AGB's biennial publication, Top Strategic Issues for Boards
2024–2025, informs higher education leaders about the topics and
challenges that demand board attention.
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Association of Governing Boards of
Universities and Colleges (AGB) today released Top Strategic Issues
for Boards 2024–2025, a biennial resource for higher education
board members, chief executives, and senior administrators. The new
edition provides an in-depth overview of the most pressing issues
confronting higher education—issues that require board oversight
and innovative thinking. Importantly, this new publication is
designed to guide boardroom discussions on each issue by including
relevant questions that can inform committee meetings, retreats,
and strategic planning discussions.
Boards have to collaborate with senior
administrators to address the make-or-break issues that impact the
mission, institutional values, and financial health.
The strategic issues detailed in the publication include:
- Board independence and leadership
- Leadership succession and support
- Student success, the student experience, and campus
inclusion
- Business model innovation and digital transformation
"This is a crucible moment for colleges and universities
everywhere," said Ellen Chaffee,
PhD, AGB interim president and CEO. "Boards have to collaborate
with senior administrators to address the make-or-break issues that
impact the mission, institutional values, and financial health. Top
Strategic Issues helps boards move from simply doing oversight to
becoming engaged partners and leaders."
Beyond the more traditional responsibilities, such as ensuring
fiscal health, the publication elevates broader board imperatives.
For example, board members must champion board independence and
academic freedom in front of critics and the public. As
fiduciaries, board members must act in the best interest of the
institutions they serve, and not accede to partisan whims or
disgruntled donors. In response to member feedback, AGB published
the AGB Board of Directors' Statement on Influences Impacting
Governing Board Independence and Leadership to help higher
education governing boards address these challenges.
In another example, leadership succession and support is
becoming imperative. With the average tenure of college presidents
shortening, a governing board must ensure it is providing
appropriate support and accountability for the individual it
selected to lead the institution. Numerous articles have revealed
the myriad challenges that college and university presidents must
contend with, often at a breakneck pace. AGB experts continue to
provide guidance for how best to develop the board-president
relationship, develop effective transition plans, and perform
meaningful assessments.
Mary Papazian, PhD, AGB executive
vice president, expects that boards will use the publication to
frame upcoming board meetings. "This is an important resource for
orientations, retreat pre-meetings, and other opportunities for
board education," she said. "College and university leaders have to
stay abreast of broader trends so they can prepare and respond to
those trends in ways that push their institutions forward."
A complimentary e-book version of Top Strategic Issues for
Boards 2024–2025 is available for AGB members at
AGB.org/TopStrategicIssues. Print copies are available for
preorder, with a discount for members.
About AGB
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
(AGB) is the premier membership organization that strengthens
higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they
serve within their organizations. Through our vast library of
resources, educational events, and consulting services, and with
100 years of experience, we empower 40,000 AGB members from more
than 2,000 institutions and foundations to navigate complex issues,
implement leading practices, streamline operations, and govern with
confidence. AGB is the trusted resource for board members, chief
executives, and key administrators on higher education governance
and leadership.
Media Contact
Morgan Alexander, Association of
Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, 1 202-776-0853,
media@agb.org, www.AGB.org
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SOURCE Association of Governing Boards of Universities and
Colleges