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Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges

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Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
AbbreviationAGB
Formationestablished 1921; 103 years ago (1921)
TypeNonprofit
84-0502574
Legal status501(c)(3)
Headquarters1666 K Street NW, Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20006
Region served
International
FieldsHigher education
Membership1500
President and CEO
Henry Stoever
Staff51
WebsiteOfficial website
Formerly called
Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions (1921-1963)
[1][2]

The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) U.S. higher education association established in 1921.[3] AGB serves approximately 2,000 colleges, universities, and institutionally related foundations. The association provides research, publications, programming, and consulting services to support higher education governance.[4] AGB is located in Washington, D.C.[4]

According to Gale Business Insights, the organization, "addresses the problems and responsibilities of trusteeship in all sectors of higher education and the relationships of trustees and regents to the president, the faculty, and the student body."[1]

History

AGB's founding

AGB was founded in 1921.[4] It grew out of a conference held at the University of Michigan in 1920.[5] Until the early 1960’s the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges was an affiliation of board members who took turns sharing the leadership and guidance needed to sustain an organization.[6] The early organization operated as the Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions, and membership was open to “any college or university in any state, or other political sub-division, which may be recognized by a state as a state university, and such other allied or tax-supported institutions as may be elected to membership.”[7] Without a commissioned staff, the association’s activities were limited to annual meetings of its various committees.[6]

1960 - 2000

In 1964, AGB joined with the American Council on Education (ACE) and the American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) to formulate a joint publication, the Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities.[8] It was published in 1966.[9]

In 1988, AGB and Independent Sector established the National Center for Nonprofit Boards (now BoardSource) to provide information, tools, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations.[10]

2000 - present

In 2004, AGB established the John W. Nason Award for Trusteeship. This award was named for John W. Nason, who was president of Swarthmore College during World War II and chair of the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council.[11][12] He helped get 4,000 American students of Japanese descent out of detention camps to continue their higher education.[11][12] The award recognizes higher education governing boards that have demonstrated innovation and leadership.[13] Recent recipients include the boards of Colorado Mountain College,[12] Holyoke Community College Foundation,[13] Texas Christian University,[13] Utah State University Foundation,[13] and Xavier University of Louisiana.[13]

In 2010, AGB Search, LLC was created, to provide executive search, interim search, and compensation evaluation services for colleges.[14]

In 2013, AGB formed a commission of former and current leaders to reexamine how boards and regents govern higher education.[15] The National Commission on College and University Board Governance was chaired by Philip N. Bredesen Jr., a former governor of Tennessee, and developed a set of recommendations for college trustees to more effectively govern colleges.[15][14] These recommendations were published under the name, Consequential Boards: Adding Value Where It Matters Most.[16]

In 2016, AGB performed a study on shared governance and four principles that trustees should follow concerning shared governance. After the study, AGB released a statement reminding trustees of the importance of shared governance.[17]

In 2017, AGB published a report focused on campus culture and free speech. AGB called for campus leaders to listen to student concerns, know First Amendment rights and how they apply on campuses, and develop policies that make it clear that free speech aligns with an institution’s mission.[18]

In 2021, AGB released a new mission statement, which focused on achieving justice, equity, and inclusion at all member institutions.[19] The association also published the Principles of Trusteeship,[20] and Policies, Practices, and Composition of Governing Boards of Colleges, Universities, and Institutionally Related Foundations, a report that builds on data that AGB has gathered since 1969.[21]

In early 2023, AGB organized the Council on Higher Education as a Strategic Asset, known as HESA.[22] The council plans to develop policy recommendations to advance higher education as a critical component of the United States’ ability to stay globally competitive.[22][23]

Membership

AGB’s membership includes the governing boards of approximately 2,000 community colleges, public and private institutions, research universities, and liberal arts colleges.[4][24] Combined, AGB membership includes approximately 40,000 higher education trustees and regents.[4] AGB has seven advisory councils for specific leadership roles and priority areas: presidents, board chairs, board professionals, finance committee chairs, foundation leaders, senior fellows, and student success.[25]

Role in Higher Education Governance

AGB provides leadership, counsel, and training resources for board members, organizational staff, policy makers, and others involved in the running of colleges and universities.[26] These resources aim to help members in the areas of fiduciary duties,[27] governance,[27] orientation and onboarding,[28] student success,[29] and conflicts of interest.[27] AGB developed self-paced orientation courses that cover subjects such as governance, fiduciary responsibilities, and board composition and culture. They were created with public and private universities in mind, and are for both AGB members and nonmembers.[30]

AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education

The AGB Institute is a joint venture between AGB, AGB Search, and Miami University. The Institute selects participants from higher education institutions to participate in its leadership training.[31] This includes symposiums, workshops, shadowing a sitting university president or chancellor, and attending the AGB National Conference on Trusteeship.[32]

AGB’s publication Higher Education Governing Bodies: An Introductory Guide for Members of College, University, and System Boards provides details on the “essential” responsibilities and fiduciary duties of governing boards.[33] The publication says that, “The board itself bears the fiduciary responsibility for the institution it governs,” and “while differences in institutional type may account for differences in how a board carries out its governance responsibilities, the responsibilities are essentially the same for all institutions.”[33] These responsibilities fall under the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience to the institution and its students, faculty, alumni, and community.[34]

Duty of Care: This duty generally requires officers and governing board members to carry out their responsibilities in good-faith and using a degree of diligence, care, and skill which prudent persons would reasonably exercise under similar circumstances in like positions.[34][35] Accordingly, a board member must act in a manner that he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the institution.[34][35]

Duty of loyalty: The duty of loyalty requires officers and board members to act in good faith and in a manner that is reasonably believed to prioritize the interests of the institution rather than their own interests or the interests of another person or organization.[34][35]

References

  1. ^ a b "Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges". Gale Business Insights: Global. Gale. n.d. Gale 1509821604. Retrieved 2022-06-20. Closed access icon
  2. ^ "Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges". ProPublica. n.d. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  3. ^ Rosenfeld, Rachel (11 March 2021). "A Short Early History of AGB". AGB. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Association of Governing Boards | uniRank". www.4icu.org. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  5. ^ "Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions". Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors (1915-1955). 11 (2): 110–112. 1925. ISSN 0883-1610.
  6. ^ a b "Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges: A Centennial History" (PDF). August 3, 2023.
  7. ^ "Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions". Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors (1915-1955). 11 (2): 110–112. 1925. ISSN 0883-1610.
  8. ^ Flaherty, Colleen. "AGB Urges Trustees to Back Shared Governance". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  9. ^ "Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities". AAUP Bulletin. 52 (4): 375–379. 1966. ISSN 0001-026X.
  10. ^ "BoardSource". November 9, 2004.
  11. ^ a b "Board of Trustees Honored for Exemplary Leadership". www.stjohns.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  12. ^ a b c Report, Staff (2023-01-19). "CMC Board of Trustees selected for national John W. Nason leadership award". www.postindependent.com. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  13. ^ a b c d e Allen, Rich (2023-01-19). "Colorado Mountain College board earns national recognition". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  14. ^ a b Stripling, Jack (July 25, 2013). "In Tense Times, Governance Group Promises Tough Medicine for Boards".
  15. ^ a b "Seeking a 'new way' to govern higher education". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  16. ^ Consequential Boards: Adding Value Where It Matters Most. Report of the National Commission on College and University Board Governance (Report). Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. 2014.
  17. ^ Flaherty, Colleen. "AGB Urges Trustees to Back Shared Governance". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  18. ^ Chatlani, Shalina (September 17, 2017). "6 ways higher ed leaders should consider free speech on campus".
  19. ^ "Diversity Experts Focus on Making Boards and Institutions More Equitable". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. 2021-07-21. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  20. ^ "Five Components of Building Strong President-Board Relationships" (PDF). August 16, 2023.
  21. ^ Stripling, Jack (December 2, 2021). "As Race Looms Large, College Trustees Remain Mostly White".
  22. ^ a b Gonzalez, Cindy (April 27, 2023). "NU President Ted Carter named to national group set to redefine higher education for future workforce". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  23. ^ Parham, Martha (2023-04-28). "Bumphus joins new higher ed council - Community College Daily". www.ccdaily.com. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  24. ^ Allen, Rich (2023-01-19). "Colorado Mountain College board earns national recognition". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  25. ^ "YSU Trustee Roberts named to AGB Council for Student Success". YSU. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  26. ^ "Ackerman Appointed to AGB Board Oversight of Intercollegiate Athletics Panel". www.bigeast.com. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  27. ^ a b c Kiley, Kevin. "Back to the Drawing Board". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  28. ^ Peletier, Stephen G. (August 21, 2023). "15 Tips for Better Orientations" (PDF).
  29. ^ "Governing Board Equity in Student Success". Gardner Institute. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  30. ^ "Flipping Your Board's Orientation". Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly. 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  31. ^ "AGB Institute For Leadership & Governance In Higher Education Welcomes New Cohort | Southern University Shreveport Louisiana". www.susla.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  32. ^ "University of Mississippi Vice Chancellor Selected for AGB Higher Ed Institute". The Local Voice. 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  33. ^ a b "Association of Governing Bodies (US) Publishes Introductory Guide | Advance HE". www.advance-he.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  34. ^ a b c d Baker, Patrick R.; Moore, Paula Hearn; Byars, Kaleb Paul (November 1, 2019). "Nonprofit College Crash: Enforcing Board Fiduciaries Through Increased Accountability and Transparency in the IRS Form 990 Procedure". Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal. 2019 (2).
  35. ^ a b c Hoy, Toni (2023-03-21). "Fiduciary Responsibilities of a Nonprofit Board of Directors". BoardEffect. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
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