Study of 26 colleges and universities participating in the American Council on Education's Project on Leadership and Institutional Transformation revealed some common characteristics of their approach to organizational change, which suggest a distinctive "higher education style" of effective change. These characteristics relate to…

As part of a larger study, surveyed trustees' perceptions of presidents' effectiveness. Found that trustees use knowledge of higher education, influence in attracting resources, healthy relationships with key constituents, and effective management skills as indicators of presidential success. Some gender-related and education sector differences…

Explores how boards of trustees and presidents have long struggled to find the best ways to consult faculty and to work with faculty governance bodies. Discusses some of the current complications with faculty senates, including their complex history and splits within the faculty, and relates some of their successes. (EV)

Boards of Trustees are as varied as the individuals that comprise them. There is not one simple golden nugget of advice that can guarantee a successful relationship with a board. Success with boards comes from understanding the complexity of tacit goals and the need to work constantly on building, sustaining and maintaining relationships. The…

For the last several years, Auburn University has been at the center of controversy over its governance practices. In April 2001, soon after the board of trustees abruptly fired popular president William V. Muse, representatives of the University Senate, the Student Government Association, and the Alumni Association jointly filed a complaint with…

Trustees play a primary role in ensuring quality and effectiveness in higher education in the United States. Research on selection, training and effectiveness of public higher education governing boards is limited. In this descriptive study, state higher education executive officers and state governors were surveyed to identify trends in the…

School construction projects go more smoothly when architects and administrators understand each other's roles and expectations. Education administrators should understand what architects do and what they need to be effective in their jobs; architects should be aware of how education institutions function and the specific traits of the school…

This past June, the Iowa River overflowed its banks and deluged 20 buildings on the University of Iowa's Iowa City campus. As the floodwaters finally receded, regents and administrators on the Iowa campus began dealing with all the ramifications and lessons of the flooding--including the key roles of testing emergency plans, nonstop communication,…

Academic freedom and the protection of human research subjects are central tenets of American universities. Academic freedom protects the rights of tenured professors to conduct autonomous research; human subject protection ensures that research causes as minimal a risk as possible to study participants. Although the two principles are mutually…

Governing boards and administrations wrestle with complex endowment policy decisions that will determine current institutional quality and future institutional viability. This chapter presents data from the 2006 NACUBO Endowment Study (published in 2007), divided into the following issues of endowment management: historical returns; endowment…

In 1991, the Florida State Legislature established an accountability process for the state's community college system to foster institutional self-examination and improvement. In 1995, the Legislature undertook a review of the process to determine the extent that it had been implemented, the usefulness of specific documents, and the level of…

This guide reviews common questions that parents of children with disabilities have about joining a board or committee, and discusses the unique strengths and skills that parents of children with disabilities bring to the group. The first part focuses on deciding to join a board or committee. Reasons to join are presented, including having a…

This guide for members of the governing boards of independent colleges and universities is intended to provide information necessary to an understanding of college and university financial statements, especially annual financial statements. Following an introductory chapter, chapter 2 identifies key questions and strategic issues facing…

This booklet for trustees of institutions of higher education discusses principles for the relationship between institutional governing and foundation boards. An introductory section offers examples of poor outcomes resulting from a lack of collegial, productive relationships between these groups and stresses the importance of clarifying the…

A review of Oklahoma higher education faculty productivity at state supported institutions resulted in recommendations to enhance quality while working within policy goals. The review identified faculty workload as the central issue and found that studies consistently show that full-time faculty members work 50 to 65 hours a week with about half…