
Aligning and Governing AI to Leverage Resources and Enhance Results
February 29, 2024 - The AGB Council of Finance Committee Chairs convened their January meeting with a warm welcome from Interim President and CEO Ellen Earle-Chaffee, who shared insights into AGB’s recent updating of its biennial report on strategic issues facing higher education leadership.
Read Article
Webinar On Demand
Understanding the Strategic Health of Your Board and Institution
February 27, 2024 - Watch this Webinar On Demand to learn how to improve your institution’s strategic health and ensure its long-term success.
View Webinar
Webinar On Demand
The State of Technology in the Higher Education Boardroom
February 26, 2024 - Watch this Webinar On Demand with Matt Maxwell, senior consultant at AGB OnBoard, and delve deep into the pivotal trends that pave the way for success. Explore the transformative impact of technology within the boardroom, dissecting …
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