Table of Contents

Features

How to Make the Worst of Times Better
By R. Barbara Gitenstein

Higher education today is facing an unprecedented environment that is challenging tenets of academia: academic freedom, freedom of speech, and institutional and board independence. Boards of trustees, institutionally related foundation board members, university presidents, and foundation leaders can navigate these murky waters through a commitment to exceptional governance.

The Compact, Institutional Autonomy, Fiduciary Duties, and Academic Freedom
By Richard J. Joseph

In this unique moment in higher education, boards have the responsibility to understand how their fiduciary duties underscore institutional autonomy and what that means for upholding academic freedom.

Governing Boards and Faculty Members: A Critical Partnership
By Ann E. Austin and Brendan Cantwell

Governing boards, presidents, and faculty members all play important roles in ensuring their higher education institutions fulfill their missions. In the current environment, when higher education institutions are under extreme pressure from the government, the partnership between governing boards, presidents, and the faculty is more essential than ever.

Preserving Academic Freedom in Turbulent Times
By David M. Rabban

Academic freedom is considered a bedrock tenet of higher education. But what does academic freedom mean? And how does it influence the governance of universities today and the decisions board members will have to make going forward? An examination of the history of academic freedom in the United States helps shed light on these important questions.

Sponsored Content

The Imperative of Board Independence in a Presidential Search
By AGB Search

A presidential search is one of the most important responsibilities of a higher education governing board. The ability to do so with integrity and autonomy is critical to ensure a successful presidential appointment.

Departments and Columns

On My Agenda
The Courage to Govern Now
By Ross A. Mugler

News in Brief
A Sampling of National Higher Education News

Inside AGB

Legal Standpoint
Free Speech Rights and Academic Freedom: Whose Rights Are They Anyway?
By E. Thomas Sullivan

Forum
Getting Governance Right in Challenging Times
By Richard Legon

View from the Board Chair
The Colonialization of the Mind
By Antonio E. Puente

Focus on the Presidency
Rebuilding Trust Through Institutional Restraint
By Sian Beilock

A Question For
How Can Boards Support Free Speech on Campus?
An interview with Michelle N. Deutchman, JD

Cover Image Credit: stock.adobe.com / Stafeeva