While they must protect the interests of their states and fellow citizens, these boards also must respond to conflicting demands from diverse constituents. According to a recent AGB multiyear initiative, there are gaps sometimes substantial among trustees, chief executives, and state lawmakers, to the detriment of public higher education.
Significant reforms are necessary.
Politicization of public higher education is interfering with the selection and retention of the most able trustees. State lawmakers increasingly act when governing boards fail to address major academic policy issues or problems the lawmakers deem critical. Governing boards have difficulty serving the public interest when state officials fail to articulate a clear public agenda for higher education or do not share their ideas and perspectives with academic leaders and trustees. Many open-meeting laws impede board effectiveness. State legislatures and governing boards should establish relationships that allow more institutional flexibility, self-regulation, and respect for the authority of governing boards to set and monitor institutional policies.