Consequential Boards: Adding Value Where It Matters Most

Report of the National Commission on College and University Board Governance

The value of American higher education faces multiple risks, and changes in governance are needed to address them. At risk are accessibility and degree attainment for current and future students, institutional fiscal sustainability, educational quality, economic development and social equity, service to communities, and knowledge creation.

Boards must be at the forefront of these changes in higher education because their fiduciary role requires them to focus on strategic long-term issues and the intersection of internal and public interests. While they are not the source of all of the governance challenges in higher education, boards can play a critical role in improving decision making within the sector. This report from the National Commission on College and University Board Governance offers seven recommendations aimed at boards in support of the distinct role only they can play in improving institutional value through more effective governance.