Trustees Must Be Strong Internal Advocates for Institutional Transformation and Public Voices Against Attacks

The nation’s colleges and universities are facing a complex series of challenges that threaten the integrity and future of the enterprise. No longer is change a slow drip. We’re seeing everything, everywhere, all at once—from a declining number of high school graduates to political attacks on research and ideological mandates about what can be taught and who should be hired. Not least, there remains serious public disapproval about value—what are colleges producing for the cost—raising questions about whether institutions are aligned to meet the needs of students, employers, and society.