Should You Serve on the Board of Your Alma Mater?

"Higher education is an economic engine and a strategic asset for the United States. In many communities, it is a major employer and acts as a stabilizing factor less sensitive to economic cycles."

"The economic challenges faced by universities are well known: costs for providing services have risen more rapidly than inflation, and the number of students willing and able to pay full tuition is declining."

"Real change is necessary, but avoiding significant institutional change is not an option. Institutions must confront whether they can be proper role models for the 21st century."

Higher education serves as a vital economic engine and stabilizing factor in the U.S., providing employment and fostering innovation. However, institutions face rising costs, declining full-tuition students, and a decrease in international applicants. Board members must consider whether elite institutions can serve as role models for the future of education. Joining a board offers professional recognition and networking opportunities, but also entails financial contributions and confronting the pressing need for institutional change amidst economic challenges.

Read at Psychology Today