The investment committee of the college or university governing board is charged with determining, overseeing, and assessing the policies and processes by which institutional funds are invested. The committee has fiduciary duty to ensure that the terms of investment of donors' gifts are met and to maximize investment returns within an appropriate…

Fund-raising is one of the college or university governing board's most basic and important responsibilities: The annual fund is the platform from which all other fund-raising activities flow, and the board plays a key role in planning, implementing, and monitoring comprehensive campaigns, which are major efforts, focused on long-range financial…

This paper is the fourth in a series of yearly efforts to identify the top 10 public-policy issues facing higher education. Each of the issues is discussed in terms of likely developments in 1997-98, the issue's various aspects, and sources of further information. Issues identified are: (1) the Higher Education Act Reauthorization (issues relating…

The paper addresses the need for reform in the trusteeship of public higher education that will address coming economic, political, and social challenges. It suggests the need for clearer definition of the roles and responsibilities of lawmakers, trustees, and public higher education leaders, and key reforms that include: (1) the recruitment,…

Higher education governance structures are ineffective and new structures of "prospective governance" are needed for future success. Trends affecting higher education include financial scarcity, lack of government funding juxtaposed with the growing public demand for better services, and the competitive pressures of commercialization and…

Hartwick College (New York) developed a strategic vision for its future and invested significantly in information technology to transform that vision into reality. Guided by its president and trustees, Hartwick, a small, independent liberal arts college, formed a strategic plan in phases. At a formal board retreat in 1993, with faculty, students,…

College and university trustees and administrators are employing various strategies to deal with financial challenges. These fall generally into five categories: (1) attracting additional revenues to help close the gap between resources and expenses; (2) reassessing tuition and financial aid policies to alter the size or mix of the student body;…

This booklet examines the role of the professional governing board secretary and offers guidelines for carrying out this responsibility effectively. While a wide range of responsibilities of board secretaries is noted, the board secretary's basic responsibilities center on supporting the governing board's operations, ensuring that institutional…

This booklet is a guide to the planning process for members of governing boards of institutions of higher education. Generally, it sees the role of the board in planning as ensuring that planning takes place and insisting that plans are used regularly for decision making. The publication discusses the following five specific tasks related to this…

This booklet offers guidelines for conflict of interest issues and disclosure for members of governing boards of institutions of higher education. It urges institutions to develop conflict-of-interest policy documents to guide decisions concerning such topics as defining what constitutes "conflict of interest"; the board's role in cases of an…

This booklet offers guidelines for college and university trustees for managing the institution's endowment funds as they seek to balance efforts to grow the endowment for the institution's future with the need to use these funds to supplement current budget needs. Critical policy issues are identified, such as: the endowment's purpose, maximizing…

This booklet for members of college and university governing boards focuses on the process of voluntary accreditation and provides trustees with information needed to ensure institutional autonomy and integrity. Accreditation is defined as involving both institutional accreditation, conducted by eight regional and eight national associations, and…

This booklet addresses issues concerning the various responsibilities of trustees on governing boards of public colleges and universities. Introductory information notes the increasing complexity and significance of the trusteeship role, and its unique context in public institutions. The booklet distinguishes between board and individual trustee…

This booklet addresses issues concerning the various responsibilities of trustees on governing boards of independent colleges and universities. Introductory information notes the increasing complexity and significance of the trusteeship role and its unique context in independent institutions. The booklet distinguishes between board and individual…

This guide for members of the governing boards of independent colleges and universities is intended to provide information necessary to an understanding of college and university financial statements, especially annual financial statements. Following an introductory chapter, chapter 2 identifies key questions and strategic issues facing…