Governance Reconsidered (PDF)

Revamp senior administration organization for more effective
governance

Governance Reconsidered: How Boards, Presidents,
Administrators, and Faculty Can Help Their Colleges Thrive
takes an in-depth look at the current practice of governance in
higher education and explores solutions for more effective
functioning. Written by a former college president, the book
provides an insider's perspective on the growing tensions around
the traditional shared governance model and identifies the key
challenges facing trustees, presidents, senior administrators, and
faculty.

Traditional shared governance operations are typically
time-consuming, process-laden, and slow to respond to the internal
and external forces acting upon modern educational institutions.
Higher education is facing increasing political and economic
pressure, and senior administration frequently needs the
flexibility to make institutional decisions quickly. Using recent
public scandals as examples, Governance Reconsidered
illustrates how the tension between the need for timely decisions
and action versus the importance of mission and academic quality is
creating a dramatic systemic problem. The book provides practical
advice on the issues at the heart of the matter, including:

* The nature and pace of change on campus, including the
pressures facing higher education

* Clarity about the roles and responsibilities of trustees, the
president, and the faculty

* The campus community's role in decision-making activities

* How thriving universities can govern collaboratively

The book also addresses the brand new challenges that affect
higher education governance, including MOOCs, online learning, and
rising questions about value and cost. Campus leaders must work
together effectively to boost higher education, and Governance
Reconsidered contains the questions and answers integral to
implementing effective governance.