The author of this article asserts that a board without bylaws is like an invertebrate animal, lacking a backbone. A college or university's bylaws should be reviewed as least annually, because legal and other mandates for institutions are multiplying continually. It is wise to avoid any and all bylaws that are not imperative in favor of more…

Last August, the U.S. Department of Education disclosed that 149 nonprofit private colleges and universities had failed its "financial-responsibility test" for fiscal year 2008-2009. This article explains what the financial-responsibility test is and how it is used, explores what the implications might be for colleges and universities,…

Ten board members and a like number of general counsels recently met to consider how to better protect and advance academic freedom--and to preserve the institutional autonomy of colleges and universities. The meeting reconfirmed that boards have a key, and increasingly important, role to play in sustaining academic freedom on campuses across the…

Why is the foundation board's involvement in fund raising important? Because successful fund raising requires a team effort, and volunteer leaders are essential members of the team. Board members should set the pace through their own giving, and they should be actively engaged in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of others. The…

A new study of endowments by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and the Commonfund Institute has brought good news to college and universities: While endowment returns dropped precipitously in fiscal year 2009 as a result of the financial crisis and accompanying slide in equity markets, they climbed to an…

Without college-level learning, American workers simply won't have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today's global economy. The country's long-term economic recovery will rely on getting a greater number of high-quality degrees into the hands of a larger, more diverse pool of graduates. College and university governing boards that…

Many barriers can prevent students from entering and succeeding in college, including financial difficulties, family obligations, and personal problems. However, the most significant impediment is inadequate academic preparation. As higher education widens its focus from college access to degree completion, a new relationship between K-12 and…

The processes of rebuilding the entire governing board and restructuring the damaged financial organization of Adelphi University (New York) are described. Legal issues are discussed, the role of the state board of regents in the investigation of the university's operation is examined, and the trustees' fiduciary duty of care is explored. (MSE)

Critics have condemned the state higher education coordinating board model as excessively bureaucratic, unresponsive to market demands, and indifferent to legitimate campus aspirations. Systems that prevail are those that collaborate in setting a statewide agenda; earn political support; present clear, meaningful missions; manage and resolve…