Administrators, not the boards, should be the lead actors in these situations, while the key role of boards is to hold those administrators to account for wise and unwise acts. Boards can ask for an after-action report from presidents and senior leaders about what happened and with what effects.
Board leaders should provide safe harbors for presidents to talk through issues and strategy. Trustees should lend expertise and insight when appropriate to those leaders managing the campus. Presidents and their senior teams are responsible for framing appropriate board-level conversations during conflicts.
Conversations between presidents and boards will focus on free speech, academic freedom, campus safety, student well-being, and board governance. These areas contribute to addressing risks, reputational concerns, and institutional well-being during challenging times.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]