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Cover of "How University Boards Work" by Robert A. Scott, featuring a solid green background with black and white text and a small tree icon.
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How University Boards Work

A Guide for Trustees, Officers, and Leaders in Higher Education

Robert A. Scott

Publication Date

A completely updated guide to helping university trustees become effective stewards of their institutions.

Boards of trustees hold immense responsibility in guiding the future of colleges and universities. They hire and fire presidents, approve and monitor strategy, oversee finances, and safeguard institutional missions and autonomy. Yet many trustees enter this role with limited understanding of the distinct culture, structure, and values of the academic institutions they are selected to govern.

In this second edition of How University Boards Work, former university president Robert A. Scott...

A completely updated guide to helping university trustees become effective stewards of their institutions.

Boards of trustees hold immense responsibility in guiding the future of colleges and universities. They hire and fire presidents, approve and monitor strategy, oversee finances, and safeguard institutional missions and autonomy. Yet many trustees enter this role with limited understanding of the distinct culture, structure, and values of the academic institutions they are selected to govern.

In this second edition of How University Boards Work, former university president Robert A. Scott offers a practical and candid guide for navigating the complexities of academic board service. Originally published in 2018 and widely adopted in board development programs, this updated edition incorporates insights gleaned from years of training sessions, executive coaching, and a radically altered higher education landscape. Elements unique to this edition include:
• A new preface addressing the contemporary pressures affecting higher education governance, including political interference, enrollment challenges, changing public attitudes, tuition pricing, overall costs and ROI, and post-pandemic adaptations.
• Expanded guidance on key topics such as consent agendas, indicators of institutional vitality and vulnerability, risk assessment, and succession planning.
• Updated index entries and terminology reflecting evolving governance concerns such as cybersecurity and free speech.

With illustrative examples of effective and problematic board behavior and actionable suggestions for trustee development, How University Boards Work remains the definitive primer for trustees of both public and private institutions.

Reviews

Reviews

As one of the most successful US college presidents in recent years, Robert Scott fully understands the importance of creating strong boards whose members understand the idiosyncrasies of academic institutions. Especially during these times when higher education is under assault from multiple directions, How University Boards Work should now be the first item in every new trustee's orientation packet.

Scott has written a gold standard owner's manual for college and university board members. Bob Scott is the Julia Child of higher education governance.

The college invited me. I was flattered. I accepted. What have I gotten myself into? This book has the answers. Robert A. Scott's How University Boards Work is both profoundly intelligent and readable.

As I saw while serving as a trustee of Adelphi University, Bob Scott was transformational and is one of the most capable university presidents I know. I am glad he has written this important book.

I strongly recommend Bob's book. It should be required reading for all Boards and Presidents. I've used it with my own Board to great effect. A well-informed and effective Board is essential for the future of our institutions, particularly in today's challenging times.

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About

Book Details

Release Date
Publication Date
Status
Preorder
Trim Size
5
x
8
Pages
248
ISBN
9781421454283
Table of Contents

Table of Contents
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Introduction: Why a Guide?
1. Historical and Structural Framework of Governance
2. Board Responsibilities
3. Board Membership
4. Processes and Procedures
5

Table of Contents
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Introduction: Why a Guide?
1. Historical and Structural Framework of Governance
2. Board Responsibilities
3. Board Membership
4. Processes and Procedures
5. Strategic Leadership
6. Leading Higher Education into the Future
EXERCISES
APPENDIXES
A Performance Review of the President
B Orientation Packet
C Bylaws
D Board Meeting Agenda
E Confidential Periodic Report of the President
F Dean's Report
G Transition Memorandum
H Model Succession Planning Memorandum
NOTES
WORKS CITED
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
INDEX

Author Bio
Featured Contributor

Robert A. Scott

Robert A. Scott is the president emeritus of Adelphi University and of Ramapo College of New Jersey.