Table of Contents

Features

The Enrollment Cliff
By Christopher Connell

Student demographics are changing: the long-dreaded “enrollment cliff” of traditional-age students has arrived. Boards and higher education leaders need to be aware of the changes in student demographics to forecast how these numbers may impact their institutions—and what they can do to thrive.

Governing in a Time of Headwinds: Supporting Presidential Leadership Across Six Domains of Knowledge
By Jason E. Lane

Today governance matters more than ever. Forward-looking boards play a vital role in institutional stability and public accountability. But what does it take to lead a higher education institution effectively today? A framework that identifies the areas of understanding that are essential for successful, ethical, and strategic leadership in colleges and universities can help boards of trustees navigate these challenging times.

Four Truths About Higher Education Facilities Management
By Bruce Alperin

An institution’s physical footprint—its campus—is emblematic of its brand yet it is often not considered among other priorities. To preserve, maintain, and improve campus facilities must be considered by boards of trustees because the cost of deferred maintenance is too high and technology is rapidly changing how facilities will be managed today and into the future.

Trustees: Your Strategy Needs a Strategy
By Ryan Hays

Boards of trustees also need a strategy when it comes to decision-making to ensure the effectiveness of the board to foster an environment in which the best board leadership can flourish.

Departments and Columns

On My Agenda
Effective Boards Secure Our Future
By Cristin Toutsi Grigos

News in Brief
A Sampling of National Higher Education News

Inside AGB

Legal Standpoint
The Board Professional-Lawyer’s Fiduciary Duty to Protect Fiduciary Duty
By Richard Y. Uchida

In Practice
Implications of 2025 Federal Tax Legislation for Higher Education
By Stephen Bloom and Richard Novak

Focus on the Presidency
The MAPS Committee: A Proactive Approach to Forging Strategic Partnerships
By Kent Devereaux

From the Board Chair
Your Legacy as a Board Chair
By Victoria E. Fimea

Foundations of Consequence
Building Reciprocal-Based University Foundation and Tribal Nation Partnerships
By Robert J. Nava

A Question For
What Is the Power of a Transformative Gift?
An interview with Endia DeCordova

Cover Image Credit: Stock.Adobe.com/Komgritch