The trend of formalized assessments of chief executive officers is being blasted by writers in higher education. The problem is that formal reviews cannot be kept confidential in most situations. Adherence to John Nason's four main goals in "Presidential Assessment" is advocated. (MLW)

Argues that community college boards of trustees are in a unique position to offer substantive leadership in policy development for curriculum and instruction. Suggests an emphasis on outcome-oriented education and stresses that trustees' leadership must be followed by their sustained support. (DMM)

A bibliographic essay on community college trustees. The discussion is divided into four areas: (1) role of the trustee, (2) state boards, (3) trustees and presidents, and (4) trustees and collective bargaining. A bibliography is appended. (DC)

A well-planned, well-executed orientation program can make an enormous difference to a new trustee or regent's future commitment and contribution to the institution. Orientation events not only carry enormous symbolic value, they also have the potential to convey a strong first impression of just how much the chief executive and board leaders…

Leading the board of a public academic institution or system of institutions is a daunting responsibility. The vicissitudes associated with open-meeting laws; the incessant quest by the news media for "scoops"; misunderstandings that can pervade appointed or elected trustees concerning their responsibilities and conduct; the advertent and…

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) administers the nation's largest and most widely recognized accreditation system for child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and other early childhood education programs. The standards and accreditation criteria included in this book were approved by the NAEYC Governing…

The first section of this report contains the "Writing Framework for the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress" (NAEP) as adopted by the National Assessment Governing Board. This framework describes the basis for the writing assessment, the types of writing assessed, and the methods for scoring student responses. This second section of…

Demands for public accountability have built to a crescendo over the past several decades, driving home the fact that governing boards have premier responsibility as guardians of a college or university's performance. But to what extent do higher education's many stakeholders hold common perspectives on the definition and purpose of…

Board members are accustomed to looking after the financial health of their institutions by reviewing budgets, revenue projections, capital needs, or the approval of specific expenditures. At many institutions the board only rarely gets to look directly at the heart of the academic enterprise: the quality of teaching and learning. However, growing…

Colleges and universities spend ample time developing strategic plans. The process often involves every constituency on campus, from faculty to staff to students, who attend endless meetings and discuss in detail every goal, objective, and strategy. In the end, the plan is "approved" or "adopted" by the board of trustees. But…

This issue examines the problems and issues that affect students in the first year of college and reviews current institutional efforts to enhance the learning and retention of first-year students. It also offers a set of suggestions for trustees who seek greater understanding and more active engagement in campus decisions related to the first…

Early in 2003, the National Assessment Governing Board established the National Commission on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 12th Grade Assessment and Reporting, following the recommendation of retiring Governing Board Executive Director Roy Truby. The Governing Board's charge to the Commission was "To review the…

This paper discusses the similarities of issues faced by academic and corporate leaders. Both types of institutions must adapt to the same societal, economic, and political pressures. These include rapidly changing markets, heightened competition, new technologies, and demands for accountability by multiple constituencies. Both industrial and…

This paper highlights the responsibilities of trustees of the New Jersey Community Colleges. It especially clarifies the relationship between trustees and their presidents, and the relationship between trustees and their county sponsor. Citizen governance of the public colleges has two principal functions: (1) to be responsive to the public…

This publication argues for a tripartite policy in higher education that integrates presidential and board reviews and sets out assessment policies that recognize that finding and retaining executive leadership is the board's first responsibility, that integrate presidential and board performance reviews, that make clear that the governing board…