Discusses the potential for former trustees to be ongoing valuable resources to higher education institutions and the importance of clear policies on how each should be treated, including titles and relationship with the active board. (EV)

The style of most public university governing boards is perfunctory policymaking, when it should be concerned with making dynamic improvements to create a more responsive institution. Many public university trustees are simply unaware of the sweeping nature of their governance responsibilities, and many important issues never show up on board…

Discusses pros and cons of post-tenure review of faculty, identifies the objectives of such reviews, reports on preliminary results of the use of post-tenure reviews at several institutions of higher education, and considers implications for boards of trustees. Suggests a 10-element post-tenure review policy. (DB)

Urges college and university boards of trustees to plan carefully for major fund raising campaigns and offers a "Campaign Readiness Profile" which encourages evaluation of such factors as: giving by board members, the top 10 gifts, validity of the campaign's purpose, the institution's fund- raising history, the urgency of the appeal, fiscal…

Reviews existing legal guidance and precedents for governing boards of colleges and universities considering extending or denying domestic-partner (both homosexual and heterosexual) benefits. Considers work force demographics, legal issues, examples of policy implementation, and long- term financial impact of such policies. (DB)

Discusses how a policy statement on board philanthropy can clarify fundraising expectations of all governing and foundation board members. Describes essential components of such a policy statement: mission and vision, recognition of board responsibility for fundraising, specific expectations, and commitment to project and campaign goals. Also…

Argues that trustees at public colleges and universities need to take a more activist role in the governance of their institutions. Maintains that trustees have ceded too much of their power to appointed campus executives, and then given these executives too much authority to run the institutions. Many trustees also fail to address broad academic…

In some states, the higher education coordinating board is threatened with reduced autonomy or even dissolution. Boards must carefully execute their leadership role, protect their nonpartisan character, create a vision for higher education in the state, become its chief proponent, and plan strategically by differentiating college missions and…

Guidelines for governing boards in creating policy statements on conflict of interest are offered. Issues discussed include defining conflict of interest, perceptions of such conflict, trustee responsibility, and the need for appropriate documentation. A sample policy statement and sample disclosure form for trustees and institutional officers are…

Suggests five questions for trustees to consider as they evaluate the costs and contributions of using part-time instructors. Questions address: (1) proportion of instruction assigned to part-time faculty; (2) type of program taught by part-time faculty; (3) comparability of qualifications for part-time and full-time faculty; (4) comparability of…

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)

Congress is considering major changes in federal student aid programs that, if approved, would result in the largest increase in the cost of college in the nation's history. Colleges and universities must now consider how reduced federal student aid would affect their enrollment, and make federal policymakers understand the potential impact of…

Connecticut College has created a Young Alumni Trustee position to its governing board to serve as liaison between currently matriculated students and the board, to be a resource for board members unfamiliar with current student life, and to add breadth to board membership. The strategy was useful in formulating alcohol-use policy. (MSE)

Discussion of Internet2 and the college or university's decision to participate in the network looks at the characteristics of the system and the advantages of access to it; infrastructure needed to participate; costs to the institution; considerations in making the decision to participate; and the consequences of waiting. (MSE)

Despite a trend in successful endowment investment, college governing boards must carefully monitor the institution's endowment spending rate and not treat the endowment as a rainy-day fund. Shrinking endowments leave institutions financially vulnerable; administrators must be required to demonstrate how short-term excess draws on endowment will…