Accreditation is a critical tool for quality assurance and accountability for higher education, signaling an institution's commitment to academic quality and fiscal integrity. The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) published this statement to help board…

In this article, the authors describe one small liberal arts college's experience implementing a four-page strategic plan and outline the challenges in allocating resources and gauging outcomes that arose during the planning process. They conclude that the simplicity of the four-page plan, though hiding some of the real complexity of strategic…

This annual report describes the goals and activities of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). The AGB is dedicated to strengthening the performance of boards of public and independent colleges and universities and to advancing the practice of citizen trusteeship that distinguishes U.S. higher education. This…

Approaches to planning, conducting, and assessing workshops or retreats for college trustees and regents are suggested. It is claimed that the most successful workshops or retreats are those that fit into a comprehensive strategy of board development, and that it is important to decide what needs to be accomplished and to involve the board in…

Next to hiring the president, a board's most important responsibility is maintaining the integrity and health of its institution's academic program. The complex division of labor that separates the lines of administrative and academic authority on most campuses means that many conscientious trustees find themselves in a quandary. If they exercise…

The guide examines the role and responsibilities of college and university governing board members in institutional fund-raising activities. Results of a national survey of members of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges concerning fund-raising policies and practices are highlighted throughout the text. The first six…