Trusteeship Magazine

This Webinar On Demand will offers practical guidance for aligning strategy with the presidential search, supporting a successful new-president launch, and avoiding the common pitfalls of drift, overreach, or premature decision-making. Viewers will leave with actionable questions and tools to help their boards preserve continuity while empowering the next president to lead adaptive, mission-centered strategy. Login or become a member to access this AGB member-exclusive resource.

What Is It? Athletics is much more than a cocurricular endeavor or source of school spirit; it is a fast-changing commercial enterprise shaped by conference realignment, media rights, athlete compensation, and transfer portals. The professionalization of college sports is here, but athletics still should be tied to the institution’s mission. Trustees should understand where athletics oversight sits in the board’s committee structure.

WASHINGTON, DC (August 10, 2026) Higher education governing boards are already confronting many of the issues raised in the Secretary of Education’s call to action, not because the federal government has instructed them to do so, but because doing so is fundamental to responsible governance. Countless boards are actively strengthening their institutions, asking difficult questions, demanding evidence, and holding leaders accountable for results. This does not mean every board governs equally well.

AGB President and CEO Ross Mugler welcomes attendees. Credit: AGB Members of college and university governing boards across the country today are keenly aware that the current loss of public trust, growing restrictions on free speech and academic freedom, and undue political influences are creating pressures on higher education’s leaders that have rarely been seen in the nation’s history.

Two defining hallmarks have long distinguished American higher education: institutional diversity and autonomy. Rather than a single centralized model, the U.S. system includes a wide range of public, private, nonprofit, faith-based, research, regional, community, and mission-driven institutions with the independence to pursue distinct missions.

You are viewing the Institution and Systems version of this CEO Update. An Institutionally Related Foundation version is also available. As higher education grapples with compounding, complex pressures, one of the most important steps an institution can take is to prepare its board through board education. This includes robust board member orientation and ongoing board education opportunities.

Skip to main content AGB joins the higher education community in a sign-on letter regarding a proposed rule on regulation for federal financial assistance. Read the Letter→ Close Menu The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.

Skip to main content Amicus Brief: In Support of Harvard in the Appeal of Harvard v. HHS. Read the Letter→ Close Menu The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.

WASHINGTON, DC (August 3, 2026) Many of the priorities outlined in today’s letter from the Secretary of Education reflect shared goals across higher education. How those goals are achieved, however, is the sole purview of governing boards and institutional leaders exercising their fiduciary duties in alignment with their institution’s unique mission.

Congress is juggling Department of Education interagency agreements, the College Transparency Act, and a new framework for college athletics. In this episode, Joe Brenckle speaks with Penn Hill Group’s Alex Nock about these developments as well as updates on regulation and the Pell grant shortfall. Welcome to the Trusteeship Podcast from AGB, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.