New President Toolkit

How to use this toolkit.

Every new college and university presidency involves transition as the past president departs and the new chief executive’s tenure begins. But how successfully the transition unfolds depends on how well the new president is able to establish productive relationships with the board, the administration, and the faculty, staff, and students. And how well the board and administration plan for this pivotal moment may determine the success of the presidency.

AGB understands that establishing these relationships is critical to assisting presidents and their boards—and institutionally related foundations of public institutions—in charting a smooth trajectory for the president’s early initiatives and beyond.

To that end, AGB has developed the New President Toolkit, which includes a host of resources that enable the new president to hit the ground running and chart a course for their institution that ensures well-being and sustainability. Take the following steps to get started.

Schedule an executive committee meeting to discuss toolkit resources. (Note: An AGB facilitator can walk you through the items in this toolkit. Contact AGB Consulting for more information and assistance.)
Discuss how the president and board might work together to implement lessons learned and recommendations from this toolkit.
Follow up with AGB for coaching. AGB experts offer ongoing support to help presidents work effectively with the board and make an impact.

Still image from a video showing a woman wearing a dark suit and purple scarf in front of a purple background that includes the letters A, G, B.

Understand why it’s important for the board to support new presidents, offer advice, and align expectations, according to Mary Papazian, PhD, AGB senior consultant and senior fellow.