Dive Brief:
- In this difficult time for higher education institutions here and internationally to stay competitive, efforts move to a search for specific qualities in board members.
- The Guardian reports UK board leaders say trustees should be "critical friends" in serving out the oversight role of the board, and suggest boards should stay small, but members should bring a diversity of experience, skills, and background to the table.
- Evidence-based decisions are important at the board level, and the chair of the board of governors at Coventry University says board members must keep in mind the purpose of higher education institutions, even if they sometimes feels like they’re on a commercial board.
Dive Insight:
In the U.S., many institutions seem to be shifting toward more corporate-style governance. This has created friction with faculty, who are wary of attacks on academic freedom and distrustful of the qualifications of presidents who come from the business world instead of academia.
After Bruce Harreld was named to the presidency of the University of Iowa, faculty and students cast no-confidence votes before he started in his new position.
There is also a concern of micromanagement from board members. A recent study from Public Agenda found boards of trustees have expanded their responsibilities since the Great Recession, wanting to take a more active role in university governance. Beyond faculty concerns, university presidents are chafing at the oversight.