ACTA Sends Letter to Henderson State University

On February 19, 2021, ACTA sent a letter to the board of trustees of Henderson State University offering our assistance as the institution merges with the Arkansas State University System. A merger requires strong, engaged leadership from university trustees and presents an important opportunity to review institutional priorities. The text of the letter can be found below. 

The future of America’s colleges and universities—and consequently, the nation’s civic institutions and workforce—relies heavily on the tireless service of volunteer governing boards. This is why the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) was established 25 years ago—to support and empower trustees as they fulfill their solemn role as public fiduciaries.  

We regularly observe higher education trends across the country and have followed, with interest, the news regarding Henderson State University’s merger with the Arkansas State University System. As a trustee, you have served, and continue to serve, an integral role in ensuring the efficacy of this transition. While you navigate the remaining challenges accompanying such a process, we at ACTA are here to help.  

In this spirit, I wish to provide you a copy of Governance for a New Era, a blueprint for higher education governance produced by ACTA and signed by 22 national higher education leaders, chaired by former City University of New York board chair and Yale University president emeritus Benno Schmidt. We hope that this report, along with the enclosed Implementing Governance for a New Era trustee action plan and Getting the Data: 10 Questions Trustees should Ask wallet card, serves as a useful resource for you and your colleagues.    

ACTA stands at your service. For more information, visit our website at www.GoACTA.org or contact me directly.

We are immensely grateful for your commitment to American higher education, and we look forward to hearing from you. 

Armand Alacbay 
Vice President of Trustee & Government Affairs