A New Higher Education Governance Model: Embracing Nonprofit Partnerships

College boards of trustees face a tsunami of challenges—­impending demographic shifts, the limited ability to call upon public resources for additional support, and the declining public trust in higher education—­that threaten to overwhelm the very existence of the institutions they have pledged to serve. Before it’s too late, they need to discard old ways of thinking and consider new, proven governance models that can help preserve and sustain the future for their institutions and the students they serve. One such model that’s been proven to work is the establishment of a nonprofit supporting organization, which oversees a partnership of several distinct colleges and enables them to benefit from shared resources and reduced costs, while preserving their names, identities, and accreditation. This article explores a groundbreaking governance model that promises not only to sustain but also to revitalize our educational institutions for years to come.