Assesses the extent of centralization of state governance structures for community colleges in 45 states, offering a rank ordering of states and a tally of the number of highly decentralized (3), decentralized (10), moderately decentralized (11), moderately centralized (5), centralized (13), and highly centralized (2) state systems. (DMM)

The alumni association president can participate effectively in college fund-raising campaigns by developing a high-quality board, seeking appointments to campus committees, learning about fund raising, cultivating relationships, being a resource before and after the campaign, offering to participate, evaluating programs regularly, and reaping…

Research on voluntary college mergers led to development of a model predicting the probability of a merger with 80-100 percent accuracy. The model was based on fundamental governing board concerns about mission, risk, and reputation. Results reveal the merger negotiation process is dynamic and reveals characteristics of successful approaches. (MSE)

Describes strategies library director Dan Wilson used to keep the New Orleans Public Library ahead of budget shortfalls. Successful lobbying efforts to get a tax levy; growth in the library budget, technology, and services; changes in the service population; and Wilson's role as a facilitator are covered. (KRN)

Faced with deteriorating physical plants, a need for new facilities, and a shortage of financial aid funds, colleges and universities have become players in a debt-financing game, which can hasten the organization's demise. The board must ensure that today's securities do not become tomorrow's junk bonds. (Author/MSE)

This article describes reasons why strategic planning in academe may fail (e.g., the president does not assume the role of chief planner) and why other efforts succeed (e.g., a realistic timetable for results is set). Leadership, communication, involvement, training, timing, and concern for the individual as well as the organization are stressed.…

A college governing board chairman discusses the procedures and surprises in the search for a new president, including preparing for the search, establishing a committee, hiring a consultant, selecting finalists, candidate visits to campus, making the final selection, and informing all candidates of the outcome. (MSE)

Describes a study conducted to identify the characteristics of 248 community college chief executive officers (CEOs) and to determine traits shared by colleges that had female CEOs. Finds that females earned considerably less than males and that boards that hired females tended to be more ethnically diverse. (10 citations) (BCY)

Argues that specialized college accreditation has both benefits and drawbacks, and trustees must help decide which forms of accreditation their institutions really need. A series of questions are posed for consideration by governing boards, and areas of accreditation in which trustees may help initiate reform are identified. (MSE)

A survey of about 500 college and university trustees focused on perceived levels of satisfaction and strategies for improving satisfaction. Analysis identified sectoral and gender differences in satisfaction and recommended strategies; no differences by educational levels were noted. Suggests that traditional approach for studying job…

Comparison of governance structures in English further education colleges and U.S. community colleges concludes that the U.S. experience of trusteeship is the more successful model. Examination of six myths about educational trusteeship provides useful lessons for change in governing bodies. (SK)

Presents an approach for governing boards to take in choosing a new college president. Focuses on the administrative and leadership competencies a president needs to perform the job well. Describes specific characteristics and abilities. A step-by-step competency-based method for selecting a president is outlined, and a format for assessing a…

This study extends the literature on governing boards and organizational change by examining how governing board configurations have influenced profound organizational change in U.S. hospitals, and the conditions under which such change occurs. Hospitals governed by boards that more closely resembled a corporate governance model were more likely…

In 1999, the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) appointed a commission to review NAEYC accreditation. Among the commission's recommendations is the goal of making NAEYC accreditation the standard-bearer of program excellence. While NAEYC accreditation is often used to support a claim that a…

This article outlines a set of recommendations to college and university leaders and governing bodies on how to develop crisis-management systems to ensure that their institutions are as well prepared as possible for a wide range of crises. These recommendations are based, in part, on crisis-management programs developed for various business…