Four specific suggestions for the agenda of a college trustees' meeting are presented: put policy issues at the beginning of the agenda; once a year explore a major issue in advance of decision making; present alternative solutions to problems; and test every question for relevance. (JMF)

Reports on the results of a survey of North Carolina community colleges to determine if the colleges' Boards of Trustees had standing committees, what their responsibilities were, and if there were written statements outlining the responsibilities of the committees. (AYC)

State coordinating boards address a variety of issues that relate to students and to student affairs operations. In order to participate in shaping and addressing these issues, student affairs staff need to understand how these boards operate and how to work most effectively with them. (Contains 33 references.) (Author)

Discusses how to deal with the pressures to defer maintenance on campus buildings, including the issue of accelerated cycles of obsolescence, which "stranded" costs to avoid and to accept, and specific strategies to gain control of the physical asset portfolio. (EV)

Presents a roundtable discussion by five veterans of higher education--some of whom have served as trustees as well as corporate directors--with backgrounds in law, business, and nonprofit and corporate governance, to pinpoint lessons from Enron that might apply to the volunteer trustees who serve on college and university governing boards. (EV)

Discusses how governing boards can help their institutions weather the "double-whammy" of doing more with less: identify the institution's short-term and long-term challenges; refocus the institution's mission, planning, and programming; assess and integrate the institution's tuition, aid, and outreach strategies; redouble the…

Residential care board members, administrators, and caregivers were randomly assisted to injury prevention training: 38 computer based, 40 instructor led. Both groups significantly increased knowledge. The computer group enjoyed the training and had no difficulties even if they lacked computer experience. (Contains 20 references.) (SK)

A strategy for effective communication between the college public relations office and the governing board includes (1) developing a specific plan for analysis, communication, and action; (2) broadening the definition of the public relations office role to include many audiences; and (3) taking a personal role in helping trustees become more…

While mega-goal fund raising campaigns are an increasingly popular strategy, the nature of the comprehensive campaign can be confusing to constituents. Trustees must be able to explain the goal, or the campaign might lose credibility. (Author/MSE)

A trustee at both a military school and a major university finds common responsibilities and dynamics on both boards and offers suggestions to development officers in their work with both trustees and fund-raising volunteers. (MSE)

Unusual circumstances creating a conflict, requiring a choice, and having pivotal consequences for the future of the organization can serve as tools for assessing management effectiveness, revealing and testing the relationship between the president and the board chair. (MSE)

Because the process of selecting University of Minnesota trustees has been seen as highly political and many qualified candidates refused to be considered, the university established an advisory council to assist the legislature in determining criteria for, identifying, and recruiting qualified candidates for board of regents membership. (MSE)

Provides background on the Internet and describes the responsibilities of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), Internet Engineering Task Force, and Internet Research Task Force. The Request for Comments series (i.e., publications of the Internet research and development community) and the development of Internet standards are explained, and the…

A model of diversity in nonprofit boards has these elements: use of language to further interests, levels of civic participation, social exchanges and incentives, socialization and acculturation of board members, and board composition and representation. Attention to these elements can foster inclusive, functionally diverse boards. (SK)

Improving the ability of students to transfer from two- to four-year institutions is an increasingly urgent issue related to concerns about social justice, finances, and educational quality. Trustees can take the lead by evaluating their institutions' transfer policies and activities to increase transfer numbers and ensure transfer students'…